How To Overcome The Fear Of Injections If You Want To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine [Tips]
September 29, 2021
The thought of an injection can cause anxiety to some people but here are some easy tips to lessen the fear and help you go though it.
I’m a firm believer in the power of vaccines in preventing diseases so I made sure that my wife and kids have their prescribed vaccines. In fact, I would also encourage people to get vaccinated, especially the COVID-19 vaccine, so that they too will enjoy the advantages of a strong immune system. But guess what, I have fear of injections. I wouldn’t call it trypanophobia because I don’t have all the symptoms associated with it plus it’s only in the deltoid area where I hate the pricking pain. I can quite tolerate it in other parts of my body.
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| Image by Angelo Esslinger from Pixabay |
How To Overcome The Fear Of Injections If You Want To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine [Tips]
What could have caused my fear of injections?
I remember not being afraid of needles or injections when I was young although
I’m not excited about them either. I get nervous at the thought of injection
but I could go through them without any hesitation.
However, there was one instance when it was my mother, who was a nurse, who
gave me my shots. I couldn’t recall what type of vaccines they were because I
was only nine or 10 years old at that time. I do remember that it was so
painful like my arm was throbbing and the pain was spreading. It felt like the
pain lasted for hours.
Since then, I said to myself that I would never get an injection if I can flee
from it. I can count one injection during high school when I was given
medicine for stomach aches. After all those years, my next injections were my
COVID-19 shots.
Just the same, I initially said that I wouldn’t get the COVID-19 vaccines but
changed my mind because I wanted to protect my kids. After all, we’ve had a
COVID scare in our house when three of us were infected a few months ago.
Thankfully, we all survived but I didn’t want to risk it anymore. Hence, my
decision to get the two jabs.
The 5 top things I did to overcome the fear of injections
Just to be clear, I haven’t fully conquered my fear of injections yet. After
my COVID-19 vaccines, I really can’t tell when I’m going to get injections
again. I think I was able to do it because I don’t have full-blown
trypanophobia so I was able to somehow manage the fear right before the actual
shots.
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| Image by Triggermouse from Pixabay |
So, what did I do to (temporarily) overcome my hesitation? Here are some that
might help those who are in a similar situation: ‘’’
1. You have to believe in the advantages of vaccines
I guess this helped me a lot. I’m a firm believer in the power of vaccines.
It’s just the manner of delivery that I’m afraid of but if, say, a flu vaccine
can be administered orally, I would’ve gotten it annually.
2. You have to think of your loved ones
As mentioned above, I’m a COVID survivor and I’m beyond grateful that I didn’t
pass the virus on to my wife and kids. This is another situation that made me
realize that I really should get myself protected through the COVID-19 vaccine
and continued adherence to health protocols. I didn’t want another infection
in our home because the first one is such mental and emotional torture.
3. You can finally go out without being too paranoid
We still go out only when necessary and that’s for our usual grocery runs and
when I renewed my driver’s license. We still diligently wear our face masks
and face shields. We don’t forget to sanitize our hands when we touch objects
around us. Just the same, it gives us peace of mind knowing that we are
protected by the Pfizer vaccines that we got.
4. Tell yourself that it will be quick
Days before I got my first dose of the COVID-19 vaccine, I talked to my colleagues
who have already been vaccinated and asked about their experience. I was
surprised to find out that others like me get anxious at the
thought of needles.
Anyway, they told me not to worry because it will be super quick. Just a few
seconds and I’m done. Minutes before my actual shot, I was repeating that in
my head and it helped me get through it.
5. The pain is minor
I didn’t feel any pain during my first dose but I felt a slight throb a few
minutes after it. It was during my second those when I really felt the needle.
I guess that’s because the second dose is a little stronger than the first
one so that could be a factor.
Nevertheless, it was just a slight pain that is manageable. What I did was to
mimic the act of screaming but without a sound, sort of a silent scream. That
helped me ease the tension.
Managing my COVID-19 vaccine side effects
My COVID-19 vaccine side effects were flu-like, which meant I had a fever,
headaches, muscle pain especially in my right deltoid area, and a general
feeling of weakness.
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| Image by Arek Socha from Pixabay |
What I did to manage to symptoms were to take a rest,
drink plenty of water, eat well, and I also took Bioflu (Phenylephrine HCl,
Chlorphenamine Maleate, Paracetamol) tablet.
My wife took Biogesic (Paracetamol) but I wanted multiple relief from fever,
body pain, joint pain, and chills so I drank Bioflu. It’s also the medicine
that I used to treat my mild COVID-19 symptoms so I felt that Bioflu is the
most effective treatment for me.
Epilogue
Getting vaccinated provides a multitude of health benefits but I understand
that many people like me are afraid of needles and injections.
If the fear is not severe, you can manage it through some fairly easy methods.
You’ll realize that injections are quick and that the pain is not really as
bad as what our minds tell us.
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Yes, my son kept putting this off, but finally gave in. The fear of a needle is always worse than the needle experience itself!
ReplyDeleteI admit, I do not like shots. But the covid vaccine was so easy. I barely felt it!
ReplyDeleteI too dont like the needles. I just look away when I get a shot.
ReplyDeleteRemembering that pain is temporary really helps! I used to be really afraid of needles but just focusing my mind anywhere else but getting the shot helps too.
ReplyDeleteI too am a firm believer in the power of vaccines in preventing diseases but it can be hard to convince other people, especially my parents. I need to tell them these to overcome their fears
ReplyDeleteI don't have fear of injection. But one of my family is really scared of it. I hope he'll read this.
ReplyDeleteI have never really been scared of needles because I always thought the benefit for me outweighs the "brief" pain
ReplyDeleteThese tips are really great. I hate injections and I don't like seeing them. This really helps me a lot.
ReplyDeleteI don't tend to have an issue with vaccines it's more the physical injection but then again I'm a bit more sensitive than many.
ReplyDeleteThese are really wonderful tips. We got our COVID vacination only, youngest one doesn't got the vaccine.
ReplyDeleteThese are nice tips po. Ako I just look on different direction para di ko makita yung needle. Kabado din talaga ko sa ganyan 😅
ReplyDeleteThis is too timely for me. I am scheduled to have my first dose tomorrow and I'm so tensed. I hate needles!
ReplyDeleteIt's great that you were able to do this! I also just take a deep breath and look away. Looking at the needles or focusing on it just makes me more anxious. Distractions are good :)
ReplyDeleteVery nice tips on How To Overcome The Fear Of Injections If You Want To Get The COVID-19 Vaccine. Honestly In my own its one of the hardest decision should I do. Yes so many doubt about the vaccine but still I just wanna be positive and think of the good benefits of it
ReplyDeleteThank you for sharing this very helpful para sa mga May fear sa injection ng covid 19 but
ReplyDeleteI have never really been scared of needles because I always thought the benefit for me on that pain
Thanks for sharing this , very informative and very helpful po tlga ito lalo na sa mga my fear sa needle ❤️😍
ReplyDelete