Living with a chronic disease like myasthenia gravis (MG) often means injections, blood draws and intravenous treatments are part of your regular routine. For most, this is an annoyance — but for people with a fear of needles, it can mean days of dread and anxious appointments.
Fortunately, there are practical ways to manage a fear of needles and reduce your stress levels.
Why do some people fear needles?
Needle phobia is common: Around 25% of adults report having trypanophobia, the formal name for a fear of needles.
Needles are easily associated with pain, stress and trauma. Over time, these associations can develop into a phobia. An early bad experience, like getting childhood vaccinations from an unsympathetic provider, can lead to a long-held fear. People who are more sensitive to pain might develop a needle phobia, as well.
How does a fear of needles impact living with MG?
Needles are frequently used in monitoring and treating myasthenia gravis. Depending on your treatment plan, you may need to:
- Have blood drawn to monitor antibody levels.
- Receive an intravenous therapy, like plasma exchange or IVIG infusions.
- Have other infusions, abdominal injections or therapies involving a needle.
Having a fear of needles makes getting this care harder — sometimes much harder. Needle phobias can vary in intensity from mild to moderate to severe. Mild cases might just mean extra anxiety, but symptoms of a needle phobia can include dizziness, breathlessness, heart palpitations, insomnia, nausea, vomiting, trembling, shaking, fainting or a spike in blood pressure.
When combined with the challenges of MG in general, these symptoms mean that living with a fear of needles can easily feel overwhelming. An untreated needle phobia creates added stress around medical interventions — stress that people living with MG don’t need. For some, a severe needle phobia can even lead to avoiding treatment. Pushing back or outright canceling appointments can have serious consequences for your health and management of MG symptoms.
Tips to overcome a fear of needles
Thankfully, there are practical steps you can take to manage and eventually overcome your fear of needles. Consider the following tips to help calm your fear:
- Make sure your healthcare team is aware of your phobia.
- Bring a support person for company and distraction.
- Ask for a full explanation of the procedure, so you know what to expect.
- Try to find a way to distract yourself while you’re waiting.
- Breathe deeply, and practice positive visualization techniques.
- If you feel dizzy or are worried you may faint, ask to lie down.
- Don’t look at the needle before, during or after the procedure.
- Don’t tense your arm, as this will increase the pain of the needle.
- Try using numbing gel or cream before the needle is inserted.
In severe cases of needle phobia, a therapist specialized in cognitive behavioral therapy can also be helpful.
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