Table of ContentsView AllTable of ContentsWhat Is it?SymptomsDiagnosisCausesTreatmentCoping
Table of ContentsView All
View All
Table of Contents
What Is it?
Symptoms
Diagnosis
Causes
Treatment
Coping
This article explains what hemophobia is and what causes it. It also covers how hemophobia is diagnosed and treated, along with ways to cope with the fear of blood.
Verywell / Danie Drankwalter
What Is Hemophobia?
Hemophobia, or blood phobia, causes an irrational fear of seeing blood. This persistent fear causes those who experience hemophobia to have intense feelings of distress upon seeing blood or even thinking about it.
Specific phobias are divided into five categories, and blood phobia falls within the category of blood-injection-injury type. Other examples of phobias within this category are those related to seeing or experiencing an injury, or even something as simple as getting yourblood drawn.
Symptoms of Hemophobia
Many people living with a blood phobia may only experience symptoms if they see blood. But for some people, even the thought of blood can make them feel panicked or anxious. This is referred to as anticipatory anxiety.
Each person with hemophobia may react to blood differently, but some of the more common symptoms are:
Those with a fear of blood may be highly distressed and go out of their way to avoid situations that involve blood.
Anxiety and Anxiety Disorder Symptoms
Symptoms in Children
Symptoms of hemophobia can also vary from child to child, but some of the most common include:
Additionally, a child with hemophobia may display extreme, irrational fear when faced with a situation in which blood may be present, such as going to a doctor’s appointment.
Such situations may cause the child to cry, throw tantrums, or cling to their parent or caregiver.
Diagnosing Hemophobia
Hemophobia is formally diagnosed using seven criteria outlined in the DSM-5:
Not everyone with a blood phobia is formally diagnosed. Many people with blood phobia are already aware they have a phobia and may choose to live their life without a diagnosis. These people may also go to great lengths to avoid blood or situations that involve blood.
This approach is not advised, as avoidance of blood may make a blood phobia worse.
The cause of specific phobias like hemophobia are often complex and may be due to a variety of reasons like past experiences, learned history, and biological factors.
Past Experiences
Some people may develop a phobia of blood after a past traumatic experience. A car accident, for instance, can equate negative emotions with the sight of blood, and may lead to an irrational fear of blood.
What Is Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (PTSD)?
Learned History
A learned history can be one factor that contributes to the development of a blood phobia. There are three forms of learned history:
Often, learned history is not the sole reason for developing a phobia.Other factors like genetics and overall mental health can play a role in phobia development.
Biological Factors
There may be a genetic component to developing a specific phobia, as it is believed that some people are born with a predisposition to feelings of anxiety compared to others.
If a person with hemophobia sees blood, they may experience a number of biological changes in the body:
Many phobias can be treated or potentially cured. Specific phobias like hemophobia can be treated through desensitization orexposure therapy.
This involves a person with a phobia of blood gradually being exposed to blood or situations that involve being around blood. These exposure techniques can be performed with the help of a professional.
Other treatment options includepsychotherapy, counseling, andcognitive behavioral therapy.
Typically, medication is not used to treat phobias. In some cases, it may be prescribed to help with anxiety. Medications that may be prescribed in this context includebeta-blockers, benzodiazepines, and antidepressants.
List of Common and Unusual Phobias
Coping With Hemophobia
Having a blood phobia can be distressing, but there are techniques that can help you cope with this fear.
Distraction Techniques
Distraction techniques involve focusing on something else or performing an activity to distract from a situation that may involve blood or the thought of blood.
Imagery
Visualizing a situation that evokes feelings of calm may be beneficial for those with hemophobia. Creating a calm image in the brain and thinking about how it felt to be in that situation can reduce feelings of anxiety.
Challenge Negative Thoughts
Negative thoughts associated with a specific phobia can bring on symptoms of anxiety. By challenging these negative thoughts, those with hemophobia may better cope with their fears.
Relaxation Techniques
When a person with hemophobia thinks about blood or is in a situation involving blood, they may notice their body tenses up and their heart rate increases.
Using relaxation techniques like muscle relaxation, meditation, and deep breathing may help reduce feelings of anxiety.
Summary
The exact cause of hemophobia may be hard to pinpoint, but there are steps a person can take to reduce their fear of blood. Gradual exposure to blood or situations that involve blood may help a person desensitize their irrational fear.
Those with a blood phobia can also benefit from mindfulness exercises that may improve mental health overall, such as exercising regularly, eating a healthy diet, staying hydrated, and attending therapy.
9 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.American Psychological Association.Blood phobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.SAMHSA.Anxiety disorders.Perelman School of Medicine.Specific phobias.Cincinnati Children’s.What are phobias?.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the national survey on drug use and health.Barlett A, Singh R, Hunter R.Anxiety and epigenetics.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;978(1):145-166. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_8National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response.
9 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.American Psychological Association.Blood phobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.SAMHSA.Anxiety disorders.Perelman School of Medicine.Specific phobias.Cincinnati Children’s.What are phobias?.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the national survey on drug use and health.Barlett A, Singh R, Hunter R.Anxiety and epigenetics.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;978(1):145-166. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_8National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response.
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.
American Psychological Association.Blood phobia.American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.SAMHSA.Anxiety disorders.Perelman School of Medicine.Specific phobias.Cincinnati Children’s.What are phobias?.Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the national survey on drug use and health.Barlett A, Singh R, Hunter R.Anxiety and epigenetics.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;978(1):145-166. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_8National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response.
American Psychological Association.Blood phobia.
American Psychological Association.Specific phobia.
SAMHSA.Anxiety disorders.
Perelman School of Medicine.Specific phobias.
Cincinnati Children’s.What are phobias?.
Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration.Impact of the DSM-IV to DSM-5 changes on the national survey on drug use and health.
Barlett A, Singh R, Hunter R.Anxiety and epigenetics.Adv Exp Med Biol. 2017;978(1):145-166. doi:10.1007/978-3-319-53889-1_8
National Institute of Mental Health.Mental health medications.
Harvard Health Publishing.Relaxation techniques: Breath control helps quell errant stress response.
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