...and together, let's all eliminate the need for this forum!

I've been browsing through here, and I've had two observations: #1 is that I'm one of you, that we are all terrified like crazy of needles. And #2 is that there's lots of talk, but little action.

I'm seeing lots of "Oh, I'm so scared of needles!!" and replies like "Oh, me too! We'll be with you in spirit!"
And I think to myself, "Oookay...like that's gonna help. Oh goody; someone far, far away that I've never met wrote words on a computer screen to try to comfort me."

That's done now. Because really, nobody wants to hear that someone miles away will be thinking about you whenever they have the time. That's not going to help the dread we all feel when going to the doctor's office. So now let's take action. What can we do to eliminate these fears? What can we do to actually help? Let's start by pinpointing what's so terrifying about needles.

Physical environment
Me personally, I'm terrified when I'm about to get a shot, but the moment I see inside of the tiny little room at the doctor's office, my anxiety multiplies tenfold. Why? Because every single time you've ever gotten a shot in your life it was no doubt in that tiny little sterile room. All little doctor's rooms smell the same. The little rooms all look the same. That triggers the anxiety.

Solution: Why even bother going inside that little room at all? Call your doctor and see what you can work out. What if you could get your shot in an environment that you're comfortable and happy in? Somewhere that all your fears melt away, maybe an exotic or beautiful location outside, or even the comfort of your own home.

Human environment
So you're in that little room, terrified like crazy. Then, what happens? You hear the knock at the door and the nurse walks in carrying the shot(s). At this point many people even pass out from the fear. But what if it was someone you love that walked in instead? Someone that you're comfortable with, familiar with...what if it was them that gave you the shot rather than a terrifying and unfamiliar nurse?

What about those Novocaine shots you get at the dentist's?
I'm right there with you, believe me. I'm terrified sick of shots. But I don't even react when a dentist tells me that he's going to inject Novocaine into the inside of my gum. Why? Because it literally feels like a small pinch. That's it. And regular shots are no different. No matter what your racing heart tells you, shots don't hurt! If you closed your eyes and got a shot without knowing what was happening, you'd just say someone was pinching you. Of course, we're all terrified anyway. But why?

Solution:
Think of other times when you get punctured by stuff without reacting with fear. Ever stapled yourself? Or pricked yourself with a thumbtack or safety pin? Or gotten a bee sting? These all hurt millions of times more than shots...and yet, we don't fear many of these things because they're no big deal. Don't make shots a big deal. That's where the Environment comes in. Give yourself the shot as a side-thought at home after your evening meal.

Give it to yourself, on your own terms
Sure, it's unlikely that doctors will loan shots out to you. "Oh sure sir, I'll let you take this Hepatitis B shot home with you. Remember-be careful and don't prick other people with it!" I doubt it.

Solution:
But despite that, people give themselves other types of shots all the time at home anyway, like for Diabetes, or people allergic to bees who get stung. So when you consider that, you may have something to work with in terms of giving yourself regular shots on your own terms, and not on the terrifying terms of a doctor.

Consciousness
There's definitely stuff like EMLA cream that numbs your skin. But it may not help with the actual fear, because our fear of needles is completely irrational, but still ever-present. So why not take a few sleeping pills before your shot, and just fall into a deep sleep? You'd never even have to know it happened.

And there's always stuff like FluMist--flu vaccines, needle-free. Just a squirt up each nostril.
And, of course, there's all the stuff johnnyjohnnyuk posted in this forum about the steps towards eliminating needles.

Guys and girls, needles may not be necessary in the apparently near future, and even now there are needle-free alternatives. But in the meantime, we have to find ways to eliminate our fears of them. We're done assisting people in spirit--now let's take some real action towards eliminating this fear.

It's time to laugh at the fear of needles! We can eliminate it, we can do it! I've given a few starting points, but now we need more input. So now--your turn!

-Apostrophe

Firstly, welcome to the forum Apostrophe.

Secondly, I like the idea behind your post (encouraging people to stand up to their fears and find a way to cope). However, I do have a few issues with some of the things you posted. I don't think you meant anything bad by them, but sometimes we need to remember to be careful of what we say as some people are fragile minded.

Apostrophe Wrote:Solution: Why even bother going inside that little room at all? Call your doctor and see what you can work out. What if you could get your shot in an environment that you're comfortable and happy in? Somewhere that all your fears melt away, maybe an exotic or beautiful location outside, or even the comfort of your own home.

Although I'm sure it would be nice for some people to have the opportunity to get a needle in a beautiful outdoor location, I don't see how it'd be possible. Needles are typically given in a doctors office as the office tends to be clean and the doctor has facilities (needle disposal container, gloves, etc) near by. I have heard of vaccines being given in conference rooms and what not (along with blood donation clinics, etc) but I don't see how that'd help a needle phobic. Being in a crowded place would probably do more harm than good.

As for a doctor making a house visit, I won't say it's impossible that a doctor would do so but I think it's highly unlikely.

I do agree in a sense with the idea you have though. Since being outdoors is slightly unlikely, try and imagine that you're somewhere outside. If there's a window in the office, focus on what's going on outside, beyond the window. Not what's going on within the office. Just try and keep your mind else where rather than on the situation in the room and your fear.

I also think it's best to level with the doctor that's giving you the needle. Tell them you're needle phobic and that needles are a big deal for you. Sure, it won't do the world of good, but doctors understand and I'm sure the majority of them would be more than willing to accomodate you to the best of their ability.

Apostrophe Wrote:Human environment
So you're in that little room, terrified like crazy. Then, what happens? You hear the knock at the door and the nurse walks in carrying the shot(s). At this point many people even pass out from the fear. But what if it was someone you love that walked in instead? Someone that you're comfortable with, familiar with...what if it was them that gave you the shot rather than a terrifying and unfamiliar nurse?

Again, I don't disagree with trying to imagine that the situation would play out like that. But, I don't see any doctor or nurse giving a needle to a loved one to administer to a patient. They are properly trained to administer needles. Most of our loved ones are not.

Apostrophe Wrote:Give it to yourself, on your own terms
Sure, it's unlikely that doctors will loan shots out to you. "Oh sure sir, I'll let you take this Hepatitis B shot home with you. Remember-be careful and don't prick other people with it!" I doubt it.

Solution:
But despite that, people give themselves other types of shots all the time at home anyway, like for Diabetes, or people allergic to bees who get stung. So when you consider that, you may have something to work with in terms of giving yourself regular shots on your own terms, and not on the terrifying terms of a doctor.

I don't think that suggesting that people give themselves shots is a good idea. Again, most of us are not 'trained' on how to administer a shot properly. Diabetics usually have a doctors visit where they are taught how to give themselves insulin. I don't think it's a good idea for anyone to take a hypodermic and practice giving themselves needles. Sure, I highly doubt it'd do unmeasurable harm, but it's not something that's good to be doing.

And, as far as needles for severe allergies go, they're full of medication used to save someone from possibly dying due to a severe allergic reaction. Under no circumstances should someone administer a shot such as this on themselves if the shot is not theirs.

Apostrophe Wrote:So why not take a few sleeping pills before your shot, and just fall into a deep sleep? You'd never even have to know it happened.

If anyone does plan on doing this, I highly suggest that you consult your doctor first. Personally, I can't see a doctor agreeing to the idea of a patient taking a few sleeping pills, then falling asleep in a doctors office and expecting the doctor to come in and administer a shot.


Sorry for nit picking at your post but there were a few things I needed to get out there. Welcome to the forum again.

Ana--I know what you mean, and believe me, I knew that I'd get replies like that if I posted this topic.

But the thing is, this fear of needles is beyond anything that anyone that doesn't have it can possibly imagine. Even the image of a shot is enough to give me a funny feeling inside. This is something that goes way, way beyond stress. And it goes way, way beyond fears that other people have, like the fear of not getting your taxes turned in on time.

I don't want to have this fear, and I know that the only way to stop it is to find out what it is about it that terrifies me. For instance, my fear of blood tests is considerably less than my fear of shots, and my fear of dental Novocaine shots are considerably less than my fear of blood tests. And the whole question I'm asking here is: Why? Maybe it's because blood tests and Novocaine shots are done a bit more informally. They're still needles that go under your skin, so my goal here is to find out why other kinds of needles don't terrify me as much as regular shots. Or else, why do regular shots terrify me more?

This thread is intended to find the answers to these questions. And sure, some of my ideas sound absurd. But these are all scenarios that, when I imagine them in my head, cause me less anxiety at the idea of having shots. They're flimsy starting points that, as this thread progresses, will hopefully get refined, and expanded.

So while I certainly understand your point, I'd like you to understand mine. Most people, including me, let this fear overwhelm them when the right kind of situation arises. But with this thread, I'm declaring war on this great fear of shots. I started us out with sticks as weapons, and my hope is that by the time we've finished here, we'll all be armed with cannons instead.

-Apostrophe

I'm just going to reply to the last statement you made, before I reply to the rest of what you said, so that you don't get the wrong idea about what I'm trying to say.

Apostrophe Wrote:So while I certainly understand your point, I'd like you to understand mine. Most people, including me, let this fear overwhelm them when the right kind of situation arises. But with this thread, I'm declaring war on this great fear of shots. I started us out with sticks as weapons, and my hope is that by the time we've finished here, we'll all be armed with cannons instead

After reading what you just posted, I better understand what you're trying to get at with the original post you made. I'm sorry if you were left with the impression that I don't understand or respect where you're coming from because I do.

Apostrophe Wrote:But the thing is, this fear of needles is beyond anything that anyone that doesn't have it can possibly imagine. Even the image of a shot is enough to give me a funny feeling inside. This is something that goes way, way beyond stress. And it goes way, way beyond fears that other people have, like the fear of not getting your taxes turned in on time.

I know you feel like that, but in all honestly, the majority of us here can relate and understand more so than you realize. It's hard because we get so wrapped up in our fears sometimes and can't imagine how anyone else could ever feel the same way, yet, unfortunately, this forum is full of a good number of people that feel just as strong a fear as you. Sure, we're not all afraid of needles, but that doesn't make our fears and struggles any less than someone, like yourself, who is afraid of needles.

I have my own personal 'demons' (fears that I need to face on a day to day basis). I don't fear needles, but I fear plenty of other things. Thus, I do understand your struggles. Maybe not in such a direct way as understanding your exact phobia for needles, but I do understand. I also sympathize with you.

Although you may not see it this way, the majority of us on this forum are all in the same boat. We don't have the same fears, but fear is fear no matter what.

Apostrophe Wrote:This thread is intended to find the answers to these questions. And sure, some of my ideas sound absurd. But these are all scenarios that, when I imagine them in my head, cause me less anxiety at the idea of having shots. They're flimsy starting points that, as this thread progresses, will hopefully get refined, and expanded.

I can respect that. If playing those scenarios out in your head causes you less anxiety, then I don't see anything wrong with that. I just wanted to ensure that people understand that some of those solutions would be hard to work out and some of them might not necessarily be safe.

Again, I hope you don't get the wrong idea from my posts. I don't mean any disrespect or anything like that. As I said, I respect your point of view and I do understand some of the struggles you go through.

So, hopefully some other needle phobics will show up and this'll turn into a coping discussion topic of sorts. shappy I hope you sort things out and find ways to overcome your fear.