topic Anxiety about the vaccine in Anxiety

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 06:03:08 GMT

I am new here and hoping for some reassurance and encouragement.

For months now I have been putting off getting the covid vaccine, have cancelled and rescheduled a few times now, because my anxiety has been getting worse about it. The more I put it off, the more I keep thinking about it, the worse the anxiety gets. I really want to have the vaccine but I've let the negative noise on the internet get into my head and I keep thinking about the worse case scenario's of the side affects of it. I know that getting covid is way worse and I know that the likelihood of a bad reaction is probably quite small but my mind has built this up into such a huge thing that every time I think I'm ready to get it the anxiety kicks into overdrive and I just can't make myself physically go and get it.

I have a rescheduled appointment booked for the first jab on Dec 1. and I spoke to my doctor yesterday about my anxiety and hesitancy to get it. She helped a lot but there's still some lingering doubt about it and the consequences of getting it. Because once it's been injected into my arm there's no turning back and whatever happens is going to happen.

I just need some help getting over the line with it. If you have any reassuring words or experiences or even videos/articles from trustworthy sources I would really appreciate your help.

Please, no one trying to talk me out of it. I want to have it I just need to get over myself to get there.

Thanks in advance.

(Oh, I should have mentioned that it's not just the vaccine that I have issues with. It's all new medications. I have this weird phobia - I believe it is called Pharmacophobia - where I worry that any new medication will cause me to have a bad reaction or kill me. I won't even take anxiety meds. I also worry that the medication has been tampered with and will cause me harm. I am a weirdo for sure.)

Anxiety about the vaccine

Mark Z. — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 09:59:49 GMT

Hi Anxietygirl60,

Welcome to the BB forum.

You're not weirdo at all, there're some other people, very normal people still have vaccine hesitancy.

Do you have any particular health or medial reason to worry about? Or, you're very healthy and just afraid of the rare bad luck?

I just have an idea, why not asking a family member or best friend to accompany you on the vaccination day? Maybe it'll make you much easier.

Mark

Anxiety about the vaccine

Ggrand — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 10:16:50 GMT

Hello Dear anxietygirl60..

A very warm and caring welcome to our forums...

Firstly lovely lady...you are definitely not a weirdo..

I had so much anxiety about getting my vaccine..even though I wanted it..I was scared of any side effects and each time my Dr booked me in to have it...I kept the appointment, then when she started to get the vaccination..I backed out of having it...then rebooked it for another fortnight..this went on a few times..in between appointments I couldn’t get my thoughts off wanting the vax and living alone and rural NSW..nearest hospital is over 60 kilometres ...so if something went wrong I would be in trouble..my thoughts were probably like your thinking..

In the end I got so fed up and sick with my anxiety..that at my next Drs appointment, when she asked me..I just said okay let’s do this...I felt nothing, didn’t even know she gave it to me...then she gave me a few pages of information and what to look out for....My Dr. did say that they are more aware and more able to treat any side effects...if they happen...

To be totally honest with you..I had a sore arm for a day..and was a little more tired then usual for a couple of days....Once I had my vax,,I did feel a lot safer for myself and the people that I spend time with....

Not sure if my words are helpful to you....just wanted to let you know that your not alone in your thoughts about the vax...

My kindest thoughts..

Grandy..

Anxiety about the vaccine

romantic_thi3f — Wed, 24 Nov 2021 23:19:28 GMT

Hi anxietygirl60,

Welcome to the forums and thank you for joining us. I understand your anxiety and you're not alone with it here; there's been quite a few members who have booked, rebooked, booked, rebooked.. It might be over in 2 seconds but it can feel like a really difficult decision.

What do you think you need to help you with your anxiety?

One of the things that's helped me with my own hesitancies was understanding more about the process and how something so new can come in peoples arms so quickly. So that meant things like, how so many specialists all over the world have been working on the same vaccine instead of just one team, and how because it was urgent they didn't have to go through major waiting periods and apply for funding and grants which takes such a long time, and it was easy to start clinical trials because there was just so many people with COVID-19. Also, that they already know so much about the vaccine already because they can compare it to current vaccines and our bodies own immune response.

I hope this helps a little,

Anxiety about the vaccine

Whimbo — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 05:11:27 GMT

Hi anxietygirl60,

I don't think anyone could blame you for being anxious about the vax. People are incredibly frustrated at vaccine hesitancy but that's directed at the classist, racist, ableist side of the anti-vax groups (I myself am in iso because of casual contact, so yep, not a big fan of anti-vax right now). There are many bad reasons to be vaccine hesitant and many good reasons, and I believe you have one of the good reasons.

When I got my first dose, I felt almost like I had a flu - but I've been told this was nothing compared to how CV feels. After the second dose, I had barely any reaction and I felt great, mostly because I knew that people I love, and who are vulnerable, were going to be safer.

Some advice I've been given, is when you feel enormous anxiety, try to listen more to the signals your body is sending you and less to the thoughts. There have been a lot of studies on the physiological feedback of emotions, and it's important to feel your anxiety as it physically exists in your body. Though this may seem a bit counterintuitive, your emotions exist for a reason, and being aware of them and how they're affecting you can help keep you grounded and help you monitor your symptoms. If you focus on your thoughts over your feelings, this can lead to rumination and catastrophising.

Also having a close family member or friend beside you can be more beneficial than anything. Hopefully someone empathetic and non-judgemental who can absorb some of your stress.

Good luck, I know this is a scary time but you seem like a smart and strong person, in the future it'll just be a bad memory!

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Thu, 25 Nov 2021 23:39:33 GMT

Thank you for the warm welcome, Mark Z.

I have a few medical conditions but I don't think they will be impacted by the vaccine, at least I hope not. One of them may possibly be made worse but that's only speculation, I don't think there's any medical evidence yet to suggest that it will be.

I am very apprehensive about being one of the unlucky ones who ends up with some sort of major side effects from it. When I think about it logically, while trying not to listen to my anxious thoughts about it, I realise that the likelihood of something major happening is very slim.

I'm not sure I can ask someone to come with me. Firstly, because there are very few people left in my life that I could ask (most of my immediate family are deceased and I don't have too many friends left) and secondly I try to keep my anxiety, not a secret as such, but quiet. I don't like to burden the few people left around me with it. It's hard enough for me to deal with why should they be burdened with it too.

But thank you for the suggestion. It is a good one and a do wish that I had someone I could take with me.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 00:04:06 GMT

Thank you for your warm welcome Ggrand.

Your post was very comforting to me and makes so much sense. Reading your response has calmed me down a bit and I do appreciate you taking the time to reply with your own experience.

I think my thinking is very much like yours was with the cancelling and rescheduling of appointments. It's gotten a bit ridiculous actually and I feel a bit stupid but when in the grip of a full blown anxiety attack good sense seems to fly out the window.

I'm feeling more confident that I will be able to go and get my first shot next Wednesday. I really hope I am able to keep the anxiety in check because I really want to do this, for myself and for others around me and the community at large.

I really hate how anxiety runs the show most of the time and every time I cancel it gets the upper hand and I feel defeated, which doesn't bode well in getting on top of it. I wish I could go today and get it as I'm feeling quite strong. Who knows how I will feel by Wednesday morning.

Keeping my fingers crossed that I can do it.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 03:35:17 GMT

Thank you for your warm welcome romantic_thi3f.

Your post was very comforting to me and informative, and has helped me a lot. I do appreciate you taking the time to reply with your own experience of this situation. It's helped me a lot to go looking for only credible information, which has echoed what you've written above, instead of letting my anxiety get triggered by all of the negative noise on the internet.

It's also reassuring to hear that others have had the same response as me with cancelling and rescheduling multiple times before being able to go through with it.

I'm feeling much calmer today and more determined to go through with it. Of course, my appointment isn't until next Wednesday and who knows how I will feel by then. But I do hope to be able to go and get it.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 04:31:12 GMT

Thanks for your reply Whimbo.

I do appreciate you taking the time to reply and telling me about your experience with this and for the advice to listen to my body's signals more than my thoughts. It is very good advice and have heard something similar myself from somewhere else, but can't remember now. Problem is I forget to follow it most of the time. I can get too far into my head sometimes and it can be a not very nice place to be at times.

As to having someone with me when I go get the shot, I don't really have anyone who could come with me. Firstly, because there are very few people left in my life that I could ask (most of my immediate family are deceased and I don't have too many friends left) and secondly I try to keep my anxiety, not a secret as such, but quiet. I don't like to burden the few people left around me with it. It's hard enough for me to deal with why should they be burdened with it too.

I will, hopefully, be able to manage on my own. It won't be comfortable, for sure. I can't wait for it to be just a bad memory.

Anxiety about the vaccine

Whimbo — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 05:24:01 GMT

That's great to hear,

If you feel like you can do it alone, that's great!

If you're still having trouble, I guarantee that at least one person will be willing and happy to support you through this time, whether you're particularly close or not. As people who have experienced anxiety it's easy to feel like our emotions are too burdensome to others, and that we don't have people close enough to us to help. I've certainly been on the other side where people have violated my boundaries by using me as an emotional crutch, but no emotions are too much for others as long as you try to pay attention to their emotions and boundaries too.

If you can't choose someone, or decide just to go alone, remember that the people on this board are all cheering you on in spirit!

Anxiety about the vaccine

second time — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 07:43:23 GMT

I was also very anxious and hesitant about getting the vaccine, after doing my research I realized that although the vaccine is new it is in fact on the backbone of 10-20 years research and trials. Having a friend who was quiet anti-vaccine crazy we got all the bombardment of the arguments of why not to have it.

We went down the rabbit hole of research on all the points and found none except the exceptionally rare reactions were founded in reality or science. Further most of the origins of the concerns were raised by people who benefit quiet substantially from the movement (including one person who was already sued for 10 million dollars for 'treating' people for cancer who died from his pseudo science advice). I believe its something like 80 percent of the stuff on Facebook comes from 8 people.

The latest info I read was suggesting after comparing stats of covid patients with that of vaccine side effects was that the rare fatalities and side affected people would have likely had similar reactions when they were infected with covid virus.

I also was very Anxious about getting Covid especially long covid.

I feel our government and health officials could do a much better job (or one at all) at explaining the with science the concerns of the anti vax are not founded in reality, you have to go look at overseas universities and professors to see the spike shedding does not happen, or why the reproductive system is not effected and was mistaken for a similar protein by a uneducated person.

I feel anxious about covid still, especially as I am grieving my brothers suicide at the moment which weakens immunity but so much better that I have had the shot.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 07:51:06 GMT

Thanks, Whimbo!

Anxiety about the vaccine

second time — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 07:59:23 GMT

Oh I forgot to say, I also have Tourette syndrome and I was also concerned that the vaccine could aggravate my tics/effect my sensitive neurological system. It didn't.

Oh to make you feel a little lighter, (unless you have t.s. that is) at least you dont have to deal with the following.- having tourette syndrome which is aggravated by anxiety has been an extra challenging time for the whole pandemic, trying to hold yourself from a ticcing cough in public very daunting. Or concerned that at your brothers funeral you may yell out F##@ or not getting up now

Anxiety about the vaccine

Mark Z. — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 10:54:13 GMT

Hi Anxietygirl60,

Thanks for your reply.

I noticed that you mentioned you have some speculation about possible side effects, I wouldn't suggest you to do your own speculation unless you're a professional. It might be one of the root causes of your frustration, because in your heart you're not sure the speculation is right or wrong, and it might lead to completely different consequences. The feeling of uncertainty might be the root cause of the frustration.

But you also mentioned that you've already talked with your GP and got some professional advice, which means the risk is already minimized. Every step you've done is very right. Now you only have the last step - to make up your mind.

Perhaps you can think of it this way, every decision in our life is accompanied by risks. But at least getting vaccinated is your own choice, this is your fight, let yourself decide your own destiny, not the virus.

Moreover, it is very hard to overcome anxiety by yourself. The more you try to suppress it yourself, the more serious it may become. It's time to seek help. Asking someone to accompany you to get vaccinated is not a great burden. I'm sure your closed family or friends would love to do so if you speak out.

Mark

Anxiety about the vaccine

Elizabeth CP — Fri, 26 Nov 2021 11:33:37 GMT

Mysituation was different to you but we wanted the accine but had concerns about the sideeffects for my hsb due to his condition. I was concerned about us both being sick at the same time and me not being able to look after him.

I rang the GP receptionist and mentioned my concerns. We arranged for a GP appointment to discuss the issue with the option of one or both of us getting vaccinated after. Being able to talk to the GP about our concerns without being commited to the vaccine made it easy. He was able to reassure us and then the nurse vaccinated us before we could think any further.

I wonder if you could arrange a GP appointment to discuss your concerns with the option of getting the vaccine. This way you are going to see the GP not get vaccinated but can then get vaccinated if you choose straight after before you have time to get too anxious. If you can't get the vax on the day the GP can help you work out the most appropriate way to do this while managing your anxiety. I hope your GP can help you

Anxiety about the vaccine

Mark Z. — Sat, 27 Nov 2021 09:47:46 GMT

@Ekuzaveth this is a really good idea!

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:20:13 GMT

Thanks for your reply second time and for telling me about your experience with this situation. Your reply has been very helpful to me.

I too, just lately, have been doing my own research and have found that a lot of the noise on the internet is just that, noise. There are a lot of people just spouting misinformation, which had caused my anxiety to spiral out of control, and because of this it has made it hard for me, and I imagine, a lot of people to know what really is true. Right now, I am just trying to read legitimate information about the vaccine and the virus.

I'm very sorry about your brother, that's a very difficult situation to be dealing with but it's good that you got the shot. I lost my sister in 2007, not to suicide but it was very sudden and I still deal with the loss even now. It was her birthday last Tuesday and it was yet another one she wasn't here for and it was a milestone one as well. I didn't do too well that day. I'm not sure if this is helpful, because I suspect that nothing much is probably helping right now, and it might sound a bit cliché, but the only thing I can offer from my own experience is to take it one day at a time and be easy on yourself.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:24:38 GMT

Thanks Mark Z.

You're quite right about me speculating about side effects and what you have said makes so much sense. You're also right about getting the vaccination being my choice so I feel more empowered by that realisation. It is the best thing for me to do for myself and once it's done the anxiety will go away to nothing.

Anxiety about the vaccine

anxietygirl60 — Mon, 29 Nov 2021 08:29:09 GMT

Thank you for your reply and for telling me about your experience with this situation.

I did get an appointment with my doctor and discussed the vaccine at some length. She answered all the questions that I had about what I had been reading about online - all the misinformation about the subject - and helped me feel more relaxed about it but I still was not quite ready to get it done at that time. I wanted to come home and think about what we'd discussed. I have an appointment for the day after tomorrow - Wednesday - to have my first shot. I'm still a little apprehensive about it if I'm being completely honest but I feel much better about it than I did a week or so ago.

Anxiety about the vaccine

Mark Z. — Tue, 30 Nov 2021 12:21:57 GMT

Yes this is exactly what I want to say 🙂 Trust yourself and make the decision. You'll be all right.

Mark