Not had jab - needle phobic

[Halloumiandtomatosalad]

I’m severely needle phobic, so I’ve not had either jab.

But I’m currently terrified of ending up on a ventilator/dead because of all the news posts I’m seeing about anti vaxxers ending up like this. I’m not an anti vaxxer, I have a genuine fear of needles due to some childhood trauma and seeing a Berlin addict family member using and I’m waiting for them to create a nasal spray or something else. Then I’ll take it.

I’ve spoken to my GP asking for help, all I get is “we’ll refer you to CBT” the waiting list is about 6 months long.

I’m female, aged 32, size 18/20 so I know I’m in the risk category because of my weight.
I just don’t know what to do

That’s meant to say heroin, not Berlin!

Would you be able to go to a vaccine clinic & speak to them? The staff are brilliant & well used to folk with phobias etc.

Lose weight and see if the go can prescribe something to calm you down before the jab.

I used to pass out and/or vomit at the sight of a syringe. Lie down so you can’t faint. Explain. They will help you if you a determined to get it done.

Same here OP, although I don't find Covid horror stories in the press helpful... so I don't read them. They will feed your anxiety, not help it.

I am just resigned to the fact that the only vaccine I will be getting will be in spray or patch form. Am feeling better for closing the door on the needle issue for now.

I know you’ve probably already heard this from people, but the needle is really really small and I didn’t even know it had happened it was so quick. Good luck with whatever you do

Is the fear of having the jab worse than the fear of catching Covid?

I'd do what another poster said and go and speak to someone who administers the jabs.

Good luck

I do appreciate that it's likely a lot deeper than the potential discomfort.

But if you are able to bring yourself to do it, I can tell you I honestly didn't even know they'd done it til they told me as I looked away. The relief once I'd had both done was worth the stress I had leading up to each.

Any of these resources new/helpful?

www.anxietyuk.org.uk/covid-19-vaccine-support/
www.gavi.org/vaccineswork/needle-phobia-could-be-cause-10-covid-vaccine-hesitancy-uk-new-research
www.openaccessgovernment.org/patients-covid-19-vaccination-needle-phobia/103163/
www.bbc.co.uk/news/newsbeat-58086377

It appears some clinics can work with you 121 to try and lower the fear over a series of appointments. Worth asking locally?

Good luck

@MordenLarch

I know you’ve probably already heard this from people, but the needle is really really small and I didn’t even know it had happened it was so quick. Good luck with whatever you do

Absolutely this. Just get it done. It'll be less upsetting than all this anxiety.

I really feel for you OP, I previously had a really difficult phobic of needles as well (only helped by needing monthly bloods for essential medication I need, it got gradually less awful each time!)

It sounds like you really want to get the vaccine. As well, with your phobia, obviously a hospital/ICU admission would involve many more needles thinking about it in this way, if it helps.

I think distraction is really helpful, counting backwards in another language, reading something backwards (a poster, your phone etc). I wonder as well in the circumstances of you not being able to wait 6 months for more definitive treatment, whether asking your GP to prescibe one dose of sedative medication (similar to people with a fear of flying for example) would be an option?

You won't feel a thing, so if you look away you won't know you've had it. Covid would be so much worse

Would having gas and air or something similar help to calm you enough to get it?

I had this issue and had to have blood taken. I worked out that my biggest fear was that I’d feel sick / faint, so I told them I’d bed to lie down for it. It wasn’t easy but the fact that I just had to lie there helped. The great thing about the covid jab though is you often don’t even feel it, at all.

Having had a long term illness now, plus having babies basically has me to the point where I’ve been stuck with needles probably a hundred times. I do get that it’s not easy, but explain, and then lie down! It will be a massive relief for you to get past it. It will also be a million times better than the number you’d need if you were to be hospitalized with covid - but I do get that that’s not the point, s d that you want to not feel this way, so

Honestly couldn’t feel a thing. I didn’t even realise they had done it. The nurse talks to you to distract you.

Hypnotherapy can be very successful to treat needle phobias. Have you thought about giving that a go?

I am also phobic. Took me months to summon the courage to go. Chalky went to a walk in. Took every ounce of mental strength and will power tk get in the door. Told them all in there I was very scared. They were all nice about it and kind.
I told them I literally didn’t want to see anything and just to get it over as fast As possible
I did feel it. It hurt but lasted until the count of 3
Felt on cloud 9 during the 15 min wait.

I volunteer in a vaccine clinic and used to have bad needle phobia. Didn't go to the dentist for years!! Having kids helped me get over it as I had fertility problems and had to have loads of tests.

We've had quite a few people in with serious needle phobia. I think they all managed to have it. Take someone with you who can go ahead and explain or if you can try and call them. We've had people come in at the end of the session when it's quieter then they can go straight in and get it done quickly.

I understand your phobia is strong but you need to find a way past it.

If you catch Covid while unvaccinated there’s a strong chance you will need hospital treatment which could well involve blood tests, IV medication etc.

We've had quite a few people in with serious needle phobia. I think they all managed to have it. Take someone with you who can go ahead and explain or if you can try and call them. We've had people come in at the end of the session when it's quieter then they can go straight in and get it done quickly.

I did the opposite and went in the morning and was moved to the front of the queue. For the first one a lovely chaperone stayed with me the whole time and for the second DH went in with me. Everyone was lovely and made it as easy for me as possible. I'm still terrified at the thought of a booster though

I know it must be hard, but honestly when myself and dh had our first injection, i was really distracted as we had our severley autistic son with us who was upset at being in the building so my oldest son was trying to distract him, it was over in seconds and i didnt even know i had, had it, we had the Pfizer so the hardest part for us was sitting down for 15 minutes with ds2, the staff were brilliant though and allowed us to sit outside the building with a chaperone.

I've vaccinated a lot of people with severe needle phobia. I always ask them what would help them (get it over with quickly, take some time, go to a to private place, lie down etc). I haven't had a single person not able to go through with it, & almost universally they say "Was that it? I won't be so scared in the future." Often people don't even feel it.

Buy some Emla cream from the chemist and get them to show you how to put it on properly.
I’m used to dealing with nervous customers, I wish you could come to me 💐

Well if you end up in hospital with covid there’ll be a hell of a lot more needles stuck in you.

DH is needle phobic, I made his appointment and didn’t tell him until it was time to go. I went in with him and dealt with booking him in etc, and told the staff about his phobia. They let him lie on a bed and the nurse asked him some random question and while he was busy answering she did the jab without him realising. He found the second one much easier.