Use of humor to clear needle phobia

**Ross was a screenwriter who was referred to me by his doctor to treat a severe needle phobia. Ross had a health condition that required blood to be drawn once a month. But, the nurses had been unsuccessful in drawing blood because Ross would go into a full-blown panic attack at the sight of a needle.

Ross indicated the event that caused his phobia was a scary experience in a hospital as a child. He recalled a nurse holding him down, yelling at him, and attempting to draw blood from his arm. However, he panicked mid-way through telling me the story. He began to sweat, and gasp for air. He cried, “I don’t think I can do this.”

I remained calm and got him talking about a script he was writing until I noticed the anxiety dissipate. Then I suggested we go through the story of the traumatic event again. But this time I suggested we take turns telling different parts of the story and speak in foreign accents.

He raised his eyebrows and said, “What?” I encouraged him to just humor me a bit and think of himself as an actor. After all, Ross was a screenwriter and had a great sense of humor. I knew he could do this.

Ross decided that I could play his role and wanted me to be a Frenchman. He played the nurse and gave her a German accent.  I began by saying, “Excusez moi, large-boned lady, but what is zis business of moving a sharp, pointy object toward my arm?”

Ross replied in his best German accent, “You vill allow me to insert dis needle into your arm and you vill like it, tiny Frenchman! When we are done, I vill give you a delicious strudel, and you vill like dis too.”

We then went on for several minutes until we were both laughing hysterically. Once we gained our composure, I asked Ross to go through the story again in his regular voice. He was amazed that he was able to tell it several times without any sign of panic. The next day, he successfully gave blood at his doctor’s office and reports having no problems with it ever since.

Play and humor are amazing cures for anxiety because they reduce perceived threat. It’s nice to know effective therapy does not have to be so serious!

**The name and identifying details have been changed in this story to protect privacy.

Courtney Armstrong is a Licensed Professional Counselor who specializes in trauma therapy. She has a private practice in Chattanooga, TN and also trains mental health professionals in creative ways to treat trauma. To contact Courtney, visit her website at www.courtneyarmstronglpc.com