Fear is a basic instinct inherent in any creature on the planet that allows you to survive. However, people can still observe imaginary fears, that is, a fear of a fictitious threat. At the same time, a person has the same behavioral reactions as if a real danger were present.
Sometimes the most incredible threats, even to a disease, even such as HIV, become a cause for fear. In fact, this disease has a rather limited number of transmission routes, but in society, pathology is almost demonized and there is no tolerance to patients. When a person has an obsessive fear of contracting HIV infection, then we can talk about a phobia, which requires the intervention of a psychotherapist.
Phobia manifestations
Symptoms of speedophobia are manifested in the following behavioral reactions:
- an obsessive fear of being infected;
- endless analyzes and testing in specialized medical institutions;
- continuous study of literature on the topic of infection;
- endless conversations with others about AIDS.
The most dangerous thing in this situation is that a person really feels unhappy, because he believes that he is in constant danger. But in fact, he has a real depression, up to the point that the immune system really falls into a depressed state. Such people do not perceive logical arguments, cannot calm down, that is, they find themselves in an irrational state.
Possible reasons
The cause of speedophobia is hypochondria. More correctly, this is one of the varieties of hypochondria, that is, fear of getting sick with something. This is due to the fact that there are many prejudices surrounding HIV. The disease appears to be very scary and incurable, and the degree of probability of transmission of the infection is too exaggerated.
If you really want to, then everyone can find similar symptoms with AIDS. This, for example, chronic fatigue. But whom does she not torment, especially in a big and noisy city? Enlarged lymph nodes, skin rashes, or symptoms of a common cold are very similar symptoms to HIV. Naturally, with the appearance of such symptoms, one can assume the presence of this terrible disease.
By the way, speedophobia and lymph nodes are practically inseparable concepts, since most patients observe precisely the increase in lymph nodes and constantly feel them, although in fact there is no change in size.
Another reason for the appearance of a mental disorder may be betrayal to your partner, drug use or other actions that can actually lead to the appearance of an infection.
Risk group
Most often, such a phobia occurs in men at the dawn of forces that enter into casual sexual contact. At risk are people with a fragile psyche or who once suffered a psychological trauma, individuals with constant anxiety.
This is not to say that there are statistics on this type of disease, because not every person who experiences symptoms of speedophobia consults a doctor. But the most dangerous thing in this situation is that a person, even after receiving a negative answer, still does not trust medical research and, deep down, continues to believe in the presence of infection in his body.
How to understand that there is a problem
The phenomenon of speedophobia can be characterized by signs that should become a reason for seeking psychological help:
- any malaise is perceived as a symptom of developing HIV infection;
- testing at least once every 6 months;
- full confidence in the incorrectness of the analyzes;
- fear that the disease has some rare form, which is unknown to science and cannot be determined by standard tests;
- spending huge amounts of money on all kinds of analyzes;
- contacting the trust service;
- Actively visit thematic sites and watch AIDS programs.
Curse of the internet
This is not to say that the Internet is evil, but for individuals with hypochondria this is a real curse.
As we have already found out, speedophobia has symptoms like HIV, and a person is constantly looking for them in himself. And the Internet provides virtually unlimited information on this disease. And in this case, it is not so important which disease a person has chosen. Such people, just without stopping, read any information about HIV, until they finally intimidate themselves. Some speedophobes can boast of knowledge that not every doctor has. But in the network there are many pseudo-medical sites where information is laid out that has no connection with scientific research and observations! And in such situations, a person with a phobia is not lost: if there is disagreement in the information from different sources, then the problem has not been fully studied, therefore, it can be assumed that the negative answer after the test is erroneous, etc.
Devastating effect
It is believed that the symptoms of speedophobia are equally common in both women and men aged 20 to 30 years. But the most dangerous thing in this disease is that a person causes damage to himself and is faced with many negative aspects.
Firstly, such people spend too much money on medical research, which they absolutely do not need. In addition to direct tests for HIV infection, they take tests for immune status, viral load, and the worst thing is that they can even use drugs that are completely not shown to them! That is, they actually harm their health.
Secondly, speedophobes perceive any ailment as a severe pain. A small migraine will seem like a terrible headache, which it will be very difficult to cope with.
Thirdly, such people are in a state of constant stress, and this is insomnia, increased heart rate, skin rashes. As a result, speedophobia perceives all these negative factors as symptoms of HIV.
How to get rid
A logical question arises: how to overcome speedophobia and is it even possible? In fact, getting rid of an obsessive state is quite realistic, there is even a big chance that speedophobia itself will recede. Although in most cases, hoping that after another negative test result will calm down and the person will return to normal life, is also not recommended. It’s better to see a doctor.
Classification
Before deciding how to get rid of speedophobia, you should understand which group the patient belongs to. To date, there are two of them.
- Hypochondriacs with little knowledge of HIV infection. Persons falling into this category are considered the simplest patients. They should only explain how they can become infected and prove that the tests are 100% reliable. As a rule, such people, getting rid of fear, get rid of hypochondria.
- Experts. These are difficult patients who know almost everything about the disease. They even know about the subtypes of HIV, it is hard to argue with them, and even more so to convince.
The role of relatives
A huge role in the healing of speedophobia is played by the people who surround the sick person. In no case can not swear, it is best to consult a therapist and find out how to help the patient. Indeed, even leading such a person to a psychologist will not be possible immediately, because he is completely sure that his pathology is not associated with a mental disorder, but with the presence of HIV infection in the body.
Relatives and friends should also understand that people with obsessive fear need so-called free ears, so they need to be given the opportunity to speak out.
Psychotherapy
Group therapy gives good results, where the patient can hear stories of speedophobia from completely strangers and understand that he is not sick with HIV, and he has hypochondria.
The advantage of group therapy is not only in saving money on a psychotherapist, but also in the fact that by visiting such groups, a person learns to communicate normally with others and acquires new social skills. In the group you can look at the problem through the eyes of completely strangers. And the patient himself sees the reaction of other people to his own behavior.
On the other hand, group therapy has a drawback that does not allow it to be called a panacea for all psychological problems. Indeed, not every person, due to his personal qualities, is able to share his problem with completely strangers. In such cases, individual psychological counseling is needed.
In the vast majority of cases, individual psychotherapy involves the use of methods of cognitive behavioral therapy or desensitization of information processing with eye movement. In any case, the doctor determines the treatment tactics individually, depending on the degree of hypochondria.
Drug therapy
In no case should you prescribe antidepressants yourself, since they have many side effects. Recent studies have shown that inhibitors help fight the symptoms of speedophobia. These drugs can slow down some chemical reactions in the body and, as a result, save a person from a depressive state and obsessive fear.
Occupational therapy
Such a treatment technique is subject to even the relatives of a sick person. The same harvest on the plot allows you to forget about your problems, and even more so far-fetched. After a whole day in the garden, a person will probably have sore limbs, joints, but not from a far-fetched problem.
What should the patient do himself
First of all, speedophobia must realize that he does not have HIV, but the fear of contracting it. You do not need to constantly feel your lymph nodes, look for some far-fetched symptoms. You must stop visiting sites dedicated to HIV infection. And if you have a headache, then it’s better not to sit down at the computer and look for the cause, but just take a walk in the fresh air.
It is recommended that you read David Adam's book, The Man Who Could Not Stop. David in his book in an accessible language describes his life and the fight against speedophobia. To date, the book is recognized as the best: it describes the psychological state of a person with a similar mental disorder as truthfully as possible.
Speedophobia and the requirements of medical ethics
In the modern world, there is another problem: medical workers themselves become the cause of the occurrence of speedophobia in people. They allow the disclosure of medical secrets, refuse to help people who really have HIV. Along with this, they intensify the situation among patients and become the so-called vehicles of fear of the disease.
Despite the huge number of laws adopted at the national and international levels, nevertheless, some representatives of medicine, instead of real help, only increase the fear of speedophobia. Therefore, with the slightest distrust of the doctor, you should refuse his services and consult another specialist.