Hi There.

Where to start? at the beginning ...ok..

Lets get the surprises out of the way first.

A) I grew up in care my father killed my mother (stabbed to death)

B) I am 26 and have had years of therapy both for the needlephobia and for bereavement/panic attacks.

c) I have refused all forms of anti depressants/tranquilizers i don't take weed or any other relaxant bar "st johns wart" a herbal remedy for depression with no side effects (bar making you prone to sun burn - not really applicable to me as i live in England)

I Avoided the dentist for two years when i needed my wisdoms removed they literally rotted. I lived on ensure plus vitamin drinks and tomato soup. It hurt to breath (literally the air between my teeth "hurt" the teeth)...I won't go back to that again - Ever.

I was told i couldnt get hypnosis on the NHS and my dentist wanted to put me into hospital (that won't help - its still a needle!) So i said no. I looked into everything I could and did as much "self work" as possible mantra's meditations visualization techniques art therapy spiritual stuff you name it - i tried it. (including sticking the handle of the toothbrush against my gum and slapping the other end repeatedly - tip "do NOT try that" - you get a very bad abcess that requires antibiotics - besides its stupid and hurts like hell.. When i finally did get to the dentist and have both wisdoms out I was chuffed it went very well i had the needle it hurt it went numb (I have to have numerous injections as they cannot numb my tongue that sets my panic attacks awol - I feel like im choking)...So had all injections and teeth rmeoved without incident. Was very happy.

I then went back to have a lower molar removed i had the injections and they had given me the maximum they could without sending me to the hospital (the tooth was rotton but huge). The extraction hurt like hell. in the end i was telling her to "just pull it" the air was blue. I didn't care i just wanted it "out" and thankfully - she did. But it was very painful.

Issues I have had with needles? well I have heard every "theory" imaginable as to "why" im needlephobic So i will just give you the basics and maybe you have some insight?

a) father kills mother with sharp instrement is it related? (possibly-although i don't fear knives and don't see my dentist as a "threat" however i insist on seeing a lady dentist when i do go - why? well - i won't hit a women."

b) In care i had to have a blood test to determine who my father was. I was told a friend would be meeting me there with my foster mother. when i went in the friend wasn't allowed to come through (he worked further down) and it was just me and the foster mother. I said i wasn't having it done enless he was there with me i'd promised to meet him. She said no. we argued i was held down and the sample was taken.

Last blood test i had i used self hypno to get through it and i only went because it was a major health concern. - the hypno did not help although i got through it it still hurt/was anxiety inducing.
saying that "without" the self work there's no way i would have done it.

I know this sounds like "huge" progress - however. It feels like I am back to square one right now. - Why?

a) I need a lower wisdom removed and have done for some time.
b) I kept putting temporary fillings (bought form chemist) into a lower molar and having my dentist check it so she couldnt give me a needle then fill it properly. That needs doing properly and today
c) I found I have a small hole in the lower front tooth. Not a big deal just needs a small filling.

I got to thinking - "how long am i going to let this rubbish continue?" My teeth are going to get worse. I AM going to be in pain (although im not at the moment). I "need" to get this sorted out. fear of needles or not. If i am brutally honest i don't give a toss if the back ones fall out/need pulling as long as i don't need an injection (Yup-i know that hurts - lots...)..
However - this is a front one and its only a matter of time before that gets bigger/looks worse and or means i have to have it removed. I don't want to have no front teeth / false teeth "I'm twenty six!"...

So I am back to looking around for new self hypno techniques/meditations . inspirational stuff etc etc on the web and theres "no" new info out there.

Ive kidded alot that if i had the money id have the lot pulled and have permanent implants put in. Lets face it - I wouldnt! - that involves needles!...

the circle appears to be continuing. - Reading through the site has helped a little & hopefully those saying "I am 16 / 15 / 18 etc" I shouldnt be "crying/upset/unacheiving" etc will get some light - "Phobia" - irrational fear. - Enless you "have" it you will never understand it properly. That's why people "Mis judge" it. - your not alone.

a) I "Know" it can be beaten at least in part - ive done it!

then on a side note. I cannot deny I am back on another site posting again how im having concerns about going back to the dentist and having another injection.

Is there ever an overall "Beaten?". I know my anxiety is less then previously. I eat fine now - the wrong foods but least i eat fine. However its still "evident".

Anyways - friends welcome / idea's welcome. Don't be shy I've heard all the theories and would love to hear more sometimes someone will say something so profound even by accident it hits home and you think "that's it" that's the key!.

Also had CBT therapy (cognative behavial therapy) mind mapping type stuff if your unfamiliar. Breaking negative thought patterns. helped immensley with confidence/panic attacks. Did next to nothing for the needlephobia tho.

"If i beleive I have the ability to acheive something i gain that ability even if i did not have that ability to begin with" Mahatma Ghandi - that helped - a while ago.

Ok rant over.
*bows* - pleased to meet you.

Well good job I don't spend alot of time checking for replies :-)

First time ive actually checked here since my original post. Partly due to having made an appointment for tommorrow and gearing myself up for it. 11:25am tommorrow the big D. Partly because at one point in the past i would go over and over forums and web information reading all the negative things about the dentist. statistics / panic attacks / fears etc and the more you read the more sometimes if your reading just the negative stuff it can "Justify" the fear. When infact. There is no justification for that fear. Nobody likes pain. However some pain has to be gone through to make less pain/no pain the future the better option.

ah well. Lets see what tommorrow evening brings. I have a great support right now i never had in the past so i am hopeful.

JustGary.

Epic Fail.

figured last night try looking around the web for some hypnosis techniques maybe there's something new ive not tried - right? there was a couple of things nothing i could put to any real use.

Ended up on youtube figured i could "de sensitize" myself to the dentist if i was "around it" enough. look up some pics of needles that type thing. ended up watching video's of people having wisdoms out (cringing all the way through)...people having injections (In large amounts of pain!)...that did NOT help.

Went to sleep earlier figured i'd get an early night told myself i wasn't them the situaiton would be diffarent - i can handle this - ive done it all before etc.

Got up when alarm went off and felt terrible called the dentist to cancel - closes too early. called the docs finaly decided ive had enough and im going to get some medication to help with this problem ive read that if you take something before you go it can calm your nerves. great! called them - doctors have thrown me off the books because ive lived outside the area for four months - thanks! the doc told me there it wasn't a problem!

So i am without doctors - called the dentist she seemed miffed at me (can't say i blame her!).. girlfriend called to ask how i was getting on i told her i had cancelled (her first time seeing me have attacks/cancelling the dentist)... she said "ok" she was quite understanding then told me she was in pain her shoulders/neck tense. (she has some medical issues) i ask why? she says "ive been worried about you all night"-sweet....not at ALL helpful....but sweet.

Now i feel like a heel.

It's not like i get anything "out" of fearing the needle i end up in pain with worse health issues and as in the example above it effects other people.

sick of it.

Spoke to a friend who tells me i can get hypno on the nhs via a dental hospital - great! my doctor told me i couldnt. been scouring the web for the past hour and a half and ive found "nothing" on hypno for needlephobia clinics on the nhs.

*Grumbles*

Had enough.
Justgary.

I had a needle phobia and can say that you can completely get over it.

The History, I had a spinal fusion in 2004 and they had to hold me down while screaming to take blood. They couldn't even give me a line in and had to put me out first. But now I joke with the nurses as they draw blood.

Here are a few suggestions that Helped me

1) go to a dental surgion at a local hospital, if you have the extractions at the hostpital it is possible they will be able to put you out with gas and by the time you wake up the line will be out. I had general anistitia for some cancerous growths on my scalp becouse of my fear of needles. Have you theripist look into this and explain the problem if you teeth are as bad as you say most hospitals will be willing to help. But this is only a sort term soution becouse there are inherint risks with anistisa.

2) Prick youself to desecitize youself, I actually had to use a blood sugar meter and also found the the lancing deives actually helped me get over my fear somewhat. I started on my foot it hurt less than finger, the first time it took almost an hour to pluck up the courage but now I can do my fingers without anyone even noticing. Don't do it with anyone else they might not understand and get frusterated with the time it takes.

3) just grit you teeth and do it, I go over my needle fear when I got very sick, It took 6 months and thosands of needles to get the diagnosis of lupus. If what you need outweights your fear you will do it. As you submit you will slowly get over you fear.

Just think the fear is only a few weeks until the appointment but the lack of pain will last for the rest of your life

Thanks for your reply. :-)

Quite right...

The other method to desensitise yourself to needle's is certainly interesting. It is something i'd thought of previously but not tried. I didn't want it lookin like a "self harm" issue or being taken way out of context. I will think on it.

I have heard of Lupus. No wonder you have been through the mill a bit medically...

Thanks for your past. Very helpful.

JustGary.

I'm not afraid of needles.
I'm actually the opposite.
I love them.
... I'm not a junkie or anything...
But getting the flu shot can be the highlight of my day