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

[Honeyhorse]

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

Please be kind, feel sick and shaky tonight.

Both the vaccines I had last year, & the booster I got last week, I barely felt. I honestly think if I'd been watching a good film & someone had sneaked up & done it without warning me, I wouldn't have realised. I did have a few side effects but they were no worse than a bad cold (feverish, achey) & over in a couple of days. With the second jab they only lasted about 4 hours.

@Corcory

One thing I can tell you is that the vaccine needle is the least noticeable I have ever had. My hypervigilant ASD DD didn't realise the nurse had already given her it which was amazing! So really is not sore at all.

I can echo this - it was just like someone lightly scratched my arm with, say, a sharp twig. It didn't feel like a needle going in at all (and I have had plenty of other jabs that really did!).

I know that doesn't necessarily help with a phobia because it's all about the idea of the thing rather than the thing itself (I have a random phobia of a completely harmless thing so I understand this) but if I can reassure anyone who is worried about the jab, I will do my best.

[quote howdiditcometothis666]@XenoBitch You are correct. That's why some people are fine with blood tests as opposed to vaccination. Putting something in your body equals loss of control which is also why many suffering from mental health troubles don't take anti depressants. I doubt many on here will understand it.[/quote]
It is difficult, and even if every needle phobic person came out on MN and talked about it.. I still think a lot of people would not understand at all.
We are all different. Experiencing different levels of tolerance and different experience of trauma.

Could you try hypnosis? It is not for everyone but it works very well for some people after just one or two sessions, and some therapists offer online. Here’s some information about it.

www.nhs.uk/conditions/hypnotherapy/

Sympathies, OP. My 16-year-old son is the same. He tried to have his first vaccination last week, but couldn't go through with it. The GP has now prescribed Diazepam and I'm going to buy Emla cream from the chemist to numb the top of his arm. The nurse suggested he listen to music on his headphones too. Do you think any of these things could help you?

@Summerfun54321

Could you try and arrange to have it at your GP would that help? If you explained the situation and asked if you could have any medication as well? The massive vaccines centres aren’t the most relaxing spaces. Surely they want as many people vaccinated as possible so you may actually get some help and advice from your GP.

@Summerfun54321 GPs don’t offer it and you can’t get a private vaccine. I’ve looked into this for my daughter who is also needle phobic. She’s having therapy at the moment and hoping to have her first jab on Monday.

What about that weird pair who occasionally pop up on This Morning proclaiming to cure people of their phobias? What’s their technique?

I have had three vaccines now and never felt any of them. The needle is so fine. I just felt nurse holding /steadying my arm.
It’s is good you are he having therapy this week hope it goes well x

@bendmeoverbackwards my GP has just started doing vaccines in their surgery. It might be area specific but in our area a lot more surgeries are now offering it to meet demand. Good luck to your daughter for Monday 💐

Also, google Anxiety UK (sorry, can't link for some reason). They provide support for people with needle phobia. This includes a downloadable MP3. Might be worth a try.

Keep us posted OP - you are not alone -

I have a needle phobia and a bit of medical anxiety too

I sympathise OP I really do, i am in the same situation, I hate any invasive medical procedure but especially jabs. I hate it all, the smell, the noise, the way the nurse squeezes your shoulder, the pain, all of it. And I hate people saying ‘oh just look the other way’ because if I felt it was easy to look the other way I would have had the jabs in the first place!

I am discussing it with my GP next week and will be interested in what they have to say.

Distraction techniques like music, videos etc don’t work on me they just get added into the ‘this traumatic thing happened when we did/saw/felt/smelled this’ cycle I go into whenever I am in need of a jab/blood test and then I start panicking whenever I hear that music/video (etc) in future.

I think you are unlikely to get seriously unwell from this virus, but, I think it would be wise to talk to your GP about it like I am, as there may be an unavoidable procedure in future that requires needles as part of your treatment. This is what I am concerned for. I can’t let it rule my life x

My late dp was needle phobic, if he had to have a blood test I used to have to sit on his knee, pass the arm needed for the test behind me & bury his face in my boobs until it was done. He could have a tattoo or watch me have one but show him a syringe or a needle & he fainted.

Your GP can give an anti anxiety tablet to take before you go.
I believe you can take someone with you too.

I've taken them before getting an MRI and it worked a treat.

I hate that so many people think a pill is the answer.. and also "speak to your GP" when it is tucking impossible to see one.

@XenoBitch

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.

www.nhs.uk/service-search/mental-health/find-a-psychological-therapies-service/

@Egghead68

My local IAPT service don't offer any practical help for phobias and in any case, I can't access them as I am classed as "too high a risk".

To add to @Egghead68’s link to IAPT, it depends on the area but many services are very busy as obviously there has been a lot of demand during the pandemic and many services had long waitlists before. If you can pay for private CBT the best thing to do is to make sure a therapist is BABCP accredited and this is a good source www.cbtregisteruk.com/. You can also find BABCP accredited cbt therapists in the Psychology Today listings. Most private practice therapists are willing to discuss their fees so don’t be afraid to ask about concessions and to ask direct questions about number of sessions etc.

I have had all my vaccines including the booster at my GP’s surgery

I am really phobic of needles and have medical anxiety too (also never had a smear and I'm older than you). I pretty much had a breakdown in the summer due to fear of the vaccine vs fear of dying from Covid.
At the time, I was reading lots of threads like yours and the types of replies saying things like imagine how worse it will be if you get ill just heightened the anxiety around it all and those saying just don't look and it doesn't hurt just made me feel like no one understands and once your anxiety levels are so high distraction doesn't work (although I know they come from a well intentioned place)

I have now had two jabs and honestly it wasn't easy, I was throwing up for days before, couldn't concentrate on anything and was very tearful. But the vaccination centre were truly lovely and patient, I used the emla cream, had someone in with me, was laid down, anything they could do to help they did. The first one took 2 hours before I let them do it but the lovely woman didn't bat an eyelid. You might not feel ready yet, and that's fine, but when you do get there they'll understand.
I also started CBT about six weeks ago and it's been hard work but I'm now at the stage where I can watch vaccinations on TV with minimal reaction and I don't panic in crowds anymore (I used to panic in case I was accidentally jabbed with a needle which I know is illogical). I am still panicking at the thought of having a booster but am trying not to think about it yet. I felt I had to get help as firstly I don't want my fear to be passed on to my DCs and secondly in the future I hope that needles won't be such a traumatic event.
You're not alone, but lots of people don't like to talk about it due to embarrassment, belittling and not feeling understood.

You've made a big step asking for help so well done. Good luck!

I have severe health phobia. Mine is different but i do understand the illogical side of it, even when you rationally know the science etc. Ironically the one thing i dont have a problem with is needles which foils hcps who know i have a health phobia!

I think there are two key things for me - an event (or events) that triggered something deeper and long standing from my childhood - a poor experience of some kind. And a loss of control or being in control in someway. Anything invasive is a massive no for me.

This all made having a baby something of a trauma for me.

One of the things that became clear through it all though is how the phobia might be able one tiny thing, but it has wide reaching implications.

Whilst its 'just a jab' now, the reality is we all get older and part of that is we get sick. So it isn't just a jab to protect you at that point. Its a bunch of tests, treatment, time in hospital etc etc.

This means you end up becoming completely avoidant.

But what if something happens. Say you get hit by that metaphorical killer bus that gets everyone in their cliches. And you get taken to hospital and you are immobilised so you cannot just discharge yourself.

How do you cope? Or because you find yourself in a situation that distresses you that much, you traumatise yourself even further.

The point I'm trying to make is that a needle phobia is never just about needles. Its about your wider health. The pandemic kind of lays that bare as it shows up what happens if you don't get vaxxed in a somewhat alarming fashion.

But you can't just avoid it. Because instead of being in control which you think you are, you are being controlled by the phobia.

You cannot escape it. You are chained to it.

It has knock on effects.

The best way to kind of grasp this all is to eat the elephant and break it down into a way that helps you understand and process what is going on better. So deconstruct why, when, how etc. Then start to do things which put you back in control of it, rather thsn lost at sea with it at the mercy of the winds of fortune.

Its not easy. Im still a nutcase with it. But i have come a long way from where i was.

Do a bit at a time makes it easier.

I think when people know and understand that 'healthcare is 100% a force for helping people.' its hard for them to understand when someone doesn't have that level of trust in healthcare.

There are ways forward.

If it helps at all, I had my booster today (so quick, didn’t even feel it go in, the vaccination part was over without any fuss)..there was a lady there who was obviously really anxious, shaking and had her partner there for support. The staff there were so kind, when it was her turn they took her aside and talked her through what was going to happen step by step in a room to the side where it was quieter. They really were fantastic, and she did it (I was in waiting area at this point). I know it seems impossible to overcome but do try the counselling, maybe hypnotherapy to see if that works, CBT..know waiting lists are long. The lady today looked so relieved when she’d finally done it today

@XenoBitch

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.

Im not talking about going to doctors im talking about researching online at charities or pod casts or youtube or support groups , basically finding out urself ways in which could help to tackle the anxiety, i have anxiety and depression the nhs has been useless i have researched my own coping strategies

@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?

@Honeyhorse I just wanted to say a couple of things:

1. You would be surprised, I think, at how very thin the needle is to deliver the pfizer vaccine into the deltoid muscle. It’s barely felt as a brief scratch, and then it’s done. Both my children have had it and one is quite needle-phobic as she has had to give blood samples fairly regularly, but she was positively surprised and said it didn’t hurt at all, in fact she barely noticed it. Needles are of different gauges for different purposes, and in this case, it’s very fine gauge.

2. A single dose can prime your immune response really effectively and protect you from the chance of serious illness. The booster (2nd) will underline that. The third dose is being rolled out because most people will have had their last dose over 6 months ago so their immune response (memory) is likely to have waned. That’s why they’re being boosted again.

3. Have you asked your GP to vaccinate you at your home, if your phobia is so extreme as to otherwise leave you unprotected? Bit of a long shot as they are under huge strain.

The thinking and worrying about a thing is often far far worse than just going and doing the thing. Easy for me to say, but there, I’ve said it!

Op, you can boost your immune system in other ways. Get yourself some high strength Vitamin D3 for starters, 8000 IUs a day is good.