Overcoming Medical Phobias: How to Conquer Fear of Blood, Needles, Doctors, And Dentists

For an individual with a medical phobia, receiving the care that can relieve pain and cure illness can be a daunting task. Fear of receiving an injection, visiting a doctor, or seeing blood may put any of these some 30 million Americans at great risk—especially if they avoid receiving necessary medical care because of it.

Fortunately, specific phobias are among the most responsive of anxiety disorders to behavior therapy, the research-proven treatment adapted for self-help readers in this book. If you struggle with a medical phobia, this book will first explain the basics about your phobia: where it comes from, what factors influence it, and how best to prepare for treatment. Then you’ll learn to confront and overcome your medical phobia with safe and gradual exposure exercises. These techniques are effective and fast. The book includes information about avoiding relapse and helping someone else who suffers from a medical phobia.