Symptoms of fear of HIV/AIDS

The symptoms of fear of AIDS mainly include excessive worry about AIDS, repeated physical examination, avoidance behavior, emotional fluctuations and social barriers. The fear of AIDS may be caused by misunderstanding of the transmission route of AIDS, past trauma experience, anxiety disorder, obsessive-compulsive disorder or depression, and can be alleviated through psychological counseling, cognitive behavioral therapy, drug treatment, social support, etc.

1. Excessive worry

The core performance of AIDS fear is the persistent fear of AIDS infection. Even after multiple medical tests exclude infection, doubts cannot be dispelled. Patients may repeatedly recall possible exposure scenarios, such as contact with strangers, use of public facilities, etc., and associate normal life events with catastrophic associations as a route of infection. This concern is often accompanied by high sensitivity to blood and body fluids, and even avoidance reactions to neutral stimuli such as hospitals and needles.

2. Repeated check ups

Patients will frequently undergo HIV antibody testing, and some populations still require additional testing after obtaining negative results. Typical manifestations include weekly visits to different medical institutions for re examination, simultaneous use of multiple testing methods, and excessive attention to subtle changes in the body such as lymph node enlargement. This type of mandatory testing is often accompanied by excessive interpretation of test results, such as misinterpreting normal phenomena during the testing window as evidence of infection.

3. Avoidance behavior

Fear of HIV can lead to pathological avoidance of daily activities, such as refusing to share utensils with family and avoiding normal social contact such as shaking hands. Severe cases may exhibit cleanliness obsession, such as repeatedly disinfecting items, excessive hand washing, etc. Some patients may restrict their travel range or refuse medical treatment due to concerns about exposure risks in the hospital environment, which may seriously affect their social functioning.

4. Emotional fluctuation

Patients often have emotional states of anxiety and depression alternately, and have acute anxiety reactions such as palpitation and sweating when exposed to AIDS related information. Some people experience persistent depression symptoms such as low mood and decreased interest, and wake up repeatedly at night to check for physical symptoms. Emotional problems may further lead to secondary damage such as decreased attention span and decreased work ability.

5. Social disorders

Fear of HIV may trigger interpersonal sensitivity, manifested as excessive questioning of partner loyalty, mandatory HIV testing, etc. Some patients isolated themselves for fear of infecting others, or repeatedly asked others whether their symptoms were related to AIDS. Long term social avoidance may lead to serious consequences such as marital breakdown and hindered career development.

It is recommended that individuals with a fear of HIV/AIDS maintain a regular schedule and moderate exercise, such as 30 minutes of aerobic exercise every day, to help alleviate anxiety. Eating foods rich in tryptophan, such as bananas and oats, can promote serotonin synthesis. Avoid excessive searching for false information on the internet and establish a fixed channel for medical consultation. Family members should avoid simply denying the patient's fear and can accompany them to formal medical institutions to obtain authoritative testing reports and psychological assessments. When symptoms persist for more than one month and affect normal life, it is necessary to seek timely medical attention at a psychiatric department. Professional doctors will use cognitive-behavioral therapy or a combination of anti anxiety drugs such as paroxetine tablets and sertraline tablets according to the situation.