Virtual Reality Medical Center - VR Therapy for Fear of Needles and Blood

Fear of Needles and Blood

Needle phobia is the extreme fear and avoidance of needles associated with medical injections. Needle phobia is considered a specific phobia that affects more than 10 % of the population. It is characterized by avoidance of situations associated with medical treatments, including obtaining routine health care. The consequences of such avoidance can be exacerbation of existing medical conditions or delayed diagnosis of serious medical conditions.

There are large differences among individuals with needle phobia, but needle phobia can be broken down into four broad categories:

One type is characterized by the vasovagal reflex reaction, a frightening reaction which includes plunging blood pressure and (often) results in fainting. This reaction generally occurs only after puberty, and is more common in men than women.
It is very common for young children to be afraid of needles. Most children will simply "outgrow" their fear. Others will become needle phobic adults. Forcing needle phobic children to undergo needle procedures without additional treatments will only increase the chances that they will become severely needle phobic and avoid medical care as adults.
Some people have an acute sensitivity to pain. Needle procedures that are painless to most people cause considerable physical pain to people with needle phobia.
The rarest type of needle phobia, but the type that most people think that they have, is a classic phobia that results from an early traumatic experience. Many people with needle phobia remember an early experience which they believe triggered their needle phobia. Most of the time, though, these people are simply remembering their first needle phobia reaction. The traumatic experience that is described is usually a routine needle procedure that occurred without any significant problem other than the needle phobia reaction itself.

Many individuals with needle phobia fit into more than one of these categories, and there may be other categories that are not listed here.

At the VRMC, needle phobia can be treated with the use of virtual reality exposure therapy. Clients are able to practice visiting the doctor's office where they "experience" various situations related to receiving injections and having blood drawn. The client is gradually exposed to experiences that elicit higher levels of anxiety in careful, controlled stages.

Virtual reality therapy is conducted in the safety of the office, free of real needles and blood, allowing the client to slowly build their skills and confidence. The client is taught relaxation and breathing skills, and physiology is monitored during all phases of therapy to insure that the client does not become too anxious. Therapy can then progress at the client's own pace as anxiety lessens.

For more information or to schedule an appointment, call our front office at 1-866-822-VRMC.