What Causes Trypanophobia?
A patient comes into the doctor’s office for a routine physical. The doctor notes the need for a booster vaccine. As the nurse enters with the needle, the patient looks tense, and their heart rate and breathing increase. A few moments after the shot has been administered, the patient slumps down, unconscious. It is a classic case of trypanophobia, also known as needle phobia. This phobia is often more than a fear of needles. A portion of the population has bodies that react to a needle stick with the vasovagal reflex, a sudden rise and drop in blood pressure, leading to dizziness, disorientation, and fainting. The causes of trypanophobia are both psychological and physical in nature.
Brain Chemistry Changes
The feelings of fear and panic individuals experience are caused by the body’s natural response to stress. When the body senses a threat, adrenaline and corticosteroids are released that increase the heart rate and release stored energy, preparing for the fight or flight response. Phobias like trypanophobia can sometimes be triggered by brain chemistry changes caused by infections, medications, or other substances. The change in brain chemistry causes an inappropriate response to the needle. In this case, the brain is overreacting to a perceived threat. The patient knows a blood draw will cause a small amount of pain, but the body is responding as if the needle is far more dangerous. Although the needle will only be a temporary irritation, the brain is sending the message that it is a matter of life and death.
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Previous Trauma Involving Needles
Trypanophobia is often caused by previous trauma involving needles, though the nature of this trauma varies. In some individuals, if they have had the classic reaction of a sudden change in blood pressure, the fear of needles is a fear of what is described as a creepy, disoriented feeling. They are not so much afraid of the needles as afraid of how their bodies respond to needle sticks. For others, a fear of needles stems from childhood memories of needles thicker and duller than modern needles. These types of needles were by nature much more painful, especially for children. Even though the adult may tell themselves current needles are far less painful, there is still a part of them that remembers the childhood events and responds with fear.
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Increased Sensitivity To Pain
A small portion of the population has an increased sensitivity to pain, especially when it comes to needles. For most patients, a needle stick is an irritating sting. For others, needles cause intense pain and burning sensations. The origin of this issue is not clear, though genetics seem to be a factor. One of the problems with tracking individuals with increased pain sensitivity is they tend to stay away from medical procedures due to their condition. Rather than experience the pain of a blood test, they will forgo seeing the doctor altogether. This can lead to a situation where treatable conditions are left undiagnosed, causing unnecessary suffering.
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Other Medical Fears
Trypanophobia is one of a number of phobias associated with medical procedures. Needle phobia can be associated with or triggered by some of these other medical fears. For many individuals who experience this condition, there is also general anxiety about all things medical. They may experience iatrophobia, fear of doctors, and trypanophobia is simply that needles are associated with doctors. It has been suggested these medical fears represent an underlying fear of death. Patients may not fear the blood test so much as they fear the possible results. Rather than hearing bad news, they will avoid hearing any news at all. This again puts patients at risk of more health complications.
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Sensitive Personality
Individuals who have a sensitive personality may experience trypanophobia because they are more likely to anticipate pain. A visit to the doctor’s office is already a stressful event, and a potential needle stick or blood test intensifies that anxiety. For individuals who are anxious by nature, it may be helpful to learn techniques for working with stress such as mindfulness and deep breathing. By consciously slowing down the breath rate, they can lessen the body’s stress response. If they are going to be receiving frequent medical treatments or tests, they may want to work with some form of exposure therapy that can make the presence of needles less of a stressor.