Nosophobia (fear of getting sick): symptoms, causes and treatment

Despite the fact that concern for one's own health and the fact of not wanting to get sick is a normal and rational reaction that is taken for granted. the need to avoid pain and for one's own survival, when this concern becomes excessive and irrational fear we may be facing a case of nosophobia.

Throughout this article we will talk about this exaggerated fear of contracting a disease; as well as the symptoms that it presents, the causes and the possible treatments that the patient can undergo.

• Related article: "Types of Phobias: Exploring Fear Disorders"

What is nosophobia?

Nosophobia is categorized within specific anxiety disorders and is characterized by provoke in the patient an exacerbated, irrational and uncontrollable fear of suffering or developing a disease mortal.

Although it does not always have to be that way, nosophobia occurs more commonly in people whose work or context is closely related to the world of diseases or health, as well as in students of health sciences. It is hypothesized that the reason for this higher incidence may be related to the imprint or impression that some pathologies can cause in the person's mind.

One of the characteristics of people who suffer from nosophobia is that, despite the fact that for them any symptom can be a sign of a fatal disease, avoid going to the doctor at all costs. The reason is found in the exacerbated fear of discovering that they have a dangerous or lethal condition, so they prefer to live without finding out.

In addition, these patients feel a total aversion to the passage of time and the fact of having a birthday. Since the older you are, the more likely you are to develop a deadly disease and the closer you are to death.

How to differentiate it from a normative fear?

Experiencing a certain fear of contracting or developing any type of disease, especially if it is fatal or poses a serious health risk, is completely normal; since it is an evolutionary reaction and follows a survival instinct. That is why it is so important to specify the characteristics that distinguish a phobic fear from a habitual or normative fear.

The first difference is that the phobic fear is completely irrational, the person is unable to find a reasoning or logical basis for the fear who experiences and may even come to accept this irrationality but still cannot fight against it.

The second characteristic characteristic of this type of disorders is that the fear experienced is completely disproportionate to the real threat that exists. Although there is always the possibility of developing a fatal disease today, the level of fear experienced by these people is excessive and exaggerated.

Finally, in phobic fears, the person is absolutely unable to control the fear experienced. This means that the person You cannot prevent the sensations and feelings of anxiety from appearing, as well as the intrusion of intrusive thoughts and beliefs that enhance this anxiety.

Nosophobia and hypochondria: differences

Although it is true that both psychological alterations are related and that a person hypochondriac can develop nosophobia, there are certain traits that differentiate each of the disorders.

The first of these, and most distinctive, is that unlike a hypochondriac person, those who suffer from nosophobia do not believe they have developed the disease, he only experiences a deep fear of doing so.

In addition, as mentioned above, a person with hypochondria makes constant visits to the health center in order to ratify her suspicions while in nosophobia it is avoided by all means to go to the doctor.

It is an avoidance mechanism. with which the person can avoid any risk of discovering a deadly disease. Likewise, people with nosophobia avoid contact with sick people, talk, read or watch movies or documentaries that may be related to diseases.

Contrary to hypochondriac people, who are dedicated to investigating or searching for all possible information about any disease, in nosophobia it is preferred to be unaware and ignore any of these issues for fear of seeing recognized.

• You may be interested in: "Hypochondria: causes, symptoms and possible treatments"

What symptoms does this anxiety disorder present?

Throughout the article some of the characteristic symptoms of nosophobia have already been mentioned. However, it is necessary to specify that, since it is a specific anxiety disorder, there are many other symptoms in relation to this type of phobias.

As in the rest of the phobias, the clinical picture of nosophobia is divided into three sets: physical symptoms, cognitive symptoms, and behavioral symptoms. However, although most people experience the same symptoms, this phobia presents great variability between people.

In physical symptoms the person experiences an increase in nervous system activity, which translates into symptoms such as increased blood pressure, tachycardia, muscle tension or stomach pain among many others.

Regarding the cognitive symptomatology, this is distinguished by the presence of a series of irrational ideas and beliefs in relation to the possibility of developing a life-threatening disease.

Finally, as mentioned in the previous point, the person also experiences a series of behavioral symptoms. In the specific case of nosophobia, the person tends to carry out avoidance behaviors such as not going to the doctor, avoiding medical check-ups and try to stay away from any information or exposure related in any way to the diseases lethal.

What are the causes?

Although it is very difficult to find out the specific cause of a phobia, It is hypothesized that a genetic predisposition, together with experiencing highly traumatic experiences It can lead to the development of phobias.

In the specific case of nosophobia, the experience of the death of a loved one or close person due to a fatal disease may be enough to develop said phobia. In addition, the fact of being constantly exposed to media or environments in which death from disease is a common occurrence (hospitals, nursing homes, health centers) or being a student in any branch of health are also risk factors when acquiring this type of disorder. anxiety.

Is there a treatment?

Luckily, there are different psychological therapies that can help reduce the intensity of the symptoms of nosophobia to the point of disappearing. Intervention through cognitive restructuring It can favor the elimination of irrational thoughts and beliefs, which form the basis of this disorder,

Of the same, the treatment by means of systematic desensitization, in which the patient mentally and gradually exposes himself to feared thoughts or situations, accompanied by a training in relaxation techniques are highly effective when it comes to allowing the person to restore their rhythm of life usual.