Injection Phobia

What is it?

Many people fear injections to some extent, but once that fear becomes persistent, excessive and unreasonable, then the fear becomes a phobia. Injection/needle phobia is the fear and avoidance of receiving various types of injections, and/or of having a blood sample withdrawn through venepuncture.

This is a specific phobia and is extremely common yet not well recognised. It is thought to affect between 3.5 % to 10% of the population. The avoidance, anxiety or distress caused by injection/needle phobia can significantly interfere with a person’s normal routine, occupational or academic functioning, and social activities or relationships.

DIY self diagnosis

If you can answer YES to most of the questions it is likely that you are affected by injection phobia. During the last 6 months:

Have you avoided medical appointments that involve injection/needles due to anxiety?
Have you experienced a marked, persistent and excessive fear of injection/needles?
Has exposure to needles almost invariably provoked an immediate anxiety response in you?

Anxiety UK strongly advises that people seek further information and guidance from their GP who will be able to make a formal diagnosis.

Injection Phobia

Injection Phobia Fact Sheet

This fact sheet gives a detailed overview, as well as a look at some of the evidence based approaches to treating injection phobia.

Download Free

Recommended resources

For help with needle phobia related to the Covid-19 vaccine programme please see the information here.

The Anxiety UK Needle Phobia Booklet includes self help information, along with details of useful treatments. Download this resource here.

Controlling Anxiety is a CD designed to help you build up techniques for reducing your anxiety and relaxing. You can order yours here.

Caroline Frankau

18:49 07 Mar 23

Joining Anxiety UK has had a very positive impact on my health and well-being. I thoroughly recommend their services.

Jonathan Beever

11:25 10 Oct 22

Niamh Shepherd gave an interactive online talk at my work today! it was one of the best Anxiety presentations i have seen and very well delivered, From my colleagues and I, thank you!

nat

17:31 26 Sep 22

I had my CBT through Anxiety UK and it has been a really positive experience treating my generalised anxiety disorder. The Anxiety UK team is very professional and helpful and I was actually recommended by a friend who also had a positive experience with their CBT. I would definitely use Anxiety UK again if I needed to!

sophie jorgensen-rideout

11:35 22 Sep 22

AnxietyUK has been so helpful to me - I joined to access affordable therapy, though I was worried there might be a long wait list. This was absolutely not the case, and I was assigned a therapist super quickly! They were also super helpful when unfortunately our schedules didn't align, and I was matched with a therapist with availability that matched mine. I really recommend AnxietyUK to everyone- they also have fantastic group resources and I think it's really really helpful, especially if you can't afford private therapy and the wait lists in your area are too long.

Susie Kocher

14:31 20 Aug 22

I found the therapy I received through Anxiety UK a crucial and affordable form of support during a very difficult time.For this I am forever grateful and will without a doubt use their services if needed again in the future.Thank you so much.

Joan Treloggan

12:28 03 Aug 22

Felt I was being listened to and felt I belonged. It was very reassuring. Unfortunately I am very deaf and missed most of the sharing. Is it possible to have subtitles please. A very sincere thank you for being there for me. What swift service you give.

Henry Brook

09:55 18 Jun 22

Very nice to know this support is out there as quite often hard to actually get an opportunity to speak to someone in person these days. Had my first session last week and so far so good. Very happy with the way things are going so far and also pleased with how smoothly it was set up and assessed as to what I was after and a service that fitted around my work and life balance.

Richard Evans

04:12 22 Mar 22

Through a period of some significant challenge, the services offered by Anxiety UK has been fantastic, and whilst there is a long road head, progress is positive and forward.I’m extraordinarily grateful for the help and support during a challenging time, both to the Anxiety UK and my Professional Institute, The Chartered Institute of Building and their respected benevolent fund.I'm about a third the way through a 16-week program and the benefits and rewards are already coming through.Thanks again, eternal appreciation.Rich

Greg

16:56 18 Mar 22

Speedy, understanding and professional. If you're struggling, don't be ashamed to seek out the help you need.

Avis Gough

20:57 15 Feb 22

Found it reassuring I'm not the only person struggling or that I'm doing things wrong

Margaret Allan

17:11 01 Feb 22

I can't recommend Anxiety UK enough as they were a godsend to me while I waited on my psychology Appointment with NHS which took over a year.During this time I used most of the resources that can be found on the Anxiety UK website. One of the resources I used was the counselling and Cognitive Behavioural Therapy. I paid for this but my fee was really small and worth every penny. Therapists are all qualified Healthcare Professionals who give up their time to help.Personally I feel Anxiety UK offers a fantastic service which fills that much needed gap between being referred to NHS and your actual appointment time which nowadays due to Covid can be up to a year in waiting time.Please don't wait and suffer just visit the Anxiety UK website and see for yourself !!

Tori Fenton

20:19 30 Nov 21

Amazing experience! Everyone was so welcoming and non judgemental. It was really reassuring to know that I’m not on my own. A lovely bunch of people, very empathetic and willing to share their experiences as well as their own coping mechanisms.

Manisha Gosar

14:36 13 Nov 21

Very approachable, helpful and value for money

Injection Phobia

What is it?

DIY self diagnosis

Injection Phobia

Injection Phobia Fact Sheet

Recommended resources

About us

Stay connected

Anxiety UK's zero tolerance policy

Environmental policy

Helpful links

Contact us

Ask Anxia® - Not human but here to help

Injection Phobia

What is it?

DIY self diagnosis

Injection Phobia

Injection Phobia Fact Sheet

Recommended resources

About us

Stay connected

Anxiety UK's zero tolerance policy

Environmental policy

Helpful links

Contact us

Ask Anxia® - Not human but here to help

Sign up to our quarterly ‘Keeping Connected’ ezine