haemophobia

Haemophobia, or hemophobia, is an intense fear of blood. It is classified as a specific phobia and is often described as part of blood‑injury‑injection (BII) phobia. Affected individuals may experience extreme anxiety at the sight or idea of blood or during procedures involving blood. Exposure can trigger symptoms such as rapid heartbeat, sweating, trembling, nausea, dizziness, and sometimes fainting or panic. The fear can lead to avoidance of medical care, needles, or surgical settings, with potential health consequences.

Prevalence estimates vary; BII phobia is relatively common in the general population, with haemophobia frequently reported in children and adolescents. For some, intensity declines with age, but it can persist into adulthood.

Causes involve a mix of genetic vulnerability, temperament, and learning experiences, such as frightening medical events. A distinctive autonomic reflex to blood and heightened fear conditioning in brain circuits like the amygdala are implicated.

Diagnosis follows criteria for a specific phobia: marked fear disproportionate to danger, lasting six months or more, triggered by blood-related cues, and causing avoidance or distress. Symptoms are not better explained by another disorder or by a medical condition.

Treatment is typically cognitive-behavioral therapy with exposure-based techniques, including graded exposure to blood and medical settings, sometimes with applied tension to reduce fainting risk. Medications are not first-line and may be used for comorbidity or severe cases. Self-help strategies such as paced breathing and grounding can support therapy.