Vaccine phobia

[puppychaos]

I am in group 6 so should be expecting a vaccine letter sometime soon. I am also absolutely terrified of needles and getting vaccinated, to the point where I have had to get any injections done in a longer appointment than most with a private booking. They absolutely terrify me - I don't know what it is about them but I suppose that's the nature of phobias.

Is there anything I can do to get a grip? The idea of being vaccinated in a big room full of lots of people makes me want to cry. I want to be vaccinated but I am really not feeling great about the procedure itself

Hi OP, have you considered hypnotherapy? I am a hypnotherapist and I only need two sessions with a client to help them overcome a phobia. I have helped many people with needle phobias to have their vaccine in the last few weeks.

Your phobia is located in an area of your brain which holds behavioural templates. As hypnotherapists we use safe and proven techniques to amend this template so you can overcome your phobia.

If you have a look at the Association of Solution Focused Hypnotherapists there is a directory of students who could work with you free of charge or you could locate a fully qualified hypnotherapist. We are working on line at the moment.

Good luck!

Book it for the first or last slot of the day so there won’t be lots of other people around.

When I had mine, I saw two other people in the waiting area but there were barriers up at the centre so I didn’t see anyone else being vaccinated and no one saw me

I’ve had lots of vaccines (and blood tests) and am telling the truth when I say it was barely even noticeable and I watched the needle go in, so perhaps I otherwise wouldn’t have noticed. The needles are especially fine and the vaccine itself isn’t a stingy one. I promise you that if you’ve had any other injections before, that this one will be the best and easiest of all.

Any therapist accredited with the BABCP should have trained in this or will have a colleague who has. Contact your local IAPT service if you are in England and tell them the needle phobia is preventing you getting the vaccine and they may even prioritise you on the waitlist. If you can bear to read it this sheet explains the process of exposing yourself to your fears until they can subside www.guysandstthomas.nhs.uk/resources/patient-information/all-patients/overcoming-your-fear-of-needles.pdf

if it helps, you won't necessarily be in a big room, and even if you are, you'll be in a cubicle within it. I was group 6 and was at the doctor's surgery, so there were lots of small rooms that people were seen in individually, couldn't hear or see anyone else. The queue moved very fast, so very little waiting time to get nervous.

The needle was so so so small. It only needs to inject 0.3mL or 0.5mL of vaccine, depending on which one you have, and it's much tinier than any other vaccine or anything that I've had. I could feel the nurse touching my arm, but not the needle going in. If you look away, you might not even know it's happened, really.

You will feel very proud of yourself when you're done. there's a nice atmosphere at the vaccine centres, too, as everyone is so happy and relieved, and maybe that feeling of being part of something big will help. You are definitely part of the solution by getting it done.

@puppychaos I was petrified and wasn’t sure if I’d able to do it. I usually pass out at needles. It was very fast and didn’t hurt at all.

There were no cubicles where I had mine, just six people in seats, but lots of nurses and it was so quick and easy. I told them I was scared and they were really good, they reassured me a lot; got me done quickly and kept an eye on me.

I promise it was a million times better than I expected.

I am the same OP. I have read there is a vaccine in development that can be delivered as a nasal spray, and also one in tablet form. I will be waiting for those. My needle phobia is pretty severe plus the site where vaccines are injected is heavily scarred with keloids on me.

Hi Op I understand where you’re coming from. Here’s how I got through it.
I bought and applied some tattoo numbing cream from Amazon. Before the jab I took pain killers and a couple of calms. I managed just fine, and felt elated afterwards. I know to most my actions sound ridiculous, but I did what I needed to do.
Wishing you well op.

they are very, very, very tiny needles - I honestly did not feel it at all - just dont look.

Can you call your gp surgery to find out if they're able to vaccinate you there?

I'm the same OP. It doesn't help me to think that it doesn't hurt as it's not the pain I'm worried about. I actually felt ill when DH had his so God knows what I'll be like when it's my turn! I can't afford hypnotherapy so I'm just hoping I see a sympathetic vaccinator. Last time I had a blood test the nurse wasn't sympathetic when I said I HAD to lie down but she soon realised sitting up wasn't an option!

Many years ago, I worked with a colleague who (unknown to me) suffered from a latex allergy. We were on our own in an isolated lab when I returned to find her lying on the floor and barely responsive. I called for an ambulance but while waiting she told me about her adrenaline kit so I got it out and injected her with no probs at all.

Weeks later the university ran a training session on how to deliver an injection in response to this event. Watching the guy inject a towel roll I nearly passed out! Basically when my imagination had time to run riot, it freaked me out.

The point is that when it comes to phobias like this, it's our imagination that's at work. If you give it time and THINK about it, it makes things worse. If you can, try not to think about it at all!

Wear headphones, listen to music, and never ever watch what the person is doing - if they know you have the phobia they won't think this strange.

I would throw your effort and time at standard 'treatments' for phobias.
Self-help books, hypnotherapy, an anti-anxiety medicine, calming herbal rescue, meditation etc.

Also going for a long run on the morning of your injection to burn off all cortisol/adrenaline in the body that gives that 'flight or fight' response.

The point is that when it comes to phobias like this, it's our imagination that's at work. If you give it time and THINK about it, it makes things worse. If you can, try not to think about it at all!

It's very difficult not to think about it as it's all over the news and internet! Why oh why do the press seem to think we need to see a picture of someone being injected every time they run a story?!

Thank you everyone I really appreciate it. I'll absolutely look into therapy.

Yes - WHY do all the photos have people directly being injected?! It makes it 10x worse. I agree if I was able to not think about it it would be a lot easier but the vaccine is of course everywhere at the moment.

Doesn't help that my partner had it yesterday and has had pretty terrible side effects

@PinkSparklyPussyCat

The point is that when it comes to phobias like this, it's our imagination that's at work. If you give it time and THINK about it, it makes things worse. If you can, try not to think about it at all!

It's very difficult not to think about it as it's all over the news and internet! Why oh why do the press seem to think we need to see a picture of someone being injected every time they run a story?!

This! Pictures and videos everywhere! And people saying the needle is tiny... it looks to be over an inch long at least and goes in all the way.

Ask your GP to prescribe some numbing cream. i'm ok with vaccinations but struggle with blood tests as my veins like to hide so often have to have it taken from my hand!

I had it yesterday. I was in a mass vaccination centre but there are individual cubicles. You don't have to look at the needle, just look the other way. It really felt no more than a sharp scratch to be honest. If you tell them you are afraid I'm sure they will be accommodating. The vaccinator I had was absolutely lovely. Remember that this is not an uncommon phobia, so nothing to be ashamed of.