fear of needles / blood anyone??11 help

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

so I know its common but im having a lot of health issues and I really need a blood test but problem is I really struggle with anything todo with needles blood etc I get so annoyed with myself because I used to be fine I loved getting piercings and watching dr pimple popper but one time I was getting bloods done and I fainted out of no where never happened before this was in 2017 wasnt even squeamish and I haven't got one since only when it was life or death possibly and I fainted then and is a horrible experience...

I don't know what it is now I cant even listen to a story about. blood or needles or anything in a hospital setting makes me come over all faint and like im going to pass out. or even worse I do faint

Its embarrassing I even struggle with my own period as I cant stand seeing that much blood its really getting me down as I really need these bloods done but its nearing impossible and I get even more overwhelm knowing there could be something wrong with me but I wont. know until I get a blood test! so frustrating

anyone else in the same boat?

 

[Rach88]

so I know its common but im having a lot of health issues and I really need a blood test but problem is I really struggle with anything todo with needles blood etc I get so annoyed with myself because I used to be fine I loved getting piercings and watching dr pimple popper but one time I was getting bloods done and I fainted out of no where never happened before this was in 2017 wasnt even squeamish and I haven't got one since only when it was life or death possibly and I fainted then and is a horrible experience...

I don't know what it is now I cant even listen to a story about. blood or needles or anything in a hospital setting makes me come over all faint and like im going to pass out. or even worse I do faint

Its embarrassing I even struggle with my own period as I cant stand seeing that much blood its really getting me down as I really need these bloods done but its nearing impossible and I get even more overwhelm knowing there could be something wrong with me but I wont. know until I get a blood test! so frustrating

anyone else in the same boat?

Yes I'm in same boat I'm on a antipsychotic that requires blood tests every so often but I won't give it up for love nor money and I have deep seated veins so if they've found a spot 10 plus mins later it's to late I'm incredibly wound up in tears etc I had to go to my local hospital drop in last time to get them done and the nurses were so lovely and they used a butterfly and they got it eventually

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

Yes I'm in same boat I'm on a antipsychotic that requires blood tests every so often but I won't give it up for love nor money and I have deep seated veins so if they've found a spot 10 plus mins later it's to late I'm incredibly wound up in tears etc I had to go to my local hospital drop in last time to get them done and the nurses were so lovely and they used a butterfly and they got it eventually

oh wow that sounds traumatic! its just horrible isn't it and yeah I heard butterfly ones are better !

 

[Snippysnips]

Have you spoke with your doctor about it? See if they can let you rest for a while after it? I know it's usually the nurses that do it but I had a phrase where I was getting blood tests done every few weeks for months an after a while found myself really struggling with it, even just thinking about blood was making me sick, my doctor was really good with me an he allowed me to have them done by him since I could lay on the bed during an then for however long I needed after wards an would bring me orange juice, he was good at talking me through it as well when getting done which helped a little

Unfortunately there's just not much that can help if you fear it all but if you maybe mention it they can hopefully ease some of the stress so it's not as overwhelming

 

[klarakluckbag]

I take bloods at work every day, and I can tell you that blood/needle phobia is incredibly common. I once read a theory that needle phobics may just have an involuntary over-reaction to the imminent threat of being aporoached by someone bearing a sharp pointy stick. Their body/brain perceives it as a "threat", and they faint as a way of "playing dead", to confuse their attacker, who will then lose interest and go and attack someone else. It sounds silly to us, but it could be a hangover from our cave-dwelling days, when predators with sharp teeth and claws were far more of a danger to humans than they are now!

@cuncuncuncucncnncncnc Go and have that blood test. It could be really useful and the nurse really won't mind if you faint, we have honestly seen it all before. I've had women with multiple piercings and tattoos, literally shriek all the way through their blood tests, I just do my thing and let them do theirs. Take some water and some chocolate with you, the sugar will lift you a little when you come round again (literally a few moments later, fainters are rarely out for long).

And have a think about trying to "desensitise" yourself. It seems like you're reacting badly to the memory of that one time, back in 2017 (so 5 years ago), and you've built it up into a really big deal. It's quite easy to desensitise, although you'll need to put in the work and do it every day. There is lots of help online, but the basic idea is to retrain your brain into dealing with blood again. You start by just writing out the word "blood", just once or twice at first, but then increase the amount of times each day. Use a red pen!
Then try looking at a picture of blood. It doesn't have to be anything grisly, look up "blood bottle", or something like a fingerprick test video or photo. You build up from there, at your own pace, doing what you're comfortable with. You gradually increase your exposure to the images, and your brain will normalise them. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get over something like this. It's the same technique that they use to cure phobias of flying or creepy-crawlies.

But in the meantime...book that blood test!

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

I take bloods at work every day, and I can tell you that blood/needle phobia is incredibly common. I once read a theory that needle phobics may just have an involuntary over-reaction to the imminent threat of being aporoached by someone bearing a sharp pointy stick. Their body/brain perceives it as a "threat", and they faint as a way of "playing dead", to confuse their attacker, who will then lose interest and go and attack someone else. It sounds silly to us, but it could be a hangover from our cave-dwelling days, when predators with sharp teeth and claws were far more of a danger to humans than they are now!

@cuncuncuncucncnncncnc Go and have that blood test. It could be really useful and the nurse really won't mind if you faint, we have honestly seen it all before. I've had women with multiple piercings and tattoos, literally shriek all the way through their blood tests, I just do my thing and let them do theirs. Take some water and some chocolate with you, the sugar will lift you a little when you come round again (literally a few moments later, fainters are rarely out for long).

And have a think about trying to "desensitise" yourself. It seems like you're reacting badly to the memory of that one time, back in 2017 (so 5 years ago), and you've built it up into a really big deal. It's quite easy to desensitise, although you'll need to put in the work and do it every day. There is lots of help online, but the basic idea is to retrain your brain into dealing with blood again. You start by just writing out the word "blood", just once or twice at first, but then increase the amount of times each day. Use a red pen!
Then try looking at a picture of blood. It doesn't have to be anything grisly, look up "blood bottle", or something like a fingerprick test video or photo. You build up from there, at your own pace, doing what you're comfortable with. You gradually increase your exposure to the images, and your brain will normalise them. You'll be surprised at how quickly you can get over something like this. It's the same technique that they use to cure phobias of flying or creepy-crawlies.

But in the meantime...book that blood test!

thank you so much makes me feel a lot better knowing a lot of people suffer from it snd I have booked it for July as im going to watch some videos and. do some exposure its a huge step for me that I even booked it to be honest so ive made the first step! I don't care I faint its the fact how it makes me feel my anxiety is triggered when I feel different sounds strange but the build up to fainting the blacking out ringing ears feeling dixzxy makes me panic and I know ill be fine its just horrible I just wish I could get over this that's suddenly come over me as I now worry I have left this problem too long and maybe I have something seriously wrong with me now as ive left so long but once again just my anxiety I recon

Have you spoke with your doctor about it? See if they can let you rest for a while after it? I know it's usually the nurses that do it but I had a phrase where I was getting blood tests done every few weeks for months an after a while found myself really struggling with it, even just thinking about blood was making me sick, my doctor was really good with me an he allowed me to have them done by him since I could lay on the bed during an then for however long I needed after wards an would bring me orange juice, he was good at talking me through it as well when getting done which helped a little

Unfortunately there's just not much that can help if you fear it all but if you maybe mention it they can hopefully ease some of the stress so it's not as overwhelming

yeah I have theyre pretty understanding at the doctor never had. a blood test there before but I worry as had a bad experience once at a&e took about 30 minutes of the lady trying to put the needle in my arm for me to finally let her do it and she was rolling her eyes at me. was very degrading and I felt awful for taking so long and wasting time but when I spoke to the lady who will be taking my blood at the doctor I said im warning you lol It might take a while as im terrible with needles and blood and she was so nice she said we can lay down and take our time.
im literally shaking just typing this and thinking about it ! god I just hope I can do it

 

[klarakluckbag]

@cuncuncuncucncnncncnc ..Awww, you've taken a huge step, just by booking it!

I know what you mean about the weird feeling when you know that you're about to faint. It kind of happens in slow motion, doesn't it? You can feel it coming but you're powerless to stop it. If you've ever been in an accident, or even a near miss, you'll know how time seems to slow right down, just before it happens.
It's your brain, telling you that you're in danger, and switching all your senses up a notch. You become hyper-aware, and this uses a lot of energy, plus your adrenaline ramps up, which is why you feel shaky and drained soon after.

Also, fainting in public is just embarassing. Waking up after fainting, to find a stranger talking to you, and possibly holding your hand or your head, makes you feel very vulnerable. All in all, it's not a nice experience, and if you have anxiety anyway, you'll be triggered by the mere thought of another blood test. Anxiety also alerts your senses and sends adrenaline through you, which makes you feel weak and faint, so it's just a vicious circle really.

If you know why your body behaves in a particular way to a stimulus, you can often control your reactions. And familarity helps. Almost all doctors and nurses have fainted when first observing surgery, they've cried at the birth of a baby, or when their patient dies. They aren't so physically affected by these things after being exposed to them many times.

My mum always used to faint at the sight of blood. She's now quite happy to have bloods, she's had so many over the years, they just don't bother her. (She even let me take it the other day, I was a nervous wreck!) You can do this, I promise!

 

[Notworthy]

I was terrible with needles, triggered by Pregnancy, finally 27 years later I am much better. I let the Surgery know and make sure that their best Phlebotomist is available, I walk into the room, tell them to talk about anything except the blood test and needles, tell them to be absolutely sure they have a vein before inserting the needle and then turn away from the Nurse so I don't see the needle at all. Honestly I've been so much better since the Covid jabs, it's not even a problem now.

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

I was terrible with needles, triggered by Pregnancy, finally 27 years later I am much better. I let the Surgery know and make sure that their best Phlebotomist is available, I walk into the room, tell them to talk about anything except the blood test and needles, tell them to be absolutely sure they have a vein before inserting the needle and then turn away from the Nurse so I don't see the needle at all. Honestly I've been so much better since the Covid jabs, it's not even a problem now.

yeah I feel like ive tried every tactic but the elephant in the room and I just need to accept that im going to faint hah

 

[MouthFullOfFangs]

Have you ever thought about having a few sessions of CBT? I had phobia therapy for needles when I was a child, I cant remember much of it but it helped because I can now get them no problem. I was training to do phlebotomy and the thought of it triggered part of the phobia which I had and I nearly gave up before I even started my training. I decided to look into CBT and after one session alone I felt like a new person! I went private but it was totally worth the money

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

Have you ever thought about having a few sessions of CBT? I had phobia therapy for needles when I was a child, I cant remember much of it but it helped because I can now get them no problem. I was training to do phlebotomy and the thought of it triggered part of the phobia which I had and I nearly gave up before I even started my training. I decided to look into CBT and after one session alone I felt like a new person! I went private but it was totally worth the money

I don't have any money to afford cbt and ive had cbt many times since I was about 13 free ones and ones ive paid myself when I was desperate and its never helped I feel a bit hopeless I feel like nothing helps me to be honest but ive never tried exposure therapy with needles and blood ive been doing it myself with watching videos and I might even get a piercing to expose myself to that kind of thing and obviously my blood test counts too
.

 

[knivesnflowers]

i used to have a big phobia of all needles, but especially the feeling of it moving under my skin knocked me sick for some reason. i just suddenly got over it when i was in the process of getting bloods taken at least once a month for about 18 months. at that point i was in paediatric care so it was with a butterfly needle but i did go through a phase of feeling lightheaded, losing colour / lips going blue and fainting. i had always felt faint when getting them done but assumed that was normal as i was technically losing blood.

since then i've not been too bad - the nurses at my gp are super quick. if i get it done at the hospital it's not great and i do faint sometimes but i think i'm at peace with it bc it's happened before and i've had good experiences in between so i know it's the exception and not the rule. i'm now okay with the normal needles and plastic vials but still have the occasional wobble.

things i've found help to distract or prepare me

• keeping really hydrated (otherwise my one good vein doesn't cooperate)
• listen to music before you go in and try and keep the song going through the appointment
• read all the little print outs around the room
• personally not eating before stops the sick feeling from being as intense bc there's nothing to digest or bring up but that might be different for you!
• book an early appointment - keeps your focus on getting ready / travelling there and you can't spend the whole day fretting
• lie on a bed if you can! they didn't have the chair with arm rests once but it was actually better bc you don't get the slumping down / gravity like feeling when you're lightheaded

i still can't do cannulas though. can't even look at them

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

updateeeee
thanks guys so much, ive really appreciated the comments mrore than you'll ever know
had my blood test today the nurse was so so nice like unbelievably nice to me which helped I even told her I can't do it but she coached me through and I didnt feel a thing the afterwards aching arm hurt more lol! I didnt faint either which is a first for me and I think this one positive experience will help me in the future a lot

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

Just seen this thread of mine and wanted to update for anyone who may come across it in the future
I now no longer give 0 fucks about blood tests! Which is absolutely crazy to me as someone who suffered for years!
I think having a baby changed it massively for me and it’s no longer a big deal

 

[Notworthy]

Just seen this thread of mine and wanted to update for anyone who may come across it in the future
I now no longer give 0 fucks about blood tests! Which is absolutely crazy to me as someone who suffered for years!
I think having a baby changed it massively for me and it’s no longer a big deal

It was pregnancy that did the opposite and triggered me but I now do clinical trials and there are loads of blood tests during those. Doesn't faze me in the slightest (although I still don't look)

 

[cuncuncuncucncnncncnc]

It was pregnancy that did the opposite and triggered me but I now do clinical trials and there are loads of blood tests during those. Doesn't faze me in the slightest (although I still don't look)

Oh wow, crazy isn’t it I still also don’t look

 

[knivesnflowers]

i can now look (only once they've started) but a new trigger is hearing the blood gush into the vial was not expecting that when it happened lol

 

[Rocket Queen]

so I know its common but im having a lot of health issues and I really need a blood test but problem is I really struggle with anything todo with needles blood etc I get so annoyed with myself because I used to be fine I loved getting piercings and watching dr pimple popper but one time I was getting bloods done and I fainted out of no where never happened before this was in 2017 wasnt even squeamish and I haven't got one since only when it was life or death possibly and I fainted then and is a horrible experience...

I don't know what it is now I cant even listen to a story about. blood or needles or anything in a hospital setting makes me come over all faint and like im going to pass out. or even worse I do faint

Its embarrassing I even struggle with my own period as I cant stand seeing that much blood its really getting me down as I really need these bloods done but its nearing impossible and I get even more overwhelm knowing there could be something wrong with me but I wont. know until I get a blood test! so frustrating

anyone else in the same boat?

I hear you and I see you. You are so not alone and this is a very normal thing. For me I had a bad pregnancy and had blood taken a couple of times a week for 8 months. I HAD to get it done and not freak out and do a runner at the sight of the needle. Took a while but I managed to displace myself and take myself out of the room in my head. At some points I was singing in my mind and focusing on that but it helped me a lot. Wasn’t easy but somehow I got through it and I send you strength and good wishes to find your way through this too - it is a horrible place to be in. Take care x