Am I what, you ask? Are you needle phobic and avoiding vaccination? Well, then you may have trypanophobia. It’s more common than you think. And that fright can negatively impact your life.
Want To Travel?
Vaccinations are important in the fight against disease, and some countries require them to enter. They include inoculations for meningococcal meningitis, yellow fever and even polio. The latest is, no surprise, the COVID-19 vaccination. Last month, the travel site AFAR.com updated its list of countries requiring proof of COVID-19 vaccines to enter. They include Anguilla, Bahamas, Barbados, Belize, British Virgin Islands, Croatia, Cyprus, Ecuador, Estonia, Republic of Georgia, Grenada, Guatemala, Iceland, Israelo, Montenegro, Nepal, Seychelles and Tahiti. The European Union is going to launch its own digital passport system this summer.
Don’t Want a Vaccine?
It’s funny. There’s been so much talk about people who don’t want a COVID-19 vaccine, but I didn’t think about the fear factor. The reasons I’ve heard include: lack of trust in the vaccine or government, religious beliefs, misinformation and even conspiracy theories. Nobody has told me they are getting a shot because they are afraid. But there ARE people refusing to get their vaccination because they are afraid of needles. And this needle phobia could put a damper not only on travel, but also on access to activities.
The Surprising Statistics
Time Magazine reports that as many as 25% of adults have an aversion to needles, and 10% refuse to be vaccinated altogether because of their needle phobia. The Journal of Advanced Nursing published survey results showing that 16% of adults avoid flu shots because of their fear. That would have been me in my youth.
The Fear Factor
A fear of needles can be debilitating as well as embarrassing. I can remember opting out of a junior high school vaccination drive because I knew I would be mortified if I had a panic attack in front of my peers. Ditto for group blood tests.
It all started after a terrible incident with a gnarly pediatrician at the age of 5 or 6, I developed a needle phobia. I literally needed to be held down to get a shot. It was mortifying. I tried everything: therapy, hypnosis and drugs. They even taught me to say needle backwards — eldeen— to remove the association with a negative experience.
What’s It Like?
So, what does needle phobia feel like? You know how you turn on the kitchen tap and water starts coming out? Imagine that as your fear. Once you are exposed to the thing you are afraid of, in my case needles, it feels like the faucet has broken and you can’t turn the water off. It keeps rushing out. The fear is almost an out-of-body experience. My blood pressure would soar, and I would hyperventilate. It was so embarrassing!
One tenacious New York doctor came up with an idea and prescribed medication to block my fear response. He was my hero. A few weeks after starting the medication, I went in for my weekly allergy shots. My fear lasted just for a few seconds and shut off. I was amazed. It worked! Now, I don’t even flinch when I get a shot.
No, I’m not going to share details as this isn’t a medical advice column. You can chat with your doctor for possible solutions. There are topical anesthetics, anti-anxiety mediation, and more.
Trust me. If I can get over the fear of shots, you can, too. You just have to admit that you have a problem, and some people just choose to avoid shots instead. Don’t let your fear shut the door to your world or travel.
Get Over Your Fear
There are some basic techniques that can help you face your fear and end your trypanophobic world. You may have already tried some, and others may be new. Do you have some other suggestions? Feel free to share them.
- Let the medical team know ahead of time that you have a needle phobia. They will generally assign someone who is great with jabs to the task.
- Stay calm and take slow breaths. Don’t hyperventilate.
- When you get your jab, relax your arm completely. I discovered that my arm hurts less the next day when I completely relax it.
- Picture yourself in a peaceful setting or favorite vacation destination.
- Bring along a supportive friend or family member, if you can. The moral support can help.
- If possible, try to get your shot as soon as you arrive. A long wait can increase anxiety.
- If you need an anti-anxiety medication or topical anesthetic, speak with your doctor. You’ll find getting a shot isn’t as bad as you think.
Happy travels!
The advice to relax your muscles is the best. I have to inject myself with a medication weekly, and if I do a relaxation exercise before jabbing it is a lot less painful at the moment and later too.