Do you thinks kids might be traumatized by getting shots?

[HeatherRD]

I work in a health center that has a pediatric clinic. When the peds clinic is open, I have to listen to crying kids all day (the walls are thin). I think most of the crying I hear is from kids getting their shots. They sound absolutely terrified. They scream and say " I don't want it! I don't want it!" They scream for their dads (because it's usually the mom taking them to the doctor).

Some kids just seem so traumatized by this. I mean, it's something they know is going to hurt like hell, they don't want it, and it's being forced on them (probably with them having to be restrained in some way).

Does anyone think this could cause any long term effects? I just hate listening to it and thinking how helpless they feel. Especially when the parents get mad at them for crying.

[Strong Mama]

I dont know, but I am with you on it. I used to work in clinic(WIC/perinatal worker)so all day I heard the crying kids. It was traumatic for me, heck I am sure it is for them!!!

[nicoliani]

From my own experience I don't think it will lead to traumatization, as it's a quick process. The stress hormones rises before the shot, but afterward it goes over and the child somehow feels rewarded that it has accomplished this horrible event. Shots take some minutes as the nurse prepares the shoot until the kid gets it, not enough time to develop permanent damage. There is other things that is much more bad for a kid as it's parents getting divorced and that I'm positive can develope to traumatizision.

[Tari Mithrandir]

I don't know if the shots are traumatizing. I know that I hated being lied to and told "This isn't going to hurt" or "this will feel like a mosquito bite" and I hated the person who gave the shots and was angry at having to have them.... Still am at 23.
But I think the part that would be worst is having your parent(s) mad at you for crying over something that really hurts! It isn't even an accident, it is someone, with your parents consent, hurting you on purpose, and they get mad for you displaying that you are in pain/upset.
Luckily I think, or hope, most parents are smart enough to not get upset over it

[pantufla]

I have a SEVERE needle phobia, and yes, shots can traumatize kids. Doctors will NOT take this seriously, even now that I am grown up. I can't even drive past a hospital without feeling serious amounts of anxiety. Yes, my phobia is directly related to receiving shots as a child.

[Monkeygrrl]

i think it is...i have seen children who hate to go into the back because they "know" that something is going to happen...whether it actually does or not (are they getting a shot? or just there for a regular check up?) and i know they hate it cause they are screaming before they leave the waiting room...

at my current ped's office, there is a separate room for vaccinations...they have lots of toys for kids to play on, but only children who are getting shots can go in there...my 5yo asked why he cant go in there once, i told him its cause we dont get shots...now when we walk by, he says "thats for the kids who are getting shots, its so they have something fun to do"...lol

peace...

[mamakay]

I guess it depends on how you're defining "traumatized".

I think some kids probably are. To some extent, at least.

[HeatherRD]

Originally Posted by pantufla

I have a SEVERE needle phobia, and yes, shots can traumatize kids. Doctors will NOT take this seriously, even now that I am grown up. I can't even drive past a hospital without feeling serious amounts of anxiety. Yes, my phobia is directly related to receiving shots as a child.

Wow. I'm so sorry.

If shots can indeed be traumatizing, is this reason enough not to vax, regardless of any other reasons?

I can't stand the thought of putting my child through that. But then again, what if they need blood drawn at some point? They are going to have to face a needle sometime, right?

Opinions?

[Tari Mithrandir]

They will most likely need to face a needle at some point, yes.
As for if it is reason enough to not vax... only you can decide that.

[CookieMonsterMommy]

I think (and this is just my opinion--I haven't done or read any studies on the matter, so kindly ignore my sig for this post) that being held down and given shots at almost every well check up at a dr's office as a child helps lead many people to fear and/or dislike doctors as adults.

Then those kids grow up and feel forced to restrain their own crying children.

I know plenty of people who're healthy with normal heart rates and blood pressures....till you get them in a dr's office. All of a sudden, their pressure is high and their pulse is racing.

[katie&micah]

I work at a health department and unfortunately my office is near the exam rooms that they give all the shots in. It's so hard to listen to. Just this morning I was thinking about Maddy and how I was glad we aren't going through the string of lies and holding her to get her shots like many of these parents are.

[In Exile]

If people stop using the "trauma" definition as "was sexually abused and saw somebody get killed: Sure you can get traumatized by having to go to a place over and over again- where somebody will smile, hold you down and say "Oh, it's just a prick"-over and over and over again. Pain and fear over and over again- while mom swallows her tears, I'd say that cause for trauma.

How many people can't go to a dentist without severe anxiety, sweating etc, how many people hate Doctor's Offices, hate Hospitals-all that because that was so damn pleasant in their childhood?

I for one am more scared of going to the Dentist, than giving birth without pain medication. Yes, I've got my own little trauma.

Just remember (not imagine) what it's like to go to a Doctor and start those stupid lies and the harrassment: Be a good girl/boy, this is really for your own best and it won't hurt, okay?
ESPECIALLY the "it won't hurt" is awful because never again will you believe that. First it hurts and then you feel crappy for a while-how is that "just like a mosquito?"

[irony_optional]

No. The dentist is much worse.

[mamakay]

If shots can indeed be traumatizing, is this reason enough not to vax, regardless of any other reasons?

It definitely enters into my risk/benefit equation.

[anewmama]

I remember getting shots as a child in vivid memory. The reason they are vivid is because they were so upsetting and disturbing. The smell of the alcohol, the look of the needle, feeling my arm for days with the bump, the fever that night, the dazed perspective of life.

Trauma, who knows. But I certainly remember the experience well enough to say it made a profound impact on me.

[sunanthem]

My son is 5. The one and only visit I let him get shots at he was 12 months. He still brings it up and says, "Remeber when you took me to the doctor and he gave me that shot? I dont like shots." He makes me promise now that he wont get shots when I take him to the doctor. Luckily, I can promise him that.

[wallacesmum]

One of the many reasons that we don't vaccinate our son is that he cannot consent to it yet. If he were to request a vaccination, we would certainly talk about it. I guess, in that respect, the trauma element would come into play, but I don't know about lasting effects. I guess most things probably have lasting effects, the question is, to what extent?

[MadameXCupcake]

I hope my husband doesn't see this, we were infact talking about this the other day when he joked he needed a tetanus because he got a scratch on his butt [from the faucet when we were trying to conserve water and cut time and soak in an epsom bath together..]

He then mentioned how horrible it was for him as a child and how at every visit it was for more shots.
He thinks he had so many because his mother is poor and less informed and that the doctors took advantage.

He was sick earlier this year and as a grown man was terrified of getting an IV. He got so upset I didn't know what to do for him as needles don't bother me. Maybe its because I wasn't vaccinated as much? I did have a Hep B reaction though the doctor said I was making it up and over reacting.:

[LianneM]

YES YES, absolutely I think it can be traumatizing. I have identified a pretty severe traumatic memory around getting an MMR.

[Rylins mama]

YES!!!! I also have a severe needle phobia. I remember getting shots when I was younger and not liking the way they made me feel. I even ran away once when my mom tried taking me. From the time I remember... I remember FREAKING out about shots. I have passed out COLD twice while recieving shots. I havent had one in about 8 years now but even getting blood drawn now scares me because I was so traumatized as a child. I have 2 tattoos so its not the pain, its just the whole shot t hing!