How to Overcome Fear of Shots

The unpleasant nature of needed shots prompts avoidance for some but is well tolerated by others. Some people hardly mind taking injections, but when fear strikes, it ranges from mild to debilitating. Techniques for overcoming the fear of injections vary from distraction to professional counseling. The first step to battling the fear is an understanding of your placement on the fear scale.

Things You'll Need

• Phone
• Calendar

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Instructions

• 1

  Assess the situation. In an "Australian Family Physician" article titled "Fear of Needles," authors reiterate the DSM-IV classification of needle phobia as an unreasonable fear that may include disruption and an acknowledgment of the unreasonable nature of the fear. Creating excuses for avoiding shots appears serious, while feeling uncomfortable a few minutes before the appointment seems understandable. The seriousness of the fear dictates the appropriate treatment method.

• 2

  Make an appointment with a mental health professional if a major fear exists. Author Anthony Feinstein reports two studies confirming that cognitive behavioral therapy helps those with needle anxiety.

• 3

  Try emotional freedom techniques (EFT). Gary Craig's "EFT Manual" includes a case study showing that the application of EFT dissolved a client's fear of needles with just one session. Seek an experienced counselor trained in EFT techniques or try them yourself. Helena Fone's "Emotional Freedom Techniques for Dummies" walks the reader through a process to combat a fear of needles.

• 4

  Make an appointment for a necessary injection and circle the date on your calendar. Ask a friend or relative to come along for support. Commit to the event but do not dwell on it. Set the date and forget it.

• 5

  Tell your healthcare professional about the fear. Even if otherwise unprepared, simply letting the health care team know about the anxiety will help. Medical personnel will likely provide comfort through distraction or the use of thoughtful phrases during the procedure.

• 6

  Ask your healthcare professional for a sedative or numbing agent, especially if anxiety has set in and other methods have not worked. Authors Charles R. Craig and Robert E. Stitzel explain that analgesia and anesthetics are useful for numbing the site to provide a pain-free injection. Even if you forgo these last-ditch efforts, just knowing that a sedative or numbing agent is available can be enough to take the edge off.