Having anxiety over receiving my first dose

[Lycholko]

I have always had health anxiety. And when I was scheduling my first shot of the covid vaccine, I knew I would have problems with it. Actually getting the shot was hard. The lady who did it left the needle in a little too long for my comfort. Sitting there for the 15 after the shot was torture (I was just waiting to pass out or something.) I didn't have a reaction to it until two days after. I was just fatigued and a little nauseous. In those two days, I was panicking the whole time, just waiting for something bad to happen. It has now been 5 days and I feel alright, in relation to the shot side affects. In terms of anxiety, it has been the worst it has been in months. My chest hurts, I feel like I can't breathe, I can't sleep, I have no appetite, and I want to cry but doing that clogs my nose and tightens my chest, making it harder to breathe. I keep thinking that the chest pain is from the shot and not the endless muscle tightening that anxiety causes. I decided to post about this because I don't want to bother anyone around me. I had a therapist appointment yesterday, but she didn't help much and my next session is two weeks from now. How can I help myself feel better? I have been through similar situations before but I don't know what to do.

[Mamatired]

I felt quite similar when I was receiving my first dose. I held my breath most of the time and couldn’t breath well. I was extremely nervous and had to wait for thirty minutes afterwards. Some of the things that helped me cope with my worries on the following few days were as follows: journaling, talking to people who received their vaccine and were doing ok, talking to the pharmacist to learn what to look out for, staying hydrated, indulging in an activity, going for a walk, reducing screen time. Although there are risks associated with vaccines, there’s also risks associated with not getting them. Weigh out the pros and cons of receiving it and perhaps it might boost your confidence in the whole experience. Let me know if any of these strategies help.

[Lycholko in reply to Mamatired]

Thank you for the advice. It really does help. I will reply again to tell you how it works out for me.

[b1b1b1]

I don't think the chest pain is from the shot. It is more likely from the anxiety. If it continues, ask your doctor. Try to think of how good it is that you are protected from covid. Imagine how anxious you might be if you actually got covid and now you don't have to worry so much about that. Perhaps a walk might help, or slow quiet breathing. xx

[Lycholko]

Good to know I'm not alone 🥰

[Hidden]

Hey love! I think is really normal to feel that way I got my shot 3 weeks ago I’m scheduled for next week for the second

I did ask the nurse who gave me the shoot if this can cause anxiety and she said if I feel any way not to do it... sheesh I was so scared and for those 15 minutes I was thinking also about fainting.. didn’t happen

I was just sore from the shoot but no anxiety, I think you are just a lil overwhelming your self but let it go you had it and you were save...

baby think positive relax calm down

Remember panicking is just the common to feel this way 😑 and I am sorry

Ask God for health and happiness in your life I will pray for you

Because I know what’s to feel this 😪

I am so thankful that I actually can control all my anxiety specially outside I will always left because of my social anxiety

Breath and tell your self you are good enough and it will get better I promise it does get better

I’m cheering for you good luck

You are amazing for seeking for help ❤️

[Jeff1943]

Hi Lycholko, Other than feeling a bit fluey for 24 hours I've never heard of anyone fainting or ending up in hospital because they had the Covid jab.

I've heard of thousands of people who ended up in hospital because they didn't have the Covid jab.

Of course, you know all that - but it doesn't change how fearful you feel about the jab. Because when you have health anxiety you don't think with your brain, you think with your nervous system.

Health anxiety means your nerves have become very sensitive and in that state they exaggerate every small worry or concern by a factor of ten. Add to that days of stressing and obsessing and a simple event like having a life-saving vaccination becomes so worrying we think we're going to pass out any moment. And you still retain that worry because your over-sensitised nerves are dictating how you think and feel. Even though your brain is telling you to be sensible and you're in no danger.

I started having health anxiety in 1974 but it takes more than a ten second life-saving jab to give me the collywobbles. When I had my two vaccine jabs I watched the needle go in and the vaccine enter the vein dispassionately. I waited for 15 minutes and then drove home.

I didn't feel faint or pass out or breathless because I wasn't expecting to faint, pass out or feel breathless. That's because most of the time I'm ruled by my brain not by a sensitive nervous system.

You've clearly worked out that your sore chest is the result of muscular tension caused by anxiety. If only you could stop your nervous system from being so sensitised you would regain your quiet mind and calm your chest muscles and take back your life.

I did exactly that many years ago and I'll tell you how. It wasn't the face-to-face therapy at the world famous Priory Clinic. It wasn't by taking mind-bending medications that make you feel fine for a while but then lose their efficacy and leave you with a dependency that's hard to beat. And it wasn't by taking some exotic elixir made from Peruvian Bat droppings.

I learned to control my health anxiety symptoms by accepting them for the time being. As described in simple terms in Claire Weekes' classic self-help book titled 'Self help for your nerves' in the u.k. and 'Hope and help for your nerves' in the U.S., both available on Amazon and Ebay. She describes how we can regain our quiet mind by following the 6-word mantra: Face. Accept. Float. Let time pass.

I wish you God's speed for a full and early recovery.

[Vinnie77]

I think it's a legitimate thing to feel anxiety over. This vaccine came out very quickly and everyone is being encouraged and being rushed into getting the shot. I'm not anti vaccines .,'m vaccinated, my children and husband are too. I just 100 percent understand your anxiety but look at it this way ,at one point all the vaccines we've already had were new and we survived. You're gonna be ok. Go to the E.R. and have them check you to give you peace of mind if you need too. I'm very sorry you suffer from what sounds like crippling anxiety, I suffer from it too. Best of wishes.

[AnxiousCanadianChic]

I had anxiety for days leading up to the shot BUT my anxiety was and still is more so of getting Covid. I did have to take .5 mg of Xanax that day and I was fine after and relieved it was over with. I’m not even scared of needles, I think my anxiety was thinking there would be tons of people there who I’d have to be around but there wasn’t.

The only side affect I had was a sore arm the day after but it went away after a few days. I also get a sore arm from a regular flu shot. Mine was almost a month ago and I’m hoping to get #2 within the next 2 months.

[Jay2O]

The vaccine is being done to protect you and those around you from becoming very ill. It`s natural that you should feel anxious about it . I think a few people may have felt the same. Even I was a little nervous at first but then on having it done and seeing it was nothing I was more at ease. I`m no longer worried about a second or even a third. If it brings back everyone`s freedom then I`m all for it.It`s not easy for someone when they have health anxiety. Something from the past maybe a loss most probably had you focusing more on your health. When you get to the bottom of this I think you will start to feel better. Hang in there with the therapist. And if you don`t feel helped by the one you are seeing now do think on there are many others. Take care x