Aa
needle phobia
Ok i hace needle and syringe phobi.
So the today i decited to fight my fear head on.
So i went to the pharmacy and bought 2 syringes.
Just holding them in the shield caused some anxiety.
I then procided in opening the first one and playing with it a bit.
I noticed that i was getting anxious about 2 things
1) That the syringe may be contaminated with something (hiv, hepatitis)
2)The second thing was to come in contact with the tip and get the needle stick in my flesh..
So then i was afraid that I was stabbed by the needle (but i didnt)
and that i may get some desiese which is not true cause it was brand new...
Any thoughts?
So the today i decited to fight my fear head on.
So i went to the pharmacy and bought 2 syringes.
Just holding them in the shield caused some anxiety.
I then procided in opening the first one and playing with it a bit.
I noticed that i was getting anxious about 2 things
1) That the syringe may be contaminated with something (hiv, hepatitis)
2)The second thing was to come in contact with the tip and get the needle stick in my flesh..
So then i was afraid that I was stabbed by the needle (but i didnt)
and that i may get some desiese which is not true cause it was brand new...
Any thoughts?
I think your fear of needles is complicated by HIV anxiety. I found that to be fairly obvious when you purchased two brand new, unopened and sterile syringes, but STILL had a fear they may be contaminated.
This goes a bit beyond a simple phobia about syringes and enters an area of irrational/obsessive thinking.
What you were doing, I believe, was an attempt, and a courageous one, of
exploring what is known as "exposure therapy." It's my humble opinion that you simply went too, far too fast.
I would recommend you get into some therapy to help you overcome both your phobia about needles and your concerns about HIV. There are many therapist who deal exclusively with phobias.
What you're dealing with is as treatable as it is common!
I have included a small piece of information about exposure therapy that I hope you will read and discuss with your therapist.
I wish you the best in beating this..........life is already tough enough.
Peace
Greenlydia
Exposure therapy for anxiety
Anxiety isn’t a pleasant sensation, so it’s only natural to avoid it if you can. One of the ways that people do this is by steering clear of the situations that make them anxious. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive three hours out of your way to avoid crossing a tall bridge. Or if the prospect of public speaking leaves your stomach in knots, you might skip your best friend’s wedding in order to avoid giving a toast. Aside from the inconvenience factor, the problem with avoiding your fears is that you never have the chance to overcome them. In fact, avoiding your fears often makes them stronger.
Exposure therapy–as the name suggests–exposes you to the situations or objects you fear. The idea is that through repeated exposures, you’ll feel an increasing sense of control over the situation and your anxiety will diminish. The exposure is done in one of two ways: Your therapist may ask you to imagine the scary situation, or you may confront it in real life. Exposure therapy may be used alone, or it may be conducted as part of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Systematic desensitization
Rather than facing your biggest fear right away, which can be traumatizing, exposure therapy usually starts with a situation that’s only mildly threatening and works up from there. This step-by-step approach is called systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization allows you to gradually challenge your fears, build confidence, and master skills for controlling panic.
Systematic desensitization involves three parts:
Learning relaxation skills. First, your therapist will teach you a relaxation technique, such as progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing. You’ll practice in therapy and on your own at home. Once you start confronting your fears, you’ll use this relaxation technique to reduce your physical anxiety response (such as trembling and hyperventilating) and encourage relaxation.
Creating a step-by-step list. Next, you’ll create a list of 10 to 20 scary situations that progress toward your final goal. For example, if you final goal is to overcome your fear of flying, you might start by looking at photos of planes and end with taking an actual flight. Each step should be as specific as possible, with a clear, measurable objective.
Working through the steps. Under the guidance of your therapist, you’ll then begin to work through the list. The goal is to stay in each scary situation until your fears subside. That way, you’ll learn that the feelings won’t hurt you and they do go away. Every time the anxiety gets too intense, you will switch to the relaxation technique you learned. Once you’re relaxed again, you can turn your attention back to the situation. In this way, you will work through the steps until you’re able to complete each one without feeling overly distressed.
This goes a bit beyond a simple phobia about syringes and enters an area of irrational/obsessive thinking.
What you were doing, I believe, was an attempt, and a courageous one, of
exploring what is known as "exposure therapy." It's my humble opinion that you simply went too, far too fast.
I would recommend you get into some therapy to help you overcome both your phobia about needles and your concerns about HIV. There are many therapist who deal exclusively with phobias.
What you're dealing with is as treatable as it is common!
I have included a small piece of information about exposure therapy that I hope you will read and discuss with your therapist.
I wish you the best in beating this..........life is already tough enough.
Peace
Greenlydia
Exposure therapy for anxiety
Anxiety isn’t a pleasant sensation, so it’s only natural to avoid it if you can. One of the ways that people do this is by steering clear of the situations that make them anxious. If you have a fear of heights, you might drive three hours out of your way to avoid crossing a tall bridge. Or if the prospect of public speaking leaves your stomach in knots, you might skip your best friend’s wedding in order to avoid giving a toast. Aside from the inconvenience factor, the problem with avoiding your fears is that you never have the chance to overcome them. In fact, avoiding your fears often makes them stronger.
Exposure therapy–as the name suggests–exposes you to the situations or objects you fear. The idea is that through repeated exposures, you’ll feel an increasing sense of control over the situation and your anxiety will diminish. The exposure is done in one of two ways: Your therapist may ask you to imagine the scary situation, or you may confront it in real life. Exposure therapy may be used alone, or it may be conducted as part of cognitive behavioral therapy.
Systematic desensitization
Rather than facing your biggest fear right away, which can be traumatizing, exposure therapy usually starts with a situation that’s only mildly threatening and works up from there. This step-by-step approach is called systematic desensitization. Systematic desensitization allows you to gradually challenge your fears, build confidence, and master skills for controlling panic.
Systematic desensitization involves three parts:
Learning relaxation skills. First, your therapist will teach you a relaxation technique, such as progressive muscle relaxation or deep breathing. You’ll practice in therapy and on your own at home. Once you start confronting your fears, you’ll use this relaxation technique to reduce your physical anxiety response (such as trembling and hyperventilating) and encourage relaxation.
Creating a step-by-step list. Next, you’ll create a list of 10 to 20 scary situations that progress toward your final goal. For example, if you final goal is to overcome your fear of flying, you might start by looking at photos of planes and end with taking an actual flight. Each step should be as specific as possible, with a clear, measurable objective.
Working through the steps. Under the guidance of your therapist, you’ll then begin to work through the list. The goal is to stay in each scary situation until your fears subside. That way, you’ll learn that the feelings won’t hurt you and they do go away. Every time the anxiety gets too intense, you will switch to the relaxation technique you learned. Once you’re relaxed again, you can turn your attention back to the situation. In this way, you will work through the steps until you’re able to complete each one without feeling overly distressed.
My 37 year old son has the same problem. It's so bad that he passes out at the thought of blood or needles. I have suggested therapy to him. I started a post named "anxiety and cardiac arrest" go read that and it will tell you his circumstances.
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