Why do I have a phobia of needles?

Other potential reasons for having a fear of needles can include generalized anxiety or having a sensitive or negative temperament, previous trauma, having fainted or had severe dizziness due to a vasovagal response to shots or blood draws in the past, hypochondria, sensitivity to pain or memories of painful needle …

What’s a fear of needles called?

What is trypanophobia? Fittingly, the name combines the Greek term trypano — meaning puncturing or piercing — with phobia, meaning fear. This remarkably common condition is marked by irrational, extreme fear or aversion to blood or needles.

Why should you not be afraid of needles?

Full-blown needle phobia can induce extreme anxiety to the tune of dizziness, nausea, chest pain and a racing heart. Worse, it can keep people from getting important vaccines or going to the doctor altogether.

How can I prove I have anxiety?

To diagnose an anxiety disorder, a doctor performs a physical exam, asks about your symptoms, and recommends a blood test, which helps the doctor determine if another condition, such as hypothyroidism, may be causing your symptoms. The doctor may also ask about any medications you are taking.

Is panic disorder life threatening?

But if you’ve had recurrent, unexpected panic attacks and spent long periods in constant fear of another attack, you may have a condition called panic disorder. Although panic attacks themselves aren’t life-threatening, they can be frightening and significantly affect your quality of life.

How can I overcome my fear of needles?

Cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) sessions may explore the roots of needle fear and offer coping skills. Exposure therapy is similar but involves a stepped-up process of exposing people to needles in order to overcome their fear. Doctors can prescribe medication to manage anxiety when people are scheduled for a blood test or vaccination.

What is needlyneedle phobia?

Needle phobia is a fear of medical procedures that involve needles or injections. It is very common, affecting at least one in 10 people, and is nothing to be ashamed of. Fortunately, simple exercises and practice can help to overcome it.

Why do people faint when they are scared of needles?

For many people, fear of needles is linked to fainting or feeling faint. When the fear is triggered (for example by seeing blood, or thinking about an injection), heart rate and blood pressure increase (as with other kinds of fears), but then rapidly drop. It is this fall in blood pressure that can cause fainting.

Can I donate blood if I’m afraid of needles?

As a means of encouraging prospective donors, the Red Cross gives several recommendations for overcoming your fear of needles so you can make a donation and save a life. For starters, the charity recommends immediately telling their workers about your phobia so they help make the process as tolerable as possible.