Vaccine Anxiety

[VaccineAnxiety]

I’ve name changed for this as there are posters who come to threads like this with no empathy and post rude comments

I cannot have Pfizer/Moderna due to allergies- so only one left is AZ

I’ve just turned 40 - have a family history of clots

I know I HAVE to take this vaccine, mainly driven by fear mongering about the unvaccinated and coercion but I’m very very scared and uncomfortable

How can I go through the ‘motion’ and get this dreaded thing into me without having a complete breakdown? I suffer from anxiety and panic attacks

I know after having it every second will be a living hell for me/ almost like waiting to die but once it’s in I will have to deal with it…

I’ve looked at the walk in centres and I have an option today or Friday so I’ll have to force myself to do this this week

For every poster who is going to come shouting about how silly I am..I am not anti vaccine but this vaccine has got issues which are just coming to light - menstrual issues, vertigo and so many others which the GPs/medical professionals are dismissing because they don’t know what to do..

Have a family history of clot and anaphylaxis to medication

Anxiety isn’t rational, so I think that’s something you need to tackle at the same time as making a decision about being vaccinated. From a logical point of view, I can’t understand why so many people are more afraid of the much lesser risk of lower severity side effects from vaccination, than the higher risk of more severe side effects or death from Covid. But if their decision making is, like yours, being driven by a mental health problem, it makes sense that addressing that mental health problem is just as important. Are you in therapy / medicated?

You don't have to have it, no one is going to force you. It's completely your choice.

I think the thing with any anxiety is that the more you avoid the Thing that's making you anxious, the more you feed the anxiety. You prove to yourself that you're OK because you avoided it. You deny yourself the opportunity to be OK having done it.

I volunteer in a vaccine centre and many, many people who come are apprehensive, anxious or fearful to some extent. A few have got themselves into a 'state', but are there. I really admire those who fight through and turn up. Afterwards, lots of people say how much better they feel for having had the jab - a weight has lifted off their shoulders. (I suspect that after the initial relief wears off some start worrying about side effects, but even that worry has to pass with time.) I'm now seeing people return for their second who say how they regret 'putting themselves' through all the worry beforehand as the relief once they've had the jab, got through the following weeks and now become double jabbed is immense. I'm not sure that many people would be able to stop 'putting themselves through the worry' - we feel how we feel, but I see what they mean.

While I don't deny at all that there are side effects for a minority, I do wonder what the effect of weeks/days or hours of anxiety is on menstrual cycles, headaches, stomach symptoms etc. Surely the stress itself affects the body?

Regarding the clots, as I understand it they are a specific type, not related to other clotting problems. They are well known now to the medical profession, who are looking out for them. There are good and effective treatments. But I'm no expert; I'd recommend either a good chat with your doctor, and/or a good chat with the vaccinator at the time. There's no pressure - they welcome the opportunity to talk vaccination through with those who want to. You can also take someone with you if that would help.

I am the same age as you. I am 7 months into long covid (before catching it I was in average health - reasonably good diet, relatively active, normal weight). I would swap my current situation for an AZ vaccine and the minute risks involved (family history of blood clots here too) in a heartbeat. 2 of my work colleagues are in the same position as me (similar ages, both women). I encourage you to get vaccinated, the number of people with long covid far outnumbers the complications from the AZ vaccine.

The evidence suggest that the blood clotting problem occurs around 14 times per million doses of vaccine. That is a 0.000014 chance of it happening to any individual. Would you bet on a horse with those sort of odds?

I think your best course of action is to try and work out exactly what your anxiety is regarding, and make an appointment to speak to a HCP with this in mind and see if they can reassure you.

Are you a logical person? Will statistics and figures help?

I hope this is helpful.
I imagine you've been anxious and worried for a long time.
If you don't get the vaccine that will continue indefinitely.
If you do get the vaccine you will be a little more anxious for a couple of weeks but then the weight will lift from your shoulders. So short term pain for long term pain.

Often the thought of these things is worse than actually doing it. The staff are great at these places and will help reassure you. Can you try and change your thought process. Having the vaccine is a positive thing. I felt really privileged to have mine.
Do you feel like this getting on a plane? There's much higher chance of getting a clot on a plane. You also risk the chance of getting a clot if you get covid too. So perhaps think that the vaccine could help prevent you from getting covid and possible clots and also reduce the risk of long covid (another long covid sufferer here). So the vaccine is there to protect you.

I had a lot of anxiety about the vaccine too. I’m pregnant. Essentially, there were known risks with catching Covid and unknown risks of having a vaccine in pregnancy. However, as it’s a novel virus, there is still so much we are learning about it and so there is no ability to quantify the risks for either side. I wanted the ‘safe’ option. Safe translates to risk free.

I had to accept that there isn’t a ‘safe’ option, one with zero risks. There is very rarely a risk free option in our lives anyway, so this isn’t new. I needed to move to a ‘least bad’ option. For me, the least bad option was the vaccine. If I find that the vaccine has effects in the future, then I need to tell myself that I made the least bad option. Neither option were risk free and I acted on the data available at the time, which is all we can do. Work out what is the least bad choice and make your peace with that when you doubt yourself in the future (you could doubt yourself whether you vaccinate or not).

Thank you all for being king and understanding- really helps. I’ll try to address all the points raised-
@ComtesseDeSpair I am trying cbt but the sessions don’t focus on addressing a particular fear or anxiety it’s for generalised anxiety. I tried talking to the gp but he was pretty much repeating that it’s the right thing to do and not much else

@Hotpinkangel19 I’m not sure any more- there is a lot of pressure - family, work and everywhere in general. Every article has a sentence where they say ‘the unvaccinated’ are at higher risk- I agree it shouldn’t be like this

@amicissimma I agree- maybe it’s partly the stress which is contributing to some of the side effects. I know I’ve felt dizzy when I’m anxious and extremely nauseated - it’s also reassuring in someways to know that I’m not the only one feeling like this

@LaChatte hope you feel better soon. I’m not taking Covid lightly at all- in fact regardless of what Boris says I’m still practicing all the precautions as before. It’s just that the decision to inject this substance into my body feels unnerving

@Mischance no I wouldn’t- and it helps to look at it from that perspective

@DumplingsAndStew my anxiety is around the adverse reactions and possibly being fobbed off by the medical professionals and the more serious issues like blood clots, Guillain–Barré syndrome, stroke etc

@FizziWater yes, have been suffering like this from last year. It’s debilitating at times, I cannot enjoy anything as I feel like a sitting duck. I understand the short term worry for long term gain. I suppose my short term will be a month - I gather I’m under increased risk for a month

@Jurassicparkinajug I’m actually terrified of flying- that’s a whole another story! But coming to this topic I understand the clot risk is there in everyday activities too

@InTheNightWeWillWish yes this seems like the lesser evil- I don’t want to pass on my anxiety to my daughter and with everything opening up it is becoming challenging

you don't "HAVE" to have it at all.
I'm not having any of the injections but never have msm on so never see the fearmongering propaganda any more which makes it a lot easier.
No amount of personal pressure or coercion from anyone would make me have a substance I don't want injected into my body.
The side effects ARE horrific for a lot of people and there have been many deaths from the vaccine so if you'd rather take the risk of natural immunity rather than the risk of the injections don't bow to pressure/

" But I'm no expert; I'd recommend either a good chat with your doctor, and/or a good chat with the vaccinator at the time"
won't the vaccinator be a person like you? ie. no specialist knowledge whatsoever? or they would do is reassure them it's safe.
They're not going to whip out the stats from yellow card or VAERS so you can have a proper discussion with the facts

I’m a vaccinator and if you mention when you get to the centre that you are very anxious they will try and make sure you don’t have any waiting around. I find that the centres are very positive places as people are relived to be protected. I’ve had to stop people wanting to hug me in thanks

@thenakedmolerat I agree and I’ve switched off news and all other social media except for mumsnet now

The coercion is due to partly my family believing I’m going to end up in critical care
We don’t have family here do travelling to visit them is being used as another reason - although there are options to quarantine the travel in itself is seen as high risk - and I understand this
There was a 60 year old friend if family )smoker/drinker) passed away with Covid so that’s another argument

And with things opening up there is increased pressure to ‘go out’ although even before Covid I didn’t enjoy any of the forced fun/ I don’t drink so pubs are no interest

I did all shopping online way before Covid so shops don’t matter

I always found coffee shops etc were criminally over prised for mediocre food and shocking revive- so never wanted to indulge in these either

And as for talking to the staff in vaccine centre- I’ve known 3 colleagues who were not happy about the vaccine but were on the fence like me- went to the centre and yes they were supported etc but all three said the message was just do it it’ll be ok- it’s almost like they are trained to get this vaccine into you which concerns me-

It is a medical procedure and in once it’s in I cannot take it out..,

@Parker231 thank you- I will keep this in my mind for Wigan/if I get there

You absolutely do NOT have to have this.
But you should seek help (from those helping you with CBT?) to decide on how much of this is anxiety and how much is that there is actually a risk.
Are you CV or CEV?
Do you have conditions that suggest COVID would be particularly bad?
Are there things you want to do (travel etc) that would be safer if you were vaccinated?
Remember this substance is the result of many many experts using HUGE amounts of money and knowledge to develop something that aims to protect us.
No one can guarantee absolutely no side effects from a vaccine for anyone ever. They just can’t. It’s just (sounds so easy!) weighing the risk against the benefit.
I’m fat and over 40. Had both doses of AZ now. I’m immunocompromised and have asthma. It’s my best chance!

"I’ve known 3 colleagues who were not happy about the vaccine but were on the fence like me- went to the centre and yes they were supported etc but all three said the message was just do it it’ll be ok- it’s almost like they are trained to get this vaccine into you which concerns me"

Exactly what i said. they will reassure you that it's all fine. They won't tell you that the risk:benefit ratio for you as an individual may mean you are safer not having the injections.
I know of lots of people who have regretted having it after awful and long lasting side effects.
Don't let yourself be bullied into giving up your body autonomy.
if you don't want it, then don't have it

@thenakedmolerat - as a vaccinator we don’t force or persuade anyone to have their vaccinations. The majority of the people I see couldn’t get there fast enough and tried booking as soon as their age group was called.

@thenakedmolerat

" But I'm no expert; I'd recommend either a good chat with your doctor, and/or a good chat with the vaccinator at the time" won't the vaccinator be a person like you? ie. no specialist knowledge whatsoever? or they would do is reassure them it's safe. They're not going to whip out the stats from yellow card or VAERS so you can have a proper discussion with the facts

Vaccinators absolutely do have specialist knowledge. We undergo specific training on the vaccine we are administering, the risks and side effects.

@thenakedmolerat - please don't say 'the side effects are horrific for a lot of people'. That's just not true. The side effects are slightly unpleasant for a lot of people - not horrific.
OP - I understand your worries, but weigh up the chances of catching Covid badly with the chances of vaccine problems. I did and took the decision to act positively and have the jab rather than sit and wait for Covid when I didn't know how badly I would be affected.

reallybad
are you given updated yellow card stats. each week and have the relevant risks for each reaction broken down into age groups so you have up to date info for the people you are injecting? Must admit i assumed that you were trained in the physical giving the injection and the very basics of what it is for when people ask.
reassuring that the risks and side effects are highlighted to you and updated.
so, what's the current thinking on the high levels of tinnitus and other neurological effects and the prevalence in each age group?

[quote loobylou10]@thenakedmolerat - please don't say 'the side effects are horrific for a lot of people'. That's just not true. The side effects are slightly unpleasant for a lot of people - not horrific.
OP - I understand your worries, but weigh up the chances of catching Covid badly with the chances of vaccine problems. I did and took the decision to act positively and have the jab rather than sit and wait for Covid when I didn't know how badly I would be affected. [/quote]
no, the side effects are horrific for a lot of people.
Pretending it's not happening to people doesn't alter the fact that a large number of people have had what they consider to be horrific and long lasting side effects.

I guess it depends on your definition of 'a lot of people'. I know 'a lot of people' who have had both jabs and many (probably about half) had side effects from their jabs but nothing more unpleasant than flu type symptoms lasting 24 hours.

I'm going off the yellow car system and personal lknowledge of at least 5 people who have had very very bad reaction ( and I really don't know many people- anti social git that I am :-) )