How CBT can help overcome a fear of the sight of blood
It’s natural for people to feel a little uncomfortable at the sight of blood, as we have evolved to associate blood with pain or danger. However, some people develop an intense and extreme fear of blood, which can interfere with their everyday life.
A fear of blood is known as hemophobia and is often caused by a past trauma involving their own blood or if the sufferer witnesses a distressing injury involving someone else’s blood.
A person with a blood phobia can experience extreme reactions when confronted with blood. They may have emotional symptoms such as anxiety or stress, or an overwhelming urge to escape the situation. Physically they make feel or be sick, have trouble breathing, or faint.
Some people with a blood phobia will avoid activities that may risk a fall or injury, and in extreme cases be unable to look at pictures of blood. Parents with a fear of blood may not feel able to help their child with wounds.
How cognitive behavioural therapy can help
People with hemophobia often link the sight of blood with trauma, pain or death. Cognitive behavioural therapy (CBT) is an evidence-based form of verbal therapy that can help those with specific phobia to overcome their fear.
CBT involves a qualified therapist working closely with a client to desensitise them to the sight of blood and therefore control the emotional and physical symptoms in a more manageable way.
Therapy will also enable the sufferer to challenge their irrational feelings and replace them with more realistic thoughts of what the outcome may be if they are faced with blood in everyday situations—such as a child’s scraped knee or during a blood test.
With the correct support from a qualified CBT therapist, it is possible for a person affected by a fear of blood to build a better coping mechanism when confronted with challenging circumstances.
Individual therapy, such as that offered by Cognitive Behavioural Therapy Interventions, lets the therapist build a rapport with their client to work towards reducing the anxiety of blood phobia so the sufferer can feel more confident in coping with situations where blood may be involved.
