CHILDREN AND FEAR OF NEEDLES

Question

     The other day I was in the blood work office waiting for a blood test.  From one of the cubicles came the sound of a boy about 8 bargaining, pleading, and negotiating with the nurse not to have the blood test.  Nothing suggested or done appeased him.  Some patients were smiling as he brought up more and more eloquent reasons in an ever-rising voice why he shouldn’t have the test. I felt like going in and saying “I’m a hypnotherapist; can I help?” I didn’t do so because I had seen that the mother was on a very tight thread herself.  Eventually the blood was taken after half an hour, holding him down or cajoling him.  What would you have done?  This is the second time this has happened to me.

Answer

     I’d give the nurses some of your cards and tell them the next time they have patients coming in whom they know have problems like this to contact you, or to give to the parent.  It’s worth a try.  Probably, you did the only thing you could do, in terms of not interfering. However, another way could be that, next time you’re in that situation, you might dare tell the mother than you have some experience in calming children; and would it be alright with her if you tried it out with her son. If you meet resistance or are uncomfortable with that approach, wait until it’s over and then give her your card for the next time she has to bring in her son.