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Many famous people have developed a fear of blood, both their own and others, as a result of the 'disease-consciousness' spread by the media and anxious parents, although some have    developed this condition entirely by themselves, or following an unpleasant incident.

For many, this means an avoidance of sports, intimacy, public places, sharp objects, and strangers, because of the fear of accidental cuts, scratches or nose-bleeds.

Complex coping mechanisms can develop, and this phobia can 'generalise' or spread quite quickly to cover wildlife, pets, all diseases and illnesses, hospitals, doctors, dentists, smells and untidyness.

What may have started as a simple phobia, or perhaps a justified, rationalised, and healthy approach to and caution with regard to life, can become completely disabling. Extreme avoidance of any threat can also lead to OCD (obsessive compulsive disorder) routines, such as ritual hand-washing, handshake refusal and door handle strategies.

Some clients have been so phobic of blood that they faint at the thought of being exposed to it.

Bizarrely, this phobia 'makes sense' to those who have it (whereas most other phobias are recognised by the sufferer as illogical and inappropriate). Blood phobics will seek to persuade us that they are 'just being sensible' and 'exercising normal caution', even when they are in our consulting rooms seeking treatment for their condition!

For those seeking a reclusive and sheltered lifestyle, this limiting fear can be a great justification. We gently encourage other public figures and those who need to be actively 'noticed' in the world to remove this, once and for all. Usually a single session or two will remove this phobia, although some of the old conditioned anxious  thinking may require another session or so.