Last Updated on April 13, 2023 by Mike Robinson
Agliophobia is the fear of pain or suffering. The origin of the word aglia is Greek (meaning pain), and the origin of the word phobia is Greek (meaning fear). The fear may be worse than any pain that could occur, making the fear illogical.
A person suffering from agliophobia might avoid a particular situation if they believe pain may occur. They may also have problems watching a situation, like a TV show, where the signs of pain are mimicked, even if they are for theatrical purposes. Agliophobia is categorized as a specific phobia. Other phobias involving the fear of pain include algophobia and odynophobia.
What Are Specific Phobias?
Agliophobia is an anxiety disorder. Specifically, it is one of the many types of specific phobias.
Specific phobias are a group of disorders characterized by clinically significant anxiety in response to exposure to specific stimuli.
In the case of agliophobia, the fear is pain, so this disorder is defined as the phobic fear of painful elements.
The feared elements are clearly identifiable in cases such as spider phobia or phobia of heights (two prevalent types of specific phobia).
However, in agliophobia, the feared stimuli can be broader. Each individual is different and has different perceptions of pain.
So, for fear of pain to be related to agliophobia, it must present a series of characteristics listed below.
1-Irrational fear
The first and most important thing to know about agoraphobia is that it is an irrational fear. That is, the person with this disorder can’t give a logical reason for why he is afraid of pain. Typically, people can easily explain why they’re afraid when they know they’re about to feel pain or the possibility of getting hurt exists.
But in agoraphobia, the things that cause fear are much less specific. People with this disorder may fear a wide range of things that seem harmless but are linked to pain.
2- Excessive fear
The fear of agliophobia is strong and irrational at the same time. The amount of fear felt exceeds what the situation calls for. In agliophobia, the fear of pain isn’t only felt when there is a chance of pain occurring. Many things can cause anxiety, and the response to fear in agliophobia is much stronger than it should be.
3- Uncontrollable fear
When exposed to his feared elements, the person with agliophobia still feels intense anxiety, despite knowing his fear is unreasonable. By doing this, phobic fear develops a strong, uncontrollable element. There is nothing the person can do to control their anxiety.
4- Disadaptive fear
Unlike non-phobic fears, the fear of agoraphobia is highly maladaptive. This means that the fear they experience makes it difficult for them to perform their daily functions.
The individual experiences intense fears in situations where they should be calm and relaxed. So this disorder affects their psychological and mental states.
5-Fear leads to avoidance.
Agliofobia’s intense pain fear drives avoidance. Thus, the person with this alteration will avoid pain and phobic fear as much as possible.
Agliophobics avoid their stimuli to avoid anxiety and discomfort. Fears of agliophobia vary. It could be from a needle, a match, playing a sport, or getting sick—causes vary. All of these are agliophobia triggers.
6-Persistent fear
Finally, phobic fear lasts. Pain phobia is permanent in agliophobia. Agliophobics always feel anxiety when exposed to their fears.
What Causes Agliophobia?
It is widely believed that agliophobia develops due to a combination of external events (specifically, traumatic experiences involving pain or suffering) and innate tendencies (i.e., heredity or genetics).
Numerous specific phobias can be linked to a single triggering event, typically a traumatic event that occurred when the person was a young child.
There are still many questions about all the causes of social phobias, including agliophobia. Studies point to a combination of life experiences, heredity, genetics, and brain chemistry.
Symptoms Of Agliophobia
The symptoms of agliophobia vary from person to person, depending on their level of fear. Agliophobia symptoms include:
- Extreme anxiety
- Dread
- Panic attacks
- Shortness of breath
- Rapid breathing
- Irregular heartbeat
- Perspiring excessively
- Upset stomach
- Dry mouth
- Difficulty expressing words
- Muscle tension
- Shaking
- Increased heart rate
Agliophobia Treatments
Consultations with psychologists, psychiatrists, hypnotherapists, and hypnotists are the most common forms of treatment for agliophobia. These medical professionals can try to assist the patient in overcoming their agliophobia. Additionally, they help determine the root of the issue to find a solution. The various forms of treatment that might be suggested are also listed below.
- Meditation and mindfulness practice
- Exposure Therapy
- Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
- Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
- Hypnoanalysis (also called hypnotherapy)
- Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
- Energy Psychology (yoga, tai chi, pranayama, qi gong, etc.)
- Medication
Meditation
There are numerous meditation techniques available that can be helpful for someone with agoraphobia. In particular, mindfulness meditation is beneficial in helping someone achieve greater composure. You can practice mindfulness meditation in a variety of ways. Also, a selection of smartphone meditation apps is available to make the process as easy as possible.
Agliophobics can benefit significantly from mindfulness because it can help them divert their attention from their phobia—their fear of pain or suffering—by focusing it on something else, like their breathing. This is a fundamental technique for mindfulness meditation.
A person with agliophobia may focus their attention during a panic attack on the various feelings associated with breathing in and out. This can help lessen the mental suffering experienced during an episode of anxiety.
One could practice mindful meditation by concentrating on how your chest and abdomen muscles tighten and relax with each inhalation and exhalation to help ease the symptoms of agliophobia. Consider how it feels as your chest expands with each inhale and contracts with each exhales.
You could concentrate on your breathing and the sounds around you, how certain foods taste, how certain things smell, or how your skin feels when you touch it. Focusing on your five senses can significantly assist you in overcoming anxiety connected to agliophobia. Remember that mastering meditation requires time, effort, and practice. Practice and self-compassion are the keys.
Exposure Therapy
A very popular method of treating anxiety disorders like agoraphobia is exposure therapy. It can be an efficient way to help patients become less sensitive to their fears. The therapist performing the exposure therapy must be very skilled. For example, the patient with agliophobia may not respond well if the therapist only slightly exposes them to their fear. The patient may already have some degree of desensitization and require a higher exposure level to effect change.
The opposite of this scenario is also true. It might be counterproductive and even worsen the patient’s agliophobia if the therapist repeatedly exposes the agliophobic patient to their fear. Therefore, the therapist administering exposure therapy must understand the patient’s symptoms. That will assist in determining the level of exposure the patient can withstand.
Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT)
Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) is a psychosocial intervention focusing on enhancing mental health. CBT successfully treats patients with anxiety disorders like OCD and GAD. This treatment helps someone with agliophobia by showing them why they behave and think the way they do about their irrational fears.
CBT can be beneficial Given the uncontrollable symptoms of agoraphobia. For example, when someone with agoraphobia is exposed to pain or suffering, likely, they will instantly experience a subconscious response to their fear. One of the main reasons someone with agoraphobia suffers intensely is their lack of introspection. CBT can make it easier for you to analyze your fear than you usually could.
In addition to attempting to understand their fears, those using CBT for agoraphobia may also learn various skills to reduce the anxiety brought on by the condition.
Dialectical Behavior Therapy (DBT)
People with trouble controlling emotions can benefit from dialectical behavior therapy (DBT). Therapists often use it for those suffering from borderline personality disorders. It can also be beneficial for someone who has agoraphobia. This is because a DBT group can teach you various coping mechanisms. These groups typically last six months and involve two or more people.
An effective DBT technique for helping someone with agoraphobia is half-smiling. This tactic makes you think about pain or suffering while you lightly raise the ends of your mouth by smiling slightly, thus the term “half-smiling.” Sometimes it may not be enough to just think about your fear of pain or suffering while half-smiling. You may also have to try to stop entertaining those hurtful emotions that your anxiety may evoke.
DBT is conducted in a group setting and encourages patients to step outside their comfort zone. Therefore, it can be extremely beneficial.
DBT incorporates mindful meditation. Patients drink warm tea to concentrate on their taste and touch senses or just focus on their breathing.
“Coping ahead” is another beneficial DBT method. The best environment for envisioning the upcoming week is a quiet, distraction-free place to sit down and relax. Close your eyes and consider the various scenarios in which you might confront your fear of pain or suffering and manage it. This helps when dealing with agliophobia while experiencing pain in real-life situations.
Hypnoanalysis (also called hypnotherapy)
In hypnoanalysis (also called hypnotherapy), a person’s subconscious mind becomes more receptive to suggestions with the help of a professional. This helps change one or more of the patient’s behavior patterns. Direct communication with the subconscious can make it possible to identify the problem causing the phobia. Then you can introduce new and uplifting perspectives.
You then use these positive suggestions to make the changes you desire, such as being able to go to the doctor freely. Teaching the mind to attach different feelings to doctors, needles, or medical treatments can usually be accomplished in several sessions.
Some people do not enjoy having their minds played with. But research shows that hypnoanalysis (hypnotherapy) is safe and efficient. The American Medical Association approved hypnoanalysis (hypnotherapy) as a form of therapy in 1958.
Neuro-Linguistic Programming (NLP)
NLP focuses on how we create our reality through study and practice. The fundamental tenet of NLP is that our language conveys an inner, subconscious perception of our issues. If we continue to use and think about these words and perceptions, they will exacerbate any underlying problems.
NLP studies and practices reality creation. NLP holds that our words reflect our subconscious perception of our problems. If we use and think about inaccurate words and perceptions, they will cause problems.
Energy Psychology
Energy psychology is a therapy that teaches people how to make small changes in their lives using various techniques, including acupressure, yoga, tai chi, prana, qi gong, and energy medicine. The methods activate energy points on the skin’s surface, and when combined with particular psychological techniques, they can change the brain’s electrochemistry.
Although debatable, this kind of therapy seems very effective in treating agliophobia.
Should I Take Medications?
Prescription drugs are an option, but it’s essential to understand that some have dangerous withdrawal symptoms or other adverse effects. Also, there is currently no medication that can permanently alleviate agliophobia; at best, it can only temporarily suppress the system. However, agliophobia can be treated with strategies like talk therapy, hypnotherapy, cognitive behavioral therapy, and neuro-linguistic programming.
Agliophobia Tips
You should consult a professional if you suffer from agliophobia, but in the meantime, the suggestions provided below may be helpful.
- It would be best to adopt a positive attitude, be mentally prepared, and maintain control whenever you want to overcome fear. Try practicing yoga and relaxation techniques.
- Ignoring a phobia is one control method, though it is harder said than done. However, doing so will likely increase your fear and anxiety, which could exacerbate your phobia.
- Consider doing more research on your phobia. Knowledge is power, so knowing more could benefit the long run. Don’t think about your phobia too much, as this could worsen.
- Attend some seminars or classes on your phobia. They’ll aid in your self-discovery and phobia education. It might be a worthwhile endeavor.
- Participate in discussion groups where you can express your fears. The groups allow you to form bonds with other people who experience phobias and reassure you that you are not alone.
- Spend time with people who are encouraging and trustworthy, who can help you overcome your fears, and from whom you can get feedback.
- Order books or sign up for magazines to learn more about your phobia or how to overcome it.
- Try the Ten Minute Cure, which claims to eliminate any phobia in just 10 minutes.
