AIDSphobia: how to get sick from experiences alone

The list of deadly diseases that frighten many people is quite long.
These include cancer, tuberculosis and hepatitis C, but people are most afraid of AIDS, caused by the human immunodeficiency virus (HIV). This virus and the disease it causes are still considered incurable, although there are methods that can prolong the patient’s life by several decades. The fear of getting sick can be so strong that even the need to get tested for HIV can cause real panic. This condition can also develop in completely healthy people who fear that their tests may be positive. But quite often those who have real suspicions about the disease are afraid to donate blood for HIV. By postponing the examination, they only aggravate their condition, so the fear of taking tests in this case is not just a phobia that complicates life, but a real threat to life.

Fear of tests as a mental disorder

Patients who complain that they are afraid to take HIV tests or are afraid of the results of an HIV test suffer from a specific type of phobia - speedophobia. The fear of contracting HIV or developing AIDS is a normal reaction of any person, due to the instinct of self-preservation. But phobic fear is too exaggerated and irrational; it complicates a person’s life and leads to the development of depression and other mental disorders.

Experts distinguish two types of speedophobia:

1. The person is firmly convinced that he has AIDS, and constantly undergoes medical examinations and tests. He does not believe the negative test results, believing that the doctors simply made a mistake or that he has a special type of disease that the tests cannot detect.
2. The person assumes that he has contracted an infection, but he categorically refuses to see a doctor and undergo an examination.

In the first case, it will be very difficult to solve the problem without the help of specialists. But the second type of speedophobia can be overcome on your own, with the support of relatives.

Symptoms of speedophobia

The first symptom of fear of HIV infection is fear for your life. A person is looking for reasons to worry. A slight decrease in the functioning of the immune system is enhanced by stress and develops into a real problem. Symptoms of a phobia:

1. Nervousness. The fear of contracting AIDS does not disappear, but only decreases temporarily. The psyche is in constant tension. Against the background of prolonged stress, sleep is disturbed, appetite decreases and the body gradually weakens.
2. Increased aggression. Irritability and aggressive behavior are a defensive reaction. The person tries to isolate himself from the problem.
3. Difficult relationships with those close to you. A phobia forces a person to reduce contact with the outside world. He withdraws into himself.
4. Frequent visits to the doctor. Fear of getting AIDS is the main reason for constant testing. Fictitious or exaggerated symptoms do not indicate a single disease. The more often a patient visits doctors, the more afraid he is that the threat will not be detected in time.

The dangers of fear of tests and how to get rid of it

A person who has any phobia is almost always unhappy. He feels lonely because it seems to him that those around him do not understand him. A depressive state leads to the development of mental and psychosomatic disorders, which further aggravate the condition. Therefore, you should not ignore phobias, especially if the fear is associated with visiting a doctor and taking tests.

If you have discovered a number of symptoms characteristic of HIV infection, or someone close to you has said: “I am afraid that I have become infected with HIV,” then you need to immediately undergo testing. To overcome fear, you will need to do the following:

• turn to loved ones for help. Their support will help overcome uncertainty and fear. A person must understand that regardless of the test results, he will be loved and supported;
• make maximum volitional efforts to decide to visit specialists;
• get acquainted with the latest developments in the field of detecting HIV infection. When a person understands that he will get the result instantly, and he will not have to suffer waiting for several days, then the fear becomes less.

It will be useful to study information about the characteristics of the disease. People suffering from any form of speedophobia avoid contact with sick people in every possible way, considering them a potential threat. They do not trust information about the routes of transmission of infection, sincerely believing that they can become infected with HIV in other ways that doctors are silent about. If you cannot convince such patients of the irrationality of their fears through your own efforts, then you should consult a psychotherapist.

How to protect yourself from speedophobia?

And finally, it is worth mentioning the methods of preventing HIV infection that any person should know. This will help impressionable people reduce their fear of contracting HIV and prevent the development of a phobia.

1. Avoid promiscuity.
2. When having sex with a new partner whom you do not know very well, be sure to use condoms.
3. Don't do drugs.
4. Strengthen your immune system.
5. Avoid unnecessary stress, as it weakens the body's protective functions.
6. Read less about AIDS, do not look for information on the Internet. Most information about the disease is not true.
7. Adequately assess the risks of HIV infection.

For a normal, fulfilling life, it is necessary to pay attention not only to physical, but also to mental health. A person with a healthy, strong psyche is less susceptible to phobic disorders.

How fear arises before taking an HIV test

Speedophobia can develop in different people; the causes of this disorder are very different. However, there are a number of provoking factors that can lead to the development of fear before taking an HIV test:

1. The presence in the family of a seriously ill person with a similar diagnosis. Such a negative experience will inevitably affect a person’s mental state. This factor most often provokes the occurrence of speedophobia in the fairer sex, since they are more impressionable. If such a woman has been tested for HIV, then she will inevitably worry about the results, because she has already encountered this disease.
2. Speedophobia can occur in homosexual men who refuse to accept their orientation. After each sexual intercourse, such a man experiences a colossal feeling of guilt, and also thinks that an infection has occurred. He may say or think: “I'm afraid I have HIV ” but he will not get tested. The fear of illness in this case is enhanced by the fear of exposure. Due to feelings of guilt, speedophobia can also develop in heterosexual men who use paid sex services.
3. Constantly being in a stressful situation. In this state, people tend to become overly sensitive. They react to even the most minor changes in health, considering them manifestations of terrible diseases.

A person who has previously been misdiagnosed may be afraid to take an HIV test. A rapid test can show a positive result in an HIV-negative person with some other diseases. To confirm the diagnosis, you need to undergo a more accurate examination.

Treatment of oncophobia is psychotherapy. Medicines at the request of the patient

To cope with cancer phobia, you need a psychotherapist. This is a specialist who is well versed in both psychopharmacotherapy (medication treatment) and psychology.

First of all, the doctor will offer psychotherapy: cognitive-behavioral, therapeutic hypnosis, Gestalt therapy, rational therapy. Any type of psychotherapy will produce results if it is comfortable for the patient.

Modern hypnosis

They usually start with rational psychotherapy - explain to the person what is happening to him, together weigh the arguments for and against.

The less anxiety, the less thoughts about cancer.

When it is impossible to cope with talking alone, the anxiety is too strong, the doctor suggests pharmacotherapy.

If you engage in psychotherapy and follow the recommendations of your doctor, of course there will be results. We must remember that psychotherapy is not only the work of a doctor, it is not just coming and sitting and listening. The patient must study and do the tasks given by the psychotherapist. Then everything will work out.

Misconceptions related to HIV and AIDS

The fear of getting tested is usually caused not by the procedure itself, but by the fear of contracting an incurable disease. Very often on specialized forums you can read the following statements: “... I’m terribly afraid to donate blood for HIV...”, “... I took an HIV test, and now I’m waiting and I’m terribly afraid of the result...”, “... I’m afraid I’ve become infected with HIV...”, “ ...I'm afraid that I have HIV...” Such thoughts arise because many myths have been created around the human immunodeficiency virus and AIDS. Among them, the most common are:

• HIV is an inevitable death. A person infected with the virus can live a long and happy life. To do this, you need to start treatment as quickly as possible and follow the prescribed antiretroviral therapy regimen;
• If the tests reveal HIV, then the person has AIDS. In fact, HIV and AIDS are not the same condition at all. The syndrome develops as the final stage of HIV in the absence of proper treatment for the infection;
• A pregnant woman with HIV will definitely give birth to a sick child. The risk of a baby becoming infected from the mother in the womb is reduced to 50%. But if the woman was under the supervision of a doctor and underwent treatment, then it becomes minimal;
• a person with HIV becomes an outcast because he is dangerous to others. It is impossible to become infected with this infection through everyday life or through communication with a sick person. As mentioned above, the virus can only enter the body through blood, semen or other biological fluid. But if a sick person receives proper treatment, then the risk of infection even during unprotected sex is reduced to 1%. Being in a large group is more dangerous for the patient himself than for the people around him, since his weakened immune system will be under great strain.

Recently, much attention has been paid to preventing the development of HIV infection. One of its directions is explanatory work with the population regarding the characteristics of the disease. If people are less afraid of HIV infection, then taking a test for it or an AIDS test will not be so scary.

According to statistics, in Russia every 40th man aged 25 to 40 is infected with HIV.

The number of HIV-infected men is increasing every year, including in the Kirov region.

Growth is usually associated with the following factors:

• men have more sexual partners than women;
• seek sex services more often;
• tend to abuse alcohol and drugs in combination with sex;
• have a high risk of infection through same-sex sexual contacts;
• rarely think about their health, especially reproductive health.

WHAT DO YOU NEED TO KNOW ABOUT HIV?

We know what computer viruses are and how to maintain the “health” of your electronic assistant, but what is HIV and how to maintain your health?

HIV is a human immunodeficiency virus that destroys the immune system. He cleverly bypasses the body’s defense systems, gets to the “command post” and, having captured it, forces the protective cells to produce viral copies. As a result, the immune system stops working. The body becomes vulnerable to infections and harmful environmental influences.

As a result, the disease, which is based on immunodeficiency, enters the final stage - AIDS (acquired immunodeficiency syndrome). At this stage, the immune system is so weakened that diseases that develop against the background of HIV infection lead to death.

HIV infection occurs in only three ways:

• sexual (any sexual contact without using a condom);
• through blood (through a non-sterile syringe/needle/drug container; through a non-sterile instrument when applying a tattoo/piercing; infection is possible if epidemiological safety rules for blood transfusions are violated);
• from mother to child (in utero, during childbirth, through breast milk).

THOSE WHO KNOW LITTLE ABOUT THE WAYS OF HIV TRANSMISSION ALWAYS RISK MORE!

The predominant route of HIV infection is sexual — at the end of 2018, about 70% of all cases of HIV infection detected in the Kirov region were due to unprotected sexual contacts.

Infection can occur through all forms of sexual contact. anal contact is especially dangerous

since this is the most traumatic type of sexual activity. The rectal mucosa contains cells that are susceptible to HIV, and if microtraumas appear on the mucosa, the risk of the virus entering the blood increases significantly. Therefore, the “passive” partner is at high risk of infection.

However, the “active” partner is also at risk, as he comes into contact with mucous membranes and blood.

The next highest risk is unprotected vaginal intercourse.

The likelihood of infection in this case increases with damage to the mucous membranes of the genital organs, during sexual contact during menstruation, in the presence of inflammatory diseases of the genitourinary system or infections.

During oral contact

the risk of infection is lower than with the first two forms, since the concentration of the virus in saliva is very low. However, if there is blood in the partner's saliva (due to damage to the oral mucosa), the risk of infection increases significantly.

THE GREATER THE NUMBER OF SEXUAL PARTNERS, THE HIGHER THE RISK OF HIV INFECTION!

The fear of contracting HIV infection becomes stronger if you know that one of your friends or acquaintances is infected with the virus. However, most fears are unfounded.

It is important to know that HIV is not transmitted

through saliva, sweat, tears, urine. Handshakes, kisses, caresses and hugs are safe. Coughing, sneezing, or sharing utensils, bedding and clothing with an HIV-infected person does not transmit the virus. It is safe to visit a pool, bath, or sauna together with an HIV-positive person. Mosquitoes also do not carry the virus, so their bites are not dangerous.

HOW TO FIND OUT IF YOU HAVE HIV?

It may take 5-7 years from the moment of infection to the clinical manifestations of the disease. During this time, a person feels well, may not be aware of the disease and infect his partner.

HIV test,

The only way to determine whether the virus is in the body is by detecting antibodies. They are specific to each pathogen and are produced in the body in response to the penetration of the virus.

It takes from 2 weeks to 3 or even 6 months to produce antibodies (in rare cases, up to a year). When the virus is already in the body, and there are not enough antibodies yet, the HIV test will be negative. This period is called the "window period". Therefore, the test must be repeated after 2-3 months.

STI. ANOTHER HEALTH HAZARD

One of the most unpleasant emergency situations on the love front is STIs.

STIs are sexually transmitted infections. Many of them do not reveal themselves to be anything for many months and even years! If you want to be sure that you are healthy, you need to be tested for HIV and other STIs regularly, at least once a year!

When should you get tested?

Gonorrhea and trichomoniasis can be detected within 5-7 days after infection. Syphilis - in 3-4 weeks. Well, the most dangerous virus - HIV - is masked for at least 2-3 months.

STIs may not manifest themselves for a long time, but if any of the following symptoms appear, you should immediately go to the doctor:

• itching, burning in the genital area;
• unusual discharge from the penis and anus;
• frequent and painful urination;
• neoplasms in the genital area (lumps, warts, growths);
• ulcers in the genital area.

These symptoms may indicate the presence of an STI. Here are just some of the infections known to medicine:

• syphilis: sexually transmitted; 3-4 weeks after infection, a rash may appear on the body; if left unchecked, the infection can reach the brain and central nervous system;
• gonorrhea: transmitted sexually and, extremely rarely, through household means; typical signs are yellowish or greenish discharge, burning and itching when urinating; the consequences of gonorrhea can be infertility, meningitis, heart disease, etc.;
• trichomoniasis: infection occurs through sexual and household routes; signs are typical for many STIs - discharge from the penis and pain when urinating (sometimes there may be no symptoms); possible consequences - prostatitis, tumors (including malignant);
• chlamydia: the route of infection is the same as for trichomoniasis and gonorrhea; is usually asymptomatic; Among the consequences are infertility, inflammation of the prostate gland;
• genital warts: a very contagious viral disease, sometimes simply touching the affected skin is enough to become infected; some types of papillomas (warts) are harmless, while others can lead to cancer; It is quite easy to remove warts, but the virus itself cannot be removed from the body;
• genital herpes: transmitted sexually, even a condom does not protect against it; Painful ulcers often appear in the genital area, which heal after 2-4 weeks, but it is no longer possible to get rid of the herpes virus.

CONDOMS ARE BEST FRIENDS!
...AND YOU NEED TO KNOW YOUR FRIENDS BY FACE!
Almost all modern condoms are made from latex - the milky sap of the Hevea tree.

The times when there was only one type of contraceptive are long gone. Today there are all the conditions to diversify your intimate life (classic, textured, flavored, contour, ultra-thin, etc.).

The only thing that remains unchanged is the rule that all sexual contacts must be protected!

There is no vaccine for HIV infection!

Many STIs also cannot be cured. So you can’t do without a condom and a responsible attitude towards choosing a sexual partner! In addition, a high-quality condom, if used correctly, will prevent unwanted pregnancy.

About quality!

It is important to choose the right condoms! To purchase quality ones, you need to know the following simple rules.

Firstly, high-quality condoms cannot be cheap. A suspiciously low price may indicate that the product has not passed the necessary control. However, inexpensive condoms can also be of high quality, so you should pay attention to the presence of special marks on the packaging - GOST, ISO, “passed electronic testing.”

Secondly, under no circumstances should you buy or use expired goods! Over time, latex breaks down and becomes unsuitable for protection against both unwanted pregnancy and STIs. The expiration date must be on each package (external and individual).

Thirdly, the integrity of the individual condom packaging is extremely important. In order to check this, it is enough to touch the packaging; a rolling air bubble should be detected in it. If it is missing, then the packaging is damaged and the condom cannot be used.

Fourthly, condoms should always come with instructions for use, which you should read in advance.

Correct use of a condom requires compliance with certain rules:

• put on the genitals only when fully erect;
• leave room for sperm (the elongated tip at the end - the sperm receptacle - is not made for beauty, but in order to prevent the condom from breaking at the moment of ejaculation);
• if necessary, use additional lubricant/gel (a deficiency can lead to rupture of the condom), but it is extremely important that these products are water-based (fat-containing gels and lubricants, oils, petroleum jelly, fatty creams destroy the latex structure);
• it is necessary to remove the penis immediately after ejaculation, holding the condom at the base (it is important to prevent the condom from slipping);
• if the condom breaks, it is necessary, while remaining calm, to wash the external genitalia with clean running water as soon as possible (the use of antiseptics can lead to irritation of the mucous membrane and increase the risk of HIV infection); If possible, it is recommended to seek specialist advice as soon as possible after a risk situation.

It is important not to forget about the rules for storing condoms!

Strong temperature changes should not be allowed in the places where they are located. This can lead to disruption of the latex structure. Condoms should be stored in a dry place at a temperature from 0 to +25 C away from direct sunlight. It is strongly recommended not to leave them in cars or trouser pockets!

What is HIV

The human immunodeficiency virus was first isolated from the lymphocytes of a patient in 1983. Almost simultaneously this was done by an American laboratory and a group of scientists led by Luc Montagnier. The virus received its familiar name for HIV infection a little later.

This infection is a systemic human disease, which results in a rapid decline in immunity. As HIV infection progresses, it reduces the body's defenses so much that it ceases to resist pathogenic microorganisms and the patient is diagnosed with AIDS. Its symptoms:

• the appearance of a rash on the mucous membranes and skin;
• rapid weight loss;
• enlarged lymph nodes, their pain;
• fever;
• frequent diarrhea;
• the spleen and liver become larger;
• pharyngitis, cough and other catarrhal manifestations;
• the appearance of permanent secondary diseases - herpes, pneumonia, intestinal and other infections, cancer, fungi, etc.

HIV is an incurable disease because the virus constantly mutates after entering the body. Once the immune system begins to produce antibodies, the virus changes at the genetic level. This same circumstance explains the fact that so far no one has been able to create a vaccine against HIV infection.

HIV infection is transmitted through blood and other biological fluids (sperm, breast milk, vaginal secretions). It is impossible to become infected with the virus by other means, such as airborne droplets or touch.

Development of speedophobia against the background of hypochondria

Speedophobia is a form of nosophobia (fear of getting sick) and a manifestation of hypochondria (pathological concern with health).

Why does speedophobia develop against the background of hypochondria?

1. AIDS is one of the most discussed diseases. This and the fact that AIDS has no cure makes a health-conscious person believe that sooner or later the disease will strike him too. At the same time, the hypochondriac forgets about the routes of transmission of infection.
2. There is no single list of symptoms that manifest AIDS and HIV. Therefore, the hypochondriac perceives any malaise or weakened immune system as a sign of infection.

This is interesting! People aged 20–30 years are more susceptible to hypochondria. The risk group includes suspicious, anxious, impulsive individuals.