Hi

My son is 18 - we have been living in Aus for 2 yrs on 457 and now have a PR application lodged however my son's needle phobia has me so worried every night as he goes into full flight - fight mode and although really wants to be able to do it he can't. We have tried Diazepam in such huge doses (medically supervised) and therapy without success. Does anyone have experience of DIAC agreeing to saliva test? We could get Psychiatrist letter without issue as my colleagues have all seen what an issue it is (I am a team manager, psychiatric unit)

Really appreciate any advise at all.

AJ

Forgot to say already contacted Health Services Aus, who were rude and unhelpful and said not their problem even though I offered to pay for visit to Pathology lab by one of their approved staff - where we could have him sedated with gas and air!!!

Sorry to sound harsh, but he's going to have to suck it up. If not for his visa, but because sometimes in life people need medical treatment and that includes needles. What are you going to do if he's actually ill or needs surgery? He's a grown up now and sometimes grown ups have to do things they are uncomfortable with.

And before anyone jumps on me, I know there is a difference between just being uncomfortable and a true phobia.

Hi

Sorry to hear about your son's phobia. How about trying hypnotherapy?

Good luck

Thank you for the comments, I appreciate the 'suck it up sentiment' however think this minimizes the fact that this is a debilitating and potentially life threatening situation over which my son deeply wishes did not control his life.

I have witnessed him becoming completely traumatised by the approach of a needle, and running barefoot in the snow in fear after witnessing his father being given an injection when ill.

I have seen a post where someone mentioned a saliva test as an alternative and wanted to know if anyone knew anything else about this. I would love information if anyone has heard about this.

Hi there

I had a very similar situation here in the UK with my daughter who had just turned 15. She has a very ingrained phobia of both needles and blood, which goes back to an incident in her early childhood. I completely empathise with your situation.

Unfortunately, there was no way around it, our choices were either refuse the tests & fail the medical, or somehow find a way to "survive" the experience. Trust me, we are talking about full-blown anxiety beforehand & panic attacks.

Anyway, we spent a long time preparing for the day...we had an iPod full of favourite videos - really distracting stuff including her mates messing around, relatives telling stupid jokes & talking to her & so on. We also had friends on the end of the phone & had the pannel doctors fully appraised of the situation.

You can't anaesthetise your son because at 18 he has to be able to give consent & from a purely practical point of view...it's quite right, that if he was in an emergency situation at some point in the future, he would have to accept treatment. You are doing him no favours by colluding with his phobia, he has to learn to survive it.

We got my daughter through (with a lot of crying) & the doctor who did the test was very firm & determined. He did not engage my daughter in any explanations or messing about; he knew about the problem & was prepared beforehand. I reckon she was in his chair for about 30 seconds & yes, she was very, very upset afterwards & took a lot of support....

The thing is now, much as she is no way over it, she is a lot better with needles than she was & went for school injections recently by herself & without a problem.

It's tough love I'm afraid....or you could all get on the plane back home

Good post JenniGee with lots good suggestions there.

I wonder would something like cognitive behavourial therapy also help?

This might help,yes.

But: Bear in mind that massive phobia is a psychiatric disease and can also be a problem with your medical... I would think about trying to therapy the phobia first before getting the medical.

Thanks for all the replies- yes it is a psychiatric illness as per the DSM however we have been advised that this would not impact the medical being referred - this was also noted on his original medical when we moved here. We have tried some CBT and distraction and need to continue to work on a solution - he does not want this anymore than we do - he would love to join the army and at the moment this holds him back.

I appreciate all the ideas and advise.

AJ