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How do I Overcome a Fear of Needles?
The fear of needles is also known by a variety of terms including trypanophobia or blenophobia and is believed to affect at least 10 percent of the population in the United States alone. There are several strategies employed by medical and mental health professionals to help trypanophobic individuals overcome their fear of needles. Patients with a mild phobia often respond to detailed explanations of medical procedures to alleviate fear of the unknown, having more control over their environment and training themselves to relax prior to the procedure involving needles. Graded exposure, hypnosis, numbing of the injection site, anti-anxiety medications and cognitive behavioral therapy are additional interventions that can be beneficial.
People who suffer from a fear of needles may find it helpful to work with a medical professional that has experience treating the phobia and can help desensitize the patient by explaining the procedure and its benefits in detail. Some patients may want to lie down while the injection is administered and rest for several minutes afterward. Medical professions can also numb the injection site thus reducing pain and anxiety. Allowing trypanophobic individuals to determine the environment for the procedure and have a friend, spouse or family member present can greatly reduce stress.
Hypnosis, cognitive behavioral therapy and meditation can train a person with a fear of needles to relax and alter his or her perception of procedures involving needles. Cognitive behavior therapy and hypnosis may help a patient identify and discard negative emotions and beliefs about needles in exchange for more positive thinking. Meditation can train an individual to relax prior to visiting his or her medical professional.
Anti-anxiety medications may be beneficial in severe cases of fear of needles. Taken within an hour prior to the procedure, prescription drugs such as diazepam or lorazepam can relax a patient. These medications should be taken only under the supervision of a medical professional.
An additional strategy that can be useful when overcoming a fear of needles is gradual or graded exposure. The patient is first exposed to diagrams and toys, then cotton swabs before finally seeing unopened syringes. Gradual exposure can slowly desensitize a patient to injections and needles.
This phobia can provoke panic attacks, fainting spells, vertigo, nausea and diaphoresis and be severe enough that people may avoid vaccinations, blood tests and other crucial medical procedures. The onset is typically during early childhood and many trypanophobic adults recognize the irrationality of their fear. There is evidence to suggest that this phobia may be inherited since many people with a fear of needles have a relative with the same problem. Like many phobias, overcoming a fear of needles often requires time and incremental steps towards the ultimate goal.
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![People who suffer from a fear of needles may find it helpful to work with a medical professional that has experience treating the phobia.]()
By: David StuartPeople who suffer from a fear of needles may find it helpful to work with a medical professional that has experience treating the phobia. -
![A fear of needles can lead to an avoidance of necessary medical procedures.]()
By: Africa StudioA fear of needles can lead to an avoidance of necessary medical procedures. -
![A fear of needles can provoke panic attacks and fainting spells.]()
By: blancheA fear of needles can provoke panic attacks and fainting spells. -
![Those with trypanophobia -- a severe fear of needles -- may be prescribed anxiety medication to take just before getting a shot.]()
By: Fernando MadeiraThose with trypanophobia -- a severe fear of needles -- may be prescribed anxiety medication to take just before getting a shot.
Discussion Comments
My husband has a needle phobia. It's pretty severe. He had a terrible ear infection and wouldn't get an antibiotic injection, which would have helped. He would only take the pills.
I would advise people who have a phobia to try to desensitize themselves to needles by looking at photos of them and to educate themselves about exactly what happens when blood is drawn, or the benefits of injections, etc. Sometimes, that helps.
For someone who has a debilitating phobia that doesn't respond to these things, seeing a therapist might not be a bad idea. We all are going to have times when dealing with a needle is a necessity, so it's for our own health benefits to try to reduce a phobia about needles.
I am not crazy about needles, and I'd much rather not deal with them. However, I have to have bloodwork every three months, so I have to face it. I don't have what you would call a raging phobia, though.
Some of my strategies include drinking a full bottle of water on the way to the office. This helps plump up my veins, which means the tech only has to stick me once. Also, I never look at the needle. Ever. I'm just better off if I don't see it. I cover my eyes and turn my head. That really, really helps me to remain calm.
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