Los Angeles Times Facing Needle Phobia Skip to main content Close Select your preferred language English عربى 简体中文 繁體中文 فارسي עִברִית 日本語 한국어 Русский Español Tagalog Menu Close Call 1-800-CEDARS-1 toggle search form Close Los Angeles, 14 May 2021 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles Los Angeles Times Facing Needle Phobia Exposure therapy–confronting a frightening situation–is one way to overcome a phobia of needles, say Cedars-Sinai experts. Photo by Cedars-Sinai. Pop Up COVID-19 Vaccination clinic in Compton / South LA, administered by Nurse Antoinette Barrett, NP Nurse, MSN, Patient Brian McCullough with masks The Los Angeles Times recently spoke with Robert A. Chernoff, PhD, a senior clinical psychologist at Cedars-Sinai, about how people with needle phobia can conquer this common fear when they receive their COVID-19 vaccination and avoid a dramatic reaction like fainting. As many as 1 in 4 adults fears injections, according to the Times. But some people with needle phobia experience an extreme reaction when an involuntary reflex called the vasovagal response is triggered. Their pulse and heart rate plummet, resulting in sweating, ringing in the ears and eventual loss of consciousness. For those with intense fear of needles, the mere thought of getting a shot is terrifying. That dread is common, Chernoff told the Times. He said that the medical term for it is "anticipatory anxiety," or fear of fear. The needle causes panic, and fear of that panic leads to dread, which heightens the panic. To break this cycle, Chernoff said, fears must be faced head-on. One way to do that is through exposure therapy, Chernoff said. With the support of a therapist, patients confront a feared situation or elements associated with that situation, such as a medical waiting room, a healthcare provider in a white lab coat or a syringe. They repeat this process until their brain accepts that these things are not threatening. None of these techniques will keep patients with severe anxiety from fainting. But Chernoff explained that they can avoid passing out with a few simple tricks. By flexing large muscle groups, such as the arms, legs and core, it's possible to raise one's blood pressure and pulse, causing any woozy feelings to subside. Click here to read the complete story from the Los Angeles Times. Related Stories RSS feed - Related Stories (opens in new window) View all headlines - Related Stories HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries October 07, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles HealthDay recently interviewed Rebecca J. Schneyer, MD, a resident in the Obstetrics and Gynecology Residency Program at Cedars-Sinai, about a study she led that found Black and Hispanic women were less likely than white women to receive minimally … Read more KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot October 06, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles KCRW program Press Play recently featured Rita Shane, PharmD, vice president and chief pharmacy officer at Cedars-Sinai, discussing who qualifies for the updated COVID-19 booster and how long patients must wait before getting the shot.The Centers … Read more ABC 7 Spider-Man Swings by 4-Year-Old Leukemia Patient s Birthday Party at Cedars-Sinai September 30, 2022 09:00 AM America/Los_Angeles ABC 7 recently profiled Cedars-Sinai patient Jabari Henley, who celebrated his fourth birthday with a special superhero at Guerin Children's newly opened inpatient facility.The Lifedriven Foundation helped throw Henley a surprise party in the Guerin … Read more Show previous items Show next items Contact the Media Team Email: [email protected] Share this release Los Angeles Times Facing Needle Phobia Share on: Twitter Share on: Facebook Share on: LinkedIn Search Our Newsroom Social media Visit our Facebook page (opens in new window) Follow us on Twitter (opens in new window) Visit our Youtube profile (opens in new window) (opens in new window) Latest news 07 Oct 2022 - HealthDay Black Women Less Likely to Get Laparoscopic Fibroid Surgeries 07 Oct 2022 - Faculty Publications: Sept. 29-Oct. 6 07 Oct 2022 - Fine-Tuning Organ-Chip Technology 06 Oct 2022 - KCRW Want New Omicron Booster Wait at Least 2 Months After Last Shot 05 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Schedules Free Flu Vaccine Clinics 04 Oct 2022 - Cedars-Sinai Showcases Hispanic and Latinx Art Newsroom Home