Vasovagal Syncope - Blood Phobia

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Permalink Reply by Keithanthony on July 7, 2011 at 12:49am

These may help

 

http://www.hypnothoughts.com/forum/topics/fear-of-having-blood-drawn

http://www.hypnothoughts.com/forum/topics/nurse-keeps-fainting-at-t...

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Permalink Reply by Joe K Fobes on July 7, 2011 at 3:43am

Is it realistic to suppose that hypnosis will be helpful in this case at all?  Don't get me wrong I believe in hypnosis and have been practicing for about seven years.  The reason why I am questioning the efficacy of hypnosis is because vasovagal syncope happens at a level beneath the control or percieved control of the client.  In other words is asking her not to faint at the sight of blood like asking her not to let her heart race at the sight of a sexy hunk. (OK maybe not a good choice of example) but it works.

 

I would say that the reasons you mentioned indicate the opposite. That hypnosis is actually the perfect tool in this case.

 

You see, most therapies work 'top down'. They seek to alter cognitions and then let that change flow down and effect lower level automatic thoughts and physiological responses.

 

Hypnosis on the other hand works bottom up. You can alter a persons sensory perceptions in the moment.

 

As a simple example, using hypnosis you can make her heart not race at seeing a good looking guy. Quite easily in fact. Simply have her hallucinate that shes a straight man, or that he's ugly, or any number of things. Try doing that using CBT or any other top down approach.

 

Now of course this whole concept hinges in you hypnotizing her instead of simply relaxing her, but I'm sure you can do that.

 

Joe

 

PS Not to say that top down can't help here and not to say that we shouldn't use top dopwn techniques. However, hypnosis in and of itself is a very strong example of bottom up phenomena.

 

 

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Permalink Reply by J Z Williams on July 7, 2011 at 4:06am

Hi Joe,

 

You've helped. With regard to this

 

"Now of course this whole concept hinges in you hypnotizing her instead of simply relaxing her, but I'm sure you can do that."

 

Truth is I always thought that I was hypnotising people and not just relaxing them, but what if I wasn't, how would I know if I had been fooling myself?

 

Regards Jayne

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on July 7, 2011 at 4:40am

Hi Jayne,

Does this person totally black out and have altered physiology as a consequence of this fear of the sight of blood?

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Permalink Reply by J Z Williams on July 7, 2011 at 5:36am

Hi Henxy,

 

Yes she does.  Not only at the sight of it, she once passed out because someone told her a boy was having a nose bleed in another part of the house. She is particularly anxious about nose bleeds as she believes them to be unpredictable and of course there tends to be copious blood.

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Permalink Reply by Joe K Fobes on July 7, 2011 at 10:16am

Truth is I always thought that I was hypnotising people and not just relaxing them, but what if I wasn't, how would I know if I had been fooling myself?

 

Test your work.

 

"In a moment I will snap my fingers, and when I do, you will be unable to move your hand. It will be completely rigid and frozen in place."

 

SNAP

 

"Now really honestly try to move that hand. Don't make me feel good, rather really try."

 

:)

 

Joe

 

PS I'm not saying that I would work with this using straight hypnosis. I like to eliminate the top down components using gentle provocation at first. Rather I was answering your original question as to if hypnosis would work.

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Permalink Reply by Henxy on July 8, 2011 at 8:39am

Hi, that doesn't quite equate to altered physiology. It makes someone extremely sensitive to a concept.

My sister passed out cold when a dr said they were going to do a blood gas on our Granny. There was nothing to be seen, because they hadn't even got their equipment!

Dissociation can help deal with strong physical responses.

J Z Williams said:

Hi Henxy,

 

Yes she does.  Not only at the sight of it, she once passed out because someone told her a boy was having a nose bleed in another part of the house. She is particularly anxious about nose bleeds as she believes them to be unpredictable and of course there tends to be copious blood.

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Permalink Reply by J Z Williams on July 8, 2011 at 10:08am

What do you mean by altered physiology?

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Permalink Reply by J Z Williams on August 21, 2011 at 10:18am

I wanted to give an update on this subject and also gain some further help if I can.  I

have worked with this lady for about three sessions now.  In the first session we worked on visualising herself watching situations that related to blood loss getting her SUDS and then changing the image to see herself as calm and strong, Seeing the image  winding forwards and backwards, changing colours, adding music. etc;  (Her biggest fear seems to be nose bleeds) in the second session we did more desensitising, using pictures and music.  I even went and bought some fake blood and put it into a syringe to make it look real.  In the last session I actually pricked my own thumb to draw blood. 

 

She has moved on.  She was very pleased with herself that she didn't pass out when I pricked my thumb.  She did have a little wobble but we were able to bring it round with breathing and visualisation.  My problem now is that we both think she could do with gaining even more confidence in her ability to be near flowing blood and not pass out.  Alas. I fear I have a distinct lack of imagination on this one.

We did do some regression work and found that all of her early recollections of blood are connected to violent acts from her father towards her mother.

 

Does anyone have an idea of what I might do next?

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Permalink Reply by John Cleesattel on August 21, 2011 at 6:06pm

It sounds like she just has a deep seated fear of blood and bleeding. Fast phobia cure might be appropriate to finish desensitizing it.

 

John

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