Understanding Hemophobia: Blood-Injury Phobia

Understanding Hemophobia: Blood-Injury Phobia

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Can’t stand the sight of blood? Here’s what you need to know about treatment for blood-injury phobia.

If you have blood-injury phobia, the sight of blood makes you faint or feel nauseous, then you’re in the right place. You need to know about treatment for blood-injury phobia and what options are available so that you can decide which treatment or combination of treatments will be most effective in reducing or eliminating your fear of blood and injury. Blood-injury phobia (medically known as haemophobia) affects nearly 12% of the population worldwide and accounts for about 7 million emergency room visits per year in the United States alone, according to the National Blood Services Organization.

The signs and symptoms

Many people who suffer from blood injury phobia experience intense fear, anxiety, and panic when they see or are exposed to any kind of blood or injury. The most common symptoms include rapid heartbeat, shortness of breath, nausea, fainting (sometimes called syncope), dizziness and chills. It is not uncommon for some individuals to pass out at the site of blood or injury. If a person suffers from this type of reaction, he may also feel strong emotional reactions such as sadness, anger, frustration, embarrassment or shame. People with this phobia may avoid work in medical professions, have trouble functioning on a day-to-day basis because of their fear and anxiety, or use avoidance behaviors such as wearing long sleeves even in hot weather to cover their skin.

Treatments available

Many people with a fear of blood and injury will benefit from cognitive behavioral therapy, psychotherapy, or exposure therapy, which gradually exposes them to things they find frightening. Medication is sometimes used in conjunction with other treatments, but there are no medications specifically approved by the FDA for treating this type of fear. Antidepressants such as selective serotonin reuptake inhibitors (SSRIs) may be prescribed to help manage anxiety symptoms related to the phobia. It’s important to note that antidepressants can take several weeks before their effects start being felt, so it may not be an effective option if someone is experiencing extreme distress due to their condition. The tricyclic antidepressant clomipramine may also be helpful in managing blood-injury phobias as well as obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD). If you or a loved one are suffering from blood injury phobia, you will need to see an expert in exposure therapy who is familiar with the use of applied pressure techniques.

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): The Treatment of Obsessional OCD

Exposure and Response Prevention (ERP): The Treatment of Obsessional OCD

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Exposure and response prevention (ERP) is the first-line treatment of choice for most people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). When combined with cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), ERP can be particularly effective in the treatment of obsessional OCD, commonly known as Pure O. In this article, we’ll take a look at what ERP/CBT is, how it works and why it works, and how to go about getting help from your doctor and setting up an ERP/CBT treatment plan that works best for you.

What is Pure O?

Pure O is the term used to describe obsessions that occur without a person having accompanying outward compulsive behaviors. Pure O is in many senses a misnomer because the compulsions still exist but are not observable. That is, in Pure O, thoughts are more frequently the compulsive behaviors following intrusive thoughts. Often individuals with Pure O are engaging in entirely normal self-soothing behaviors, for example trying to talk themselves out of fear or ‘neutralizing’ ‘bad thoughts’ with ‘good thoughts.’ These behaviors, however, offer temporary relief and reinforce the intrusive thoughts continuing.

How is ERP used to treat Pure O?

Treatment for Pure O often consists of ERP, which is the process of exposing oneself to whatever triggers their obsessions, while preventing a compulsive response. For example, if one had an obsession with germs, they would touch a public surface and then not wash their hands. This process is somewhat more delicate and difficult for Pure O and very often requires an expert in exposure and response prevention. An expert can observe you as you attempt to stick with your intrusive thoughts and observe you as well as ask you questions about what is occurring for you as you experience these. They can then help you respond to your thoughts in ways that do not further your suffering over time. One should note that this process is hard and often involves enduring short term anxiety so your life can be regained from your OCD.

Is ERP treatment successful?

The effectiveness of ERP as a treatment for obsessional OCD has been demonstrated in many studies. For example, one study reported that 80% of the participants who were treated with this technique had significant improvement after one year, which is a much higher success rate than with either pharmacotherapy or cognitive behavioral therapy without exposure and response prevention. Moreover, the majority of patients who improve during intensive outpatient treatment continue to do well during follow-up periods that range from six months to five years. Intensive outpatient is not always necessary for individuals with “Pure O” but can be very beneficial for speeding along treatment and reducing opportunities for setbacks with this form of OCD. Specifically, because the ‘compulsions’ in Pure O are so difficult for both seasoned clinicians to identify and clients – its often not optimal to have large gaps in between sessions. Each gap in between sessions tends to leave you more likely to become confused about how to deal with your thoughts or whether you are engaging in exposure ‘correctly.’ If you or a loved one believe you are suffering with “Pure O” OCD, please contact us for assistance.

One Million Steps for OCD Walk, Austin, TX

One Million Steps for OCD Walk, Austin, TX

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One Million Steps for OCD Walk, Austin, TX

October 1, 2022 we got to attend and sponsor the Million Steps 4 OCD Walk in Austin, Texas hosted by OCD Texas, an official affiliate of the International OCD Foundation (IOCDF) and a nonprofit support and advocacy organization for people with obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD) and related disorders.

In 2012, Denis Asselin walked over 500 miles, roughly one million steps from his home in Cheyney, PA to Boston, MA. Denis did this in memory of his son Nathaniel. At just 24 years of age, Nathaniel took his own life after a long battle with severe body dysmorphic disorder (BDD) and OCD. After Nathaniel’s death, Denis decided to honor Nathaniel and raise awareness about the disorder that stole his young son’s life. On June 5, 2012, Denis completed his walk in Boston, and was greeted by friends, family, and members of the OCD community at a special event honoring Denis and supporting OCD and BDD awareness. To carry on this tradition, the One Million Steps for OCD Walk was created the following year in the same spirit of raising awareness, funds, and hope.

This year the Better Living team got to share opening remarks to all the participants, set up a booth to mingle with the guests, and meet other amazing clinicians from all around Austin, Tx. Austin is known for its beautiful lakes, great food, and fitness cultural, and so much more, and of course we explored all these things and more! Join us next year in Dallas, Tx at the 2023 OCD Walk!

Till next time!

Emetaphobia: Overcoming the Fear of Vomiting

Emetaphobia: Overcoming the Fear of Vomiting

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Emetaphobia: Overcoming the Fear of Vomiting

The fear of vomiting, also known as emetaphobia, can be extremely debilitating and cause sufferers to miss work or school due to their fear that they may vomit in public. To overcome this overwhelming fear and keep from missing out on life’s opportunities, try these simple steps to help you understand your emetaphobia treatment options and overcome this debilitating phobia once and for all.

What is emetaphobia?

Emetaphobia, also known as vomit phobia, is a specific fear of vomiting. It is characterized by excessive concern and preoccupation with the possibility that one will vomit when traveling in a car, being embarrassed in public, and/or vomiting on oneself. Emetophobia may be caused by an underlying psychological disorder such as obsessive compulsive disorder (OCD). For some people, emetophobia stems from traumatic experiences involving nausea or vomiting. As emetaphobics are likely to feel nauseous before they actually vomit, it can be difficult for them to differentiate between feeling sick and actually being sick.

How can I get help if I have emetaphobia?

If you have Emetaphobia, there are treatments available to help you overcome your fear. Evidence-based treatment for emetaphobia often involves exposure and response prevention and may also involve medications. Exposure therapy is when a person confronts their fears in a safe environment, such as a therapist’s office with that therapist present. Response prevention is when someone who has an anxiety disorder avoids the object or situation that triggers their anxiety until they learn to cope with it better. Medications can be used in conjunction with other forms of treatment to alleviate symptoms and make it easier for people to engage in psychotherapy or other types of therapy. If you or someone you love is suffering from emetaphobia, please contact us for treatment.

Compulsive Staring OCD: A lesser-known subtype of OCD

Compulsive Staring OCD: A lesser-known subtype of OCD

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Compulsive Staring OCD: A lesser-known subtype of OCD

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is characterized by distressing thoughts (obsessions) and/or repetitive behaviors (compulsions). While many people are familiar with the most common form of OCD, washing and cleaning compulsions, other subtypes of OCD may be less well-known, such as compulsive staring. The hallmark symptom of compulsive staring OCD is the excessive, intrusive thoughts or urges to stare at others in inappropriate or uncomfortable ways, especially strangers on the street or in public places.

Understanding OCD

OCD stands for Obsessive Compulsive Disorder, and is a mental disorder characterized by intrusive thoughts (obsessions) and compulsive behaviors that the person feels driven to perform (compulsions). These compulsions are performed in response to the obsessive thoughts. While most people with OCD have both obsessions and compulsions, there are many presentations that OCD can take. If you think you might have OCD, it is important to see specialists in treatment of OCD for help. Many providers are unfamiliar with the presentations that OCD can take or how to apply evidence-based treatments to these less common types of OCD.

Treatment of Compulsive Staring OCD

Behavioral therapy is typically considered the first line treatment for compulsive staring OCD. It usually consists of a combination of exposure and response prevention, where patients are gradually exposed to their feared objects in a controlled way and then learn to resist the urge to stare at them. Exposure therapy has been shown to be effective for reducing symptoms in about 75% of patients with compulsive staring. This type of therapy should be done under supervision from a qualified mental health professional, who has specialty experience in treating OCD with exposure and response prevention.

When High-Functioning Perfectionism Breaks Down

When High-Functioning Perfectionism Breaks Down

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When High-Functioning Perfectionism Breaks Down

Are you a high-functioning perfectionist? Being highly successful and very good at what you do is something to be proud of. But the unfortunate reality of being high-functioning doesn’t always make it easy to recognize your imperfections or realize when they’re negatively affecting your life. High-functioning perfectionism can lead to feelings of inadequacy, anxiety, exhaustion, hopelessness, and loneliness – and it can feel like nobody truly understands what you’re going through…until now. Here are some signs that might indicate that your high-functioning perfectionism has taken over your life.

What is high-functioning perfectionism?
Some people have trouble identifying or describing it, but most of us know a perfectionist when we see one: They’re those colleagues who are always striving for excellence. The ones who double-check their work and worry about making mistakes. The overachievers who seem to take everything in stride until something goes wrong, and then they fall apart. In some ways, high-functioning perfectionists can be even more difficult to deal with — because they hide their self-doubt so well. High functioning perfectionists often over-prepare, over-do, and leave themselves no time to recover mentally and physically from the demands of the standards they hold.

How can we cope with it?
Learning to deal with perfectionism is a process of teaching one’s self that ‘just enough’ is good enough. That one’s best effort cannot be given to every single activity engaged in or you will begin to struggle to do your best when it really counts the most. It’s making choices about what deserves our effort, time, and energy – and that can be a hard process to begin. Let us know if you need help with perfectionism, our efforts can help you learn to align your behavior and time use with your values.

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