Are you putting off a dental visit, blood test, hospital appointment or even an operation that could improve your quality of life or put your mind at ease?
Medical procedure phobia, often referred to as tomophobia or part of the broader iatrophobia (fear of doctors), is a common fear and one which responds well to hypnotherapy. 1
What is a phobia?
A phobia is defined as an intense, irrational fear of something specific. The word ‘irrational’ is somewhat misleading as a phobia has roots deep in the unconscious mind. The unconscious doesn’t make rational judgments; it has hidden reasons for its feelings and the behaviours it promotes. These go far back in time to our prehistoric selves. If someone were to approach you with a sharp implement, it could be seen as an attack. Just because our conscious understands it’s a medical procedure, it doesn’t mean our unconscious sees it the same way.
I tend to view a phobia as a fear that impacts on one’s day-to-day life causing behaviour that’s unhelpful or unwanted.
Definitions and symptoms
When it comes to medical settings, there are a few common phobias:
· Iatrophobia - The fear of doctors or medical treatment.
· Tomophobia - The fear of medical procedures, particularly surgery.
· Trypanophobia - The fear of needles or injections.
· Nosocomephobia - The fear of hospitals
Symptoms include excessive worry, struggling to relax, anxiety, distress, panic attacks, avoidance of the setting (even when it would put their health and safety at risk), physical symptoms such as sweating, rapid heartbeat, fainting, digestive troubles, migraine.
Phobia symptoms can vary in severity and can significantly impact a person's life. If you're struggling with one of these phobias, seeking professional help can be beneficial.
Am I alone – how common are medical phobias?
Needle phobia (trypanophobia) is particularly common. Studies suggest that:
Up to 1 in 10 adults struggle with needle phobia.
The fear is even more prevalent in children, with up to 2 in 3 experiencing it.2
While exact figures for medical phobia (iatrophobia) are less specific, it's clear that it's also a common issue, often linked to anxiety disorders or past negative experiences.
Causes of Medical and Needle Phobias
The exact causes of medical and needle phobias are often complex and vary from person to person. However, some common factors include past traumatic experiences, seeing others react fearfully, family anxiety disorders, generalised anxiety disorder, vasovagal response – fainting or dizziness which reinforces the fear.
Individuals may fear illness itself or a loss of control.
What is the impact of a medical phobia?
Avoidance of Medical Care
Delayed or avoided check-ups and health screening
Serious health issues might go undiagnosed or untreated due to avoidance of medical care.
Increased health risks: Delaying necessary treatments can worsen health conditions and increase the risk of complications.
Impaired Quality of Life
Anxiety and stress: Constant worry and fear about medical procedures can significantly impact mental health.
Social isolation: Avoidance of social situations where medical care might be needed (e.g., parties, public events) can lead to social isolation.
Difficulty at work or school: Anxiety related to potential medical emergencies can interfere with daily activities and performance.
Therapists' Perspective on Needle and Medical Phobias
Therapists generally view needle and medical phobias as learned behaviours that can be unlearned. We know that these phobias can significantly impact a person's life, leading to avoidance of necessary medical care and increased anxiety.
There are four main components:
· Cognitive component: The thoughts and beliefs about needles or medical procedures that contribute to the fear.
· Emotional component: The intense fear, anxiety, or panic experienced in response to needles or medical settings.
· Behavioural component: The avoidance behaviours and coping mechanisms developed to manage the phobia.
· Underlying factors: There may be other factors that might contribute to the phobia, such as past experiences, personality traits, or general anxiety disorder.
Hypnotherapy can be a valuable tool in overcoming needle and medical phobias. It works by accessing the subconscious mind, where many fears and anxieties reside.
How does hypnotherapy help resolve fears and phobias?
Sufferers often have reasons for not considering hypnotherapy as a potential route for treatment. They may have been put off by stage hypnosis, they may think there is something mysterious about the process, they feel they may lose control.
In truth, hypnotherapy is a straight-forward process based on bypassing conscious resistance and pairing desired behaviour with positive experiences. It is no more mysterious than a doctor’s prescription and has no side effects. After successful treatment, clients usually find that the anxiety never returns.
Clients often like to tell me ‘How it all began’. While this is interesting background, it really has no bearing on the symptoms or the treatment protocol. The area of focus is on resolution, rather than ruminating on the past.
I help clients access their unconscious mind and together we create a positive association with medical environments and replace fear with calm and relaxation.
The hypnotherapeutic process
Relaxation and Focus: Hypnosis induces a deep state of relaxation, helping to reduce anxiety and fear associated with needles or medical procedures. This is a deeper relaxation than the client usually experiences in everyday life but is not as deep as sleep.
Reframing Thoughts: Hypnotherapy can help reprogramme negative thoughts and beliefs about needles and medical settings, replacing them with more positive and empowering ones. What we tell ourselves can impact on how we feel and experience events.
Pain Management: Hypnotherapy can help manage the perceived pain of needles.
Building Confidence: Hypnotherapy can boost self-confidence and control, making it easier to face fears. The experience of being in control can ‘rewrite’ the fear, building the new learning.
Having spent over a decade seeing people with fears and phobias, I can safely say that it is one of the quickest ways to free yourself.
1 Authors: Taylor, J. A., & Francis, J. L. (2022).
Journal: International Journal of Clinical and Experimental Hypnosis
2 British Heart Foundation: https://www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/health-information/needle-phobia-and-overcoming-your-fear
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