We all know someone who is afraid of needles and some even have panic attacks. No matter the age, whether children or adults prefer to avoid an injection at all costs. This fear is known as trypanophobia, it arises when we are children because it is associated with injection with pain or our relatives use it as a threat; or if we ever have a bad experience with needles.
The symptoms of trypanophobia are:
Cognitive symptoms: fear and anxiety in front of the syringes and the possibility of receiving an injection, anguish, confusion, lack of concentration, irrational thoughts ...
Behavioral symptoms: avoidance of any situation in which the person can receive an injection.
Physical symptoms: pulse acceleration, hyperventilation, stomach pain and nausea, choking sensation, dry mouth, etc.
treatment:
In the case of the smallest, it is recommended not to use the injections as a threat, be understanding, not take the deceived children to be vaccinated, distract them at the moment of the injection so that they do not think about the syringe and not belittle their fears or make them feel small for having them. As in all aspects of parenting, empathy and knowing how to accompany the child in their fears is very important, giving our support and offering our calm and security.
In the case of adults, on the other hand, breathing and relaxation techniques can be used to alleviate, as far as possible, symptoms such as anxiety or hyperventilation. When this can not control fear and trypanophobia becomes a real limitation that can even endanger health, it is advisable to receive psychological care, either through exposure therapies to the object causing fear (in this case the syringes ); or cognitive behavioral therapies, which have shown very effective results when it comes to modifying negative thoughts and attitudes towards injections.
Thanks for taking the time to read my post and have a good day.