By Kate Leo
As a child, I hated going to the doctor. I would hide in the closet, cry in the car, and be nervous all week about going. My mom one time even tricked me into getting in the car by not telling me where we were going. I never had a traumatizing experience, I just had an irrational fear of needles. You would think that after all the flu shots and the booster shots over the course of my life, I would have gotten used to the feeling and known it wasn’t something to freak out about.
When I found out I had an allergy to honeybees and yellow jackets, my worst fear came true. I would have to receive allergy testing (which involved a bunch of needles) and two shots a week.
Although I complain constantly about having to go to the allergist to receive these shots, I am appreciative of the opportunity to conquer my fears. I am now on a monthly shot basis, and I am confident about going into the office, and I even talk to the nurse while she gives me my shots. I found in the beginning that the best thing to do was to create a relationship with the nurse or doctor giving me the shot. It became more of a personal experience, and the nurse is someone I can talk to as more of a friend rather than this daunting person who is going to stick a needle in my arm.
I also found in the beginning to look at the situation as a way to see the medical field as I am interested in possibly exploring the major and profession. Watching how the doctors interact with patients, retrieve the vials, put a specific amount of serum into the needle, and overall the atmosphere they work in all became part of the experience to see if that was something I could see myself doing.
Although I still don’t love the idea of getting my blood drawn or receiving a flu shot, I know that my fear is irrational. It really is over in two seconds, it really doesn’t even hurt that much, and doctors really are there to help you.
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