So, I have a pretty bad fear of needles (in fact, just typing this or reading about people here having HRT via injection makes me pale and sick-feeling). I've read before that the injections are much better for you as far as your liver than the patch, pills, or gel, but those just seem easier for me in the long run because of my fear.

Any suggestions or comments on the above?

I think that a lot of guys start out with a fear of needles, but eventually just get used to it.  As for patches, I don't know anything about them.  There seems to be a lot more guys nowadays using gel, though. 

If it helps at all I just had a first shot and it was easier and less painful than I expected.

It sort of depends on if you think you can work through your fear of needs. And maybe you could start on an alternative while working on your needle fear.

I already get my blood drawn every six months for the medications I take, sometimes more if I'm sick and they need a sample, so I'm somewhat used to needles. I also have chronic sinus infections, so I get steroid shots every couple months usually. I still just don't like needles. I dunno. Maybe getting injections every week or so will help bring it down, but it still makes me nervous.

Hey Reuben, I've been there too. I've always been pretty phobic about needles, not to where I'd faint getting blood drawn, but the whole thing made me anxious and tense, and I couldn't stand to look at a needle going in... not even in a movie.

I started on T about two months ago, and before that I spent a long time working to desensitize myself to the idea of doing shots. Over a period of a few months, I watched a lot of YouTube videos of FTMs injecting themselves, did a lot of meditation around the anxiety I felt, and visualized giving myself an injection.

It worked. I started right out injecting myself; the first shot took about 10 minutes of sitting there with the needle poised above my thigh, and I had to do a lot of breathing and meditation to deal with the anxiety, but -- I did it. And since then its been easier every time: now I just do it. (It helps if I don't focus on the needle once it's lined up, though.)

I actually find it a bit easier to inject myself than have someone else stick a needle in me. I really like being able to do this; it's a great feeling of power and independence.

You can do this! 

Quote from: ReubenIsTheName on May 02, 2014, 08:53:21 AM
So, I have a pretty bad fear of needles (in fact, just typing this or reading about people here having HRT via injection makes me pale and sick-feeling). I've read before that the injections are much better for you as far as your liver than the patch, pills, or gel, but those just seem easier for me in the long run because of my fear.

Any suggestions or comments on the above?

It was easier than I thought it was. I don't have same level of fear of needles as you do but the thought of injecting myself made me feel sick to my stomach. I couldn't imagine injecting myself.

After being trained how to do and also watching youtube videos it was easier than I thought. It helps to develop a ritual. I put on a song. If I'm feeling more nervous than normal. I'll put a youtube video of someone injecting and have found that helpful. 

Now I sort of like it. 

I get pretty nervous before the injection, but it doesn't hurt at all. It's 5x less painful than getting blood drawn, in my opinion, because it's not going into your vein but your muscle or fat instead. Subcutaneous needles are smaller and less painful than intramuscular, you could bring that up with your doctor. I inject about an inch and a half away from my belly button at a 45 degree angle and there's no pain whatsoever, just a really light sting in the very beginning and pulling back out. I've heard that intramuscular doesn't hurt either, as long as you do it correctly. Don't stress too much. The more you think about it, the worse it'll be. Good luck.

You can either have someone give you the shot (another trans guy, friend, relative, nurse, etc.), learn to get over your fear (there are ways to make yourself calmer, little tricks you can use, etc) or use an alternate way of delivering T (like patch, t-gel, or t-cream). It doesn't really need to keep you from transitioning, and I think many guys have this issue.

--Jay

I hate needles. Despite the various piercings, tattoos and being in injections. It's taken me two years to get my shots under ten minutes and I still freeze up sometimes. My desire to transition always over comes my needle hate. After every time I still scold myself. It doesn't hurt much and it takes a whopping 2 minutes total. I used an ice cube to help numb the skin and give me a target for the first several months. It's not so bad now. I personally won't have anyone else do my shots unless I have no choice, which may be the case in a few months for various reasons. I've found that it just takes time.

I don't know about other methods of HRT, so I can't speak to anything regarding pills, gels or patches.

QuoteAfter every time I still scold myself.

This is a little bit like calling the dog to you when you're going to punish him. He associates coming when called with punishment, and pretty soon he won't come at all.

Pat yourself on the back and do something nice for yourself after your shots -- you just did a hard thing, and you deserve it!

Quote from: Tysilio on May 03, 2014, 09:24:50 AM
This is a little bit like calling the dog to you when you're going to punish him. He associates coming when called with punishment, and pretty soon he won't come at all.

Pat yourself on the back and do something nice for yourself after your shots -- you just did a hard thing, and you deserve it!

Oh it's never that bad! I usually just tell myself "see? That wasn't so bad! You worried over nothing, man. Look, only 9 minutes that time. How about some coffee?" I do my shots in the morning and let me tell you, me and mornings are not BFFs. Coffee is a huge reward.