ENIGMA

MY LOVELY READERS!!

Alright, confession time—who here is absolutely terrified of needles? 🙋‍♂️🙋‍♀️ Come on, no shame here! 🙋‍♀️🙋‍♂️ Don’t worry, this is a safe space.

It’s like the moment you hear,  like we all turn into five-year-olds the second someone says, “Just a little pinch.” Little pinch?! More like mountain-sized anxiety in a tiny needle!

“Just a quick shot,” your brain goes, “Nope, not today! I’ll just take my chances with tetanus or whatever.” Suddenly, you’re wondering if you can teleport out of the doctor’s office before that needle even gets near you.

As a doctor, I’ve seen it all—from the “tough guy” who faints faster than you can say “vaccine” to the person who tries to negotiate with the nurse like they’re buying a used car. (“How about we skip the shot, and I just promise to eat more veggies?”)

But don’t worry! Here are my not-so-medical-but-definitely-helpful tips for surviving that terrifying encounter with a needle:

1) Bring a friend, chat up with the nurse, or scroll through memes. Just keep your brain busy! BASICALLY DISTRACT YOURSELF !!

2) Deep, slow breaths are your best friend.
In through the nose, out through the mouth.
You’d be surprised how calming it can be when you focus on your breathing instead of the needle.

3) You don’t need to watch the needle go in—trust me.

4) Ice cream, chocolates, a Netflix binge, whatever gets you excited.. REWARD YOURSELF!

5) Ask 'em to go slowly !! Tell 'em that you are scared !!

Remember, it’s okay to be nervous, but just know that getting the jab done will keep you healthier in the long run.

But here’s the most important tip: Don’t skip the important vaccines! Please, Don't!!

VACCINE LIKE...
Tetanus? Rabies? HPV? These are non-negotiable! I’ve seen full-grown adults trying to pull off the “Maybe if I don’t make eye contact with the nurse, they’ll forget about the shot” routine. Newsflash: We never forget!

Tetanus is not something you want to mess with, and trust me, that rusty nail you stepped on while trying to catch your Uber definitely has a long memory.

And rabies? I can’t tell you how many times I’ve heard, “Oh, it’s just a scratch from a cute dog. It’s fine, right?” NO, Baby, it’s not fine! Rabies is not the kind of thing you shake off with a Band-Aid and positive vibes. I’ve seen the bravest adults break into full-blown panic at the thought of a rabies shot, but trust me, the alternative is waaaaay worse.

The mortality rate for rabies once symptoms develop is nearly 100%. That’s right—almost everyone who gets symptomatic rabies will not survive. And trust me, you don’t want to be in that statistic.

So, please, don’t be that person who skips the important stuff just because needles make you cringe. I get it, they’re no fun, but neither is, you know, these fatal diseases.

And here’s a little secret from me to you: I’m absolutely petrified of needles. Like, I break into a cold sweat just thinking about them. Sometimes, I seriously consider skipping my own vaccines. But then my boyfriend swoops in, channeling his inner superhero, and takes on the role of Needle Ninja. 😭 He’s the one who bravely jabs me while I’m over here doing a full dramatic performance worthy of an Oscar. So, if I can muster the courage to get poked with a needle (thanks to my personal superhero), you can totally handle it too!

And if you’re thinking of trying to wiggle out of your shot?
just remember: I’m mentally high-fiving you from afar, cheering you on with confetti cannons and a basket full of post-shot cookies or chocolates. You've got this. And if not, well… just bribe yourself with pizza or your favorite ice cream after! I promise, you’ll thank yourself later.

Stay brave, stay awesome, and remember: it’s over in like... 3 seconds! 🏆🍕🍨🍧

Cheering you on for a healthier, safer future!