{"id":17465,"date":"2018-07-12T16:36:01","date_gmt":"2018-07-12T21:36:01","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/zocdoc-patient-blog.kettleinthekitchen.com\/?p=17465"},"modified":"2023-03-03T15:18:23","modified_gmt":"2023-03-03T20:18:23","slug":"how-to-get-shots-if-youre-terrified-of-needles","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/www.zocdoc.com\/blog\/guides\/how-to-get-shots-if-youre-terrified-of-needles\/","title":{"rendered":"How to Get Shots if You\u2019re Terrified of Needles"},"content":{"rendered":"

After an annual physical a few years ago, my doctor recommended blood work. While this is an entirely normal thing for patients to do once in a while, I tend to turn even the most minute task into a Process<\/span>.<\/span><\/i> This was no different. <\/span><\/p>\n

I\u2019ve been told on more than one occasion that my veins are some combination of \u201cslippery,\u201d \u201clittle\u201d and \u201cbuggers.\u201d These comments all mean the same thing \u2014 that my veins are difficult to hit \u2014 and typically culminate in a digging expedition, usually in both arms, until the phlebotomist finds a well that hasn\u2019t run dry. In the meantime, my cottonmouth escalates to panting and my clammy palms sweat profusely. Eventually, unconsciousness sets in.<\/span><\/p>\n

It\u2019s safe to say I struggle with needles. A lot of people, in fact,<\/span> react viscerally to the sight of a phlebotomist armed with a sterile syringe: <\/span>In <\/span>one 2009 study<\/span><\/a>, 22 percent of patients surveyed at a primary care practice in Australia\u00a0<\/span>reported a fear of needles. Other <\/span>research<\/span><\/a> estimated that about 63 percent of children and 24 percent of adults are scared of needle procedures, including vaccinations and blood tests. This aversion can result in patients avoiding medical care altogether.\u00a0<\/span><\/p>\n

The distress usually manifests in a few ways. Intense fear and anxiety are par for the course; sometimes there\u2019s also fainting. The fainting component, caused by a sudden <\/span>drop in blood pressure<\/span><\/a> (vasovagal syncope), can be genetic. <\/span><\/p>\n

Dr. <\/span>Amy Baxter,<\/span><\/a> a p<\/span>ediatric emergency physician and pain researcher,<\/span> determined that some cases of needle fear\u00a0<\/span>can be traced back<\/span><\/a> to a traumatic childhood event. The more vaccines a child between the ages of 4 and 6 received in a single medical visit, Baxter found, the more likely they were to report a fear of needles five years down the line.<\/span><\/p>\n

Reactions from parents and doctors also contribute to needle fears in kids. If a doctor, for instance, claims that a needle \u201cwon\u2019t hurt a bit\u201d and then that needle does hurt a bit, the child might lose trust in the pro holding it. Additionally, if parents are nervous, children can absorb their anxiety. <\/span><\/p>\n

As a result, subsequent vaccinations or blood draws can be met with fear \u2014 fear of the procedure and fear of the pain. \u201cFear is like ramping up the volume on your alarm system,\u201d Baxter says. \u201cPeople perceive more pain when they have fear.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

The good news is that we don\u2019t have to live with fear and pain forever. Here are a few expert-approved tips to help patients young and old cope with needles.<\/span><\/p>\n

Figure out what you\u2019re really afraid of<\/strong><\/h2>\n

A fear of needles could be related to pain, the sight of blood, the prospect of a foreign material entering your body or, in my case, passing out. \u201cAnother person might be afraid because they\u2019re not sure of the different steps of the procedure,\u201d says <\/span>C. Meghan McMurtry,<\/span><\/a> a clinical psychologist at the University of Guelph. \u201cThere can be different reasons you\u2019re afraid, so the treatment needs to determine what it is you\u2019re afraid of.\u201d <\/span><\/p>\n

Do you need pain-management skills? Exposure-based therapy? Physical exercises to keep blood flowing? Getting to the root of the fear is the first part of managing it.<\/span><\/p>\n

Increase your exposure<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Becoming familiar with needles, even if that means bingeing <\/span>House, MD<\/span><\/i>, can help normalize them. For those with extreme fear, experts suggest an exposure therapy regimen in which a professional slowly introduces the patient to needles. This process should begin with more abstract methods, like exposing the patient to photos of the fear source. \u201cIf someone was really afraid of the look of the needle, we might show them pictures in a book,\u201d McMurtry says, \u201ceventually graduating to sitting close to a needle.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Baxter says that real-life needle experiences should get easier\u00a0once a patient has endured three not-so-great needle scenarios.<\/span><\/p>\n

\"\"<\/a><\/p>\n

Lessen the pain<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Let’s face it: No one really likes getting a shot. It hurts. People who only have moderate anxiety over needle pain, or who\u2019ve already accepted their fear and increased their needle exposure, can use<\/span> pain-management methods to make the process more tolerable. <\/span><\/p>\n

\u201cThere\u2019s a tendency in our culture to say, \u2018No pain, no gain,\u2019 \u2018It\u2019s just a little pinch,\u2019\u201d McMurtry notes. \u201cIt\u2019s not particularly helpful. There\u2019s no reason you need to feel significant pain from a needle procedure. If we managed pain from the get-go, we probably would have many fewer adults afraid of needles.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

One easy pain suppressant is a topical anesthetic, applied 30 to 45 minutes before the needle breaks skin. Baxter has also developed a product called <\/span>Buzzy<\/span><\/a>. The bee-shaped tool, which can be used by children and adults, vibrates while simultaneously emitting cold. This helps block pain by <\/span>confusing<\/span><\/a> nerves at the injection site.<\/span><\/p>\n

Whichever method of pain management you prefer, McMurtry stresses the importance of self-advocacy. If you want topical anesthetics, go ahead and lather some on. If you just want to look away while blood is being drawn, that\u2019s your prerogative. \u201cEveryone deserves management of pain from needles,\u201d she says. \u201cIf someone has a really high level of needle fear, you need a different approach from someone who doesn’t have such a high level.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

Distract yourself<\/strong><\/h2>\n

This goes beyond just looking away from your arm during the procedure, though that helps too. If you can focus on another task, such as counting the number of panels on the ceiling or answering a series of simple math problems prompted by a friend, then you\u2019ll be less likely to feel the pain. \u201cThe focus part is really important because, while you’re getting the injection or the needle or the IV, the more you pay attention to that, the more it hurts,\u201d Baxter says.<\/span><\/p>\n

The key is to make sure the distraction task can be completed in between five and 15 seconds. A simple \u201cHow many fingers am I holding up?\u201d is too easy, whereas attempting to find Waldo is too hard. During a recent visit, Baxter\u2019s son counted the number of confetti specks in a tile on the floor of the doctor\u2019s office. <\/span><\/p>\n

Tense your muscles<\/strong><\/h2>\n

For anyone who passes out, it\u2019s especially important to keep blood pressure up. McMurtry suggests continuously flexing the leg and stomach muscles for 10- to 15-second intervals, interspersed by brief releases. Baxter mentions \u201cgiving yourself a handshake\u201d and pulling your arms in opposite directions. \u201cThat move increases the amount of blood that goes into your heart temporarily,\u201d she says.<\/span><\/p>\n

Stay hydrated<\/strong><\/h2>\n

Before a needle procedure, Baxter recommends drinking 16 ounces of water or a caffeinated beverage, which can help keep blood pressure raised. <\/span><\/p>\n

Talk to the staff<\/strong><\/h2>\n

No medical professional will judge you for freaking out at the sight of a syringe. \u201cA lot of people have mistakenly thought that you don’t want to draw attention to it or ask about it,\u201d Baxter says. \u201cThat increases the shame. It doesn\u2019t help mitigate the problem.\u201d Instead, if doctors and nurses are aware of your fear, especially if you get lightheaded, they\u2019re more likely to accommodate your needs by suggesting you lie down. <\/span><\/p>\n

Being open to communication and setting reasonable expectations are part of the process too. \u201cCertainly we don\u2019t tell people it\u2019s not going to hurt at all,\u201d she says, Then if it does, you\u2019ve lost any kind of credibility. It\u2019s important to be realistic.\u201d<\/span><\/p>\n

\n

Ready to book a doctor’s appointment? Visit Zocdoc.<\/span><\/a><\/span><\/h1>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"

Pro-tips to get through vaccines, blood draws and more. <\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":8,"featured_media":17731,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"footnotes":""},"categories":[227],"tags":[12,81,56,64],"class_list":["post-17465","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-guides","tag-anxiety","tag-preventive-care","tag-primary-care","tag-shots","reviewer-dr-nassim-assefi"],"yoast_head":"\nHow to Get Shots if You\u2019re Terrified of Needles - Guides<\/title>\n<meta name=\"description\" content=\"A lot of people are scared of getting shots. 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