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Pharmacophobia
When we are feeling under the weather, visiting a physician or doctor seems to be the obvious choice. During these examinations, professionals are able to recommend proper treatment and usually prescribe helpful medications. If we make the personal choice to avoid these types of medical treatment, our health is sure to suffer. However, avoiding medical treatment is much more of a choice for some than it is for others. For some, receiving medical treatment can be absolutely terrifying and a catalyst for anxiety attacks. Pharmacophobia is a fear of medication, usually pills or injections, that can cause a person severe panic attacks and usually leads to an avoidance of all medical professionals.
Symptoms of Pharmacophobia
Pharmacophobia can refer to a fear of more than just general medical treatment. Commonly expressed fears seen in people battling this condition are:
- Fear of injections
- Fear of taking medicine
- Fear of visiting a doctor
- Fear of new drugs or medicines (Neopharmaphobia)
- Fear of becoming addicted to medicine
Causes of Pharmacophobia
The cause of pharmacophobia is widely debated among the medical community and is commonly traced back to a single traumatic event, usually experienced at an early age. These triggering events could be combined with a disarrangement of a person’s internal functions, such as an imbalanced brain chemistry. Causes can also be due to hereditary factors, in which a person could contract the phobia genetically. Hereditary causes can also include the installment of the fear through discourse or upbringing. For example, a pharmacophobic father may raise his daughter parallel to his own beliefs, causing her to grow up with a similar fear of medicine or medical treatment.
If this condition remains untreated, it will gradually increase throughout a person’s lifetime. Pharmacophobic people are not likely to seek medical treatment for their ailments, which could lead to a drop in physical health, mental health or hygiene. If forced to undergo serious medical treatment, pharmacophobic people are also unlikely to treat themselves properly following the procedure due to their severe fears.
Treatment of Pharmacophobia
Living through life with a fear of medication can lead to serious health problems and improper treatment of serious medical conditions. If you are looking for a way to help overcome your pharmacophia, do some early research to find out which treatment options will best suit your lifestyle and provide the best chance on helping you conquer your feels. Visit with a medical professional to best plan your course of action and consider asking a friend or family member to help aid you through your treatment. Incorporating a loved one into this process usually eases tension and provides external motivation for success.
View Resources
- Information about the fear of medication, pills or injections and why finding a treatment method is so important.
- For a longer list of symptoms associated with pharmacophobia and other anxiety disorders.
- Treatment options are discussed in this article as well as a list of helpful tips that can help overcome the phobia.
- This website gives a list of popular definitions related to pharmacophobia and an online community that features some insightful Q&A.
