algophobia

American  

[al-guh-foh-bee-uh] / ˌæl gəˈfoʊ bi ə /

noun

Psychiatry.

1. an irrational or disproportionate fear of pain.

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algophobia British  

/ ˌælɡəˈfəʊbɪə /

noun

1. psychiatry an acute fear of experiencing or witnessing bodily pain

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Other Word Forms

• algophobic adjective

Etymology

Origin of algophobia

First recorded in 1895–1900; algo- + -phobia

Explanation

Algophobia is an irrational terror of feeling pain. It can be nearly impossible for someone with algophobia to get a shot at the doctor's office, because they're so afraid of the needle. Algophobia comes from the Greek algos, "pain," and phobos, "fear." While nearly everyone dislikes feeling pain, and many of us fear extremely painful situations, this anxiety disorder makes it hard to function. If you suffer from algophobia, you may be too terrified to go to the dentist, to ride your bike, or to wear contact lenses, all because you fear the possibility of experiencing pain. Like other phobias, algophobia can be treated with therapy.