Is a Fear of Needles Stopping You from Getting Vaccinated?

Is trypanophobia or the fear of needles stopping you from getting the vaccine? Clinical psychologist Dr. Judy Ho shares that about a quarter of adults share this fear of needles. Dr. Judy says that it’s really common and admits that she even needs to look away when she’s getting a shot. Kamal joins The Doctors to share about how his fear of needles and injections. Dr. Judy shares techniques that you can utilize to deal with your fear of getting a shot.

About The Doctors: The Doctors is an Emmy award-winning daytime talk show in its 13th season. The Doctors helps you understand the latest health headlines, delivers exclusive interviews with celebrities dealing with health issues, debates and investigates health and safety claims, explains the latest viral videos and how you can avoid emergency situations, and serves up celebrity chefs to share the hottest and healthiest recipes and foods.

[michellelatoszewski]

3:37 That's just false. Everytime I've explained my severe needle phobia the nurse laugh at me and say, "wait until you have kids. You'll get over that real fast." Well, guess what? I'm not having kids either, and this phobia is real and should be treated like a real thing. No one ever gets "gentler" with me for explaining it, they see me as a child.

[begrackled]

This video is counterproductive.

The cheap disregard of absolute terror and the fear of death that needlephobia brings with it ensures that people won't seek out help.

There is no sympathy here. Only people social climbing a media ladder up into someplace in a meritocratic order for YouTube clicks.

Those of us living in real horror have no voice here.

[valerieevanier]

This is pretty oversimplified. There are different levels of this type of phobia. People who are severely needle phobic - as opposed to those who just are scared of or dislike injections - are really not served by the 'just do this' advice. In fact, it is counterproductive because when various types of therapy fail (and they most often do) they feel as if no one understands what they are going through and there is no effective help for them. In this unfortunately they are correct. And since they rarely interact with the medical community they are 'invisible'. A primary care doctor may believe there aren't many people out there with this problem because most of his patients do not suffer from it. But people like this do not go to regular primary care doctors.

[robiimccann]

It triggers my fight or flight. Trypanophobia is a killer when it comes between life saving operations or inoculations. And me and this Kamal dude are on the same page.

[gogovideo]

I have a fear of needles. At one point, it was so bad that I wouldn't allow doctors to give me a blood test or colonoscopy when I was very very sick with my first flare of UC. They ended up having to put me under general anesthetic to do both the blood test and colonoscopy, and then found out that my HB was 3.8. After that, I had to have blood transfusions or I was going to die, and there was no option for GA again.

I look back on it now and wonder how I let that fear overcome me and almost take my life away from me.

It's been 10 years now, and although I still have a fear of needles, I've found my coping strategies. I have to watch the process. Doctors and nurses will always tell you "look away" if you have a fear of needles, but for some people, looking away causes a bigger fear because there's the anticipation aspect if you can't see what's happening. I practically stare down the needle as they're jabbing me.

If you're an adult with a fear of needles and you're reading this, know that it's perfectly normal, but *please* learn how to cope with it in a healthy manner. Whatever works for you.

[dez]

i’ve passed out due to fear of needles…. this didn’t help at all 🙄

[YahNation]

Yes. Can someone sedate me before I get the vaccine?

[cameronburrell]

I have a fear of needles the first vaccine didnt hurt the second one hurt but it was manageable and what I also do is zone out and also never look when I get shots done

[valerieevanier]

You know what is really sad is that people are going to get sick or worse (like they have been doing already btw) for no other reason than the lack of understanding and action on the part of the medical community. Oxford recently did a study and found that 10% of vaccine refusers did so because of needle phobia. But what is, as usual, completely deflating, is when you go on the site of the study group they feature a therapist who claims that this problem is very easy and quick to treat. They really just do not understand this. Medicine has the tools to help someone get through the 30 seconds it takes to get the vaccine, they just refuse. It is as if they all of a sudden decided to completely ignore prostate cancer - blaming it on the patient's immaturity or lack of character and 'teaching' them to deal with it by watching less tv or some other useless suggestion. And it's not even like this is some rare condition.

[muddassirghoorun]

Complete ignorance from what is coming out from the mouth of that woman.

[celo]

Tattoo and vaccines are not the same!!!! 😂😂

[mr.honkers]

last 2 times I was scared of a needle (yes I have trypanophobia it fricking sucks and has partially ruined my life)
I just said no just do it I’m just a coward ok and told then to do it, (edit: well it was more something like ‘’I deserve to be stabbed in the arm because I’m such a loser) I even looked at the needle :D and now I hopefully am not afraid of needles (most likely still afraid

[Shellyshocked]

I have no fear of needles or vaccines but, I got my second Moderna covid vaccine and I haven't been this sick in a long time. It's been 5 days since I got the shot and I feel like I've been hit by a bus. I'm in the hospital now with a host of horrible symptoms that started the day after. They don't know if it's the shot that did it or something else is going on. Maybe it's just a coincidence.

[mrsholland]

i had to get put on gas to get a blood test because i literally couldnt breath and they all say that having a parent makes it easier but my mum was just shouting me the whole time and saying just hold her down

[nerdygeekgamer]

I don't have a fear of Needles and I got my first of the two dose Covid-19 vaccine yesterday in my left Arm it's still a little tender but not as bad as yesterday

[nabilamohdhusain]

Explain medical terms words terminology in easiest English language for Asian thanking you.

[lonewolfsurvival]

I used to jab needles into my body for fun as a kid, so no fear there. Try again.

[browley]

I don't fear needles. I fear God!

[carnevil]

HELLO YES! MY COUSIN DIDN'T EVEN SHOOT ME UP WITH HEROINE! LOVE YOU TRAY! I ALSO HAVE TRISKAIDEKAPHOBIA... AND FEAR OF TRANSGENDERS IS PHOBIA