Belonephobia, when it ruins your life
Getting an injection is never a pleasant experience for anyone. But it’s not hell for everyone. Belonephobia, otherwise known as the phobia of needles, is very incapacitating to live with.
💉 Among the fears generated by vaccines is also the phobia of needles. It’s not the vaccine itself that frightens us, but the knowledge that something sharp is going to pierce our skin...
The symptoms of the phobia of needles
The symptoms of a fear of needles can be identified fairly quickly. It’s not a generalized anxiety disorder, but it’s just as embarrassing a phobia as thalassophobia. You may feel anxious as soon as you know you’re going to have to be injected. These are mainly physical symptoms, manifested by a slowing of blood circulation and heart rate, or conversely by palpitations. This is compounded by nausea 🤢, tingling, cold sweats, trembling, and even fainting.
Understanding the origin of the fear of needles
Like me, many people who suffer from this phobia started being afraid in childhood. In fact, the majority of children have this fear, but normally in adolescence, this prevalence drops.
📉 Between 20% and 50% of teenagers are phobic, and in adulthood, there are still 20-30% of people who are anxious about needles.
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➜ For me, I think I had an emotional shock when I was a child. I struggled not to get injected, but it was even worse! So it’s associated with a very bad memory 😰.
Where does the phobia of needles come from?
Dr Alain Eddi explains that we all have a slight apprehension when faced with a foreign body pointed at us. We’re afraid of being hurt or being in pain, and that’s the main reason for a phobia of needles! Despite being told that in 90% of cases, the prick won’t hurt, you may be injected in the nerve. You may feel pain, which is accentuated by the spasm of your muscles. This is due to fear, so it’s a vicious circle: the more you tense up, the more likely you are to feel pain...
When blood gets involved
As well as having this aversion to needles, you may also suffer from haematophobia. This is a fear of blood, and the two go “hand in hand”. Particularly when it comes to having blood tests, it’s the most complicated thing to manage. If you have hypoglycaemia, i.e. low blood sugar, the symptoms may increase and lead to fainting.
How can I overcome my fear of needles?
To reduce or eradicate belonephobia, you need to consult a therapist. Indeed, there are 3 types of therapy that can help us put an end to this fear:
- CBT: this is cognitive behavioral therapy. It involves gradually exposing ourselves to our fear by reprogramming our automatic thoughts about it.
- Hypnosis: this depends, of course, on each person’s receptiveness. If you decide to start hypnotherapy sessions, it’s because your state of consciousness has already been modified to some extent. So there’s a greater chance of success, because you’ll be more sensitive to it.
- Psychoanalysis: the aim isn’t to reduce the symptoms, as with CBT, but to understand the origin of the fear. Sometimes the reason isn’t concrete, it’s buried inside us, which is why psychoanalysis is useful.
A few quick tips to improve your vaccination experience
However, it’s difficult to set up a long-term therapy when the vaccine has to be administered quickly. So here are a few quick tips to help you feel more relaxed when you get the jab:
- Go with someone: being with someone close to you can be reassuring, it helps you to get through the ordeal together. It’s normal to ask those around you for help!
- Talk to the person who’s going to take the blood sample: this will help explain the situation and create a bond. It will make the procedure more humane and more normal.
- Put on a pain-relieving patch: it may seem insignificant, but any small gesture that can reassure you is a good thing.
- Don’t look at the needle: it’s best to turn your head away when you’re having the injection, if not before. As soon as you sit down, adopt a comfortable position and turn your head away, while talking if you feel able to.
- Think about the benefits: not having the vaccine and catching Covid (or any other disease) is far more dangerous. This is a modification of automatic thoughts to avoid being invaded by fear, and it’s a way of starting CBT.
- Breathe deeply: doing breathing exercises calms stress and regulates your heart rate. You’ll therefore be less overwhelmed by the symptoms of anxiety.
- Take antianxiety medication: this is a last resort if you feel you can’t manage your anxiety. You should talk to your GP before doing this.
Being afraid of needles and of getting vaccinated for this reason is nothing to be ashamed of. The important thing is to find a solution that will make you feel better, so that this phobia no longer takes hold of you. Personally, I’m hoping to apply all the relaxation methods I can before the second dose... 3, 2, 1, I’ll stay zen (or at least I’ll try) 🧘♀️!
Editor’s note: A phobia that can delay your medical treatment...Fear of needles can become embarrassing or incapacitating if you’re ill, need to have several blood tests or receive injections. If you’re pregnant, you’ll need to be monitored by a doctor and regularly have several blood tests... That’s a lot of anxiety! As you’ve seen, it’s best to deal with your fear of needles as soon as possible, otherwise it could delay your treatment. Don’t hesitate to make an appointment with a psychologist.
🤗 Understanding yourself, accepting yourself, being happy... It’s here and now!
#BornToBeMe
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