Let’s start with a confession: I had a terrible, horrible, no good, very bad needle phobia from ages 5 to 31. It was debilitating. When I finally decided enough was enough, I didn’t have anyone who knew how to support me through it, nor did I know what tools could help me.
Through years of trial and error (and lots of tears), I was able to work through my phobia and now I want to help you or your child do the same! Unlike me, you are going to have a guide.
Note: most of my blogs have lots of pictures but I know from experience how triggering pictures can be. You can safely scroll without seeing anything, you’re safe here!
1) A tool for desensitizing your mind
Our minds will take our fears and make them into giant monsters that we cannot possibly defeat. By desensitizing ourselves to the materials around your fear, you can start to break that monster into digestible pieces. Below are a few ways that I suggest you consider as well as the sensations that you may want to spend some time acclimating to.
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- Alcohol wipes: both the smell and cold sensation
- Gauze: Texture
- Tourniquet: Texture and pressure
- Syringe: Look and touch
You can order needles, blood draw kits, and other supplies, but these are sharps and I do not recommend using them outside of the guidance of a medical professional.
2) A tool for desensitizing your body
Sometimes the best way to start is to not feel anything. There are a few ways to go about this, I’m going to focus on different uses of topical lidocaine. I have used all of these personally and am happy to report that I no longer need them to feel comfortable.
Do not use lidocaine if you are allergic to lidocaine. Consult your medical professional before using lidociane or any other numbing agent.
- Ask your doctor to give you a prescription for topical lidocaine (this is usually a cream). This will numb you incredibly well!
- Ask your doctor about getting topical lidocaine over the counter in a:
- 5% cream (works fast)
- 4% patch (lasts longest)
- 4% roll-on (works fast but best used only for shots due to slight residue)
You’re not alone: I’m here to help however I can!
I did this alone, but you don’t have to. The sooner you work through this fear, the better: fears and phobias tend to grow with time. If you know you want support, set up a Free Discovery Call now and we can talk about how I can get you from all consuming fear to peaceful acceptance.