algophobia

Algophobia is a phobia of pain - an abnormal and persistent fear of pain that is far more powerful than that of a normal person. ^[1] Algophobia is a self-destructive or cycling phobia. A person suffering from algophobia will feel psychological pain from the phobia, which again triggers the phobia and causes more pain, and so on in a destructive cycle. The fear is excessive, beyond that which is expected under the circumstances, producing an anxiety reaction.

Symptoms

Algophobia can result in various symptoms including breathlessness, dizziness, excessive sweating, nausea, dry mouth, feeling sick, shaking, heart palpitations, inability to speak or think clearly, a fear of dying, anger or losing control, a sensation of detachment from reality or a full blown anxiety attack.

References

1. ^ Casselman, William (1998). A Dictionary of Medical Derivations: The Real Meaning of Medical Words. The Parthenon Publishing Group, p. 20. ISBN 1-85070-771-5. 

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