There are two words that can strike fear in many people—cancerand AIDS. And while those fears may be completely rational and understandable, what happens if they take control of your life?If you fear the possibility ofHIVso much as to be unable to cope with everyday life, then it is possible you have an anxiety disorder that is sometimes described as an HIV phobia (formerly known as an AIDS phobia).BSIP / UIG / Getty ImagesUnderstanding HIV PhobiaHIV phobia—a specific kind ofnosophobia—is an irrational, obsessive fear of getting infected with HIV or the fear you have already been infected despite evidence to the contrary.AIDS phobia was broadly reported and described in the 1980s and 90s, before highly effective antiretroviral therapy was available.It is a condition that may be easy to dismiss, but is still one that a person rarely gets over without some sort of focused intervention. It is something that can often take control of a person’s life, interfering with interpersonal relationships while significantly reducing quality of life.People with HIV phobia can often be so convinced they have been infected that all thenegative testsin the world won’t ease their fear.They can spend enormous amounts of time on the internet looking for evidence that their suspicions are somehow founded, oftentimes from websites offering anecdotal, outdated, orquack medical advice.There are others who will do absolutely anything to avoid getting HIV even if their behavior is clearly unreasonable. They may fear that stains on a piece of clothing are evidence of HIV-infected blood.They may devise outlandish ways to avoid being infected during sex, falling prey to products or devicesthat are not only uselessbut may put them in harm’s way.If you or a loved one has an HIV phobia, speak with a health professional or community-based AIDS organization for specialist referrals in your area. Alternatively, you may be able to access a local support group either through your community HIV center or a24-hour AIDS hotlineavailable in most states.CausesThe reasons people develop phobias like this are not clearly understood. Somemental healthexperts believe that the cause may be genetics—a propensity to develop phobias as part of your genetic makeup.Others believe that phobias are a result of adverse events and experiences in a person’s life. A fear of water, for example, may result from knowing someone who drowned. Likewise, someone may develop an HIV phobia if they know others who have become extremely ill or died from the disease.Another factor may be guilt from an act the person perceives as being wrong. Typically, these are sexual encounters that the person regrets, such as a married man who has sex with a prostitute, commits adultery, or has his first sexual encounter with another man.These circumstances not only carry the risk of HIV, but they also place an individual at risk ofhaving to explainhowthey got the disease.In the minds of people with HIV phobia, HIV may be the inevitable result of a wrongful act. They may feel that HIV is the “punishment” for a “crime” they committed and that the guilt they carry is somehow both reasonable and deserved.Culture often plays a big role in an HIV phobia. A person’s upbringing, religion, and social experiences can add to the undercurrent of stigma that runs rife in some communities, drawing an untenable line between what is “moral” and what is not.TreatmentIndividuals with a debilitating fear of HIV may be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. While it may help to sit with a doctor or counselor to get all of the facts about the disease, it may be more important to explore the root causes of the fears.In many cases, the phobia will have nothing at all to do with HIV. Sitting with a trained mental health professional usually helps.Treatment can involve one-on-one therapy, group therapy, or family counseling. In persons diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, prescription drugs like Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram) may help.
There are two words that can strike fear in many people—cancerand AIDS. And while those fears may be completely rational and understandable, what happens if they take control of your life?
If you fear the possibility ofHIVso much as to be unable to cope with everyday life, then it is possible you have an anxiety disorder that is sometimes described as an HIV phobia (formerly known as an AIDS phobia).
BSIP / UIG / Getty Images
Understanding HIV Phobia
HIV phobia—a specific kind ofnosophobia—is an irrational, obsessive fear of getting infected with HIV or the fear you have already been infected despite evidence to the contrary.
AIDS phobia was broadly reported and described in the 1980s and 90s, before highly effective antiretroviral therapy was available.
It is a condition that may be easy to dismiss, but is still one that a person rarely gets over without some sort of focused intervention. It is something that can often take control of a person’s life, interfering with interpersonal relationships while significantly reducing quality of life.
People with HIV phobia can often be so convinced they have been infected that all thenegative testsin the world won’t ease their fear.They can spend enormous amounts of time on the internet looking for evidence that their suspicions are somehow founded, oftentimes from websites offering anecdotal, outdated, orquack medical advice.
There are others who will do absolutely anything to avoid getting HIV even if their behavior is clearly unreasonable. They may fear that stains on a piece of clothing are evidence of HIV-infected blood.
They may devise outlandish ways to avoid being infected during sex, falling prey to products or devicesthat are not only uselessbut may put them in harm’s way.
If you or a loved one has an HIV phobia, speak with a health professional or community-based AIDS organization for specialist referrals in your area. Alternatively, you may be able to access a local support group either through your community HIV center or a24-hour AIDS hotlineavailable in most states.
Causes
The reasons people develop phobias like this are not clearly understood. Somemental healthexperts believe that the cause may be genetics—a propensity to develop phobias as part of your genetic makeup.
Others believe that phobias are a result of adverse events and experiences in a person’s life. A fear of water, for example, may result from knowing someone who drowned. Likewise, someone may develop an HIV phobia if they know others who have become extremely ill or died from the disease.
Another factor may be guilt from an act the person perceives as being wrong. Typically, these are sexual encounters that the person regrets, such as a married man who has sex with a prostitute, commits adultery, or has his first sexual encounter with another man.
These circumstances not only carry the risk of HIV, but they also place an individual at risk ofhaving to explainhowthey got the disease.
In the minds of people with HIV phobia, HIV may be the inevitable result of a wrongful act. They may feel that HIV is the “punishment” for a “crime” they committed and that the guilt they carry is somehow both reasonable and deserved.
Culture often plays a big role in an HIV phobia. A person’s upbringing, religion, and social experiences can add to the undercurrent of stigma that runs rife in some communities, drawing an untenable line between what is “moral” and what is not.
Treatment
Individuals with a debilitating fear of HIV may be treated with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. While it may help to sit with a doctor or counselor to get all of the facts about the disease, it may be more important to explore the root causes of the fears.
In many cases, the phobia will have nothing at all to do with HIV. Sitting with a trained mental health professional usually helps.
Treatment can involve one-on-one therapy, group therapy, or family counseling. In persons diagnosed with an anxiety disorder, prescription drugs like Zoloft (sertraline) and Lexapro (escitalopram) may help.
5 SourcesVerywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mariner WK.AIDS phobia, public health warnings, and lawsuits: deterring harm or rewarding ignorance?Am J Public Health. 1995;85(11):1562-1568. doi:10.2105/ajph.85.11.1562Mahajan BB, Shishak M.An approach to venerophobia in males.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2017;38(1):103-106. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.203441NHS.Causes - Phobias.Jung M.Framing, agenda setting, and disease phobia of AIDS-related coverage in the South Korean mass media. 2013;32(1):52-57. doi:10.1097/HCM.0b013e31827edbc0Hafi B, Uvais N, Latheef ENA.Venereophobia - a cognitive deception? Case reports with literature review.Our Dermatol Online. 2020;11(e):e138.1-e138.5. doi:10.7241/ourd.2020e.138
5 Sources
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.Mariner WK.AIDS phobia, public health warnings, and lawsuits: deterring harm or rewarding ignorance?Am J Public Health. 1995;85(11):1562-1568. doi:10.2105/ajph.85.11.1562Mahajan BB, Shishak M.An approach to venerophobia in males.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2017;38(1):103-106. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.203441NHS.Causes - Phobias.Jung M.Framing, agenda setting, and disease phobia of AIDS-related coverage in the South Korean mass media. 2013;32(1):52-57. doi:10.1097/HCM.0b013e31827edbc0Hafi B, Uvais N, Latheef ENA.Venereophobia - a cognitive deception? Case reports with literature review.Our Dermatol Online. 2020;11(e):e138.1-e138.5. doi:10.7241/ourd.2020e.138
Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Read oureditorial processto learn more about how we fact-check and keep our content accurate, reliable, and trustworthy.
Mariner WK.AIDS phobia, public health warnings, and lawsuits: deterring harm or rewarding ignorance?Am J Public Health. 1995;85(11):1562-1568. doi:10.2105/ajph.85.11.1562Mahajan BB, Shishak M.An approach to venerophobia in males.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2017;38(1):103-106. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.203441NHS.Causes - Phobias.Jung M.Framing, agenda setting, and disease phobia of AIDS-related coverage in the South Korean mass media. 2013;32(1):52-57. doi:10.1097/HCM.0b013e31827edbc0Hafi B, Uvais N, Latheef ENA.Venereophobia - a cognitive deception? Case reports with literature review.Our Dermatol Online. 2020;11(e):e138.1-e138.5. doi:10.7241/ourd.2020e.138
Mariner WK.AIDS phobia, public health warnings, and lawsuits: deterring harm or rewarding ignorance?Am J Public Health. 1995;85(11):1562-1568. doi:10.2105/ajph.85.11.1562
Mahajan BB, Shishak M.An approach to venerophobia in males.Indian J Sex Transm Dis AIDS. 2017;38(1):103-106. doi:10.4103/0253-7184.203441
NHS.Causes - Phobias.
Jung M.Framing, agenda setting, and disease phobia of AIDS-related coverage in the South Korean mass media. 2013;32(1):52-57. doi:10.1097/HCM.0b013e31827edbc0
Hafi B, Uvais N, Latheef ENA.Venereophobia - a cognitive deception? Case reports with literature review.Our Dermatol Online. 2020;11(e):e138.1-e138.5. doi:10.7241/ourd.2020e.138
Meet Our Medical Expert Board
Share Feedback
Was this page helpful?Thanks for your feedback!What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
Was this page helpful?
Thanks for your feedback!
What is your feedback?OtherHelpfulReport an ErrorSubmit
What is your feedback?
