It goes without saying that nobody likes injections. Faced with a routine visit to the pharmacist – be that for a travel vaccination or a flu jab – most people treat the experience as a necessary evil.
For some people, however, disliking injections runs a lot deeper than that. It is estimated that up to 10% of the population have a genuine needle phobia, meaning they have a persistent and excessive fear of needles. This can manifest as deep anxiety before and during the consultation, or even avoiding vaccinations altogether.
“Common symptoms of needle phobia are feeling anxious, tense and panicky at the thought of seeing an injection or syringe,” explains Nicky Lidbetter, CEO of Anxiety UK. “Other symptoms can include: recurrent nightmares about injections and needles; avoiding medical contact for fear of being confronted with a needle or syringe; and avoiding places associated with needles and injections.”
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