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Original poster

Unvaxxed due to needle phobia, now terrified after reading everything on here tonight

138 replies

Honeyhorse · 15/12/2021 23:02

I posted a couple of days ago about my needle phobia.
I’ve not had any vaccines as yet. I’m having my first counselling session on Friday. But now I realise it’s too late, the new variant is extremely infectious and I’m going to get it. Even if I stay in the house as much as possible, my DP works in a secondary school so I’m in trouble.

How likely am I to get seriously ill from the new one? I’m 32, a little overweight, no co morbidities.

I hate myself for not going through with it sooner. I’m terrified of the vaccine/needle and terrified of getting this new variant Sad

Please be kind, feel sick and shaky tonight.

OP posts:
Original poster
Honeyhorse · 15/12/2021 23:20

@XenoBitch thanks, it’s good to know I’m not alone in a way. I feel totally alone as mostly everyone I know is vaccinated.

OP posts:
Tealightsandd · 15/12/2021 23:20

I'm sorry if this won't help/you've already tried but would it be possible to get some diazepam from your GP? I've had it before smears (I'm not phobic but find them painful).

Longer term, well done for getting some counselling sorted. You never know when you might need an injection or blood taken in the future.

Try not to panic in the meantime. If diazepam helps get you the jab (I literally felt nothing and even wonderful whether it hadn't been done!), great. If not, focus on mitigations.

I hope you manage to overcome your phobia (not easy, I know). Flowers

Postdatedpandemic · 15/12/2021 23:21

Relax and go to your therapy session on Friday. You are quite low risk.

I went from, I will punch the nurse in the face to I can watch you jab me in about one day flat. But I can't name the thing that did the ping in my brain. We are all unique and that is just fine. Hope you get there.

friendlycat · 15/12/2021 23:21

The thing I would say about the vaccine is that it really isn’t like other needles and blood tests that you feel. Some procedures you do feel but this one I actually would not have known that it had been done. On my booster for instance I sat there waiting looking the other way and was told to get up and go. I didn’t even realise it had happened.

SillyBlueHat · 15/12/2021 23:22

Getting counselling is a great step. I'm needle phobic. Not so much with injections. I do hate them and sat hyperventilating for my vaccinations but when it comes to blood tests it's a completely irrational fear and I cannot control my emotional and physical reaction.

So erm, not much help really but I completely understand your situation. Phobia is very very different to discomfort. Please do update us on how you get on with your counselling and your subsequent stress free vaccination.

Marianne1234 · 15/12/2021 23:22

I don’t get this needle phobia/health anxiety as a reason to not get the vaccine.

Do you not think the needles and other interventions might be worse than a quick jag?!

I don’t mind needles but I hated the thought of my babies getting their vaccine (fully irrational I realise this now). I remember telling my husband I wasn’t taking them and he said “do you not think treatment for meningitis might be an awful lot worse..?” I knew he was right.

I also don’t understand the ones who are like “pa-ha! Boris had a party and we might need a lockdown anyway so fuck you and your booster!” Like ok pal but Boris isn’t going to get potentially very unwell because you didn’t have your booster. You on the other hand…

Original poster
Honeyhorse · 15/12/2021 23:22

I am embarrassed and ashamed to say I’ve never had a smear test, at age 32. It’s not only needles that are triggering for me, but also any invasive procedure.

I know I have a child, but I’ll never have another, the whole process was so traumatic I ended up with PND snd PTSD.

OP posts:
viques · 15/12/2021 23:22

Op, in all seriousness, can I ask when you last had an innoculation? I ask because a couple of years ago I went to India and was really getting anxious about the injections I was going to need. When it came to it I was in a bit of a state, because I was going to have a series of them one after the other, knew I had to have them done, was dreading it ,but was amazed. Not one hurt, I honestly didn’t feel them at all. I had not had an injection for a good many years and had not realised how things have moved on with innoculations, the needles they use these days are absolutely tiny, like a hair and you really really do not feel them.

Same with the Covid ones. If it is a while since your last innoculation then be brave and go for it, I think you will be surprised.

Marianne1234 · 15/12/2021 23:25

Do you not think the needles and other interventions might be worse than a quick jag?!

And by this inarticulate nonsense I mean do you not think the interventions you might need if you are very unwell due to contracting covid might be an awful lot worse than a quick jag?

XenoBitch · 15/12/2021 23:25

[quote Honeyhorse]@XenoBitch thanks, it’s good to know I’m not alone in a way. I feel totally alone as mostly everyone I know is vaccinated.[/quote]
Well done for talking about it.. because it does get all the phobic people out the woodwork, and I do think it is worth talking about. You are not alone at all.
I really hope those close to you that are vaccinated understand your situation.

Newrunner29 · 15/12/2021 23:25

@XenoBitch

I understand, I really do. I am also unvaccinated due to needle phobia.

Some healthy people get really poorly, and some really poorly don't suffer from Covid at all.
There is a Covid risk calculator thing... I am not sure of the link or how to find it, but it might put your mind at rest. If anyone reading this can help, please do!

But worrying about Covid wont change whatever outcome that may be.
Do what you can.. keep fit, maintain a healthy weight, eat healthy and get all your vitamins.

Wouldnt it be simpler to work on the neddle phobia? Obviously not going to just go away. Obviously not simple as in quick and easy. But if thats whats stopping u then worrying about covid will be lessened by getting vaccine
Original poster
Honeyhorse · 15/12/2021 23:25

@viques it’s more complicated than that unfortunately, it’s any invasive procedure really, but I did have one when I was pregnant 4 years ago and then blood tests at the time, as I said up the thread, I ended up with PND and PTSD as a result and I’m completely certain my DS will be an only child.

OP posts:
Marianne1234 · 15/12/2021 23:26

Get yourself a smear. Doesn’t what happened to Jade Goody put the fear into you? I know the Jade effect is wearing off but I swear I’ll never forget it.

SillyBlueHat · 15/12/2021 23:26

Some of these replies are just unnecessary. Do people really think phobias are overcome by someone saying it doesn't hurt? Phobias are not rational. Otherwise OP could talk herself out of it quite easily.

viques · 15/12/2021 23:27

[quote Honeyhorse]@viques it’s more complicated than that unfortunately, it’s any invasive procedure really, but I did have one when I was pregnant 4 years ago and then blood tests at the time, as I said up the thread, I ended up with PND and PTSD as a result and I’m completely certain my DS will be an only child.[/quote]
Fair enough. I hope the counselling works for you.

Postdatedpandemic · 15/12/2021 23:28

@Marianne1234 phobias are not rational.
I know someone who gets lip fillers but hasn't been to the hygienist for two decades. It is weird, but it is their weird.

Marianne1234 · 15/12/2021 23:28

No they aren’t rational. I get that. But sometimes we need to just…get on with it.

I have a severe vomit phobia. My seven year old was throwing up the other week and admittedly her dad dealt with most of it. But one time he was on a zoom call and couldn’t. I had to step up. Hold her hair back etc. It was horrific and I replay it over and over in my head but what was I supposed to do? Leave her to get on with it?

XenoBitch · 15/12/2021 23:28

@Marianne1234

I don’t get this needle phobia/health anxiety as a reason to not get the vaccine.

Do you not think the needles and other interventions might be worse than a quick jag?!

I don’t mind needles but I hated the thought of my babies getting their vaccine (fully irrational I realise this now). I remember telling my husband I wasn’t taking them and he said “do you not think treatment for meningitis might be an awful lot worse..?” I knew he was right.

I also don’t understand the ones who are like “pa-ha! Boris had a party and we might need a lockdown anyway so fuck you and your booster!” Like ok pal but Boris isn’t going to get potentially very unwell because you didn’t have your booster. You on the other hand…

If you don't get it, then you are lucky. Needle and medical phobia can be debilitating. Some people come close to death because they were too scared to seek medical attention due to their phobia.
londonmummy1966 · 15/12/2021 23:28

Can yu try to desinsitise yourself a bit over the next few days by pricking your finger with a pin? I understand it is hard as I've seen the needle phobics coming in to a vaccine centre. One lady brought in two friends to hold her down as she was so desperate to have it but knew she'd not go through with it otherwise.

Imdreamingofapeacefulxmas · 15/12/2021 23:30

Op, whatever we do we can't win, I was absolutely terrified of getting the AZ vaccine because a relative had died of dvt! It was a nightmare

However I can promise you the needles are so so thin every time I've not noticed they have given it to me!

Postdatedpandemic · 15/12/2021 23:31

A lot of us overcome phobias when we have small kids because we have to keep them alive. Some can't get over them, they feel shit about it.
I do community MH, there are a lot of weird people with a lot of weird stories and none of them are there voluntarily.

saleorbouy · 15/12/2021 23:31

Good luck with the therapy to get over the phobia.
The logical way to look at it is that getting two vaccines in controlled circumstances has to be better than perhaps ending up in hospital getting IV drips and meds in a less controlled manner & as necessity requires.
Now is definitely the time to crack this, grab it by the horns and take it on!

viques · 15/12/2021 23:32

@SillyBlueHat

Some of these replies are just unnecessary. Do people really think phobias are overcome by someone saying it doesn't hurt? Phobias are not rational. Otherwise OP could talk herself out of it quite easily.
No, but some people’s fears are because of bad experience in the past, I know I had painful injections as a child which raised issues, if you haven’t had an injection for many years it’s important to realise that these days they are done with tiny needles and are as painless as they can be. It can infortunately become a situation where the fear becomes more distressing than the experience.
XenoBitch · 15/12/2021 23:32

Wouldnt it be simpler to work on the neddle phobia? Obviously not going to just go away. Obviously not simple as in quick and easy. But if thats whats stopping u then worrying about covid will be lessened by getting vaccine

@Newrunner29

What help? Mental health services have been well below par for years. Now, anyone calling their GP will get told it has to be life/death or a booster.

godmum56 · 15/12/2021 23:33

@Honeyhorse

Even if I had one jab now…well I mean next week or whenever (if I could physically get myself there) would it protect me or do I need all 3 for protection?
one is better than none, two is better that one, three is better than two.
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