7 Tips to Help Your Child Overcome Their Fear of Needles

Is your child afraid of needles and gets highly anxious when he or she knows it is time to get a shot? Does your child seem nervous and even act out with a negative and defiant attitude when it’s time for an injection? If so, it’s possible your child may be experiencing a needle phobia…. a severe anxiety reaction.

The clinical name for this type of phobia is “Blood-Injection-Injury” Phobia and it may include a combination of these symptoms:

• Intense fear of seeing blood, including the color red and blood squirting
• Intense fear of pain associated with a needle injection
• Intense preoccupation that this procedure will result in major injury
• Crying, shaking , and screaming at nurses, doctors, and parents in attempts to AVOID the shot
• Fighting, running away (in doctor’s office) due to fear of needles
• Refusal to get the shot or even go to the doctor’s visit

If this is happening to you, as a parent, you may be very overwhelmed and feel clueless for how to handle your child’s intense fear of needles, panic, and distress. You know that your children need shots and occasional blood work when they see their pediatrician and all of this involves needles. It’s hard to see your children suffer and you probably want to alleviate their pain, sadness, and worry not make it worse…

So you may be stuck in this predicament? And you and are not sure what to do?

If so, here are some tips to guide you through the process:

1. Remember you are the parent and that means you are the adult in charge who makes the decisions (even when your child says no).
2. STAY CALM
3. Decide ahead of time that you will follow through. If there is a chance you think you may be swayed and waiver or back track on your decision, don’t do it.
4. Identify a reward for your child ahead of time. The reward will be for the effort your child displays in being brave, facing fear, not acting out, and complying with the expectation.
5. Identify a consequence for misbehavior and talk about this as a choice. Remember, a consequence would be for a negative behavior choice such as yelling at staff, fighting, and acting out (not for feeling afraid).
6. Validate your child’s feelings. Don’t tell them their fear is silly, bad, or stupid. You can state in a matter of fact way that “sure, needles are unpleasant AND getting shots is part of maintaining good health AND we all get through it.”
7. Don’t excessively reassure and say it won’t hurt at all. Encourage your children to be brave and each time they find opportunities to practice being brave it gets easier.

Keep in mind that if you help your children avoid this fear of needles, their anxiety and negative behaviors will get worse instead of better. It is important to stand your ground as a parent and really know and believe your children can overcome this anxiety, because they will!

Always encourage bravery and practice facing fears! You will see your child’s anxiety, fear, and distress decrease and you all will feel more confident!

If you want professional help and guidance in helping support you and your child face this fear, there is a very effective, short term therapy solution for you. Cognitive behavioral therapy with a behavioral Exposure therapy component is an excellent choice.

Please contact me and I can explain to you how exposure to these fears in a supportive, step-by-step way will help change this behavior and reduce the stress and anxiety associated with this uncomfortable fear of needles that children as well as adults experience. Call me today at 303-747-4014 or book a free 10 minute phone consultation by with my online appointment scheduler.