How do I overcome my fear of needles???

Question

My fear is just needles themselves.

Answer 1

I take 2 injections insulin each day. You just have to wrap your head around the fact that they just hurt for a fraction of a second and sometimes not at all.They don't bother me much anymore but there are days I feel like one more poke and I will scream....but I don't.

Answer 2

what is the fear? the pain that comes with the needles? or just needles alone?

cause if its the pain-- what i used to do -- is just dont look at the needle at all!! even when they are settin up and gettin ready to do whatever, just dont look at it! : ) sorry thats all i can suggest for now!

hope i helped :)

Good Luck Hon!

Answer 3

imagine them wearing a silly hat!

Answer 4

The fear of needles can be a dangerous condition, often preventing the afflicted person from seeking medical attention when necessary. This ailment can debilitate children and adults alike. Sometimes the ailment eases as time passes. Children, for example, are often afraid of needles but many outgrow their fear as they get older. The fear of needles can produce a variety of symptoms, whether in adults or children, from crying, to fainting, to a severe drop in blood pressure. Some sufferers even have convulsions and respiratory distress. Many people have no idea why they are so afraid of needles. Some say the pain is too great for them to bear, which is mostly a mental state, and some say they had a bad experience as a child. For whatever reason you fear needles, it’s important that you seek help for this condition.

As with any phobia, the affliction can range from mild to severe, and with needle phobia, treatments can vary from hypnosis to drugs. Some say hypnosis is on the right track, since it pertains to changing the mind-set of the afflicted, and it’s imperative that one seeking treatment for this phobia change the subconscious level of viewing needles. But for some people, hypnosis only serves to reinstate the phobia, since it requires the participant to conjure up repeated visions of the thing they fear most. Those with a mild to moderate affliction can often be helped with hypnosis, though, and some can even be helped with yoga and other relaxation techniques. Going into a trance-like state, if you’ve mastered this ability, is helpful when receiving shots. Another treatment which has helped many is to take a prescribed, fast-acting, anxiety medication an hour or so before needing a treatment involving needles. This helps to relax some patients enough to accept the puncture. Do not administer your own drugs, but talk to a physician about prescribing something strictly for the occasions which you will be receiving an injection. Although this type of drug assists in relaxing the patient, taking these medications on a regular basis can cause further ailments. Some people report that after using this method of treatment many times that they have actually been de-programmed of the phobia. The reasoning is, after many of these treatments, the mind begins to remember the punctures as less traumatic than the original memories, even if subconscious.

If you are needle phobic, find a physician who has had experience dealing with the affliction and ask that he administer topical lidocaine to anesthetize the area first. Since lidocaine only numbs skin to a certain depth, iontophoresis is a process now available which uses a mild electrical current to send the lidocaine into the skin so that the injection site will be completely anesthetized. If your needle phobia is triggered by the actual pain of the needle, these treatments can help tremendously, but if the the treatments aren’t sufficient, there are new prescription creams and patches which combine lidocaine and prilocaine and penetrates more deeply than lidocaine. These treatments must be applied at least one hour before the needle procedure.

Once you have made up your mind to try and beat your fear of needles, the first thing you need to do is to train yourself to relax when preparing for the procedure. Mentally prepare yourself for the treatment by reassuring yourself that you’ve lived through previous punctures and that this one will be even easier. Relax and try not to walk through the procedure again and again in your mind, instead, state the facts to yourself and then try to put it out of your mind until time for the procedure. Needle phobics who have abstained from injection treatments for quite some time should notify the doctor that they are needle phobic, get a routine treatment such as a flu shot, and stay in the doctor’s office, lying down, for 15 minutes, or until the feeling of anxiety has subsided. As with most phobias, it’s easiest to take baby steps toward the cure, have confidence, but don’t fret too much about temporary failures, and continue the climb towards permanent relief of this life-threatening affliction.

Answer 5

Become a drug addict.

Or a diabetic.

Hehe.

There's nothing that you can do, really. Just coach yourself into thinking they're okay, they're going to help you in the end. It's a mental thing in the end, so I would suggest deep breathing and positive thinking.

Answer 6

You can learn to deal with this fear. I was hurt by a needle & developed a fear. Now when I need to get a shot or have blood drawn, I use this trick. I close my eyes and breath slowly. In deeply & out slowly. I try to relax. I always tell the person I have the fear & that I will be doing my breathing excersise. That way they know what I'm doing. It works.

At the dentist, it I need a shot my dentist gives me laughing gas first. No problem.

Find out what works for you.Good Luck

Answer 7

poke yourself with a needle daily

Answer 8

I got my lip pierced to try and overcome my fear of needles.

Didn't work for me, but at least now I look badass *rolls eyes*... *sighs*

Answer 9

Get tougher.

Answer 10

just think as a needle as a little misquote bite coz its actually not as painful. I'm talking about injections. yeah get acupuncture done I'm terrified of needles as well but you'll slowly get over it...good luck

Answer 11

I really don't like needles either but the thing is that you really can't avoid them forever.

You didn't mention whether or not you do faint, or have a panic attack or whatever but I would recommend telling yourself things like:

"It will be over in a minute"

"You'll be okay"

"The pain won't last long"

"I'm not afraid of needles"

"I am no longer have a fear of needles"

Telling yourself things like this will help you learn a new way of thinking about needles and reducing your fear of them.

Also, concentrate on taking long, deep breaths. Concentrating on your breathing could help a lot.

You really have to try to rid yourself of the fear though otherwise it will be something that stays with you for a very long time.

Good luck!

Answer 12

It could release itself, if you have something like easily fainting for when you see it or something it's not good to "face your fears"

Answer 13

get a shot.

there's got to be a shot you haven't had.

Answer 14

if it were me i would get acupuncture.

after that you can go through anything involving needles.

good luck!

Answer 15

Be a maddog :)

simple as that

HAHAH

Answer 16

go to the red cross an give blood its easy