Has anyone managed to overcome severe needle phobia?

[Girliefriendlikespuppies]

My 20yo dd is currently home from uni very unwell with freshers flu. On Saturday night 111 told me to take her to A&e as they were worried about meningitis or sepsis. They wanted to do some urgent bloods and put a cannula in but dd freaked out and refused because she’s terrified of needles.

This has been ongoing for a while tbh, the last time she had bloods done she was 14yo and it was traumatic, she managed the vaccines in year 9 but has refused any since then (including men B)

This is obviously now a major problem and I’m wondering about how to manage it. Would hypnotherapy or cbt help?

DS is a clinical psychologist. Huge аdvances have been made recently in the treatment of phobias. Get her to see a properly qualified psychologist, there’s a very good chance she will respond to treatment.

Bumping, any one got any first hand experience of overcoming this phobia?

I had psychotherapy for a needle phobia about 25 years ago.
I'd had a very traumatic experience when I was about 5 and went into hospital to have my tonsils removed and they couldn't get the cannula in.
As I got older the fear got worse and I had to be held down for routine injections, which actually exacerbated the problem.
It got to the stage that I would be so terrified I'd run out of the Drs surgery if they offered me a flu jab :(
I went to my GP and was referred for aversion therapy. Over around 10 sessions we went from talking about injections, walking into the room and there was an injection on the table, me touching the injection, me touching it to my skin, the therapist touching it to my skin, watching someone else have blood taken and finally having blood taken myself.
Trust was a huge part of it for me, and feeling like I had some control over what was happening to me, unlike my experience as a child.
Also recognizing the flight or fight response and breathing / visualizing my way through it.
I'm so much better now, still don't like them but so long as the practioner is patient with me and tells me with a countdown when it's going to happen I can tolerate them.
Definitely worth looking into aversion therapy. At the first appointment we discussed acceptable steps for each appointment and I always felt I could say no at any time.
I hope you can find a solution - good luck!

I have a severe needle phobia.

I haven't overcome it, in that I am still petrified of needles, but have managed them when I felt I really needed to, in the last decade. So I managed my pregnancy jabs and bloods for both children (albeit late the first time), and cannulas during planned sections (also phobia of childbirth), and covid jabs. But I avoid them where possible, likely to be own detriment. I have my own protocol to cope, which involves a lot of emla cream, headphones, loud music and lying down with eyes shut.

But it's been several years now since I've had a needle and I'm back to full sensitivity over it again, so the phobia is definitely still there.

@Taytocrisps101 thanks for your reply, my dd had her tonsils and adenoids out age 4yo and I think the phobia definitely started around that time. Do you think aversion therapy is the same as CBT?

I was pretty needle phobic (sweaty palms, racing heart, frequently pass out) and I have shit veins which makes the attempts more traumatic.
Then I got a cancer diagnosis and had to have regular cannulas and blood tests. I didn’t want to die so I didn’t really have much choice. a I wouldn’t say I’m used to it but I tolerate it a lot more now. Always ask to lie down so I can’t pass out. Breathing exercises. Used to wear my AirPods.

My mum developed a phobia after she was hit by a car in hospital for months. Her veins shut down and they'd be digging around trying to get one in her feet.

She uses emla cream beforehand. Initially for vaccines and blood tests but now only for blood tests. You can buy it online and its used before cannulating children because its numbs the skin. I used it having a belly piercing years ago and didn't feel anything.

I'm needle phobic. I used to pass out, sweat, feeling sick, refuse injections, burst into tears, etc.

I still get anxious, sweaty, and faint, but I don't refuse anymore and cope by lying down, asking for water, and honestly asking the nurse or etc to breathe with me. The only thing that's helped me is having a rough pregnancy and needing very frequent blood tests. The exposure has made it better.

A lot of needle phobia is your vasovagal response though, which makes you feel faint. One of the best options is to get something from the pharmacy to numb the area. You can't feel it so it stops the faint response. You still feel scared, but it makes it easier in my opinion.

You could also try a phobia ladder. So start by talking about needles, then looking at pictures, holding one, etc, and work your way slowly up the ladder.

Ironically, I've never had an issue giving them 😂 I'm a mental health nurse and have 0 problem jabbing someone in the butt or arm!

To be honest, I'm not sure!
I'd start with a visit to your GP and ask what options are available first. It helped that I had a really empathetic therapist but you would hope they're all like that! For me it was being given back the choice and control, and working together to take steps that I was comfortable with.
Rationally I knew that they are really 'only a scratch ' and actually needles these days seem much finer but all sense went out the window and blind panic took over.
You mentioned hypnotherapy, I tried that in my early 20s but it didn't work for me.
Hopefully you will be able to find the right person to help x

Thank you everyone, they used the emla cream and a cold spray in the hospital but she completely freaks out the minute the nurse reaches for a needle. My dd works with dogs and has had to give them injections in the past, she said she doesn’t enjoy it but I suppose has to do it.

I have told her to message her GP and ask if the nhs offer any help, I think CBT might be the way to go.