Some medical injuries, regardless of their severity, are accompanied by severe pain that may exceed normal rates, leading to experiencing pain greater than what the average person feels. This may develop into a type of psychological disorder known as "pain phobia", which expresses a type of phobia characterized by excessive and unjustified fears of feeling pain. Although pain is a natural response of the body in response to certain situations, these fears may lead to negative effects on the individual's life. In this article, we will  Dalili Medical  review the causes of pain phobia and the treatment options available to deal with it.

What is pain phobia (Algophobia)?

Pain phobia, also known as Algophobia, is a state of irrational and exaggerated fear of any situation that may cause pain or harm, even if it is minor. This condition can arise as a result of multiple psychological and personal reasons related to the individual, such as exposure to harsh experiences, going through difficult times, or psychological threat. For example, a person with this phobia may be afraid of needles or lifting heavy objects. Unlike normal people who have a normal fear of pain and can cope with it, people with algophobia feel pain so intense that it prevents them from doing simple daily activities. They cannot tolerate even mild or moderate pain.

Facts about pain phobia:
It is noted that this type of phobia can sometimes be misdiagnosed as another disorder, such as depression, attention deficit hyperactivity disorder, or bipolar disorder. Some cases have also been diagnosed as sleep disorders. While people who do not suffer from this phobia see simple activities as harmless and unlikely to cause pain, those with this phobia find them frightening and harmful. It is important to note that the focus of those affected is not on the level of pain itself, but on avoiding pain in any form, regardless of its severity. This phobia can appear alone or accompany other psychological disorders, and it may result from addiction. Some scientists believe that the cause of this fear may be the result of an overestimation of the severity of pain or the potential risks resulting from it. It is noted that this fear can accumulate, leading to anxiety attacks. People who suffer from this phobia always talk about feeling severe pain even when exposed to simple physical pressure

**Causes of pain phobia and pathological fear of pain**

The fear of pain phobia develops gradually as a result of a set of problems that the individual faces, which leads to the emergence of this phobia since childhood. Here are some reasons that may contribute to the development of the fear of pain phobia:

**Illusion:** The illusion and imagination about pain or its causes may be greater in the person's mind than the pain itself. For example, a person may be afraid of needles since childhood because he believes that the needle will cause him unbearable pain. Over time, if he is not exposed to the needle experience, the feeling of fear continues and is strengthened, which leads to the exacerbation of this illusion. There are people who may lose consciousness just by seeing a needle, regardless of their age, as the illusion greatly affects their psychological state.

**Seeing someone in pain:** Watching someone in pain can have a profound and painful effect on the psyche. The individual may find it difficult to overcome the pain he has witnessed, and the patient's voices or movements during the pain remain stuck in his memory, making him feel that these scenes are following him everywhere. This may be one of the reasons that lead to the development of a phobia of fear of pain in some people.

**Pain experience:** The experience of pain is a harsh experience that the individual goes through for many reasons. When a person is exposed to injuries repeatedly, especially in cases of severe painful diseases, he develops a fear of pain and a desire to avoid repeating that experience. This fear may develop into a phobia even after receiving treatment and feeling comfortable.

**Acquired heredity:** If a parent suffers from this phobia, and watches his child suffer constantly, the child may adopt this fear unconsciously. Thus, he develops a feeling of fear of pain, which is known as acquired heredity.

**Feeling threatened:** This feeling is manifested in atmospheres that arouse tension and fear of being harmed at any moment, such as children being bullied or living in environments full of wars, disasters and painful accidents.

**Psychological Symptoms of Pain Phobia**

 

The symptoms of pain phobia are similar to those of anxiety disorders and depression, as these symptoms can appear when a person feels pain or even when thinking about it. The most prominent of these symptoms are:

- **Feeling of extreme terror and panic**: The patient suffers from feelings of extreme panic and terror, which leads to psychological disorders and increasing anxiety.

- **Anxiety and insomnia**: Insomnia is a common symptom of pain phobia, as the patient feels unable to relax and calm down, which causes him constant tension.

- **Anxiety when thinking about pain**: Symptoms of pain phobia appear as soon as he thinks about it, which leads to the patient feeling constant anxiety that accompanies him all the time as a result of excessive thinking.

- **Lack of concentration**: The constant anxiety and obsession in a pain phobia patient results in difficulty concentrating, as the patient finds it difficult to pay attention to a specific topic for a long time.

**Easily changing mood**: A person with pain phobia can be exposed to rapid mood swings and may enter a state of depression as a result of constant fear.

**Nervousness and anxiety**: Any situation can trigger the nerves of a patient with pain phobia, even for the simplest reasons. These patients also suffer from constant tension and anxiety, in addition to their fear of many things such as loud noises, seeing fires or terrifying scenes.

**Physical symptoms of pain phobia**

 

In addition to psychological disorders, several physical symptoms appear associated with pain phobia. Here are some of these symptoms:

- **Excessive sweating**: Excessive sweating occurs when thinking about pain, and it isAs a result of the extreme fear and tension experienced by a person with pain phobia.

- **Shivering and trembling**: Tremors and trembling are among the most prominent physical symptoms that appear when feeling fear in general, and are more evident in patients with pain phobia due to the nature of their ongoing condition.

- **Loss of consciousness**: In severe cases, pain phobia may lead to loss of consciousness, as the patient loses control of himself.

- **Nausea and dry mouth**: The patient may suffer from dry mouth with a constant feeling of nausea.

- **Confusion**: Another symptom of pain phobia is confusion and difficulty expressing correctly as a result of the tension felt by the patient.

**Shortness of breath and chest pain**: In severe cases, the patient may suffer from shortness of breath accompanied by chest pain. However, these symptoms often disappear when the patient gets rest and feels reassured.

**Heart palpitations**: Heart palpitations occur when the patient is busy thinking about the pain, and this acceleration usually goes away when he feels calm

**Severe headache**: Another symptom that may appear on the patient is severe migraines, which are often chronic as a result of constant negative thinking and anxiety that controls him

Complications of phobia include:

- Depression.

- Drug abuse.

- Bipolar disorder.

- Tendency towards suicide.

- Increased likelihood of physical illness.

How can you help you overcome pain phobia?

 

Here are some steps that can help you get rid of pain phobia:

1. Try to understand the real reasons behind your feeling of this phobia, as this will enable you to treat it better.

2. Be kind to yourself, and focus on the things you can change.

3. Create a list of future goals so you can focus on them and use your time in useful activities.

4. Exercise regularly.

5. It is important to contact a psychiatrist to get the appropriate treatment.

**Treatment of Pain Phobia**

 

Treatment of pain phobia is somewhat challenging, as the patient must contribute to the healing process himself. Here are some methods used to treat this condition:

**Cognitive behavioral therapy:** This type of treatment requires visiting a mental health specialist for several consecutive sessions, with the aim of exploring the roots and causes of this phobia, in addition to how to deal with any experience the patient may face in his daily life. The treatment also includes discussing multiple strategies to overcome the symptoms that the patient suffers from, which may be beyond his control. Through this type of treatment, most patients are able to overcome their fears and deal logically with the symptoms when they encounter them again.

**Pharmacological treatment:** Medications must be used under the supervision of a psychiatrist, as these medications require careful adjustment of doses and duration of use. The medications used include anti-anxiety medications such as diazepam, in addition to antidepressants such as sertraline, as these medications help the patient relieve tension, anxiety, and delusions.

**Psychotherapy:** Psychotherapy aims to help the patient transform symptoms and irrational thoughts into rational thoughts. This is done by analyzing the situations that the patient faces and finding strategies to confront them. At the end of the treatment, the patient becomes able to overcome his fears after learning how to analyze them logically. By confronting these situations and reducing thoughts about fear, the patient is able to gradually get out of the phobia.

**Yoga:** Practicing yoga helps enhance the patient's state of meditation, which contributes to thinking more calmly and moving away from negative thoughts that cause him stress. Deep breathing techniques and visualizations that the patient practices during yoga are effective factors in reducing stress and directing his mind away from thoughts associated with pain.

**Facing pain:** The first step towards improving symptoms is to confront the pain and thoughts that haunt the patient, and try to analyze them and understand their source. It is important for the patient to realize that he can get rid of these negative thoughts, as they are nothing but unreal illusions.

**Lifestyle change:** It is necessary for a patient with pain phobia to change his lifestyle. For example, if he tends to isolate himself for long periods, he must confront this isolation and not give in to negative thoughts.

**Thinking logically**: Although the situation may seem scary to the patient, when he begins to analyze the reasons logically, he realizes that there is no need for this fear that he feels.

**Seeking support**: If the patient's condition worsens and he begins to lose control of the physical symptoms, it is necessary to consult a psychiatrist for help.