Trypanophobia - needles - Contains details that may cause distress

rugbug86

Hey guys,

I've an almighty fear of needles and blood.

It stems from an operation I had when I was 5/6 and the doctor hit a vein in my hand and I bled on the table for ages. Since then I have what can be described as a panic attack every time I think about needles/getting a needle and when I see blood.

A few weeks ago I had to go to hospital and needed blood taken, they had to give me laughing gas and my mum had to sit on me and even then I still screamed the house down.

What I'm asking - does anyone know of a way to get over this fear? It's starting to control my life!

LadyJ

I have heard a lot of good reports about cognitive behavioural therapy so here's a link with some names and numbers of therapists who use this technique. It is worth a try.

Kenmare

rugbug86 wrote: »

Hey guys,

I've an almighty fear of needles and blood.

It stems from an operation I had when I was 5/6 and the doctor hit a vein in my hand and I bled on the table for ages. Since then I have what can be described as a panic attack every time I think about needles/getting a needle and when I see blood.

A few weeks ago I had to go to hospital and needed blood taken, they had to give me laughing gas and my mum had to sit on me and even then I still screamed the house down.

What I'm asking - does anyone know of a way to get over this fear? It's starting to control my life!

Same here. Once I became ill, and an ambulance was called. I vaguely heard someone say inject him with blah blah. I lashed out so violently I knocked 2 teeth out of someone and knocked a paramedic holding me down out.

Needless to say not my best moment

I HATE them. When I was in hospital, I was physically held down. They hurt soooooooooooooooooooooooo much

rugbug86

When I got the meningitis vaccination I was physically held down by 2 nurses while the other one stabbed me. I repayed the favour by vomitting on them!!

I hate, hate, HATE needles.

Thanks LadyJ, I'll have a think about that. I think the big thing will be actually wanting to get over the phobia. I'll wait until I'm finished my finals me thinks!!

LadyJ

I know the feeling. I have no desire to actually try to get over my fear of spiders. I'd like to not be afraid of them but I feel like I'd hate the idea of becoming a person who might hold a tarantula!

Thing about cognitive behavioural therapy though is that it completely changes your way of thinking. Do it in your own time and wait until you have no exam stress etc. I really think it is something worth tackling and plenty of people can overcome this phobia if the desire is there.

Good luck.

Trinity

I have loads of fears but funny enough needles is not one of them.

I have tried cognitive behavioural therapy. I left but i am going back if i can get an appointment.

it totally tries to change how you see things by the power of postitive thinking. My fear of going underwater for example is pretty strong but was out in Howth the other day and thought what would i do if my son fell in, short answer is i would jump in after him.

If you try to concentrate on why you are doing what you are doing it gets a bit easier. i.e this is to make me better, to make someone else better, weigh up the pros and cons etc. Thats probably not much help but in some aspects of life we cannot avoid what we are scared of, its inevitable, but why anyone would pick up a spider is beyond me!!

Bottle_of_Smoke

Kenmare wrote: »

Same here. Once I became ill, and an ambulance was called. I vaguely heard someone say inject him with blah blah. I lashed out so violently I knocked 2 teeth out of someone and knocked a paramedic holding me down out.

Needless to say not my best moment

I HATE them. When I was in hospital, I was physically held down. They hurt soooooooooooooooooooooooo much

Heh heh heh, needles to say not your best moment

MuPpItJoCkEy

Hi all,

Personally I can't stand needles and was asked to go for blood tests years ago and always postponed it.

I did go twice and both times were a nightmare.

First time I went was in Saint James about 9 years ago. It was some experience for all concerned. Prior to this occasion, I didn't think I had any problems with needles considering I'd had gotten some before. As the nurse prepared everything, I started to feel quiet nervous and just as she had everything ready, I let the nurse know I was't feeling very comfortable with this at all so she asked me if I wanted to be lying down but as I looked around the room, I seen there were no beds and asked where would I be, she said the floor so I really didn't want this to turn out like a scene out of Trainspotting so I said no, she then just plunged my head into her lap and got on with the job at hand and I think my initial shock at where my head was done the job for those few seconds of getting the blood out. Afterwards they would not let me leave for nearly 20 minutes after as I was quiet distressed about it all (not the head in lap part either as I do find this to be an interesting practice although I'm not sure it would work on women as well as it did me).

Then about 4 years ago at a Beaumount, I had to go for another blood test and at first wasn't worried about it until I got in the car and was on the way to the hospital. As I was waiting to be seen too, I started to become extremely nervous, pale and started shaking. It was a complete nightmare once again.

Now I have no idea where this fear has come from because when I was younger, it didn't bother me. I don't mind jabs in the arm or where ever else they fancy planting the needle but when it comes to the veins, I get completely freaked out.

Has anybody gotten over a fear of needles because I just worry that if there was ever something wrong with me, I wouldn't bother going to get checked out because of this fear.

B0X

Everyone has thier phobias, theres nothing wrong with you because of it (Needles is a common one anyway, you should see my brother, he has a fear of balloons ). If you are that nervous or you feel you cant get the best treatment because of the phobia i'd go see a doctor.

watna

Threads Merged.

MuPpItJoCkEy

B0X wrote: »

Everyone has thier phobias, theres nothing wrong with you because of it (Needles is a common one anyway, you should see my brother, he has a fear of balloons ). If you are that nervous or you feel you cant get the best treatment because of the phobia i'd go see a doctor.

"Balloons" that's class!

Yeah, could go and see the doctor about it but he'd probably send me for blood tests to see what was wrong with me!

Only kidding but yeah, I know it's common enough. Just don't understand where it comes from. It's gotten to the point where I can't even watch it on TV where before I never had a problem with watching it and some of the other gorey stuff I watch on TV doesn't bother me. That's probably down to the fact I know it's not real.

MuPpItJoCkEy

watna wrote: »

Threads Merged.

Trypanophobia eh, so that's what it's called!

watna

MuPpItJoCkEy wrote: »

Trypanophobia eh, so that's what it's called!

You learn something new every day!

I remember I had to get a blood test or something before, and whilst i felt a little squeamish and nervous before hand, i knew it was gonna be done either way so i just took "i dont care" atitude.


But yeah, man.. some people in that waiting room were scared. Shivering, nearly crying. I understand people don't like sharp objects being inserted into their body, but whats the worst that can happen, really?


I remember my brother had to get a blood test before, and they filled up three of those little tub things (they had to take a lot cos he was going into hospital for an operation) and the girl doing it turned around after taking them, slipped, and sent his blood flying.

Needless to say, i thought it was hilarious, but he wasnt too happy about her taking another three capsules of blood

MuPpItJoCkEy

Deleted User wrote: »

they filled up three of those little tub things (they had to take a lot cos he was going into hospital for an operation) and the girl doing it turned around after taking them, slipped, and sent his blood flying.

Needless to say, i thought it was hilarious, but he wasnt too happy about her taking another three capsules of blood

Now that would have me flip out. After already going through one round of that just to go again. I'm be in bits!

Sarchasm

Just don't understand where it comes from. It's gotten to the point where I can't even watch it on TV where before I never had a problem with watching it and some of the other gorey stuff I watch on TV doesn't bother me.[/QUOTE]

I'm the same. Ive never enjoyed getting a needle since I can remember but i doubt anyone does. I can watch someones leg been chainsawed grand but I make them change channel when someone is getting an injection.