This is a reader’s personal account, edited for readability and privacy. Ages and circumstances refer to the time of submission. It is not a clinical assessment.
My fear of needles has not improved over the years. Even images give me goosebumps, and seeing a syringe can make me panic.
It started when I was eight. I did not fear shots they did not bother me at all but one day I went in for my annual checkup and that part went fine. At the end the nurse went out to get the shots I don’t know why but I needed 5 shots that part still puzzles me. Soon the nurse came back set the shots down next to me. She took off my jacket and cleaned my arm with a wipe. As she prepared my arm for the shot she said “It’s ok this won’t hurt a bit” I knew this fine because I knew shots wouldn’t hurt but I normally only saw it as a tiny prick then a burn that was all.
So she was done getting ready and held up a syringe.
I closed my eyes I was expecting her to give me the shot and be gone but there was a delay.
She kept saying, ‘This will not hurt.’ When I looked at her, she seemed frightened to me, and I remember her hand trembling. I was nervous and my mom twiddled her thumbs. Then all the suddenly I felt a sharp jab in my arm unlike any other I felt and I let out a loud “AGH” at the pain.
I then heard a clink and the nurse placed a bandage over the wound.
The nurse prepared the next shot. My mom ran over and I guess I felt a little better. The nurse chanted “it’s ok this won’t hurt”. The chanting scared me.
I felt a tingle on my nose and I lifted my arm to itch it. As I moved, the next injection happened. I do not know exactly what the nurse intended or how she understood the situation, but I remember it as sudden and frightening. This time the pain felt much worse than I had expected. The nurse gave another injection shortly afterwards. Then the 4th shot came and my mom pulled me away but it was too late the shot slashed me and I delivered a loud scream.
The nurse apologised, and so did my mother. I rubbed my arm. While the fifth one was being prepared, I was certain it would hurt. I was very distressed and braced myself for it. Then the appointment was over.
After that I don’t trust nurses or shots but I know I can’t avoid them or no longer reduce pain. I was 15 when I wrote this, and I found it hard to imagine losing the fear.
Editorial note
A painful or frightening experience deserves to be discussed respectfully with the care team. Ask what a procedure involves, how to communicate a need to pause, and what appropriate support or pain-management options are available. Fear of needles can be assessed without avoiding essential care or arranging surprise injections as “practice.”
An online story cannot establish a diagnosis. If fear or distress is affecting your daily life, a qualified healthcare professional can help assess it. Comments and readers’ experiences are not a substitute for individual care.
The worst thing I saw
This reminds me of a story i had. One time i was washing glasses (a wine glass) and it slipped, i tried to catch it and ended up cutting my finger, i had to get stitches. I don’t know why, but i’ve ALWAYS hated needles, and when i had to get stitches, even with the numbing thing, i screamed bloody murder and had a panic attack. I still hate needles. Now whenever i see a needle, i freeze up and cant even move. I start crying and trying to get away and it’s just awful.
This is so agonizing. I can’t imagine the pain. My fear of needles is not as bad; I just have low blood pressure. But I think it escalated to a fear of sharp stuff. I don’t like to stand near someone with a knife or sharp-edged scissors, but I can live with it.