Skill: Fear… do it anyway, slowly & safely.

Do you remember when the fear started? I do. As an asthmatic child, I was rushed to the hospital and jabbed with a huge needle. That was the start of a major fear of needles. A fear I have worked very hard to make peace with because the reality is that humans have fears for important survival reasons. But as we become adults our fears are often made even bigger. Fed and fueled by the constant bombardment of movies/TV, internet, and our high tech world. For example, one movie scene replays in my head every time I even hear the word needle, the needle scene in Pulp Fiction, if you have not seen it, don’t, if you have I probably don’t need to elaborate. That scene may never fully be gone from my mind’s movie screen.

Despite this nausea, dizziness, fast heartbeat and sweating that happens when I encounter the source of my fear, I have actively worked for improvement. Here are the steps I took to change my relationship with needles.

1. I had to speak honestly to me. With the help of a coach, a psychologist, and a church group I was made aware that this was a real problem that was preventing me from getting the regular medical care I should have.
2. I decided I wanted to make a change. I had to say, out loud, to other people, that it was a problem and I needed support to change it.
3. Selecting the best option to learn something new. My first opportunity to face this came in the form of a new friend who does acupuncture.  She wanted to introduce it to me but every time she brought it up my palms got sweaty. But I was very curious and she was an EXCELLENT safe person so I made my first appointment.
4. Let the experience happen.  Since it was my choice to learn more about acupuncture I was totally honest with her about how I felt. Her safe, calm, peaceful environment won me over quickly and I had a great experience that has led to huge improvements in my allergies and health. 
5. Allowing everything to be better. The whole experience taught me to make sure that ALL professionals who approach me with a needle follow my rules. If they don’t, I leave. Here are my kind needle rules:
   1. Go slow and tell me EXACTLY what is happening.
   2. I must be lying down, otherwise, I will fall down.
   3. Be gentle, kind and very good at your job.
   4. Please be quick about it.
   5. HUGE bonus if you can tell me a good joke or story while you are doing your work. I have now had some really good laughs while I am getting the needle.

Probably one of the things I say to people the most is that fear is normal. But so many people are walking around with something much bigger than a fear…terror, panic, phobia. But that’s an entirely different set of skills.

No matter what age we all experience normal fears. Here is some more detailed information or typical ages that fears arise and some great skills to use to help overcome those pesky fears so we can live life fully.