Hit Me With Your Best Shot
It’s here! The official kickoff to summer. After the hibernation of last year and the isolation of the winter, most of us are more than ready to shed our winter coats, reach for the door and head outside to meet up with friends, family, and neighbors.
What has allowed this reemergence from our burrows? Vaccines. Most people are getting theirs, yet still many others may be averse for a reason that is more common that you may realize. Needle aversion. A large number of people, up to 50% of children and up to 30% of adults, struggle with needle aversion, avoidance, or phobia. This does tend to improve with age, however that fact doesn’t diminish the impact it has on those who struggle with it.
With all the talk about vaccines, also came videos of folks being given their inoculation; taking vaccine selfies; clipart of syringes; the needle emoji suddenly was in its prime; and other public health initiatives to get the word out about the benefits of vaccines were using needles as their primary imagery. For those who struggle with needle aversion, this may have felt a bit overwhelming and for others their instinct may have been to further avoid - thus delay or not sign up to get the shot, even if they agree in every other way. Fear, anxiety - it is that powerful! And the fear of a needle can render a person completely irrational. So what to do if you or someone you love has needle aversion/phobia?
The first is to make a plan for how to calm your brain and body. Nothing good will come if your brain is in full danger mode, interpreting every movement as indication of impending doom. Breathe, count, label what colors you see, etc. Next is to identify how you want to manage the needle exposure process - meaning what is the plan for when you enter the office, sit in the chair/on the table, lift your sleeve, and so on. (If you are a parent with a child with needle aversion, you will also want to monitor your own stress about your child’s reaction.) Consider if you want a warning or not and if you do, when. Most people with needle aversion like some type of a warning - either a countdown or description - typically before the prep pad since the cold can be a bit startling. Having strategies for distraction during the process is incredibly important as well. Singing is a remarkably effective distractor and it is a natural stress reducer (it regulates your breathing which calms your brain, not to mention the joy you get from singing). I have had patients sing the song, Hit Me With Your Best Shot with gusto in an effort to take back the power they had cast onto the needle. The goal is to give your brain a different experience and fill it with that experience, rather than with fear for the handful of seconds that it takes for the entire process. Finally, you want to reward yourself for all that incredibly hard work! Is it a sweet treat or getting to listen to a new audio book or podcast in the car? A special coffee on the way home? Determine what feels right for you.
Remember, it is hard, but completely possible to extinguish a needle aversion/needle phobia, yet that doesn’t mean you will be excited to get stuck with a needle! After all, I don’t know anyone who enjoys needles. Having a realistic attitude toward the goal is just as important as the goal itself- managing the experience such that you can keep your body healthy and your community safe without being flooded by fear…and wear your bandaid proudly! You can do that. I know you can.
