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Overcoming Phobia's

Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
How do we go about overcoming phobia's? Reading Ballerina's blood type thread and answering myself, and also knowing how I've wanted to have piercings and to become a blood donor in the past, I really think I need to overcome my problem with needles.

The thing is I can put up with needles when having dentistry work. To me it's not as scary, the needle doesn't seem that big and the pain soon goes as they're numbing it for me so I don't really notice them going in!

I can't look at needles, I can't watch them going in and I find looking at the points really...scary! Watching a movie or a tv programme with needles I close my eyes - I feel nervous! I have had injections - and normally associate them with pain and passing out - I've had blood tests done before when I had glandular fever, and I passed out from all of them. I had about 3/4 at the time. I feel pain - I've always been very sensitive and can't endure a lot. I remember my BCG being a very painful injection and everyone assumed I was just being a wetty - probably that coupled with the tension in my arm made it painful but still. How am I to relax when all I think of is pain and such.

Meh! Any help appreciated!

As a kid, my only fear was of bubbles. I don't recall overcoming it - I just remember my morbid fear of them and then becoming accustomed to it.

Comments

  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    Hey malteser monkay

    It’s great that you wish to try overcoming your problem with needles, so know that there is info and support available to help you do this.

    A fear of needles or injections is called Belonephobia or Trypanophobia. As for how we can go about overcoming phobias, the Phobias article on this site briefly discusses what help is available. Talking about your feelings and fears with a professional (and/or with others who experience the same thing) may help. You could speak to your doctor about psychotherapy (talking therapy) or behaviour therapy - both which are outlined in the above article. Relaxation therapies can help some people too.

    Also, you may like to check out the website of the National Phobics Society, which has info about phobias, and treatment. Of if you felt comfortable speaking to someone about this over the phone, you could call their helpline on 0870 122 2325. The No More Panic website includes some useful information about different types of phobias, advice about how to live with or overcome them, and has a busy forum and live chat room. You could maybe find it useful to look over the info & advice there.

    It’s great that you’ve identified that you are fine with Dentist needles – perhaps in time you’ll be able to transfer your thoughts/feelings about dentist needles over to other types of injections.

    I hope some of this helps you! :)
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    i have a terrible phobia of frogs and it seems to be getting worse. i saw a dead frog near my house in the summer and nearly had a fit. all that night i was in a state and in the morning i cried for half an hour and scanned the area outside from my window before building up the courage to step outside my front door.it keeps me awake at times and really stops me doing things. i decided enough was enough and went to my doc. that was 6 months ago and only now have i recieved a letter with an appointment to see a pyshcologist about it!
    go see your doctor, i thought i would get laughed at, well he sort of did and then said but there is no need for you to feel like that, we will get it fixed!! he probably gutted himself laughing when i left!!
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    and then becoming accustomed to it.
    ... and that is how you combat your fear. you constantly face it and the fear dwindles away.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I have a fear of blood, even talking about it makes my heart race. Its totally irrational and sometimes it doesn't bother me much but other times I just feel like my whole body is ultra sensitive and that i need to get out of it otherwise I will throw up. It used to affect my feet and they would go all tickly to the point of making me want to hurl, I know it sounds sooo silly and I make it worse by thinking about it too much. Its the fact that I know my whole body is full of the thing i am scared of that makes me worse because it makes me panic that I'm trapped amongst it all.

    I find that it gets worse when I am stressed out or feeling tired.

    I know someone who had a huge fear of vomit and she went to her GP who then referred her to a specialist doctor who she went to see a few times, she hasn't totally overcome her fear but she is a lot better than she was. So I suppose the it'd be a good idea to see your GP if you think you might benefit.
  • Former MemberFormer Member Posts: 1,876,323 The Mix Honorary Guru
    I used to pretty bad with needles, but after having a few injections and an operation this year, I've kind of got used to it, as long as I dont have to look at the needle going in. I even managed to go blood doaning this year for the first time. It doesnt help that I have hard to find veins either, makes everything a lot more difficult when they have to spend five minutes trying to find them. If you really want to go blood doaning try and pursade a couple of mated to go along with you for some support, and tell the nurses that you dont like needles either, they can give you a local anthestic but you have to ask for it.
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