Algophobia: Diagnosis, Treatment, Prognosis
ALGOPHOBIA
Introduction
Pain is considered as the 5th vital sign. It is an important factor that affects the well being of a person. The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary defines pain as: a) a localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder and b) acute mental and emotional distress. Pain is an unwanted sensation by anyone, though pain is an important indicator that there is something wrong somewhere in your body.
Defining a phobia: A phobia is a strong, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared object or situation. Phobias are believed to be developed by heredity; genetics and brain-chemistry combined with life-experiences. Algophobia is the fear of pain. Any phobia is an anxiety related disorder and to the sufferer, the fear is extremely real. Even when a person who suffers from algophobia tries to reason with himself that his fear is irrational or not based on any prior experience it still can overcome his life. Algophobia is a self-destructive or cycling phobia. A person suffering from algophobia will feel psychological pain from the phobia or fear, 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.
Etymology (origin)
When we trace ‘Algophobia’ to its origin we find that it is from Ancient Greek ἄλγος (algos) meaning “pain” + -phobos meaning “fear”.
Definition of Algophobia:
It is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer is fearful of experiencing pain or seeing others experiencing it.
Causes
It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience
Introduction
Pain is considered as the 5th vital sign. It is an important factor that affects the well being of a person. The Merriam-Webster Medical Dictionary defines pain as: a) a localized physical suffering associated with bodily disorder and b) acute mental and emotional distress. Pain is an unwanted sensation by anyone, though pain is an important indicator that there is something wrong somewhere in your body.
Defining a phobia: A phobia is a strong, persistent fear of situations, objects, activities, or persons. The main symptom of this disorder is the excessive, unreasonable desire to avoid the feared object or situation. Phobias are believed to be developed by heredity; genetics and brain-chemistry combined with life-experiences. Algophobia is the fear of pain. Any phobia is an anxiety related disorder and to the sufferer, the fear is extremely real. Even when a person who suffers from algophobia tries to reason with himself that his fear is irrational or not based on any prior experience it still can overcome his life. Algophobia is a self-destructive or cycling phobia. A person suffering from algophobia will feel psychological pain from the phobia or fear, 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.
Etymology (origin)
When we trace ‘Algophobia’ to its origin we find that it is from Ancient Greek ἄλγος (algos) meaning “pain” + -phobos meaning “fear”.
Definition of Algophobia:
It is an anxiety disorder where the sufferer is fearful of experiencing pain or seeing others experiencing it.
Causes
It is generally accepted that phobias arise from a combination of external events (i.e. traumatic events) and internal predispositions (i.e. heredity or genetics). Many specific phobias can be traced back to a specific triggering event, usually a traumatic experience