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.)

[second time]

Hi anxietygirl60's,

Sorry I missed your reply. I am glad my post to you helped in some way. I further read you got the shot well done.

I also thank you for your kind words, am sorry to hear about your sisters passing also, siblings are a big loss.. and yes it is one day at a time. This x mass is going to be tough for my niece and nephew, my nephew is around the same age my brother was when our father took his own life. I also lost my best friend over15 years ago, have never replaced that hole. My mother died with M.S when I was 13.

So my grief muscle is strong but rusty, recently my partner had to get further breast screening done (her father and mother died of cancer) and her mother grandmother and one of her 3 Aunts died of breast cancer. Obviously my anxiety was very heightened. The results were all good. So that has calmed me down immensely. Sometimes it is good to shift the focus of what is going for us rather then not.

How are you feeling now re the vaccine?

Virtual hugs to you.

Her results were

[anxietygirl60]

Thank you to everyone who posted and gave me advice and encouragement. I appreciate each and every one of you taking the time to post and help me. I'm sorry it's taken me so long to come back with an update. Was just a bad time of year, what with Xmas, New Year and life, you know.

I am now double vaccinated, having had my second jab on Jan. 5. I was much better the second time, much less anxiety than the first time. I am so relieved now that it is done and I came through it with only minor side effects. First time, just a sore arm and second time, same sore arm plus my lymph nodes swelled up in my armpit for about a day and a bit. It's all good now.

[Mark Z.]

Hi Anxietygirl,

Thank you for your update, it's so encouraging that you've managed to get through. And so glad to know that you feel relieved. Well done with great courage!

Hope you'll find your inner peace in 2022, and everything becomes better.

Mark