
Few people enjoy getting shots or having blood drawn. But for some, a fear of needles stands in the way of lifesaving care, such as vaccines or insulin for diabetes.
Needle aversion is common, affecting two in three children and one in four adults. “These feelings can range from mild discomfort to a full-blown phobia, called trypanophobia,” says psychiatrist Elizabeth Mutter, DO, with LVPG Adult and Pediatric Psychiatry.