By Linda Flanigan, clinical hypnotherapist

Oxford Mail: Hypnotherapist Linda FlaniganHypnotherapist Linda Flanigan

THE great news that a vaccine is on its way to help us in the fight against Covid-19 for some people can be extremely challenging.

They want to have the vaccine but the idea of having an injection strikes fear into their hearts.

An injection phobia, or trypanophobia to give it its correct title, can affect between three and a half to 10 per cent of the population.

According to a recent study in the Journal of Advanced Nursing, 16 per cent of adult patients avoid the flu jab through fear of needles, so now is the ideal time to deal with those fears once and for all.

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Whilst many of us can be apprehensive about injections we tend to grin and bear it but for some it can be such a challenge that they get really anxious or even avoid having one altogether despite the risks.

There are numerous reasons for a phobia forming: it can be a result of a childhood experience of an injection or having been told to stay away from needles as they are dangerous.

It could be a learned fear that we have picked up from someone else with a phobia or could be related to some trauma we’ve experienced or witnessed concerning needles.

In a further bid to give back to the community during these difficult times, I have made the pledge to give away three treatment packages that will be done online for three local people so that they don’t have to avoid what may be a life-saving vaccine.

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I was thinking about how else I can help my community during this time and while seeing the excitement around the arrival of the vaccine, realised that it might be difficult for some to contemplate having the injections. I will be taking entries and then decide who receives the free treatments.

Hypnotherapy is an effective treatment for phobias, it helps to reprogramme the fear response, to reprocess any difficult memories and induce a deep state of relaxation.

This allows you to hypnotically rehearse many situations of feeling comfortable and at ease with having an injection.

As well as hypnosis I combine other effective treatments to deal with the emotions around the memories and fears.

Remember this fear is quite common and there is no need to feel embarrassed.

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Mention to whoever is administering the injection that you have a fear, and they will help to put you at ease. They may be able to answer any questions you may have – they would prefer to know that you are worried so that they can help you feel more comfortable.

If you tend to faint or fear that you might, then ask them to let you lie down to have the jab.

Practising a behavioural technique called applied tension can also help in these circumstances as it helps to stop fainting by temporarily increasing blood pressure.

Sit in a comfortable place and tense the muscles in your arms, upper body, and legs. Hold the tension for 10-15 seconds until you start to feel a warmth rising in your face. Release the tension and let your body return to a normal state (neither tense nor completely relaxed).

After 20-30 seconds repeat the process. Practice the whole process five times. Do this at least three times a day for a week prior to receiving the injections.

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Do not tense the muscles during the injection itself and avoid tensing any part of your body where you have any medical problems.

Practice deep breathing: breathe in so that your tummy (not your chest) rises (like a balloon filling with air).

You will know when you are doing this correctly by placing your hands on your tummy with your fingertips touching on an out-breath. If you breathe in correctly, the fingertips should part.

Breathe in through your nose, hold your breath for three seconds and then breathe out through your nose, breathing out for longer than you breathe in.

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Distract yourself. Use distraction techniques to focus on something else.

Examples include: visualisation – see yourself being in your favourite place or favourite holiday destination, close your eyes and use all your senses to imagine it – what it looks like, sounds like, and feels like to be there.

Listen to music, perhaps bring some headphones with your favourite music.

Read a book or play a game on your phone.

Smile! If you find an injection painful then a recent study showed that when smiling (a smile big and wide enough to lift the corners of your mouth, raise your cheeks and cause your eyes to crease) or grimacing was used during the procedure needle pain was reduced by 40 per cent.