The fear of pain is real.
Agliophobia is an ongoing fear of pain or being hurt that significantly impacts the life of the person suffering from it. According to a study published in the Pain Research and Management journal in 2007, children afflicted with this phobia may have difficulties in dealing with maintaining chronic pain and suffer from high levels of anxiety.
Cause
A single event that induces emotional shock may trigger a person to develop the fear of pain. Watching a show on TV or movies where a similar event is seen by the suffer can cause the phobia to intensify.
Getting Hurt
A survey completed by Project Cornerstone, an organization in Santa Clara County, California, that focuses on developing healthy, responsible, and caring children, indicated that 23-percent of fourth- through sixth-grade students played inside for fear of being hurt by somebody in their neighborhood. The percentage per grade decreased incrementally with 16-percent of sixth-grade students choosing to play inside.
Symptoms
A person can experience one or multiple symptoms that are anxiety based. Typically the symptoms are rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, feelings of apprehension, difficulties concentrating, anticipating the worst and restlessness.
Life Impact
Fear of pain will cause health issues, problems in school, social development and family distress. If untreated for a prolonged period, a person will choose to pass on potentially important life experiences.
Treatment
According to Anxiety Cure.org, counseling people to take control of their emotions and develop positive feelings will help to overcome the fear of pain. Treatment typically takes no longer than 10 hours and in some cases, two to three hours of counseling.
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