Hemangiophobia

Hemangiophobia, from Greek prefixes hemo- (blood) and angio- (vessel/container), is the fear of blood filled medical containers such as vials, syringes, and IV bags. Although medical equipment is most common for sufferers of hemangiophobia, the condition can be triggered through any (often transparent) container.

This phobia is often confused with hemophobia which is the general fear of blood. Sufferers of hemangiophobia are most likely unaffected by viewing blood in any other circumstance. It is also sometimes confused with Iatrophobia (the fear of seeing a doctor) and Tomophobia (the fear of medical intervention) due to their links to the fear of medical equipment. However, people with hemophobia are often unaffected (or may only feel slight discomfort) by medical equipment or the mention of the procedure itself.

=== "I arrived on time to my annual check-up, upon walking past a nurse carrying a tray of vials filled with blood, my breathing turned rapid and irregular. I felt a sudden, overwhelming sense of anxiety. It was a struggle to continue walking to my appointment." === Some people with hemangiophobia gained it after traumatic hospital experiences, usually relating to having blood drawn. In these cases, procedural anxiety evolves into experiencing similar emotional turmoil from the containers themselves.

=== "I felt lightheaded when getting my blood drawn, like I was going to faint. I looked away from the tube and syringe holding my blood, which soothed my emotions slightly, but I still felt uneasy. After the procedure, I couldn't bare to look at the vials of my own blood behind me. My entire body was shaking." ===