4 Ways to Overcome Your Fear of Needles, According to Medical Experts
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A fear of needles, or trypanophobia, can be debilitating. This fear keeps countless people from getting blood tests, having dental work, and receiving potentially lifesaving vaccines.
“When I was 5 years old, a family member who was a doctor thought it would be hilarious to hold up a giant needle and say, ‘Time to get your shot!’ I was terrified, and I’ve had a huge fear of needles ever since. For years I wouldn’t even get a flu shot,” says Jennifer R. now an attorney in New York.
Like up to 25% of all adults (and most children), Jennifer has a deep-seated fear of needles. Ahead, experts offer up actionable ways to cope with trypanophobia and how to overcome your fear of needles once and for all.
What is trypanophobia?
Trypanophobia is the fear of needles, specifically in a medical setting, according to the Cleveland Clinic. For about a third of those with trypanophobia, the fear stems from a traumatic incident such as having been held down for a shot as a child, endured painful blood draws, or, yes, been teased with an oversize needle, says Eric Curcio, M.D., an associate clinical professor of medicine and pediatrics at UCLA Medicine.
As for the rest, they may simply have a genetic predisposition to this particular type of anxiety, or it may be due to biology. “Something in their chemistry causes the vasovagal response—they see a needle and all of a sudden their heart rate and blood pressure drop and they feel awful or even pass out,” Dr. Curcio says. He points out that the process leading up to the shot, combined with fear of the unknown, is usually worse than the brief pain of the procedure.
Ways to cope with trypanophobia (fear of needles)
To help you face your fears and take care of your health, experts share these strategies:
Use a numbing cream.
If you apply an over-the-counter topical cream with 4% lidocaine about half an hour before your shot or blood draw, you won’t even feel the needle go in, says Dr. Curcio. You can also ask your doctor about Emla, a prescription version that’s a little stronger.
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LidocaineTalk it out.
“Don’t be afraid to say, ‘I had a negative experience; I’m really scared of injections,’ ” says Lienna Wilson, Psy.D., a cognitive behavioral therapist in Princeton, NJ. “A good provider will try to make you as comfortable as possible.” They can help distract you by talking about anything from The Bachelor to their favorite local lunch spot.
Recline.
If you feel faint, lie down and elevate your legs, which helps raise your blood pressure , counteracting the vasovagal response.
Distract.
Look at your phone and watch silly videos of a dog romping with a cow or whatever makes you giggle. Distraction can work wonders, says Dr. Curcio.
Try exposure therapy.
This teaches you to tolerate your discomfort by gradually exposing you to the thing you fear, explains Wilson. “You progress step-by-step—by looking at pictures of a needle, then watching a video of a person holding a syringe, and finally holding the needle yourself,” she says.
If none of these strategies work and you’re still avoiding necessary vaccines and tests, ask your doctor whether anti-anxiety medication may be appropriate for you.
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