Many people are frightened of needles because they have learned to associate discomfort with immunizations or blood draws. In fact, fear of needles affects the majority of children under 11, 20 to 50 percent of adolescents, and 20 to 30 percent of young adults (Anbar et al., 2023).

Fear of needles can cause children and adults to avoid seeking health care, or to refuse to receive immunizations or undergo medical tests. In fact, my own fear of needles almost prevented me from applying to medical school! Ultimately, I figured out that when other people undergo medical procedures, it is not the same as when I am the patient.

It was only after I learned to apply self-hypnosis techniques that I realized that the pain associated with needles is related more to my fears than the physical sensation. I also learned that the term “shots” contributed to my fears. Who wants to be shot? Far better to receive an immunization, vaccine, inoculation, or a jab.

It is easy to assume that children don’t like needles because their insertion causes pain. While that is the most common reason, I have encountered many patients who don't care for needles for other reasons, including dislike of a foreign object being inserted or injected into the body, the sight of blood, fear that the body will be drained of blood, dislike........

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