Needle Phobia

Did you know that:

10-30% of adults have a needle phobia.

Up to 10% of adults are not getting vaccinated because of their fear.

Also, many adults are less likely to seek any help when they get sick and have any health-related problems because of their fear of needles.

So, what can help you go from the fear of doom, worry and anxiety that is centred around this phobia to being ok with it.  To normalising and allowing a well-trained doctor or nurse to administer the necessary medication, vaccine, life-saving drug or blood.  To say ‘Hey – I’m actually good with this now.’

Well, the first step is to acknowledge that you need help and that there is nothing to be ashamed of.  It’s also important to know that you’re not alone in your struggle, and there are lots of solutions available.

Accepting and recognising that this is a problem for you is your road to change your outcome for the better.  Keep reading for the information that you need.

What is Needle Phobia?

Needle phobia (also known as trypanophobia) is an extreme fear or anxiety related to medical procedures involving injections, such as receiving vaccinations, blood tests or injections for medical treatment.

Needle phobia, like any other phobia often is accompanies by physical symptoms such as sweating, shaking, increased heart rate, panic attacks or even fainting.  This fear can lead to avoidance of medical treatment or a reluctance to seek medical attention, which can have serious consequences for health.

Why Am I Needle Phobic?

There are several reasons why you may be needle phobic.

Learned Experience

The firstly the mind and body can react in a FFF (Flight, Freight, Freeze) response when someone that you know has reacted in the same or similar manner.  This is called a learned response and may have been picked up from a parent, a friend or someone that you know, or even didn’t know while you were young or in your teens.

Past Experiences

Quite often past experiences can have a negative effect on the mind and body.  If you are needle phobic.  There may be an underlying past traumatic experience that has triggered a phobic response to needles.  This may relate or not be related to needles all together and the connection to needles may be, for example: white coats, blood, metal, certain smells or even authoritative figures.

Uncovering this information about how your mind and body are reacting this way, can help you change your beliefs and, and your reaction altogether.

Therapies that Work for Needle Phobia

When you’re looking at therapy for needle phobia, it is important to get a therapist that you are comfortable with and can give you the support, tools, techniques, and the therapy that will change the way you feel about needles altogether.

Therapy ranges from Exposure Therapy, CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy), Hypnotherapy, EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique), Relaxation and Breathwork Techniques:

• Exposure therapy is exposing the person to needles in a controlled setting, helping you to desensitise you from your fear of needles.  This is in the form of role play and then exposing the person to
• CBT (Cognitive Behaviour Therapy) focuses on the connection between a person’s thoughts, feelings and behaviours.  It involves identifying and challenging negative and unhelpful thought patterns.  Replacing them with more positive and adaptive ones.  CBT also involves learning new behavioural strategies and copying skills to help manage symptoms.
• Hypnotherapy also works on identifying the negative beliefs around needle phobia and can change and reframe the way you think about your undesirable experience altogether.Hypnotherapy is a very calming form of therapy that focuses on your subconscious.  Techniques used within a therapy session will be focused on a safe space, and exposing the client with perspective viewing, timeline therapy, parts therapy and many more techniques and tools.  There may also be NLP techniques used (Neuro Linguistic Programming) to seek out how you as an individual see, hear, feel, and imagine your needle phobia.  Neurolinguistic programming is an effective addition that works beautifully alongside hypnotherapy.  NLP works on the neuro processes of the brain and the language and cognitive behaviour patterns.  Look for Hypnotherapists that use NLP or are trained practitioners to help you beat your needle phobia for good.
• EFT (Emotional Freedom Technique) can be used to help uncover the behaviour around needle phobia.  This therapy is a tapping technique that is centred around the meridians of the Chinese system of acupressure, acupuncture points.   EFT works by releasing and unburdening how you feel as you tap around the body.  The desired outcome can also be achieved without tapping, and just imaging tapping while you are exposed to a needle.
• Relaxation Techniques are also very good at relaxing the body and the nervous system when you are undergoing a procedure that entails needles.  Breathwork works on outside in.  Which means if the person is under stress and cannot control the negative thoughts.  The FFF (Flight, Freight, Freeze).  Breathwork and relaxation calms down the sympathetic nervous system and the bodies’ reaction to exposing the person to needles.  With work on techniques from yoga and mindfulness.  This can be a very effective tool to help focus on the body and mind.

How Can I Get The Help That I Need for Needle Phobia?

If you’re interested in seeking help for your needle phobia.  Please don’t hesitate to get in touch.  Call, text or email me on 07976 970 489 – paula@nurtured-mind.co.uk