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Other Phobias

Fear of Needles – Trypanophobia

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Fear of Needles: How to Overcome this Phobia

Are you afraid of needles?

Is getting pierced or stabbed by a sharp and pointy instrument your worst nightmare?

You’re not alone. The fear of needles is very real—and a big frustration for many people.

You know that being terrified of needles is something you want to overcome. You’re tired of screaming or hyperventilating whenever your doctor or dentist is about to insert a needle into your skin or gums. And you realize you can’t avoid injections or medical procedures your entire lifetime. But what can you do?

As much as we hate to accept it, needles are part and parcel of our lives. There will be times you need your shots, for example, to immunize you from a handful of viruses and diseases.

You might be embarrassed that, at your age, you still shake at the sight of a long, glinting needle. Even hearing the word “injection” might cause you to faint. Great news: It’s perfectly normal to think that you might never outgrow your fear, but don’t fret. There is hope at the end of a needle—I mean, the tunnel, as they say.

What Is Trypanophobia?

What is the fear of needles called? Trypanophobia is an intense, debilitating fear of needles—particularly when it’s part of a medical procedure. But if you fear all things sharp and pointy, including pins, your grandma’s scissors, the kitchen knife, or even a harmless little sewing needle, then it is called aichmophobia, belonephobia, or emetophobia. Yes, there are actually three names for this irrational fear.

You probably don’t know why you have this senseless, all-consuming, run-for-your-life fear of needles, but guess what? Doctors also don’t know the cause. But they believe that factors such as past trauma or a negative experience are to blame for your shuddering fear. It could also be inherited or learned. Perhaps someone in your family, maybe your dad or a favorite aunt, suffered from the same fear. Or it could also be brain chemistry.

Finding the Needle in the Haystack of Your Fears

Trypanophobia is usually accompanied by a severe body reaction. When pricked by a needle, your body may trigger a “faint” response to the emotional stress you are undergoing. You might have dizziness or loss of balance right before you faint. When experienced for the first time, this faint response will create a sensitivity towards pain, which will trigger the next time you see or even think of a needle or injection. In very rare cases, you may even experience it in conditions where you are not exposed to a needle or injection.

Trypanophobia is basically seen in children, as they are unused to situations involving injections. This phobia usually goes away as you reach adulthood, but for some, it may intensify.

The Symptoms of Trypanophobia

Every person is unique. Your response to fear may be different from others. At the mere mention of a blood draw, you might suffer from what feels like a heart attack, or you may just burst into tears, howling in despair. Here are phobia symptoms that you might be familiar with—both physical and psychological:

Physical Trypanophobia Symptoms:

  • Sweating and/or shaking
  • Chest pain
  • Dry mouth
  • Tachycardia (rapid heartbeat)
  • Feeling faint or dizzy
  • Elevated blood pressure
  • Nausea
  • Heavy sweating
  • Headache
  • Body shakes or shivers
  • Difficulty breathing
  • Insomnia

Psychological Trypanophobia Symptoms:

  • Overwhelming anxiety and stress
  • Fear of dying
  • Confusion
  • Disorientation
  • Sense of losing your control
  • Inability to relax
  • Avoiding medical procedures
  • Inability to concentrate
  • Panic attacks
  • Depression
  • Loss of emotional control

Dealing with Trypanophobia

Just as the fear of needles varies, the mode of treatment can also vary with different people. As in the case of other phobias, psychological methods are most effective for the treatment of trypanophobia. But in severe cases, medication is also prescribed in addition to behavioral therapies. Don’t worry, you can ask for needle-free medication options!

Self-Help Techniques

Even if you believe that your fear of needles is a hopeless case, the truth is, it’s not! In fact, the solution to overcoming what you feel to be an unreasonable fear will come from you. We sure wish it would be as easy as flicking a light switch and turning off these fearful sensations, but it takes time and work to get to the path of complete control of your mind and emotions.

Prevention. If you’re ill, try to remember that if you don’t allow a quick needle prick, your condition may worsen—which might require more needles. Just focus on the fact that these sharp objects are here to help you, not harm you.

Winner Mindset. When going to the doctor or dentist, pretend it’s a game and that you’ll come out a winner. This is a surefire way to calm your nerves, especially if you’re the competitive type. Think of the needle as a challenge. If you stay still and don’t become hysterical, you win. Then reward yourself with a treat as your prize. You deserve it!

Relaxation Techniques. Learn breathing exercises, along with utilizing your imagination. Visualize how that needle is way less painful than your cat’s nails digging into your skin, or stubbing your toe, and that you will go through the injection experience perfectly fine.

Get Your Mind Agitated by Something Else. Anger trumps fear. Think of your bitchy colleague, or the time when someone cut into the line at Starbucks, or your high school bully, and work up that anger in the doctor’s clinic. Just don’t snap at your doctor or nurse! Imagine one scenario that made you angry and run a dialogue on how you will respond verbally. But do this mentally while the nurses are prepping the syringe. Believe me, your mind will be so preoccupied with angry thoughts that the last thing that will make you anxious is some harmless needle.

Join an Online Forum. Go on Facebook, or reddit, and search for support groups that cater to those who share a similar phobia. Sharing your experiences, fears, anxiety, and apprehensions with a similar group helps you feel less alone. Make friends, get support, or just talk or write about what is so darn scary about sharp, pointy objects. You can also pick up ideas from others on how they successfully overcame their fear.

Use Humor. There’s nothing more fun than making fun of yourself. Write stand-up comic material about your fear. Tell everyone that you have a phobia and laugh at the problem. Blog it, vlog it, or write a humorous essay on your fear. Make jokes on needles, pins, and sharp objects. By not taking your phobia seriously, little by little, its power and control over you diminishes. That needle is a joke! Something that you can ridicule and mock. It’s funny. It’s hilarious. Laughter can actually quell those knots in your stomach that form when the fear begins to creep in.

It’s Time for Professional Help

If you tried all the self-help techniques that you’ve come across, yet the little hairs on your arms still stand up and you still get dizzy at the mention of needles— great job for trying. Seriously, don’t be hard on yourself. You did your very best.

But now that none of the self-help tips worked, you have to accept the fact that it’s time to seek professional help. Don’t go into a self-pitying mode and think you’re so crazy that you need to see a shrink. Instead, be proud that you’re acknowledging that you’re human and humans need help at times.

So, what should you expect in your professional treatment? Your doctor might recommend cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT)— the most common method used to help those who struggle with negative thoughts or emotions, like people with anxiety and depression.

CBT puts a spotlight on your present problem and will help you deal with your monstrous fear in highly effective therapy sessions. CBT has always been known to successfully treat many disorders, from panic attacks, to eating disorders, to sleep problems, and, of course, phobias. Give it a try.

Don’t beat yourself up for seeking professional help. Doctors are very supportive and will guide you along the road to healing.

Living with Your Fear

Fear is a very common emotion that all living organisms are subject to. If you experience a higher level of fear, don’t blame yourself. Instead, take action. Let us look at some simple, yet effective tips that can help you cope with your fear of needles. Keep in mind that these are just some general practices that you can adopt along with your treatment for trypanophobia.

  • Make your fear a part of your life, and not just a part of your mind. Never suffocate your fear within yourself, rather, face it with all the courage you have.
  • Make exercise a daily routine. A brisk walk or jog in the morning hours will help freshen your mind.
  • Always respect the courage that you possess. Think of the most difficult instances in life where you succeeded because of your courage. This will boost your confidence level, which will strengthen your armor mechanism and prepare you to battle your fears.

Conclusion

Aichmophobia, belonephobia, or emetophobia—these names do not define you. Everybody suffers from some form of anxiety, and there are even more bizarre phobias out there: fear of peanut butter getting stuck in the roof of your mouth, or fear of butterflies… you name it.

Our fears are not the sum of who we are. We are bigger than these fears. Our mind is stronger than we think. And help is not a far-fetched thing—it’s everywhere. All you have to do is take that small step to reach out.

Keep your mind busy, keep your thoughts positive, live a healthy lifestyle, and tell yourself that fear is actually something similar to fantasy: it’s imagined.

 

 

Stories Submitted by Our Readers

Fear of Needles

I have feared needles as far back as I can remember. My blood pressure increases when I know I must get a shot and then after the shot it drops quickly.
The fear only occurred yearly when I had to get a flu shot or visit the dentist. Then Covid 19 entered and all you heard was get a covid shot. That was the main topic no matter where I went. It was on the news and in articles. The main problem for me is that hearing the word or seeing a needle in an article certainly wasn’t helping my fear. Truly it made it worse. My fear got so bad that I was afraid to watch the news as they would show a needle when talking about getting the covid shots and boosters.
I now feel fear when I see a photo or hear the word shot or needle since Covid.
Tom

When I was a teen, I had warts close to my elbow on my arm. My mother took me to the doctor. To remove them, they stuck needles on both sides of my elbow. That scared me so bad seeing those needles going into my elbow that I cannot stand the thought of a shot or a needle. Even a sewing needle will make me a bit uneasy.
Keisha

I’ve always had a fear of needles. Even reading about needles makes me uneasy. I had to be held down as a kid even when a nurse wanted to prick my finger at a doctor’s visit.
I have been trying to work on my fear. I did get myself to give blood this year. Needles are my greatest fear but I do have more. But, this one gives me the most problems.
There are 2 things I have been doing to get my courage up when I have to visit the doctor and know they will want blood. I tell myself that it will help me. Maybe it will help someone else, such as giving blood. The other one is letting the nurse know my fear and ask her to do a countdown and let me watch as the needle goes in. I have to see what they are doing with that needle.
I don’t know if this will help others but it does help me be a bit calmer.
Andrew Colletti

 

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Your Fear Goes Up and Down

Are you someone who would rather climb the stairs than take the elevator? You call it squeezing in a workout after being sedentary the whole morning. Or perhaps you claim it's a faster route. These are both typical, normal, and acceptable reasons. But what if you need to be in the conference room on the eleventh floor in five minutes, and you're wearing your business suit and wingtips? Would you still prefer to take the stairs? If your answer is yes, then maybe it's time to take a closer look at your reasons for avoiding elevators. Elevators stir all sorts of emotions in passengers. From the discomfort of closeness to strangers to the sensations in our gut, elevators can be a source of the heebie-jeebies for many, but for some, they can also be a source of terror. Let's dig a little deeper into the latter, and see what this terror is all about and what can be done to manage it. To begin with, does being inside an elevator give you chills or the sweats? Or does it trigger an unpleasant memory? Perhaps you remember movies you've watched where something terrible happens inside an elevator. From Silence of the Lambs, The Shining, Final Destination 2, or the king of all elevator horror films, 2010’s Devil, the elevator becomes witness to something sinister and horrible. And you want nothing to do with any of it. You know that you're not claustrophobic. You can deal with heights just fine, too. And you know that you're not going to be trapped inside. All of these contribute to a fear of elevators—but they don't apply to you. Yet being inside one does something to you. It's hard to explain.

What is the Fear of Elevators Called?

What you have is a fear of elevators, which is called elevatophobia. It is most commonly triggered by an experience of getting stuck inside either due to a power outage or technical maintenance. Hearing about other people's experiences or watching a movie about similar circumstances can prompt a fear of elevators getting stuck with you inside. Usually, claustrophobics and agoraphobics may also develop elevatophobia because the triggers and objects of these fears are related. Claustrophobia is the fear of closed and cramped spaces, while agoraphobia is the fear of being trapped without any means of escape. Put the two together, and the elevator becomes the perfect combination of both phobias. The space is limited and closed, with only one means of entry and exit. You can add another point of access if you consider climbing the cables like they do in the movies, but that certainly isn't ideal.

Symptoms of Elevatophobia

If for some reason an elevator stops due to an outage or some technical difficulty, passengers with elevatophobia may go into full panic mode. Even if the maintenance team advises that it will just be a matter of minutes, by then, the person's mind has become irrational with the fear of the elevator falling, being stuck for hours, or other unpleasant thoughts. You would expect a person to exhibit the following physical symptoms: Additionally, you would be filled with that overwhelming anxiety where you feel that you have zero control over the situation. You start fearing the unknown and are filled with negative thoughts about death and imminent doom. You become irrational and unresponsive.

Possible Complications of Elevatophobia

When the panic sets in, the possibility of emergencies related to pre-existing conditions may make themselves known. This might include serious health crises like heart attacks or asthma attacks. When this happens, fear becomes a medical emergency. Elevator rides do not last long; it's just a matter of minutes or even less. But the fact that a person can escalate from panic to a near fatal medical situation classifies the fear of elevators as a 'hard phobia.'

Trying Some Self-Help Methods

Your fear of elevators can likely interfere with your social and work life and relationships. Not everyone understands that elevatophobia, like most phobias, can be crippling. But don't be disheartened. Depending on the level of your fear and level of control, you can gradually face and manage your phobia. Here are some recommendations you can try:
  1. Make a List of Everything that Entails Riding in an Elevator This is a systematic approach to getting over your anxiety. By following a step-by-step process, you can identify where the fear kicks in at its strongest. You can write a list of steps like pressing the topmost button and waiting to arrive on that floor, watching as the door closes and opens, being alone inside the elevator, or having delays with the doors opening. Now try doing the opposite. For example, face away from the door or occupy yourself with your phone so that you are distracted.
  2. Create Your Fear Ladder Although the name says fear of elevators, it is not the whole process that scares you. There are just phases and parts of the elevator riding experience that cause you to panic. So go back to the list you initially created and label the fear level you feel. You can do it numerically, too, like ten being 'really scary,' six, 'manageable scary,' and one, 'not scary at all.' You can put the corresponding fear levels so you can focus more time and effort into activities that are more scary to you.
  3. Face Your Fear By now, you have identified what scares you the most. You can try repetitive action to minimize your fear and increase your sense of ‘normalcy’. Remember that the longer you expose yourself to your fear, the better you get at handling your emotions. If you are feeling overwhelmed, stop. Pushing yourself too fast and too soon can backfire. Modify your pace and go slower instead.
  4. Talk About Your Fear People by nature, unfortunately, are not quick to offer understanding and support. You need to tell them what's wrong before they can empathize. Talk to someone who you trust and ask for their support, especially in the initial phase of overcoming your fear. If you are too afraid to ride the elevator alone, you can ask them to go with you, and before you realize it, you are on your floor, and there was no indication of panic.
  5. Learn To Be Patient Be patient with yourself and your predicament. This is, after all, your fight against fear. It might take hundreds of elevator ride practices before the fear gets under control. Even then, there might be some hesitations and episodes of nervousness. These are acceptable and expected, so cut yourself some slack and congratulate yourself for every progress.

Seeking Professional Help

Along with self-help, you can always enlist a medical professional's aid to support you with your elevatophobia. Talking to someone who has experience with similar cases can be comforting, because you know that you are not alone, and this situation can get better. Talk to your doctor about the severity of your fears and the symptoms that you experience. Explain how you deal with it in an attempt to control it. An exam and a health history are made to ensure that there are no unrelated or underlying problems that your symptoms might mask. Usually, phobias like this are approached with a combination of psychotherapy and medication. Your doctor will talk about these options with you, and it's entirely up to you, with your doctor's recommendation, what you want to pursue. For psychotherapy, the most common type is cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT), which aims to help you find different ways of behaving, thinking, and reacting when about to step inside an elevator or when already inside it. With medications, there are beta blockers and benzodiazepines, but note that these can have side effects. Whatever these side effects are, you should promptly share it with your doctor.

Simple Tips to Overcome Elevatophobia

Elevators are not perfect, but their likelihood to malfunction, fall, or get stuck is very low. If you are not fully confident with this information, you can help overcome your elevatophobia by learning common elevator safety tips and basic elevator operations. These should help curb your mild fear until you become more self-assured. In addition to that, here are some of the things that you can do to gradually overcome your fear of elevators—both in getting on and riding one.

Conclusion

Yes, elevatophobia can be a challenge in today's world, but don't allow the elevator to win. Don't let it stop you from taking a job on the top floor or attending a social gathering on the rooftop. Sure, you can take the stairs if you insist and arrive winded and sweaty, with the party about to wrap up. But is this the quality of life you seek? Elevators are designed to make life easier. There are guaranteed ways to help you overcome elevatophobia. Take the first step and seek help. Soon, you’ll see yourself breezing through the floors with those arduous stair climbs little more than a memory.
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