Needle Phobia
I found myself listening to Jeremy Vine on the radio the other day, discussing needle phobia and many people phoned the show to talk about their experiences of this very depilating fear.
The impact of this phobia on many people’s life can be very dramatic especially if people have to have regular injections for diabetes or for other medical problems.
There are many reasons a person may have a needle phobia, it may be to do an early experience at school, possibly hearing other children telling stories about how much it hurts, or just the idea of the injection itself .Other people may worry about infections from needles, what they are being injected with, the size of the needle or the manner in which they were given the injection.
However what people often don’t realise is just how much help there is available. There are many therapies available to help people with needle phobias quite successfully and rapidly, a selection of them is detailed below:
Cognitive Behaviour Therapy (CBT) and Rational Emotive Behaviour Therapy (REBT) – both similar ‘talking’ therapies that help a person to think differently whilst using behavioural exposure to the fear.
Thought Field Therapy (TFT) –that involves the person thinking of their fear whilst tapping on meridian points on their body. Although this sounds quite unusual it is very effective in treating fears and phobias.
Hypnosis – despite how hypnosis is presented in the media, it is a very safe therapy where the client has full control throughout the session. This therapy is once again very helpful in treating phobias quite rapidly
Neuro Linguistic Programming (NLP) has developed several techniques that have been found to be very successful in treat phobias. Sometimes these techniques maybe used in combination with more formal hypnosis however they can also be used separately.
Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) is another therapy that has proven to be very successful in treating phobias. A person is asked to thinking about a specific aspect of their fear whilst using bi-lateral stimulation. This may involve the client moving their eyes back and forth or the use of alternate taps on the back of the hand or listening to alternate sounds played through head phones. This helps the brain to reprocess their fear and helps the person to feel relaxed when confronted by the fear.
student nurse with a huge needle phobia
im a student nurse with a huge fear of needles...obviously i need to overcome this if i want to continue with my course so if anyone can help all suggestions will be greatly appreciated since i need to be able to deal with it better before im allowed out into clinical practice. i had a session where the "flooding" technique was used and while in the session i gained some control over how i was reacting but when faced with injection technique the next day i reacted as bad as ever. all ive ever wanted to be is a nurse so its understandable that im in a bit of a sticky situation
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I have an extreame needle phobia
I've beem afraid of needles my whole life and it's getting progressively worse. I never received any vaccanations at school as I was so afraid. I was restrained in hospital and blood was extracted from me without my consent despite me making it clear that I wasn't to be injected. Even two years on I still have nightmares and panic attacks about it.
It's gotten to the stage that i can't even bare to touch any sharp - sewing needles or drawing pins.The doctors at the hospital are trying to blackmail me into having more blood tests despite knowing what my medical condition is. I've recently been referred to a therapist but I honestly don't think it'll work.
Needle phobia during pregnancy?
I'm considering trying for a baby, but the one thing that is holding me back (or the main thing at least!) is all the needles that will be involved! This seems really crazy when the main thing should be the lovely baby you get at the end of it all, but I'm already panicking about blood tests and drip needles!! The needle in the back of the hand just sounds horrible and I'm sure during labour this is the least of your worries - but I can't stop thinking about it. I wish there was a way of not having needles but getting the same result. The other thing is the epidural! OMG how horrendous does that sound! I know that is optional but if I wasn't worried about needles then I might consider it to take away the pain of giving birth! I've tried hypnotherapy and it did seem to work a bit at the time, I came away feeling a little better about needles, but I'm not sure it's gonna be a lasting effect! I wonder if midwives etc are trained to deal with needle phobia?!?!
needle phobia
I too have severe needle phobia, and have tried a few tricks. Sometimes they work. One is to bring a music player (and headphones) and play something really loud (something like status quo). Another is to have something semi sharp (like a pencil) and press it into my leg or other part of the body, to create a distraction.
Other tricks I would like to try out include painting red rings on my arms before hand, so as to think I am in battle or similar...as a distraction.
My secretary, who had the same problem, tells me that drinking a cup of hot and very sweet coffee before hand also helps.
I agree with you about the attitude of doctors and have had the same experience. Most doctors have no real idea what the issue is (and care even less). They could be a lot more helpful. It actually helps a lot of the doctor talks to you while using a needle for whatever.
Best of luck.
John
getstational diabetes
im a 7 month pregnant lady who has just been daignosed with diabetes in pregnancy. i have severe needle phobia and cant seeem 2 bring myself 2 even do the prick test without panickin screaming and making myself feel sick? i was only diagnosed yesterday and still ave not managed 2 do even 1 test. i feel a failure 2 myself and my beautiful baby girl i just want 2 feel normal and do the right thing. ave managed 2 conquer blood tests with emla cream but this is a hurdle i cant seem 2 jump? i feel insane!!!
i have a severe needle
i have a severe needle phobia, i realy need to have some blood tests done but can not do it, my GP has refered me to CBT but it did not work, i have also tried Diazapan but again this did not work, does any one have any sugestions on who i could contact, one thing i have noticed is that many medical people whilest symperthetic, dont actually understand what the problems are, wih me its the thought process of the needle being under the skin, not the pain, so the magic cream doesnt work, (well not unless it can numb the brain lol )
Needle phobia
I can understand you perfectly! I have the same phobia. Im sorry i dont have a cure. I get violently sick and faint at the mere thought of having to get an injection. I avoid doctors at all costs. We need help! Please let me know if you find a cure!
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