Anxiety about the vaccine

[anxietygirl60]

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.)

[Dean07]

Good luck.

You will be ok.

[Ggrand]

Hi anxietygirl...

I have faith in you sweetly...we are with you in spirit, with our care...

Grandy..

[anxietygirl60]

So, I had my first shot at 11.14am and did pretty well with the anxiety. I spoke to the nurse beforehand and warned her about my anxiety and about the fact that I could possibly have a panic attack and she was really great. Helped me breathe through it. All's good.

But...

Now I am freaking myself out about side effects and I can feel my anxiety level rising. Dumb, I know. I am trying to breathe through it. My right leg is hurting and feels a bit heavy and I am freaking out about it. Truth be known it's probably from the way I was sitting and have caused it to get a little sore/cramp.

This is what it's going to be like for the next few days, every little thing will be under scrutiny, and then when I'm done freaking out about side effects I can start freaking out about the second jab I have an appointment for on Jan. 5.

I really don't understand why I have to be this way. It's crazy and illogical but it still happens. At least I am aware of what is happening now, not like years ago when I didn't have a clue and thought I was dying all the time.

Thank you to everyone who has replied to me on this thread. I really do appreciate your support during all of this.

[Dean07]

Well done.

Congratulations for being able to get the vaccination. Getting the better of anxiety is something to celebrate.

Try not to concentrate on the side effects as the chances of having them are slim.

I find anxiety hard work. The feelings that are associated with a particular worry seem so real and loud that it is hard to override them with logic. Distraction in the short term helps for me but challenging my thoughts and trying to replace the unhealthy thought patterns works better in the long run.
I find it difficult to keep working on it when I start feeling better to make the changes more permanent. It’s easy to fall back into the old thinking patterns when a problem turns up unfortunately.

[anxietygirl60]

Thanks for your reply Dean07 and thanks for your support.

Yes, I agree with you about everything you wrote in your last paragraph about anxiety. It is hard work and the worry does seem so real. Good advice to challenge and try to replace the unhealthy thought patterns, and I do try to do this, but like you, it is easy to fall back into the habit of old thinking patterns when things get tough. I guess we just got to keep working at it, I don't really know any other way of getting through it.

[Ggrand]

Hello Dear anxietygirl...

Well done..we are so proud of you...having the first jab would have been very difficult for you, yet you done it...

I don’t struggle with health anxiety..but I can tell you that every little twinge, pain or aches I did start being anxious about them...I think the more we take note of what our body is feeling the more we feel tiny aches n pains that we wouldn’t even feel if we weren’t scanning our bodies...

Congratulations...so well done...If I could I would give you a bunch of flowers in real life....I cannot do that physically..but I would love to send you a beautiful bunch of flowers from my heart... 💐...

Grandy..

[Mark Z.]

Hi Anxietygril,

What a milestone, you should be proud of yourself, you're the winner.

I think there're several things you can do:

1. Do more research, have better understanding about which kind of side affects are normal, and under what circumstances you need to seek medical support immediately. As I mentioned, feeling of uncertainty is one of the root causes of the anxiety. When you feel you're more equipped by knowledge, the level of anxiety might be eased.

2. Then do something that distracts you from thinking about the side affects. It's time to reward yourself for the brave move. Prepare a good meal for yourself, watch some exited movie, whatever can make yourself happy and exited (just don't make yourself too tired, you need enough rest after vaccination).

3. You need a company, find someone who can spend some time together with you.

If nothing serious happens within 48 hours, it's over.

When it's time for the second dose, the side affects might be a bit more severe, but you'll be ok. Keep telling yourself that you're the master of yourself, you have won once and you will win again.

Mark

[Elizabeth CP]

I am glad you were able to get the shoy. Remember when you go back to use the effective stategies including letting the nurse know you have anxiety. My sister had very bad side effects for 24....48hrs then it went away which is normal. To cope she kept reminding herself that these side effects were her body telling her the vax was busy creating the antibodies needed to fight the virus. Rather than being a bad sign it was a good sign the vax was working.

[romantic_thi3f]

Hi anxietygirl60,

Well done! I'm so glad you got the shot even though you were still really anxious 🙂 I also really appreciate your reply to me; sorry I didn't see it until today.

I completely understand about freaking out- there was a part of me that was diagnosing myself with everything under the sun and another part that's just like shhh, it's anxiety. haha

One thing that helped is to remind myself that side effects are normal and part of our immune response, to try and postpone all my anxiety until day 3 and to remember why I got the vaccine in the first place. It's done now. You'll be okay.

rt

[Mark Z.]

Hi Anxietygirl60,

How are you in the past few days? Hope everything is getting well now.

If there's anything else we can do, please feel free to come back and let us know.

Mark