What can I do to get rid of my phobia? (serious question)

[Sentinel X]

I have trypanophobia
I've had it since I was...well, since my first shot I guess
I think part of the reason is that my older sister used to use scare tactics on me by saying "Im going to call the doctor to come give you a shot unless you behave" and she even used to chase me around with a mechanical pencil (pretending it was a shot) and act as if she was going to give me a vaccination. She was young then so I forgive her...but Im still terrified of shots!

I have to take one tomorrow!
I've been postponing it forever! Its the dreadful meningoccocal vaccination, ugh.
Just talking about it, my heart is beating faster and I've been thinking about it for a month straight and it is seriously distressing me...and as I get closer to the date the more stressful I become.

Tell me how to get rid of this terrible phobia!...I hate it


If you have or had trypanophobia please give some suggestions

Spoiler

Im so scared

edit: more research...maybe its called trypanophobia...whatever -shrug-

...yeah it IS trypanophobia (Im not afraid of getting vaccinated but rather the process itself) my bad...fixing

 

[SuBe]

It's better than a digital exam.

 

[Zephyr Alexian]

More life is post-shot than not. Don't fear the needle. Fear the unsteady hand that holds it.

Kidding. Lighten up. It will pass before you know it. The more you think about it, the worse it will seem in your mind. Focus on some other things for the time being.

 

[Sentinel X]

Ive been reading a couple of tips online.
A few suggest were:

- Talk to the nurse about something silly
- Hold your mommy's hand and don't look, lol!

There has to be someone else on this board who is afraid of shots!

 

[CFE]

While I don't have a phobia of shots, I don't think anyone's a fan of them.

Just do what I do. Bring a friend/loved one with you. Have them in the room so you can talk to them while looking in the opposite direction from the shot and just don't think about it.

It only lasts about 2 seconds.

CFE

 

[Ronny Shade]

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=313582

 

[The Guard]

The only way to get over a fear is to face it.

 

[CFE]

http://forums.superherohype.com/showthread.php?t=313582

Traumatic events aren't the same as Phobias.

CFE

 

[Ronny Shade]

the technology can be adapted, I'm sure.

 

[Carcharodon]

Jump into a giant vat of used hypodermic needles and go swimming.

 

[Eggyman]

Yes, but Sentinal X hinted that the phobia may be caused by the sister teasing about getting 'a shot'. So that may work - if the memory is enough to create a phobia, then I'd say that it is a memory of a traumatic event. So it could work if it deleted said traumatic memory.



:waffle:

 

[jaguarr]

Get some body-piercings and tattoos. You won't fear the needle anymore after that. Seriously.

jag

 

[Sentinel X]

Jump into a giant vat of used hypodermic needles and go swimming.

Aah, that reminds me of Saw 2 (hate that movie) but that scene is one of the scariest things I've ever seen in my life...I just can't imagine being in that situation, I'd rather die



And yeah, Im guessing it just HAS to be that 'traumatic' event during childhood...I guess I must have been more disturbed by it than I thought. I guess its not necessarily the pain because if I could get a vaccination from slitting my wrist or breaking my arm....beleive me, I would

 

[Carcharodon]

Aah, that reminds me of Saw 2 (hate that movie) but that scene is one of the scariest things I've ever seen in my life...I just can't imagine being in that situation, I'd rather die

Yeah. I like Jag's advice, though. Although it may be a bit extreme. t:

Not at all like mine, you see.

 

[Erzengel]

Personal space issues. I'm not claustrophobic or enochlophobic. But if I'm in a crowded elevator I start to sweat a little if strangers start evading my personal space.

 

[jaguarr]

Personal space issues. I'm not claustrophobic or enochlophobic. But if I'm in a crowded elevator I start to sweat a little if strangers start evading my personal space.

I like to face everyone else in an elevator and stand kind of close to them, rather than staring at the numbers going by.

jag

 

[Ace of Knaves]

I really hate needles, thats why I don't understand those smack-head folk!

But seriously think about it this way, 2 seconds of pain and the thought of a needle going inside you is worth it if it stops you getting ill or something.
Blood tests are worse, damn it makes me squeemish just thinking about it.

 

[Spidey-Bat]

Ive been reading a couple of tips online.
A few suggest were:

- Talk to the nurse about something silly
- Hold your mommy's hand and don't look, lol!

There has to be someone else on this board who is afraid of shots!

I'm good with needles. I was born with a medical condition so I've been getting shots and blood drawn about once a year my whole life.

Definitely try to have a conversation with whoever is performing the procedure. If it's a shot in the arm, it's over in no time. Just close your eyes and think of something else. It's like 5 seconds.

 

[Raiden]

I don't have a problem with needles, but I usually look away and think about nothing in particular when the nurse is giving me a shot. It'd make the whole process fly by quicker.

 

[The Guard]

"That's odd...just feels like more used needles..."

 

[Silk Spectre]

the needle is in your arm a few brief seconds at best. your other choices are death, or being miserably sick for a long period of time. turn your head when they put the needle in, and think about other things.

 

[chaseter]

You be thankful it isn't a bigger needle.

 

[chaseter]

Personal space issues. I'm not claustrophobic or enochlophobic. But if I'm in a crowded elevator I start to sweat a little if strangers start evading my personal space.

Who can't keep their hands off such a sexpot

 

[Matt Murdock]

Shots are for wimps!

 

[Abstract]

I had the same problem. I was terrified of needles so much so that I needed Valium before I could have some blood taken. I finally got over it when I had a skin cancer removed. I decided to just grin and bear it and now I've conquered my fear. I still dont like needles or stitches, but I can deal with it now.