Facing silly fears
May. 2nd, 2007 07:22 amThis probably sounds so silly. Here I am a grown woman, edging toward the "old" and I'm scared of shots. The last memory I have of getting a shot is in probably 4th grade. This was back in the early 60's, heck maybe even late 50's. Polio vaccine was new, and there was quite an immunization project going on, so we got our shots at school. They'd have the doctors come in and all the kids would go down to get your shots. That year was the DPT booster, and it hurt and I cried. And I don't mean just a few tears, I mean I cried after going back to our room and the teacher sent me outside to calm down. Embarrassed myself. So. Can you understand why I have this fear of shots? That and the fact of watching my dad stick himself in the stomach every day which really freaked me out, no matter how often he tried to tell me it didn't hurt.
So for me to actually call the doctor and arrange to have a shot was a BIG DEAL. I didn't want to do it. I was pretty sure the threat of me actually getting tetanus was really low. But I knew that it was something I should do, not only for my health, but to prove to myself that I could do it.
And so I did.
And Mike![[profile]](https://www.dreamwidth.org/img/silk/identity/user.png)
mylefteye was right. It didn't hurt at all. Just a little prick. Definitely not as bad as having blood drawn. I told the dr. to have the nurse hide the needle when she came in because I didn't want to see it, and she did. So she comes in the room, and I say, not looking at her, "Do you have it?" "yes," she answers. "Ok, I'm closing my eyes then because I don't want to see it." Big moment. I feel a little prick and I think, ok, here it comes, she's taking her time and is *really* going to jab me in a second. But that's all there was.
BIG WHEW!
And now I feel so proud because I feel like I conquered a fear. Not to say I'll rush out and go down to get a flu shot this year now. But at least I know I can do it if I have to.
Writing news: I subbed three stories yesterday. I have two more to go for now. I don't know why I'm waiting. For one, the deadline is extended, so I might as well wait. For the other, I'm still choosing a market.
So for me to actually call the doctor and arrange to have a shot was a BIG DEAL. I didn't want to do it. I was pretty sure the threat of me actually getting tetanus was really low. But I knew that it was something I should do, not only for my health, but to prove to myself that I could do it.
And so I did.
And Mike
mylefteye was right. It didn't hurt at all. Just a little prick. Definitely not as bad as having blood drawn. I told the dr. to have the nurse hide the needle when she came in because I didn't want to see it, and she did. So she comes in the room, and I say, not looking at her, "Do you have it?" "yes," she answers. "Ok, I'm closing my eyes then because I don't want to see it." Big moment. I feel a little prick and I think, ok, here it comes, she's taking her time and is *really* going to jab me in a second. But that's all there was. BIG WHEW!
And now I feel so proud because I feel like I conquered a fear. Not to say I'll rush out and go down to get a flu shot this year now. But at least I know I can do it if I have to.
Writing news: I subbed three stories yesterday. I have two more to go for now. I don't know why I'm waiting. For one, the deadline is extended, so I might as well wait. For the other, I'm still choosing a market.
