Fears related to injections and needles are quite commonplace. It is natural for a human being to instinctively want to avoid pain as well as any measure involving pucturing, piercing or ulceration of skin, or any tissue damage in general. However, in diabetes, the fear of injections can make self-management harder. In this case, the fear does not keep you safe – it is actually harmful to you. Simply the thought of a needle may make you nervous and create strong emotional or physical reactions.
There may be many reasons behind the fear
Some react physically to a stressful, unpleasant or scary situation with a higher pulse rate or lower blood pressure, which is experienced as a feeling of dizziness and feebleness when the blood escapes to the lower limbs. The anticipation of this feeling adds to the fear of injections, which in turn may strengthen the physical reaction in the injection situation. Ultimately, it may be difficult to say which one is stronger, the fear of fainting or the fear of injections.
The fear of injections may also be related to a previous traumatic event, as a result of which needles are associated with the strong negative sensations related to the original event, the anticipation of pain or even panic. Sometimes, all it takes is seeing someone else in pain, for example, as a result of a procedure performed by a doctor. The fear of needles may also be linked to a previous experience of being physically forced or held. A situation resembling the original may automatically invoke a sensitivity to pain.