What Is Algophobia?
Algophobia (from the Greek: álgos, “pain” and phóbos, “fear”) is an exaggerated, irrational and persistent fear of pain. It is an unusual, morbid fear of pain, producing intense anxiety that is far more powerful than that of a normal person. Algophobia may also be used in reference to conditions such as fear of being hurt.

Algophobia

Some researchers believe this condition may be caused by a person overestimating how bad pain could be or the danger of a situation. The fear could build up so much that it causes the individual to have anxiety attacks. Patients suffering from algophobia often report feeling intense pains when only the slightest amount of pressure is applied.

Causes of Algophobia
Sensitivity may lead to algophobia, depending on the psychological makeup of the person, but sensitivity to pain could also be on other than psychological grounds.

Algophobia is a self-destructive or cycling phobia. A person suffering from algophobia will feel psychological pain from the phobia, which again triggers the phobia and causes more pain, and so on in a destructive cycle. The fear is excessive, beyond that which is expected under the circumstances, producing an anxiety reaction.

Symptoms of Algophobia
Algophobia can result in various symptoms including breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, anger or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.

Algophobia has been misdiagnosed in some cases. Sometimes it is diagnosed as a mental disorder such as depression, ADHD or bipolar disorder. There have also been cases that were diagnosed as sleeping disorders.

Treatment For Algophobia
There are several treatment options for people who suffer from algophobia. Some are treated with anti anxiety medicine or behavioral therapy or with combination of both treatment. Hypnotherapy treatment may also be recommended for some patients.

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