Agliophobia is a psychological disorder that can be described as the fear of experiencing pain. In most cases, the person fears an event that may potentially cause pain. The fear may be worse than any pain that could actually occur, making the fear illogical. A person suffering from agliophobia may stay away from a particular situation if she believes that pain may occur. She may also have problems watching a situation, such as a television show, wherein the signs of pain are mimicked, even if they are for theatrical purposes.
In most cases, agliophobia is caused by a traumatic event. When the event occurred, the person suffered a great deal of pain. As a result, her brain remembers the pain associated with that event and does not want to experience such pain again. The thing that makes an agliophobic condition different from a regular fear of pain is that the person suffering from the condition carries her fear of pain into other events where the chance of suffering pain may be unlikely.
A simplistic example may be that an agliophobic person may never walk to her mailbox for fear of stubbing her toe. The chance that a person will stub her toe each time she walks to the mailbox is low. In addition, although stubbing one’s toe may hurt, it certainly should not hurt so badly as to prohibit a person from walking down her sidewalk to a mailbox. So, a person with agliophobia is so afraid of pain that she is willing to cease walking to her mailbox, even though the chances of extreme pain are unlikely.
People who suffer from agliophobia exhibit a wide range of symptoms. For example, she may experience shortness of breath, dizziness, or rapid breathing. Some people have an abnormal heart rate, nausea, and perspiration as well. In the most severe cases, a person with this condition may have an irrational fear of death or a sense of detachment. She may also suffer from frequent panic or anxiety attacks.
Typically, a person with agliophobia will need to consult a psychologist. The psychologist may specialize in energy psychology or in phobias. As a result, over a period of time the therapist may determine the severity of the disorder and suggest treatments. These treatments may include prescription drugs or hypnosis. Both are geared to relax the person and help her realize that her fears are unwarranted.
Many agliophobics suffer from drug abuse. They feel that the drugs help them escape the daily fears they face. They are able to escape reality and enter into a surreal world that is free from pain. As a result, many people with agliophobia need to be treated for drug addiction as well as their phobia.