I have really severe needle phobia - vasovagal response, pass out, avoid doctors, "start crying at the sight of one of those chairs people sit in to receive injections" type severe.
Has anybody had this or have any advice for what to do about this?
Conversation
Replying to
i just tried reading some articles talking about how to deal with needle phobia and that made me think about needles and now i'm experiencing light panic and crying
4
6
also who the fuck thought it would be a good idea to put pictures of needles as headers for "how to treat your needlephobia" articles
9
50
Replying to
I did when I was a child - and I'm still not happy about a shot - but you just have to buck-up. I'm sure you've dealt with pain; a sports injury, a fall, etc. You just have to do it when you have to do it and you know, it's going to surprise you and it's not going to be that bad.
1
Replying to
I have the vasovagal reflex to needles. This is genetic and kicks in around puberty - I had no issue with needles as a kid. This isn't something I can 'buck up' about - I can't just decide not to pass out. My condition also is not something that therapy helps with.
3
1
Show replies
Replying to
Have you tried to reflect on the phobia in a state of increased attention and decreased identification (i.e. suitably medicated)? Not sure if it would help you but I am curious. Phobias may be a kind of local dysphoria that self perpetuates due to negative valence and aversion.
2
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
i try that sometimes, to force myself to watch youtube videos, but I seriously cannot get through it. I get overwhelming nausea and shakes. I've never been able to force myself to watch a full vid - and I watch graphic videos of people dying on a pretty regular basis
1
Show replies
Replying to
Not specific to your issue, but exposure therapy has a good track record... if you can find a good facilitator and set up a regimen of gradual voluntary exposure, you might get results. (Gradual <= starting by voluntarily looking at a picture of a syringe)
1
This Tweet was deleted by the Tweet author. Learn more
Replying to
I'd be interested if this applies to genetic phobias as opposed to learned phobias. From what I've read, phobias that occur as a result of a traumatic thing are way more responsive to therapy; genetic phobias kick in with no trigger and are therapy-resistant.
1
Show replies