Fear of Injections
A fear of injections and needles is surprisingly prevalent. Having a fear of needles may lead to a fear of having blood drawn or having an injection. It can lead to avoiding seeking medical help, visiting a dentist, or having a vaccination.
About 25% of adults are afraid of needles and around 7% of adults avoid immunisations because of their fear. Children can be especially afraid of needles because they are unused to the sensation of their skin being pricked by something sharp. This fear can be compounded if they had a bad experience in the past or if they had to have a lot of blood tests or procedures as a child. For some people, having to withdraw blood or other fluids, can be painful. Parents who have fears of needles themselves may hesitate to have their children vaccinated, and this in turn can make their child more anxious. So, it’s not surprising that needle phobia is so common.
Of course, most people do not like needles as part of medical procedures when they receive care. However, it’s important to note that for most people the discomfort is minor. With the right help and support, you can learn to manage this fear. By learning how to control the unconscious emotional aspect, you can make sure that your fear does not get in the way of important medical care including vaccines.
Arming yourself with information can help to reduce your fear. For example, understanding why the procedure involves needles and how it will help you, where the procedure will take place, who will be around, and what will happen before, during, and after will all help reduce your fears.
You can read my tips for overcoming a fear of needles here.
If you need help overcoming your fear of injections or needles, then contact Katina on (01502) 587341 and find out how hypnotherapy can help you.