Download Article
Download Article
Hate them all you might, injections are largely unavoidable. Most commonly, injections are used to vaccinate patients, and without such vaccinations, one may contract many deadly diseases. Many other important medical procedures, like diabetes treatments, blood tests, anesthetics, and dental treatments, also involve injections. This makes overcoming one's trypanophobia—that is, one's fear of needles—very important because all too often there are no alternatives. Around one in ten people suffer from fear of injections or needles, so you are not alone.
Steps
-
Confront your fear. Knowing more about what you're afraid of could very well help you overcome your fear by making needles and injections seem more ordinary. Try exposure therapy to help reduce your fear of injections. [1] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source Do some research about injections: their history, their purpose, even their dangers.
- Look up pictures of needles and injections online to desensitize yourself. To take this to the next level you might consider handling real (clean, unused) syringes for a few minutes every day. [2] X Research source
- This might be difficult to start with, but it could help you overcome your fear. The more exposure you have to needles the more ordinary they will seem.
-
Consider the source of your fear. Some people develop a fear of injections because they associate them with another traumatizing event. Often those who suffer from needle phobia are those who had a lot of procedures involving needles when they were a child. [3] X Research source Think back over your childhood and talk to your parents about this. Understanding the roots of your fear can help you to confront it.Advertisement
-
Rationalise your fear. Rather than dwelling on your fear of injections, focus instead on how the injection is going to help you. [4] X Research source Continually remind yourself that you're protecting yourself from something much worse than a simple injection. [5] X Research source Or, if you're donating blood, think about all of the people you're helping by overcoming your fear. [6] X Trustworthy Source Red Cross Blood Donation Services Website run by the Red Cross Organization providing information about how and where to donate blood safely Go to source
- List your fears and concerns (“Injections are painful!”), and then counter those fears with positive, rational ideas (“Injections keep me healthy!”). [7] X Research source
- If you have a child who's scared of needles, be honest with him or her about the importance of the injection. And don't tiptoe around the pain. Be honest about that too. [8] X Research source
-
Practice applied tension. [9] X Research source One of the most effective ways to combat fear, and the drop in blood pressure that can lead to fainting, is to practice applied tension. If you begin to feel faint or have in the past fainted at the sight of needles, applied tension, which helps regulate your blood pressure, can help keep you from fainting again. You will need to learn how to do this before you go for the injection. [10] X Research source If you start to feel scared, applied tension can help you calm down before the injection. To practice applied tension, follow these steps:
- Sit comfortably.
- Tense the muscles in your arms, legs, and upper body and maintain that tension for about 10 to 15 seconds, or until your face begins to feel flush.
- Relax your muscles.
- After 30 seconds, tense your muscles again.
- Repeat until you've done this five times.
Advertisement
-
Bring a friend or family member along. Ask someone you trust to come with you when you get the shot. Having someone you know with you could provide you with a confidence boost. [11] X Trustworthy Source Red Cross Blood Donation Services Website run by the Red Cross Organization providing information about how and where to donate blood safely Go to source Ask them to hold your hand tightly during the procedure.
-
Express your fear. Tell your doctor or nurse that you are scared. Talking about your fear can let that person know to treat you with extra care. He or she might even be able to talk you through it and offer you tips to help you relax and keep things in perspective.
- If you would like to donate blood you might find it less scary if you tell the person drawing your blood that he or she has one chance to get it right.
- Doing this can help you feel more in control of the situation.
-
Distract yourself. Many people focus on getting the shot, but taking your mind off of the injection by, among other things, looking the other way, can help allay your fears. [12] X Research source Strike up a conversation with someone else in the room, be it the doctor, the nurse, or the family member or friend who has accompanied you. [13] X Trustworthy Source Red Cross Blood Donation Services Website run by the Red Cross Organization providing information about how and where to donate blood safely Go to source Research has found that doctors who talked to trauma patients about something other than the trauma itself were able to significantly reduce the patient's anxiety levels. [14] X Research source
- Concentrate on something else in the room. Try rearranging the letters of a sign to make as many new words as you can. [15] X Research source
- Play a game on your phone, listen to some soft music, or read a book or magazine
-
Position your body correctly. You might find that lying down or having your legs elevated while you receive and injections can help to ease your fear and symptoms. Lying with your head down and feet slightly elevated will lessen the chances of fainting. Even after the injection stay prone for a while, and don't try to jump up and run out. Take your time and listen to what the doctor or nurse is telling you. [16] X Research source
- When you are lying down, place one hand on your stomach and concentrate on your breathing.
Advertisement
-
Draw up a fear hierarchy. A fear hierarchy is a way to document the different degrees of fear you experience related to needles and injections. [18] X Trustworthy Source PubMed Central Journal archive from the U.S. National Institutes of Health Go to source This technique gives you a clear progression, but allows you to move at your own pace and make your own records of what how find most fearful. Write down different aspects of needles and injections which scare you and rank them by the amount of distress they cause you, on a scale of 1–10. An example could look like this:
- Having an injection in my arm - ranked 10/10.
- Holding a needle - ranked 9/10.
- Watching someone have an injection in real life - ranked 7/10.
- Watching a video of an injection online - ranked 5/10.
- Looking pictures of needles and injections - ranked 4/10.
- Thinking about an injection - ranked 3/10.
-
Start at the bottom. Once you have drawn up your hierarchy you will have already begun thinking about your fears, an important step in countering them. When you are ready, start at the bottom of your hierarchy and put yourself in the situation which gives you the lowest amount of distress. When you begin to feel distressed, practice applied tension or breathing for relaxation to bring your blood pressure back down and control your fear.
- Stay in this stressful situation until your anxiety has started to noticeably drop. As you come out of this situation, looking away from the video of an injection, or putting down the needle, take time to breathe deeply and relax.
- Congratulate yourself on your progress and courage before moving up your hierarchy.
-
Steadily work your way up. Now you can steadily work your way up your hierarchy and keep track of your success. Only move on when you feel really confident with the previous situations, and don't worry if you need to re-do one situation a number of times before you feel comfortable. It's worth persisting with it.
- Overcoming your fear will take time, practice, commitment and courage. But, it will certainly make your life freer from anxiety and stress in the long-run.
Advertisement
-
Try a painkiller. Some people who are afraid of needles are very sensitive to pain and the normal small amount of pain experienced when getting an injection will be heightened. If this is the case, you can ask the doctor or nurse to give you numbing cream, or apply an anaesthetic cream or warm compress to the area 20 minutes before you expect the receive the shot. [19] X Research source
- Request either a thin needle or a butterfly needle. Butterfly needles, which can be more precise than standard needles, are often used on patients with needle phobia.
-
Take anti-anxiety medication. Sometimes your doctor may recommend anti-anxiety medication for acute cases of needle phobia. If someone faints uncontrollably at the sight of a needle, anti-anxiety medication may be necessary in the short-term. You should never consider this unless your doctor suggests it, concentrate on combating your fear without medication.
- If you are taking anti-anxiety medication you will take it before the injection, and may not be able to drive after the injection. [20] X Research source
- When fainting is the primary concern, beta-blockers can be an effective option, and should enable you to drive afterward. But always talk to your doctor about your options.
- Practising applied tension is a way to combat low blood pressure and fainting without medication.
-
Consider therapy or counseling. [21] X Research source An acute fear of needles can be a serious problem if it stops you from getting the shots and jabs you need to stay healthy and inoculated from disease. Fear of needles is a recognized condition and behavioural therapy may help you to deal with your fear. In more extreme cases, psychotherapy or hypnotherapy might be necessary.
Advertisement
Expert Q&A
Ask a Question
200 characters left
Include your email address to get a message when this question is answered.
Submit
Advertisement
Tips
- To help build up your confidence around needles, get a minor medical procedure that involves injections (something like a flu shot).Thanks
- Never look at the needle, it will only make things worse.Thanks
- Relax and know that everything will be okay. Tell your doctor if you are scared. Be brave.Thanks
Submit a Tip
All tip submissions are carefully reviewed before being published
Thanks for submitting a tip for review!
Advertisement
Warnings
- Always talk to your doctor about your fear of injections. Be up-front and honest about it.Thanks
- Common side effects for vaccinations include nausea, fever, headache, and fatigue.Thanks
-
Thanks
Advertisement
References
- ↑ https://www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4900415/
- ↑ https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/DrPat/Pages/How-can-I-overcome-my-fear-of-needles.aspx
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2377960818759442
- ↑ https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/DrPat/Pages/How-can-I-overcome-my-fear-of-needles.aspx
- ↑ https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/kids-overcome-fear-needle-shots/
- ↑ https://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors/-fear-needles
- ↑ https://www.aboutkidshealth.ca/En/News/DrPat/Pages/How-can-I-overcome-my-fear-of-needles.aspx
- ↑ https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/kids-overcome-fear-needle-shots/
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2377960818759442
- ↑ https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/113/1/4/284504
- ↑ https://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors/-fear-needles
- ↑ https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/needle-phobia/
- ↑ https://www.redcrossblood.org/donating-blood/first-time-donors/-fear-needles
- ↑ https://www.theguardian.com/society/2004/apr/20/health.medicineandhealth
- ↑ https://kidshealth.org/teen/safety/first_aid/tips_shots.html
- ↑ https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/anxiety
- ↑ https://journals.sagepub.com/doi/10.1177/2377960818759442
- ↑ https://pubmed.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/22104655/
- ↑ https://www.parents.com/toddlers-preschoolers/health/kids-overcome-fear-needle-shots/
- ↑ https://www.healthcentral.com/condition/anxiety
- ↑ https://academic.oup.com/bja/article/113/1/4/284504
- ↑ https://www.dentalfearcentral.org/fears/needle-phobia/
About This Article
Article Summary
X
If you have a fear of injections, you can help yourself overcome it by gradually getting used to the idea of needles. Try researching injections online and how they help protect you from diseases, which will make them seem helpful and less scary. This might be difficult to start with, but the more you confront your fear, the more you’ll get used to the idea. When you go for your injection, bring a friend or family member with you for support. Or, distract yourself with your phone or concentrate on something in the room. You can also focus on your breathing to help you relax. Think about how empowered you’ll feel when you overcome your fear! For more tips from our co-author, including how to work out the source of your fear, read on.
Did this summary help you?
Thanks to all authors for creating a page that has been read 388,098 times.
Reader Success Stories
- "I used to be so nervous to get shots and blood tests that I would avoid going to doctor and dentist visits. I decided to click on this article because I didnt know what else to do. When I went in for a blood test today I didnt even flinch. I am so thankful to everyone who wrote this article!" ..." more
Advertisement
83%
of readers found this article helpful
.
Click a star to add your vote
% of people told us that this article helped them.
"I used to be so nervous to get shots and blood tests that I would avoid going to doctor and dentist visits. I decided to click on this article because I didnt know what else to do. When I went in for a blood test today I didnt even flinch. I am so thankful to everyone who wrote this article!"
..."
more
"I was having anxiety, when I did the tense muscles I feel relaxed. Thank you and God bless! God uses this platform in many ways. I pray that God give all the comfort and answers you need as we did receive comfort and answers through your article."
..."
more
"This has helped me so much! Thanks! I have my school injections in a month, but with all my previous encounters with needles, I can't relax. I would always cry and could not think about anything else. Then I went on wikiHow, and it was great. My favorite tip is the breathing one, which I will do. I might also try listening to music. Thanks so much, wikiHow! "
..."
more
"Absolutely helped. I answered like fifty questions on wikiHow for the injections, and I feel greater than ever because I shared the ways I help ease the pain, and shared the fact that i have the fear too! Thank you wikiHow and all the authors who helped."
..."
more
"I was going to take a shot, and of course, I was afraid of needles at a young age due to childhood traumas with needles. After reading this article, I used the taking a deep breath and stop focusing to the needles, and if worked! I am quite pleased!"
..."
more
