News, Are you afraid of Needles? Needle Phobia More Common Than Many Believe. (pain, child)

[JD59]

It's a phobia that filmmakers have loved for years. At a tense moment, someone, usually a man, sees a needle and crumples to the floor.

But it wasn't until 1997 that the mental health community officially recognized needle phobia in the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, thanks largely to an article by physician James Hamilton.

Needle Phobia More Common Than Many Believe - ABC News

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The pain patch thing is interesting. Too bad there wasn't something like that that could be used at the dentist office. I hate needles going into my gums. They hurt, and they scare me. I loathe going to the dentist because of it.

My needle phobia goes back to the dentist when I was a kid. It was the week of my 8th birthday and I had to go in for oral surgery (was getting braces put on the following day). I had a molar that was in the wrong spot -- it was in the center of the roof of my mouth.

They put me out with gas. Then started to operate. They told my Dad he could leave the room. I woke up when they said that and screamed "NO! Let him stay!"

They stuck a big long needle in my mouth to numb the area and I was scared to death. I've hated the dentist ever since and even as an adult only go when there's something that can't be put off any longer (but I do have really nice teeth and they're all mine).

[tyvin]

This is definitely more common then people think.

In my experience it's been more males then females (but that's my experience) with shots (clinics/hosptal/doctors office). The fear is expected with children but I work with adults. I have met adults that would do anything to not have a shot. When the fear is there it's overwhemling for the person.

The "art" of presenting with shots to patients is aquired (covering the tray, not preparing it in front of them etc...), the art of distractibility.

The dentist is a whole different monster (literally). Ahhhhhh

I do feel for the phlebotomist as that would almost be impossible to do with someone that has a phobia about needles.

I know many people think that the people are just chickens; so I thought I would take a stab at pointing out an explantion of support (or at least giving it a shot anyway).