:( I'm scared of shots and I need to get a shot soon?

Question

Well I'm going into 7th grade so I need to get shots and I'm literally crying because I'm really really really scared of shots. Why does the school board care if I get a shot?! It's none of their business if I get sick. (Don't answer that, I was just ranting). Here's the real questions:

I'm soooo scared. What do I do?? Everyone says don't think about it, how do I just not think about it?! There's a freaking needle in my arm!!
I'm so scared I'm gonna cry there and make a huge fool out of myself.

Ugh! What do I do?

Answer 1

Yep. Been there. I had a horrible phobia of needles, too.



First off, know that once you get past this shot or series of shots, you may not need to get any more for years to come. Maybe decades.



Secondly, keep in mind that shots don't hurt as much as drawing blood does. If your fear is based on a bad experience with drawing blood, then it's understandable that shots could seem intimidating. But aside from a few shots (like tetanus shots, or the MMR shot) most of them are just a quick prick, and no real pain.



Also keep in mind that the more stressed out you are, the harder it is to 'find a vein'. Some people just have harder-to-locate veins, and thus bad experiences with nurses pricking them over and over again. Which sucks. If you're relaxed, the vein is easier to find. Also, if you're relaxed, your muscles don't tense up, and so you won't feel as much pain.



As a last desperate measure, you can ask your doctor for topical lidocaine. It's a chemical that numbs the skin in any area. It may cost some money on the medical bill, but just call and ask them if that's something they can do. If so, then you'll quite literally not feel the needle at all.



But most importantly, don't be scared to watch. People would always tell me not to look, and that would make it worse. Go ahead and watch. It's your body, and your right to see what happens. It's not all that exciting, but it's less stressful than being told you can't watch. And don't be scared to tell the doctor/nurse administering the shot that you're a bit scared of needles. They deal with it all the time.



Good luck. Hope this helps!

Answer 2

Okay.

Well, first off, no one LIKES shots. (unless they're really cynical or addicted to drugs or surgeries.)

If you own an iPod, try taking it with you.

You can turn up the volume loud enough not to hear what they are actually doing. You could also ask that they do some random things to your arm while you look away before giving you the shot. Like, poking with their finger, pinching your wrist, running a finger up your vein, just various and random things so you don't expect it. If you have games on your iPod, you can play them so that you don't think about what they're doing. If need be, ask them if they can restrain you or something so that you don't jump and cause problems. Depending on your gender, you will probably have to get a different shot than your brother/sister did. Girls usually receive a shot to prevent a type of cancer and a tetnis shot. I don't remember which, but one of them you get three times every few months, and the Tetnis does not hurt at all. It's more like they just pressed the needle to you and did not actually puncture your skin. I don't know about boys though. Don't worry. Everything will be fine. If you do worry and stress yourself out, you could make it hard for them to perform the shot properly and could get you in the wrong place. It happened to a friend of mine in third grade and he had to go to physical therapy. But if you are still, don't freak, and distract yourself a bit, you will be fine! :)

Answer 3

When you are about to get the shot, just remind yourself that it doesn't hurt! Pinch yourself a few times and then say " wow, that doesn't hurt at all." And remember, a pinch is wayyyyyyyyyy more painful than a shot. When they are about to put the needle in, bite your lip, pinch your thy, and look away. Also, try closing your eyes really tight and like squeezing your face into a bunch. About an hour or half an hour b4 u go, take some tylenol or something to ease the pain and then take like a quarter of what ur supposed 2 take after the shot, That way it won't hurt later....... hopefully. But mainly, a shot is NO BIG DEAL!!!!!!!!!!!! I got one from my school nurse!!!!!!! I just sat there and she didnt tell me when she was going to do it and i barely felt it cuz i wasnt nervous at all!!!!!!!! Just dont worry and take it like no big deal, cuz it isn't. Hope this helps, GOOD LUCK!!!!!!!!!

Answer 4

Just look away. When I had to have a needle put in my hand, I had to have it in all day. It eventually goes away, the feeling, but I guess a shot is kinda different.



Ask the nurse not to tell you when she's going to do it. The nurse did that for me: she handed me a "Where's Wally?" book, and waited a few seconds, then did it whilst i was looking at the book.



Take something in that will take your concentration up: a really interesting book that you really like, or a puzzle that you really want to get done. Do this as the nurse does it, but make sure you don't look and don't know when she's going to do it. This way you can not think about it, like people are saying :)

Answer 5

Don't look at the shot, and all it feels like is a strong quick pinch. Also, sing a song in your head. I'm not scared of shots, but i don't ever look at them either. The pain of a shot is like 95% psychological. Just tell your doctor you have a thing about shots and to get it over with quick. Being in a prolong state of apprehension only increases the fear and psychological pain. people administering shots usually know this.

Answer 6

The people who administer the shot know what they're doing. They'll tell you to look away and make your arm go completely limp. Don't let your emotions get out of control, just keep a positive thought pattern, like "its just a shot" even if you don't believe it.

Answer 7

I was like you but the thing is it is most likely your fear and experience of past shocks have been twisted in your mind to make it a million times worse than it is. So all you need to do is think its gonna be over in a few seconds, i will benefit off a few seconds of uncomfortableness and its nothing.

Answer 8

just DON'T look at it while they are doing it. tell them you're really nervous about it too.



just look away, bite your lip and think about butterflies, or that boy that you have a crush on.





lol

Answer 9

With good reason you should be, You are going to see a doctor who is injecting you with god knows what and he and his FDA buddies are passing it off as a vaccine.

Answer 10

Don't be a pussy.