Getting over a fear of needles!

[ajayjo]

i guess it everyone different, i used to afraid of needles. i tried to take a deep breathe then started injected it in my thigh. it was hurt little bit. i just getting to used it for while without my girlfriend's help.

[Lexicon]

When I started doing mine I did it fast, but after a few times I just couldn't make myself do it.  I had been standing there for a long time and I was frustrated, so I tried doing the bounce method and surprised myself.  Turns out it's much easier for me to do it that way than to try to force my hand to jab it in quick.  I inject slowly too.  I guess different methods just work better for different people.

This is exactly what happened for me.  I did it fast and then after the first 3 or 4 weeks I just couldn't bring it down on my own leg. 

I've never tried the "bounce method" but doing it slowly definitely works better for me. 

I agree that going quick was better for just the pinprick sensation but the anxiety of jabbing it in makes it SO much harder than just going slow and taking my time...

[Declan.]

What's the "bounce method"?

IMO, the most painful part is the needle pushing through the skin, then sliding through and entering the muscle. Stick it in like a dart and it's all over with at once. By the time it hurts, it's over. The rest is nothing. It's also nice that it's not wobbling on the way in (which happens when you're slow from my experience); that hurts too and I'm sure contributes to scar tissue.

[Simon]

What's the "bounce method"?

I came across a video on YT about a year ago that I shared multiple times that basically 'taught' me how to self inject without fear. I think she took the video down because I can't find it anymore. Anyways, what we've coined 'the bounce method' is resting the needle tip on your leg where you want to inject and slowly bouncing the syringe up and down until the needle tip breaks the skin. Then slowly pushing it in (at times I've continued to bounce it slowly almost all the way in), aspirate, and inject. I swear by it and I've done many painless shots in this manner.

[Declan.]

I came across a video on YT about a year ago that I shared multiple times that basically 'taught' me how to self inject without fear. I think she took the video down because I can't find it anymore. Anyways, what we've coined 'the bounce method' is resting the needle tip on your leg where you want to inject and slowly bouncing the syringe up and down until the needle tip breaks the skin. Then slowly pushing it in (at times I've continued to bounce it slowly almost all the way in), aspirate, and inject. I swear by it and I've done many painless shots in this manner.

Thanks for explaining that. I don't think I'd be able to do it that way.  You're very brave, lol. The only reason I like it as fast as possible is because I'm a wuss and I'll jump up if it takes too long.

[Simon]

You're very brave, lol. The only reason I like it as fast as possible is because I'm a wuss and I'll jump up if it takes too long.

I think you're brave because there is no way I could just jab something in my leg. I'm afraid I'd break the needle off or it'd hurt like the dickens. 

[Declan.]

I think you're brave because there is no way I could just jab something in my leg. I'm afraid I'd break the needle off or it'd hurt like the dickens. 

My partner does it for me. If I had to do it myself every week, I'd still stab it in, but I don't, fortunately.

Have you ever done it as fast as possible? It really doesn't hurt. It feels like pulling a hair out of your head (same exact sensation, to be honest). If you have and it hurt, maybe I'll try the bounce method next time just to see what it's like, but I have a feeling it won't end well for me. 

[Simon]

Have you ever done it as fast as possible?

For the first two months my wife gave them to me in my glutes. She would do it really fast and after she hit a nerve in there that almost made my knees buckle I started doing it on my own, lol. I've never done it to myself in the thigh fast (I only do my thighs and rotate weekly). I find that it hurts a lot less to do them yourself than to have someone else do them. I like being in control of it. Plus when I go out of town by myself I don't have to depend on anyone else.

[Farm Boy]

Have you ever done it as fast as possible?

My first shot was done by my doctor.  She jabbed it fast, and injected it fast.  It made my muscle spasm and hurt really bad.  I had my subsequent shots done by nurses, who also injected it fast.  Now that I'm doing them myself, I find that it hurts much less to inject slowly, rather than jamming it all in there at once.  Putting the needle in slowly is also virtually painless.  When I watched the video Simon posted (before it got taken down or whatever happened to it) it looked really scary and I thought it must be way worse.  After the tip of the needle breaks the skin, though, there's no pain putting it the rest of the way in.  I find it kind of freaky to look at, so I could see how it could be a problem for some, but it works out better for me because I don't have to worry about my hand refusing to bring the needle slamming into my skin.