Fear of needles

[Glom]

It says here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanophobia) that 10% of people are afraid of needles.

I would have thought the number would be higher. I would have thought that at least half the population would not be particularly keen on getting stuck with a cold metal capillary.

It must be a case of setting the bar high: fear of needles is more than a simple dislike of them. How afraid do you have to be before you are afraid rather than just unfavourable to them?

[Demigrog]

It must be a case of setting the bar high: fear of needles is more than a simple dislike of them. How afraid do you have to be before you are afraid rather than just unfavourable to them?

I'm definately in the 10%; I get physically ill when I have to get a shot, and I can't even look at a needle on TV.

This wouldn't be such a problem, except that my fiance is taking phlebotomy and really wants to practice on me. :(

[NEOWatcher]

It must be a case of setting the bar high: fear of needles is more than a simple dislike of them.
I believe that is the case from the opening statement
Trypanophobia is the extreme and irrational fear of medical procedures involving injections or hypodermic needles. It is occasionally referred to as aichmophobia, belonephobia, or enetophobia, names that are technically incorrect because they simply denote a “fear of pins/needles” and do not refer to the medical aspect of trypanophobia.
Me, depends on the needle size, where, and if a desensitizing agent is used.
I hate those IVs in the back of the hand, but I have, and do, give myself injections, and have no problem giving blood.

[Donnie B.]

I hate those IVs in the back of the hand, but I have, and do, give myself injections, and have no problem giving blood.Oh man, you're right on target there.

A few years back when I had surgery, they gave me IV antibiotics through one of those back-of-the-hand setups. Within about four hours that site was aching, and when they gave me the second dose it burned like liquid fire. They had to relocate the IV, and that one was almost as bad by the time of the third dose.

My veins just don't take to that kind of treatment.

[Larry Jacks]

My wife is a nurse. My wife keeps pointing out that I have "nice veins" for an IV. No, thanks.

I'm not afraid of needles by any stretch of the imagination but I don't watch myself getting stuck, either. I donated blood regularly for 20 years so getting stuck really doesn't bother me. One trick some nurses use is to distract people by having them do something like curl their toes. It seems to work.

[NEOWatcher]

I'm not afraid of needles by any stretch of the imagination but I don't watch myself getting stuck, either.
Actually, I prefer to watch, because the speed of the initial flow into the tube gives me an indication of how much discomfort I will be in for.

[Tensor]

It says here (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Trypanophobia) that 10% of people are afraid of needles.

As an adult, and having given blood for 20 years, I have no problem with needles. When I was younger, I didn't have a fear of needles, but I did have a medical condition. I was allergic to pain. That condition diminished as I grew older.

[Moose]

I vaguely remember that when I was four or five, the nurse who was giving me a shot (a vaccination?) instructed me to say "ouch" calmly (rather than scream bloody murder like most kids). I looked at her sideways and asked "Why?" not-quite scornfully. Needles have never bothered me. My folks confirmed this happened pretty much as I remember it.

[Glom]

While I was about to get my jabs today, I was feeling a bit nervous. I was much more relaxed after the first one when it was surprisingly mild (at first, my arm is killing me now). I think the gunk being injected was more uncomfortable than the needle. I didn't feel uncomfortable about my blood test earlier this week, but that's because the last one wasn't that uncomfortable and watching those tubes fill was cool.

Where does this place me?

[Nicolas]

I'm not afraid of a regular dentist injection. Well, the anticipation of pain does get me a bit nervous, but that's natural. But I don't think I'm any more "afraid" of those needles than one should be. However, I can't watch myself being njected, or watch a needle being injected on TV. Furthermore, for some reason I really can't stand the idea of giving blood. The needle thing putting blood out of you, that is. I love the idea of blood donation. But the fear for the needle (and blood extraction) keeps me from donating. One could say that fear is irrational, as everyone says it really isn't that bad at all as long as everything is ok.

I think the gunk being injected was more uncomfortable than the needle.

That is always the case for painful injections (unless maybe exotic things such as needles into your spine). The most painful I ever got was some kind of disinfectation into a broken, make that smashed, toe. I don't know if it was the fluid itself or its pressure on the broken parts that hurt most, but it certainly wasn't just the needle.

[Roy Batty]

I didn't feel uncomfortable about my blood test earlier this week, but that's because the last one wasn't that uncomfortable and watching those tubes fill was cool.

Where does this place me?
Obviously, 2 good 2 need 2 needles :)

On the relatively rare occasions I've needed injections or IV's I've been a bit squeamish but always want to watch & see them do it properly! (had an occasion when they didn't, but hey, it was a student nurse, I gave consent & at least they didn't hit an artery instead of a vein!:eek: )

[NEOWatcher]

... I love the idea of blood donation. But the fear for the needle (and blood extraction) keeps me from donating. One could say that fear is irrational, as everyone says it really isn't that bad at all as long as everything is ok.
It's probably the same as why I don't eat limburger. I like the taste, but dread trying to get it past my nose.

[Moose]

That is always the case for painful injections (unless maybe exotic things such as needles into your spine).

Epidurals are utterly painless. I've had three. The worst part of it is the thumping sensation you feel when it goes in. I found that disconcerting ("inside" my spine is not a place I've ever wanted to feel a thump of any kind).

The IV had more sensation to it, and I was distracted enough by the bustle of the OR team getting me wired up that I never really noticed it.

[Parrothead]

As a kid, I couldn't look when getting a shot. Now not a problem. The IV on the back of the hand, could be annoying for the first bit, after awhile I just got used to it. After some surgery, I had 24 shots of Demerol (sp) over a span of days, I took all of them in the upper legs. I was released on a Labour Day weekend, riding the bus to school the following week was amusing, as I swore I could feel every spot that got a shot, whenever the bus hit a bump or pothole. Being stitched or scoped after a local, is a real weird feeling, too.

[snarkophilus]

Whenever I need blood tests done (far too frequently), I always ask if I can do the needle myself. It's kind of neat. They don't always let me, but the thought gives me something to look forward to. It probably helps that I have big veins that are really easy to get at.

Also, yeah, watching the tubes fill with blood is pretty neat. That's my blood! Look how much there is! Cooooool....

[SeanF]

I can take shots and give blood, but I don't watch - and I only give blood when I need to (like for medical tests or something).

We had the little one in for a full check-up after we brought her back from China. I remember when we went to the lab and the nurse there saw all the tests the doctor had ordered, she said, "He wants us to get that much blood out of this little girl?!"

The actually had to stick her in both arms because the first one closed up before they had enough blood, and she was screaming bloody murder the whole time.

[NEOWatcher]

The actually had to stick her in both arms because the first one closed up before they had enough blood, and she was screaming bloody murder the whole time.
I can understand that, and how much different than donating.
Donating is one big stick with one big needle, and things flow. With blood samples, it's a lot smaller an slower. I once went for some tests, and had to have samples drawn into 27 tubes. It was probably a lot less then a donation, but it certainly took time and patience.

[Moose]

I once went for some tests, and had to have samples drawn into 27 tubes.


:eek: Wow, the vampires are some hungry where you are. My record is 6.

[Trebuchet]

I've never really had a problem with needles. My best friend in elementary school had to be taken off to another room and laid down so he could get his polio shots. (Salk vaccine in the 1950's.) Otherwise he'd pass out.

When I went into the military and we had lots of innoculations they asked us if we had trouble with needles, if so we could go inside and sit down. Naturally nobody wanted to raise their hand and incur the scorn of the DI's. So one guy got his shot, turned white, and fell straight backward to the ground. Had a big scabby patch on the back of his head the rest of training.

I'd actually rather give a large blood sample where they draw from a vein than the little ones where they prick your finger. I hate those.

[Van Rijn]

Normally, my reaction to a needle is "eh . . ." but there is one time I remember reacting badly. I was five, and had an extremely severe case of bronchitis (it took months to clear it with antibiotics). They did a lot of blood tests, and there came a point where I reached my limit. It took five nurses to hold down one sick but annoyed kid. :lol:

[foreignkid]

I have no problem having shots, but, contrary to other people, I HAVE TO LOOK. In my mind, I need to anticipate when the needle will enter the vein and prepare for the moment.

[JohnD]

This thread has turned into an interesting survey. Of the answers given, three would say they were needle phobic, twelve that they were not, and four answers were off-topic or gave no answer. (Some may have posted twice - it's not worth going back to check!) So 25% here. For a small survey, that is going to attract those with an interest, so will be biased, that's fairly good correlation with the 10% quoted.

I have particular interest, as I put those needles in. Based on that experience, I'd say a LOT less than 10% are truely needle phobic. Most people dislike it which is sensible, some have to look away. It's mostly hairy men in riggers boots that faint, IMHE.

There are creams that are put on your skin to take the sting out of the needle. They need at least 20 minutes to work, so if you are in the 10% (or less) ask the doctor or nurse about them beforehand.
The poster who had multiple (I assume intramuscular) injections of pain killer. That should never happen today, especially as you were (I think - I won't look up your post again) a child at the time. Children should NEVER have IM injections, and adults almost never. Post operative pain relief today is either intravenous, by means of local anaesthetic injections given while you are asleep, and/or in tablet form with the many types of pain killer we have today. If you face surgery, talk to the doctor who will be your anaesthetist (anestheologist) . Ask about pain relief after surgery and about the intravenous needle for anaesthesia before. But do it when they see you on the ward at the pre-op/ visit - not in the anaesthetic room or theatre - we're too busy then!

John

[The Supreme Canuck]

Don't mind a normal needle. Flu shot, blood test... meh. Donating blood? I'll do it, but I won't enjoy it.

[Parrothead]

...The poster who had multiple (I assume intramuscular) injections of pain killer. That should never happen today, especially as you were (I think - I won't look up your post again) a child at the time. Children should NEVER have IM injections, and adults almost never. Post operative pain relief today is either intravenous, by means of local anaesthetic injections given while you are asleep, and/or in tablet form with the many types of pain killer we have today...

My bad, by the time the surgery occurred, I was in my late teens. No doubt things have changed since then (early-mid '80s). The surgery I had left me with one heck of a long scar, these days the same surgery leaves a much smaller scar. ;)

[Laguna]

No problems with needles here. I got injections every day over a period of two weeks against a sudden deafness when I was in the army. Every day a new needle, and always placed by someone who just had to learn how to place them.
Makes you tough.
I am donating blood on a regular basis now...

[Maksutov]

No problems here.

As a migraineur, I became used to self-administered Imitrex injections into the left thigh. Now it's by nasal spray.

When in the hospital last year, IVs up and down the left arm. Plus every evening I'd get a big, long needle in the stomach.

Blood donation is a breeze. Just squeeze and let her rip. I remember a work associate in the 1980s who styled himself as macho. That ended when he passed out while giving blood.

The only problem I ever had with an injection was when I was three. It was time for some kind of immunization. The doctor instructed my to drop my drawers, and then asked me if I liked Hopalong Cassidy. As I replied "Yes" he simultaneous shoved the needle in and gleefully remarked "Well, this will make you hop along!" He ducked when I tried to hit him.

[Moose]

Blood donation is a breeze. Just squeeze and let her rip. I remember a work associate in the 1980s who styled himself as macho. That ended when he passed out while giving blood.

I've never understood that. What's so embarassing about passing out briefly while donating a unit of blood? The human body hasn't evolved to be subjected to sudden drops in blood pressure like that, and it is for a good cause after all.

I wish I could donate.

[Donnie B.]

It's not always a question of blood presssure. Some people are just squeamish about blood.

A former colleague of mine went to the Bloodmobile with me once. He passed out when they pricked his finger for the glucose test. They sent him back to work.

[HenrikOlsen]

I've never understood that. What's so embarassing about passing out briefly while donating a unit of blood? The human body hasn't evolved to be subjected to sudden drops in blood pressure like that, and it is for a good cause after all.
The embarrassing thing is that they don't pass out from the actual blood loss, but instead from the stress of giving blood.
Or from donating too long time after eating last, in which case they should be embarrassed for making such a silly mistake. :)

The human body most definitely have evolved to handle such drops, otherwise we couldn't be off the bed and back to work minutes after they pull the needle out.

[LurchGS]

I actually prefer the IV in the back of my hand.. I find it gives me greater freedom, for one thing.

Of course, my wife the paramedic and all her medical friends love to watch me walk by - I've even received the occasional cat-call from a nurse or two "Nice pipes!" (It used to be because of high blood pressure, but now that I drink a gallon or more of water a day, I chalk it up to just lots of volume. )

I do watch carefully when the tech sticks me - after all these years, I'm highly intolerant of the incompetent. If the person blows the second attempted stick, I ask for somebody with more experience. In once instance, the nursing staff were so incompetent they completely ruined my right arm for the day and were such.. well, black hats and brooms brings to mind a homonym. I told them to put their toys away until they got me somebody competent - specifically a paramedic. Hospital staff: 15 (!!!) failed sticks. Paramedic: 1 successful.

[Gillianren]

. . . Demerol (sp) . . . .

Spot on.

I can watch them stick me--I'm a difficult stick, actually, since my veins like to roll right before they get the needle in. It creeps out phlebotomists. Though our local ones know me by now, of course! (I don't donate at the moment for two reasons--one, I don't know how my current meds react to it, and two, the bus only runs by our local blood center once an hour, and it's just close enough for me to walk the distance to the downtown transit center when I'm not, you know, down a pint--so I'm too likely to do it when I am.)

However, I can't watch other people get stuck. It creeps me out.

[Damien Evans]

I tried donating blood twice.

Both times i fainted, it's just not for me, and i can't stand needles in any way, shape or form, which really sucks

[Whirlpool]

I don't fear needles when they are still on doctors table.

BUT when it is about to stick on me, I just have to overcome my fear by not closing my eyes or looking away.

I had a CT Scan recently about something on my neck. You know about CT Scanning , is they injected the needle in your vein with ink that feels like there's a hot liquid running through your veins before you lie inside of a Big Whole like thingy.
The nurse injected it Wrong the first time that it hurts so much as if he's injecting my vein with some thick liquid that seems to stuck and won't flow through my vein ( I'm usually able to tolerate myself not to freak out when I felt the needle is on me),.. I cried. :neutral:

But when it was removed and injected to me on my other arm again by another Nurse , I'm waiting for that pain again , but good thing the nurse did it right and its painless at that moment.

Bottomline, yes, I fear needles but it's not like I'm freaking out when I see one.

:neutral:

[Tog_]

I have no issues with needles at all. On those few times I did get stuck, I watched. No big deal. I was brought up with a high tolerance for icky stuff though. Getting a splinter out of your finger that was too deep for tweezers was a job for a pocket knife. Wipe off the blade on your pant leg before you start cutting into your hand though. You know sterility and stuff.

My dad had a pipe roll over and mash a finger one time. I was about 10 and that was when I learned about gangrene. He cut his fingernail off with the pocket knife, then watched it for a few days to make sure he got it all. I watched the whole thing. The smell was the worst.

When I did something spectacularly stupid and ended up stabbing myself between the 2nd and third toe with a dagger, I was really surprised that it did didn't hurt or bleed. I looked into the hole and moved my toes. I could see stuff moving around inside and thought it was really cool. Then I figured I'd better wash out th wound so I stuck it in the sink. Bad idea. Nerves hate that. It hurt a lot then. I ended up with three stitches that we took out a few weeks later with a Swiss Army Knife.

One thing about getting shots that might be of use. The reason they tend tu hurt the next day isn't because of the needle, it's because of the gunk. It sits in the tissue until it can be absorbed and carried away. In away, it's just like a bruise. There is stuff there that doesn't belong and that your body isn't used to dealing with. For both bruises and shots, working out the muscle a bit right after will stop most of that pain the next day. as the muscle gets warm, the capillaries expand and it gets carried away from the site faster. Massaging will also help. This is not a good thing to do after an IV type needle invasion. It's as in the blood as it can get and increasing the blood flow over the hole in the vein might make it leak a bit. I had a bruise on the entire inside of my forearm from a blood donation followed by a flag football game.

Massaging works very well for a bruise. It spreads out the loose blood to a wider area, the swelling goes down but the bruise gets huge and ugly. It just hurts less and goes away faster.

[HenrikOlsen]

When I did something spectacularly stupid and ended up stabbing myself between the 2nd and third toe with a dagger, I was really surprised that it did didn't hurt or bleed. I looked into the hole and moved my toes. I could see stuff moving around inside and thought it was really cool. Then I figured I'd better wash out th wound so I stuck it in the sink. Bad idea. Nerves hate that. It hurt a lot then. I ended up with three stitches that we took out a few weeks later with a Swiss Army Knife.
All living cells hate being put in fresh water.

If you'd had the time, you could have added salt to the water to get a 0.9 percent(by weight) solution, which would have hurt a lot less.
(I think it's about 1 teaspoon to 7 liters)

[Maksutov]

All living cells hate being put in fresh water....The designer of the Brooklyn Bridge found that out the hard way. (http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/John_Augustus_Roebling)

The only "injection" that caused me a problem (besides a penicillin injection that demonstrated I had become allergic to that substance) was when I was trying to fix an inspection device we used to check the motors destined to operate the original Polaroid SX-70 cameras.

Some genius had decided to grind down a Rigid screwdriver to precision size. That was given to me as the best choice for fixing the device.

As I used it to tighten the gage, it slipped and jammed into the base of my thumb. It wound up going all the way up my thumb through the muscles. My reaction was that the room started spinning around, until I yanked it out. Antibiotics and a tetanus shot led to complete recovery.

[Donnie B.]

Okay, this has now officially become the "butt willies" thread. :eek:

[Tog_]

Okay, this has now officially become the "butt willies" thread. :eek:

I have never heard the term "butt willies" before. I now plan to use it every chance I get. But I nearly choked on my Hot Pocket.

[Donnie B.]

I have never heard the term "butt willies" before. I now plan to use it every chance I get.Good man! Let us spread the word to the unenlightened masses.

The phrase is not original with me, but it's far and away the best description of that certain feeling.

[Moose]

Okay, this has now officially become the "butt willies" thread. :eek:

Is that like "pucker factor"?

[Tog_]

The human body most definitely have evolved to handle such drops, otherwise we couldn't be off the bed and back to work minutes after they pull the needle out.

The last time I donated was in Basic Training. November 11th in fact. On November 12th, about 18 hours later I got my nose broken. I've never measured how much liquid will fit when I cup both hands together to make a cup, but I lost three of those full of blood trying to get to the bathroom. I figure it had to be close to another pint. By the time the Drill Sergeant came in, I had it pinched off and was starting to straighten it but it didn't really stop for another 10 minutes or so. That was Saturday afternoon and I was about a quart low. Monday morning we had a PT test that included a 2 mile run. I've never been a distance runner, but I had a good kick for the last 300 yards. Except that day. At about 40 yards to go, I hit "the wall". My tongue went a little numb and my vision closed in, grayed out, and got little sparkles in it. I didn't pass out, but I think I got as close to it as I could have. I missed my time by three seconds.:cry:

I never felt the least bit dizzy after the break happened and I'm sure that I could have functioned normally in any job where sustained physical activity was not required.

[mugaliens]

No fear of needles, but I'm definately not tolerant of incompetance. About a month ago the lab tech couldn't find my vein, and instead of withdrawing the needle most of the way before changing angles, he did a 90 degree angle change with about half an inch in my arm and it wasn't pleasant, so I said, "STOP!"

It startled him enough that he let go of the needle and before he could put his hands back on it, I pulled it out and said, "I'd like another lab tech, please."

Turns out he'd been remedially trained three times before because of his ineptitude with drawing blood and the ensuing complaints.

[Trebuchet]

I had one of those techs once when I tried to donate while I was in the army. They really need my Rh negative blood so he kept trying one vein after another, collapsing them, until his lead came over and told him to stop. I had dark red tracks running all the way up to my shoulder.

We were supposed to get half a day off for donating. I got about three days off because I couldn't move my arm to operate my "weapon". (Typewriter)

I never had any other problem with donating before or since.

[VPCCD]

This may sound weird, but I enjoy getting shots.
What it is, is that when I was younger I had severe alergys and I had to get an allergy shot ounce a week, my grandfather always took me and after words we would always go out for ice cream.
I guess when I get and injection nowadays I'm reminded of my late grandfather.

[Question]

It makes sense that not everybody would be afraid of needles, but just have a general dislike of shots. for me, I'm a diabetic, so I have to get them every time I eat. (about 4 times a day) They don't bother me as much as they used to, but I have had this diesease since i was 4, and now, I'm 14. Birthday june 5. (Simple math, I've had it for 10 years. :lol: anyway, I think most people dislike shots, but there are some who just freak out when they see a needle. :eek:

[Ilya]

Cancer is the best cure for trypanophobia!

I used to be in that 10%. Getting stuck with a needle would make me nauseous and sometimes actually made me pass out. Then about 12 years ago I got several hundred needlesticks in the course of 8 months, many of which I had to do myself. I still don't like it, but the phobia is definitely gone.

[springa]

When I was about 4 years old, I had to be held down to get a booster shot, screaming bloody murder the whole time. As I grew older this was reduced to trembling and then only slight apprehension. By the time I was in college, I started donating blood, although I haven't donated for years (I should start again). I'm not afraid of needles now, but I usually don't look when the needle goes in, and I think it would bother me at first if I had to use one on myself, though I would get used to it after a little while.

[Maksutov]

Cancer is the best cure for trypanophobia!...Death cures all diseases.

[LurchGS]

One thing about getting shots that might be of use. The reason they tend tu hurt the next day isn't because of the needle, it's because of the gunk. It sits in the tissue until it can be absorbed and carried away.

By the next day, unless you were given a MASSIVE shot, the 'gunk' should be long gone. What you are feeling, though, is indeed a bruise - but one brought about by this really hard foreign object shoved through tissue. I've found that the best way to alleviate this bruisng is to not tense up. In fact, make an extra effort to relax (isn't that a contradiction in terms!). A couple years ago I was in New Orleans. You can't see what you are stepping on under that water, so, in spite of heavy boots, tetanus shots were being administered. The young lady doing the sticking had JUST received her certification, so she was nervous. The three guys ahead of me visibly tensed up as the needle aproached their arms. They were sore as .. well, very sore.. the next day. I - despite being twice their age (that's all I'll admit to) was not sore at all.

This advise as stood me in good stead for many years.

Of course, I'd stil rather have an air-injection, but that's not the point of this thread.

Oh - for the butt-willies crowd - when I was in 8th grade woodshop, I was cutting some wood on a band saw, while a classmate was doing the same on the saw next to me. He wasn't paying attention, and I got to watch him saw his middle finger and hand in half - all the way past the wrist.

IF he could have kept it that way, imagine the grip on a basketball he'd have had!

[JohnD]

Good advice, Lurch!
I'd add though that THE experts in a hospital are the anaesthetists.
Taking blood is not usually a problem, it's getting a IV cannula in place for a drip, for fluids, antibiotics etc. that can be really difficult.
It may mean a wait - anaesthetists do have other duties - but if the ward staff have problems with that, ask for an anaesthetist.
J.

[LurchGS]

Good advice, Lurch!
I'd add though that THE experts in a hospital are the anaesthetists.
Taking blood is not usually a problem, it's getting a IV cannula in place for a drip, for fluids, antibiotics etc. that can be really difficult.
It may mean a wait - anaesthetists do have other duties - but if the ward staff have problems with that, ask for an anaesthetist.
J.

or a Paramedic/EMT - these are the folk who spike lines in the back of moving ambulances. If they can't hit the vein, nobody can. Of course, if the arms/legs are not an option, you can always use an EJ....(not on me when I'm awake!)

[mickal555]

I used to be really really scared. Terrified. I knew the pain wasn't to bad... but the anticipation kills me.

[Maksutov]

I used to be really really scared. Terrified. I knew the pain wasn't to bad... but the anticipation kills me.That reminds me of the story about the lad whose dog was constantly nipping at his own tail and whining in a pathetic sort of way.

The boy, having saved his allowance and done extra chores, eventually brought his dog to the vet. After examining the pooch, the vet told the boy "Your dog has an infected tail. Since the infection is quite advanced, the only recourse is to remove his tail."

"Oh no, Doc!" cried the boy, "I couldn't stand for Buck to have that done to him and feel all that pain. Can't you just cut it off one little bit at a time?"

[farmerjumperdon]

I've had many (at least 10) significant procedures for my pathetically malfunctioning nasal and sinus cavities; Caldwell-Luc procedures, drilling out of nasal windows, straightening septums, sinus lavage, polyp removals, etc. You name it; if it can be done to the nasal & sinus cavities, I've had it done.

I've had so many needles and instruments stuck in my face and up my nose that you'd think I'd be OK with it. Instead it has given me a very strong distaste for needles. I grit my teeth and bare it to donate blood, just because I think it is such a worthy cause - but I'll be damned if I'd ever do it for recreation.

When I donate the Techs always think I'm about to pass out or something because I make such a diligent effort to look away and focus on something else.