It’s perfectly normal to feel nervous around needles. In fact, most people are uncomfortable the minute their practitioner starts talking about treatments requiring self-injection. But this fear should not stop you from getting the necessary treatment you need.
If your healthcare provider has prescribed self-injection therapy, here are nine ways you can manage fears of self-injection.
While most people find auto-injectors easy to ease, there is a learning curve. But you will have plenty of resources, including your healthcare provider’s office, videos, and written instructions from drug manufacturers on learning how to use an auto-injector.
These pens are designed with ease in mind and only require a few steps. What’s more is that when you get better at using an auto-injector, the process will be relatively pain-free.
If you find it easier for someone else to give you injections, ask a loved one for help. That person should go with you to the next practitioner’s appointment so they can learn the correct way to give injections.
You may also want to connect with others living with the same health condition via online or in-person support groups. These people can help share ideas and words of encouragement to help ease anxiety related to self-injection.
One 2017 study published in The Journal of Allergy and Clinical Immunology: In Practice reported differences in the comfort level of 60 adolescents with self-injection. The teens were split into two randomized groups. The first group was given supervised and guided self-injection using a needle and empty syringe and the second group was given education with no practice using a real-life needle.
Researchers measured the comfort levels of the two groups using questionnaires. They found that those who had real experience with self-injection felt more comfort and confidence with injection and had less worry and anxiety than the group that was not given the opportunity to practice self-injection.
Take deep breaths while giving yourself the injection. Breathing will help you to stay calm and relaxed while you administer the medication.
Another option is trying a tool called Buzzy. This device combines ice and vibration to initiate non-pain nerve signals that get sent to the brain. Because the brain is receiving all of these overwhelming messages, pain signals can’t be singled out and are, therefore, dulled.
For most injections, you will be instructed to inject the medication into a subcutaneous layer of fat—a layer of fat just below the skin. Subcutaneous layers include the middle part of the abdomen, top of the thighs, and outer surface of the upper arm.
You should also wear comfortable clothing to give you easy access to the injection site.
Auto-injector pens generally have shields, but they are also sold separately.
