All About Algophobia, the Fear of Pain, and How to Overcome it with Psychological Therapy & Counselling

What is Algophobia?

Algophobia is the Fear of Pain and, like all other fears and phobias, can be a cause of significant anxiety and stress if you suffer from it.

Pain is very rarely pleasant, however, with people suffering this phobia, they will often become very fearful and develop behaviours that are so over-cautious that they rarely venture outside or participate in any situation where pain could be a likely consequence.

From a developmental point of view, we need to be able to experience pain in order to be able to avoid stimuli that might be damaging our bodies.

There is no scientific evidence that Algophobia is the result of any kind of biological fault or chemical imbalance in spite of the traction that biomedical models of mental illness are given in the media.

On the contrary, Algophobia is much more likely to be the result of your own, subjective evaluation (meaning-making) of what happened to you and is therefore a psychosocial phenomenon.

Algophobia Symptoms & Behaviours

All phobias, including Algophobia, create feelings of anxiety because phobic objects or situations are always perceived as a threat.

Consequently, the symptoms of Algophobia are both specific and generic and may include:

• Avoidance of medical interventions.
• An elevated heart rate.
• A sense of dread about what might happen.
• Worrying that you might pass out.
• Feeling dizzy or disoriented.
• Heart palpitations.
• Dry or Sticky mouth.
• Hot sweats.
• Stress.
• Difficulty breathing easily.
• Feelings of panic.

You may have all, some or even different symptoms to these listed here and this is due to the subjective nature of Algophobia.

However, it is important to be aware that these symptoms WILL subside over time and rarely last for more that 20 to 30 minutes.

What Causes Algophobia?

It’s also possible that your Algophobia may be the result of traumatic events or adverse situations that you experienced in your earlier developmental years.

You may have undergone extensive medical treatment during childhood or perhaps had a bad experience at the dentists for example.

However, because everybody copes with pain differently, the most likely explanation for your Algophobia is your subjective evaluation of earlier experiences around which you have constructed a set of beliefs.

Counselling and Therapy for Algophobia

We offer a number of different types of therapy and counselling for Algophobia the Fear of Pain.

Choosing the most suitable therapy depends on a number of different considerations including factors such as:

• How long you have had the problem.
• Your personal preferences.
• How your problem is affecting you today.

You can read more about the different types of therapy for Algophobia on the following links:

• Cognitive Behavioural Therapy for Algophobia
• Counselling for Algophobia
• Pluralistic Therapy for the Fear of Pain

Although all therapies use slightly different approaches, the one thing they all have in common is the relationship that is formed between the client and therapist.

Furthermore, research also suggests that the therapy relationship may be the most important factor in achieving a good therapy outcome.

Arrange your FREE initial consultation here.

If you’d like to find out more about overcoming Algophobia or recovering from related mental health problems then why not arrange a free initial consultation with us.

During this consultation we will discuss your particular phobia and the different types of mental health counselling we offer without you having to commit to any counselling going forward.

The consultation lasts around 50 minutes and is a great opportunity to meet with either Paul or Joan and decide if you would like to proceed with any support.