Anyone has needle phobia? If so how do you handle your fears? I'm terrified of needles.?

Question

I avoid all shots, and avoid going to the dentist! about you?

Answer 1

I have the same issue--I'm really not scared of the minor pain (except that it reminds me of what's going on) or even of going to the doctor really, I just feel sick and anxious even thinking about anything involving shots or getting blood taken. This bothers me, because I avoid the doctor just to avoid these things and as I get older, I know having my blood checked for cholesterol and other conditions will be necessary.

The technical name for this is Blood/Injection/Injury Phobia. Unlike other phobias, some studies have shown it's more about revulsion or just getting grossed out than actual fear.

There is therapy available to get over it. This may involve slowly getting used to it--starting with handling needles, getting a shot, giving blood, etc. until it doesn't bother you. Another approach to dealing with it may involve taking an anti-anxiety medication or beta blocker before you get a shot or applying a topical anaesthetic. You ask your doctor to recommend a psychiatrist who may be able to help with this.

As for me, I was able to give blood once after I had (very reluctantly) spent several hours volunteering at a blood drive. I was much less scared of needles for a bit after that and might try it again, but after going about three years without a shot or bloodwork, I found myself freaking out at a tiny TB test.

I've had to get two shots and one blood test since and so far, I've found the number one best thing to help is talking to the doctor and nurse about it beforehand. It doesn't make it any less scary, but somehow it feels better to explain what's going on and it tends to make them move a little quicker and gentler. If the nurse or doctor isn't immediately sympathetic, ask to have someone who has experience with people with this phobia (and there are tons of people of all ages with it) administer the shot.

Since I almost reflexively jumped off an examining table once, the other thing I do is lie down and turn my head the other way. The last time, I also let myself cry (I felt a little ridiculous and was even telling the nurse I wasn't worried about the pain through the tears, but it's totally not a rational reaction) as much as I need to so long as I didn't move my arm. I've heard bringing along some music and plugging in the headphones can help too.

Answer 2

I used to have a severe fear of needles just like yours.

First try to figure out the exact reason for your fear. For me it was being held down while someone shoved a needle in me.

Once I figured out the reason I started facing it. I took control of the shots I needed. I would tell the nurse or doctor that I had a fear of needles and needed time to get to the point I could take the shot. The first time I sat there and cried for 15 min, with my hand covering the spot that they wanted to give me the injection.

I also always asked for them to have someone there to hold my hand, if I didn't bring someone with me. I followed the advice I have always given my children about injections. "You can yell as loud as you want, but you have to hold the place of the shot completely still. My kids would scream and squeeze my hand hard, but they always let the nurse or doctor control the site of the injection. Neither one of my kids have troubles with shots now, and the nurses and doctors always told me how well they had done. It's not the noise that makes it hard on nurses and doctors, it's having to fight the patient.

It took me 8 years to get to the point I am now at where it takes me a min to prepare myself and don't need a hand to hold. But once I took control, I did find it easier and easier, for a few years if I knew I had to get an injection the day before hand I would completely lose it in the shower before I went and then I did better there.

I was in the childcare and education field and we had to get a lot of immunization when they changed the requirements.

I am now 37 years old.

Answer 3

I don't. I think it's kind of cool, but my lover is afraid, what does he do? He just freaks out when he has to get needles. It's just part of life. Avoiding all shots and never going to the dentist, you're just asking for tooth, gum and health problems down the line. If you're that afraid, maybe you should seek help.

Answer 4

pink cells die off very at the instant as quickly as a individual expires, that lots i understand. i've got seen the place human beings have expired yet are stored on a ventilator/existence help to help shop the organs practicable till the harvest team can get there to reap organs. i've got set up and issued blood for this objective; basically to maintain the organs practicable till harvest. i think of it particularly is secure to postulate that even nevertheless the donor is on existence help, equipment is protecting the organs oxygenated, there continues to be catabolism and the by technique of things from that would at last build up. this is in all probability why the organs might desire to be harvested at the instant for use. i could see the place the viability of pink cells may be of question and why they does not be used.

Answer 5

any sort of depression can be tide over by faith in GOD and sincere prayer.

Your prayer is from your heart. Further You must have to understood the fact that God is present in our heart. This can be realised in meditation. Further we are the creation of our own destiny. As per Hindu sacred religion, we carry all good and bad deeds life after life. There is no end unless we pray for unification of self with the divineliness.
Hence there is always a possible way to complete mergence with God in this life by a simple and wonderful meditation

Answer 6

I HAVE THAT SAME FEAR! I FREAK OUT WHEN I SEE NEEDLES! TODAY I WAS SUPPOSED TO GO FOR A BLOOD TEST BUT I DIDN'T GO BECAUSE OF MY FEAR. EVERY TIME I NEEDED A BLOOD TEST, I SEE THE NEEDLE AND RUN OUT OF THE EXAM ROOM LIKE CRAZY! ONCE THEY FOUND ME AND BROUGHT ME BACK TO THE "TORTURE ROOM", I WAS STRAPPED TO A CHAIR FOR THE TEST. I'M ALSO AFRAID OF THE DENTIST! IT FEELS LIKE A TORTURE ROOM IN THERE WITH ALL THAT PAINFULL EQUIPMENT! TRUST ME , I RATHER AVOID THE DENTIST AND GOING TO THE DOCTORS FOR VACCINATIONS AND BLOOD TESTS THAN GO THRU WITH ALL THAT PAINFULL TORTURE! I HATE BEING RESTRAINED AND INJECTED, IT'S TORTURE!
U SHOULD DO THE SAME, BUT TRY TO KEEP UR TEETH CLEAN AND AVOID GETTING SICK SO U WON'T HAVE GO THRU WITH THIS!

Answer 7

I am also afraid to take injections. However, when I had sustained burn injuries during 1990, I was hospitalised and was given two injections daily. I had to take them in pain as I had no other alternative.

Answer 8

go get yourself a tattoo. needles are used there and they don't hurt at all. You won't be afraid of a regular shot again.