"Needles 
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you"
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to) |
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"Needles
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to)"
Our offspring won't accept medical treatment if it involves the n word. I worry because they had an allergic reaction that they needed to go to a and e for and refused the treatment, it was administered orally. |
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"Needles
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to)
Our offspring won't accept medical treatment if it involves the n word. I worry because they had an allergic reaction that they needed to go to a and e for and refused the treatment, it was administered orally. "
Fair. I'm sort of at... I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns and in that moment the person with the thingy is Satan themselves, but I need it done so I make myself.
I don't know if my experience is at all helpful, but that's how I got to a point where I'm not actually assaulting medical staff. (The desire to assault medical staff, when caught up in my fear, hasn't diminished at all) |
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"Needles
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to)
Our offspring won't accept medical treatment if it involves the n word. I worry because they had an allergic reaction that they needed to go to a and e for and refused the treatment, it was administered orally.
Fair. I'm sort of at... I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns and in that moment the person with the thingy is Satan themselves, but I need it done so I make myself.
I don't know if my experience is at all helpful, but that's how I got to a point where I'm not actually assaulting medical staff. (The desire to assault medical staff, when caught up in my fear, hasn't diminished at all)"
We've talked it through and we know the root cause of the phobia and it's not the pain but we're at a loss with how to deal with it. The desire to thump the medical staff is something we recognise and they always take someone with them to medical appointments to keep them calm and explain that any injection won't be happening. It's a bit late for the screaming and laying down tactic lol but gripping something might help. I've suggested alternative help and working with a therapist but phobias don't deal in the rational |
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"Needles
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to)
Our offspring won't accept medical treatment if it involves the n word. I worry because they had an allergic reaction that they needed to go to a and e for and refused the treatment, it was administered orally.
Fair. I'm sort of at... I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns and in that moment the person with the thingy is Satan themselves, but I need it done so I make myself.
I don't know if my experience is at all helpful, but that's how I got to a point where I'm not actually assaulting medical staff. (The desire to assault medical staff, when caught up in my fear, hasn't diminished at all)
We've talked it through and we know the root cause of the phobia and it's not the pain but we're at a loss with how to deal with it. The desire to thump the medical staff is something we recognise and they always take someone with them to medical appointments to keep them calm and explain that any injection won't be happening. It's a bit late for the screaming and laying down tactic lol but gripping something might help. I've suggested alternative help and working with a therapist but phobias don't deal in the rational "
My fear isn't rational, either. I do find inflicting pain on myself via biting (leaves teeth marks for a couple of hours, doesn't break the skin, it's not intended as an act of self harm) is very good for distracting myself, if they're not wearing masks in medical settings. If they are, fingernails (thumb nail into base of next finger sort of thing) or gripping similar.
I sort of offer it as... I've been through a journey with it. It might help, even if it's only used in the most extreme circumstances. |
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"Needles
Is a fear or a genuine phobia.
One of our kids has a genuine phobia and I wonder if there are any strategies that help you
I don't know where my line is between fear and phobia - my neural wiring is a bit spicy.
But I've had regular blood tests since my teens, been on a clinical trial, get my flu shot every year, etc.
When I was little they'd just hold me down.
I had an extremely patient GP in primary/ secondary school. My mum would always lie to get me to go to the doctor. When I got there, she let me lie down (one test elsewhere, later in this process, and the nurse told me I was a big girl and big girls get blood tests sitting up - wiped about five years of progress). And scream as much as I wanted. Screaming graduated to counting backwards from 100 - no volume control needed. I don't remember how I got from there to the step I was at until 2020. That was biting a free finger and not looking while it was going on (can usually do it sitting up). I was at the point - if I could focus on the pain, I wouldn't thump the person with the thingy. (That particular n word makes me feel nauseous)
Masks put an end to that. I grip a chair leg now, to stop me thumping the person. (no one has been thumped since the holding down stage. Doesn't mean I don't want to)
Our offspring won't accept medical treatment if it involves the n word. I worry because they had an allergic reaction that they needed to go to a and e for and refused the treatment, it was administered orally.
Fair. I'm sort of at... I hate it with the fire of a thousand suns and in that moment the person with the thingy is Satan themselves, but I need it done so I make myself.
I don't know if my experience is at all helpful, but that's how I got to a point where I'm not actually assaulting medical staff. (The desire to assault medical staff, when caught up in my fear, hasn't diminished at all)
We've talked it through and we know the root cause of the phobia and it's not the pain but we're at a loss with how to deal with it. The desire to thump the medical staff is something we recognise and they always take someone with them to medical appointments to keep them calm and explain that any injection won't be happening. It's a bit late for the screaming and laying down tactic lol but gripping something might help. I've suggested alternative help and working with a therapist but phobias don't deal in the rational
My fear isn't rational, either. I do find inflicting pain on myself via biting (leaves teeth marks for a couple of hours, doesn't break the skin, it's not intended as an act of self harm) is very good for distracting myself, if they're not wearing masks in medical settings. If they are, fingernails (thumb nail into base of next finger sort of thing) or gripping similar.
I sort of offer it as... I've been through a journey with it. It might help, even if it's only used in the most extreme circumstances. "
Yes, thank you. I'll suggest that strategy. |
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By (user no longer on site) 40 weeks ago
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To go through anything that feels like or resembles the fucking mess of my life from the last 5 yrs.
and also dying. … I’m not sure which is more terrifying. |
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