By Sakuni Weerasinghe    We finally have access to the Covid-19 vaccine. With people lining up to receive the Covid-19 vaccination, you may wonder why some of your family or friends are still hesitant to head to the vaccination centres. Surely there are several factors surrounding health beliefs that govern the choice of receiving the vaccine. However, we cannot ignore how pervasive trypanophobia can be.  Trypanophobia refers to the fear of needles, specifically relating to medical procedures. While many are fearful of needles, trypanophobia is diagnosed in those who experience extreme distress related to needles. This becomes a threat to a person’s wellbeing as the experience of distress prevents the person from seeking medical help when necessary. Keeping vaccinations for ongoing viral conditions aside, these fear-led behaviours may even stretch to the point of avoidance of routine check-ups.  Many theorists would agree that a fear response is largely learned. While genetic predispositions and evolutionary blueprints may partially underlie the development of the phobia, the fear may have been developed in association with an experience of an event that would have caused the fear in the first place. Thus, the present day trypanophobia is maintained due to an associative fear.    How do you know if you have trypanophobia?    There is a considerable chance that you may have trypanophobia, if upon seeing a needle or knowing that you have to undergo a procedure that involves needles, you experience the following:  

• Dizziness or faintness
• Anxiety 
• Panic attacks 
• Racing heart rate and high blood pressure (even for days leading up to the event) 
• Insomnia 
• Persistent and continuous avoidance of procedures involving needles 

  It is vital that the diagnosis is made by a mental health professional following a process of ruling out any other conditions that may give rise to the above symptoms, including any physical ailments or medical conditions.  While needle-free alternatives may be sought after, there are instances when this fear must be managed in order to take care of the person’s overall wellbeing.  Receiving the Covid-19 vaccine is such an instance. Typically, trypanophobia is treated with varying forms of psychotherapy. One such modality of therapy is referred to as “exposure therapy”. With this form of treatment the person is exposed to the feared stimulus and the aim is to prevent the typical response, for example, avoidance of receiving an injection. This will be done systematically, whereby the person may first be exposed to pictures of needles, then sits next to a needle, holds a needle, watches someone else get injected, and then ultimately experiences receiving an injection. This may either be done through imaginary processes or real-life exposures. Some therapists may also use “cognitive behavioural therapy” (CBT) to dive in deeper into the root of the fear. It will explore what thoughts and beliefs surround the fear, and teach the person various strategies of coping with it.    You may also borrow from the following strategies of coping to help you manage trypanophobia:    Let the clinician or technician know your fears: Speaking about the fear can validate that experience, and the clinician will most likely guide you to remain as calm as possible during the procedure. You may be surprised at how many professionals are trained to understand how to help a patient manage phobias during a medical procedure. If your clinician or technician does not respond with empathy, try visiting another. It helps to add to the positive experience bank to undo the effects of past learnings related to the fear.    Bring a family member or friend: Suppose you’re going to get the Covid-19 vaccination, bring along a family member or friend who has been informed of how they could best support you. Support looks different from person to person. Therefore, make sure you let them know whether what you need in the moment is a distraction, someone to hold your hand, or a gentle reminder to “breathe”.    Engage with a distraction: Find something in your environment to focus on. There may be a poster on the wall, or a person you might find intriguing. If you’re getting your blood drawn, you may even use a moment to scroll your social media pages. Focus on anything that is neutral and that does not bring you added stress. You might even use a physical distraction such as holding a stress ball or some other object in your hand.    Try a visualisation exercise: Imagine yourself in a calm environment or your “happy place”.    Try deep breathing: Make sure you take in deep breaths, in through your nose and out through your mouth after holding for a couple of seconds. Keep your focus on the sensations associated with the breathing process. PHOTOS ©️ Exploring Your Mind, Destress Monday, Coaching Tools