Dealing with the fear of getting the vaccine

[MarlenaEve]

Hi all.

I've spent weeks reading about the Covid vaccine and going through many vaccination stories (some not so good) and I'm still afraid of getting it.
I didn't have Covid so I don't know how my body will react to this virus (the not knowing factor is so hard for me).

I have anxiety and I mostly wanna get the shot to not live in fear anymore, to go out without panicking at the thought of getting the virus, and to be able to get any work I want (some workplaces need vaccination proof).

My FOO is anti-vaccine, anti-healthy living, anti-love, anti-virus, anti-anything. They really don't believe the virus is even real, lol. (in which universe are they living?)

So I need to do this thing on my own and keep the experience to myself.

Have you gone through this fear, too? Have you overcome it and how did it feel to defeat this anxiety (vaccine anxiety)?

[JollyJazz]

Hi MarlenaEve,

The weight of evidence definitely points to getting the vaccine as the safer option. A lot of anti-vaxxer information is just plain untrue.

You could read about the impact of having covid as well as some good, evidence based sources such as the world health organization. As we know covid can result in death or permanent disability with conditions like brain fog and psychosis.

For the record I got my vaccine and feel delighted about it. I'm looking forward to getting my second vaccination soon too.

Sorry to hear that your family are anti-vaccine.

It sounds like you are wanting to make up your own mind and separate from your F.O.O.

It's your choice to make 

[Hazy111]

There was a brilliant TV programme on the UK that dealt with the whole anti vaccine nonsense.

It started with a Dr in the UK ( name escapes me) over 20 years who claimed autism was caused  by the MMR vaccine. He came up with some bogus stats , but eventually he was "struck off"   as  surprise, surprise he couldnt back up his false claims. He got run out of the UK and rocked up in the US, spouting the same lies.

He was received as some kind of messiah, doing lecture tours Then came the Internet and he spawned a whole load of other conspirasists on the grift. Like drinking bleach ( where have we heard that one !!) will cure your childs autism. Luckily he was shut down by the FBI.

Then came Covid . The original doctor now lives in Florida with his very famous model girlfriend.

Narcissists love conspiracies as it feeds their sense of grandiosity ( i know more than you) .

Hazy (x2 jabbed Astra Zeneca)  (Now speaks fluent Cantonese lost all feeling in my extremities, partially blind and deaf, and controlled by George Soros microchips,,        Thats a joke btw)   

[Hattie]

Hi Hazy,

I was happy to get the vaccine as there is so much evidence in its favour. I did feel a bit poorly after each shot, but nothing too dramatic. Have you got a friend who could support you with this, for example to hang out and watching crap TV with if you don't feel well afterwards?

Xx

[Hazy111]

Love the.... Xx

[square]

Hey hon,

I totally understand the hesitancy.

I hope someone can share their similar experience with you. I think you'll get a lot of replies trying to convince you, but you asked for something a bit different.

For the record, I got the vax and it was fine. Sore arm both times. One day a little under the weather on the second one.

[moglow]

Moderation note:

We are not going to entertain highly charged and polarized discussions of any subject, nor are we here to bash anyone with views that may not align with our own. Know that this thread may be locked or removed at any time.
***

MarlenaEve, Maybe you could look at this as conquering fears overall. Just as with anything else, weigh and measure what you know, known risks on both sides of the equation and decide what's best for yourself and your future. Other people's choices don't have to be yours and vice versa. You could also use it as an opportunity to exercise good boundaries and refuse to discuss it with your family/others altogether. Change the subject or shut those questions/conversations down if needed, whatever works best for you.

[losingmyself]

MarlenaEve, I certainly understand anxiety and trying to overcome it. I just am wondering if your hesitancy is because of the repercussions from your FOO? I mean, yes, you've done research etc, and read a lot of things, but if I were you, I'd really ask myself " why am I so afraid?"  I have to ask myself that daily, and find out where the fear is coming from.  I found out (so far) that a lot of it is coming from me, just how I have known life. You do something your spouse, or FOO doesn't agree with, and get sh** on forever for it.  The thing is, learning to hold your head up and say to them "This is my decision, I don't want to hear another word about it"  And I'm not only referring to this, but any other decision you make in life. My point is, don't get it, get it, it is your choice, and that shouldn't be influenced by anyone, especially if it's just a means to control you.
Good luck to you with this decision. And I agree, we aren't here to influence you one way or the other.
However, just to let you know, 5 months in and I'm fine. Not one side effect, even right after my shots, and I'll be right in line for #3.

[MarlenaEve]

Hi Hazy,

I was happy to get the vaccine as there is so much evidence in its favour. I did feel a bit poorly after each shot, but nothing too dramatic. Have you got a friend who could support you with this, for example to hang out and watching crap TV with if you don't feel well afterwards?

Xx

Not sure if this is addressed to me. I don't have a friend to support me through this. If I had one, I'd not be living with FOO.
But I can support myself quite well, I have some cozy tv shows lined up to watch.

[MarlenaEve]

Hi MarlenaEve,

The weight of evidence definitely points to getting the vaccine as the safer option. A lot of anti-vaxxer information is just plain untrue.

You could read about the impact of having covid as well as some good, evidence based sources such as the world health organization. As we know covid can result in death or permanent disability with conditions like brain fog and psychosis.

For the record I got my vaccine and feel delighted about it. I'm looking forward to getting my second vaccination soon too.

Sorry to hear that your family are anti-vaccine.

It sounds like you are wanting to make up your own mind and separate from your F.O.O.

It's your choice to make 

JollyJazz, yes the evidence shows the vaccine is better than getting Covid. It was also approved by FDA yesterday so I feel so much better about it.

[MarlenaEve]

Hi, losingmyself.

Yeah, the fear probably comes from the repercussion of my decision over FOO, you are right. If I wasn't dealing with them now, I'd have had the shot already. It's weird how our FOO influences all our decisions and more often than not, it's subconscious.

The decision is taken by me as a way to be less afraid and healthier, more protected. And yes, it's my life, my body, my decision.
Thanks for reassurance.

[MarlenaEve]

moglow: I'll put up boundaries. Sometimes they force me to discuss certain subjects but I've learned to practice non-reaction and no-response responses so I'm good. They do want their adult children to have exactly the same decisions as them.

They clearly can't see past themselves but I am not surprised about that.

[SonofThunder]

Hello Marlena,

Regarding myself, i can have anxieties or fears about something for mainly two reasons:  1. I do not understand what i am fearing.  2.  I have no self-control regarding what i fear. 

My first action is to gain understanding by education and I must carefully choose my unbiased education sources so i am confident I am receiving facts vs biased opinions or false information and then I educate myself.  My second action is to utilize my new education to make choices for myself that allow me as much self control as possible.  I find when doing so, my fears/anxieties of the unknown will dissipate. 

At the front end of the pandemic. I set out to do #1 on the virus.  I did #1 on the vaccine as well when it was approved for use.  Once i was in a satisfactory understanding of how the virus medically works and how the vaccines medically work, i was able to dispel any information i believed was false or biased and take any necessary self-control action i believe was best for me, regarding the vaccine, depending on my own understanding of my own health in the mix. 

This method has also been successful for me in many areas; PD understanding, relationships with PD's, medical decisions, self-security needs, financial decisions, business decisions and others.  I want to recommend self education to understand both how the virus works in the body and how the vaccine works in the body.   I wish you the best in your potential self-education, decision making progress and in anxiety/fear reduction.

SoT

[DaisyGirl77]

I was a bit worried with the vaccines, too, but my need to make sure my family is safe (I have a 3 year old nephew who gets really sick really easily & some friends who are immunocompromised or cannot take the vaccine due to a history of severe anaphylactic allergic reactions) overrode my fear.  Also, all the negative stories out there from those who got vaccinated & experienced extremely negative effects from either one or both dosages are one in a million, essentially.  What you don't hear about are the millions out there who experienced minor or no side effects from them.  It's very much the minority yelling & being much more vocal than the majority.  I'm not trying to negate their experiences; I'm just trying to insert a bit of balance here.

My first shot was like the flu shot.  I had no issues aside from the sore arm for a couple days, & I just had to remember to move my arm at the shoulder level a lot to ease the soreness.  My second shot wasn't an issue either.  I woke up once in the middle of the night to vomit, then fell back asleep.  Other than being a little tired due to lack of sleep once I was up for the day to work, I was fine.

My coworker had a slightly different experience.  We had our second shots a day apart, & she wound up missing the next day of work because she felt so awful.  Hers was limited to full body extreme soreness & fatigue.  She slept the whole day away & was fine the next day.

We both had Pfizer, if that helps.

[Hattie]

Oops, sorry, yes my comment was to you MarlenaEve. I can see how it would be awkward if you are living with FOO and have to keep it to yourself. Good that you are feeling better about it, and are confident about looking after yourself as you recover.

[xredshoesx]

This is obviously an important topic, and we appreciate the kind inquiry and replies so far. Because it is off-topic for our forum, we are locking the thread. Because it is so important, we are leaving it in place. Thanks to everyone for understanding.