Blood test phobia?

Question:

Ok i'm having a blood test done this week and i'm sooo scared.
I'm lucky enough to be having it done in my home as my doctor knows how severe my phobia is.
I'm not scared of the needle going in but only the blood going out and the amount they take.
Can you give me any advice on how to cope with it mentally?
I know it's so silly to be scared of something so little like this but any advice is appreciated.
Thanks xxxx

Answers:
The only way to get over a phobia is to fight it head on.... so, try to be tough and go through with it. You know you have to anyway, and it will be over VERY soon.

Other Answers:
I wish i could help you. but reading this make me feel so sick i hate it!

i have that problem too
Everytime i do a bloodtest, I feel nothing during the test but after I while i see everything is dark, i cannot see anything, and then I fall

what symptom is it?

They don't take out that much. Easy to have done. Why worry about this? I watch when they do this. So does my daughter, husband & 2 sons! Piece of cake Easy as Pie!

While I don't have a phobia about needles, I don't like them. When I was pregnant they were forever taking blood. I just shut my eyes and turned my head the other way (in case I inadvertantly opened my eyes!) and thought about something beautiful for a while. Try to breathe deeply. It will be over very quickly. Good luck.

Calm down do not look drink some juice and eat something sweet while they're doing it. That wat i did. Remember do not look and if u do don't dwell on it watch tv or talk to ur mommy.

get a grip!

some people fight in wars, and have arms and legs amputated

you'll live!

I was also petrified of having blood taken, I had to overcome this fear as they had to take blood while I was pregnant. They take a tiny amount, they put it in tubes that are half the size of a biro and probably the same thickness. It's all over within a minute, best of luck!

nothing to be worried about.... it wont hurt.. shut your eyes and it will all be over.... im sure you will have many more pricks in your lifetime....... lol

I have veins that hide and they struggle to get any blood out so if I see the blood coming out I'm pleased.

The best thing you can do is look the other way and think nice things if your at home have something nice to look at or read or even watch something on TV to take your mind away till that bits done.

Good Luck

forgive me, but I am a lab tech /phlebotomist. What is there to be afraid of? They take more blood out of you when you donate. When you give a blood sample, it's just a little vial....not alot at all. And you can't feel it coming out.
Blood cells regenerate fast. so they will be replaced within a day or two.

if it helps, just turn your head and don't look at it. They will tell you when ur done.

I am not sure if it will help, but the amount of blood they take is very small and will make no difference to the function of your body.

It is like taking a cup of water from the ocean.

Your body can make up the difference very soon.

Good Luck
x

Its good news that you are not scared of the needle; that's normally the phobia here. As for a way around it, its quite simple really. The test will be taken from your arm. The only feeling will be a small prick as the needle breaks the skin. You cannot feel the blood being extracted nor the amount. Thus you should be able to control this by looking away throughout the procedure; before you know it the doctor or nurse will tell you it has all been done. As for the amount; the amount extracted even for detailed tests is 3 to 5 phials which is much much less than a single blood donation; so you need to convince yourself not to worry about something you won't see or feel. Good luck

my 3 year old son gets lots of them done and he loves it. he watches the needle go in and loves to see his blood coming out. the only thing he doesnt like is when they put cotton wool over it to stop it bleeding when the neeedle comes out all because he cant see. let him be an inspiration after all he is only a little kid

Haven't they given you some Emla cream to put on an hour before?

It numbs the skin, so you can't feel a thing. Ask for it.

Good luck. It's a shame it has become such an issue.

Your exactly the same as my hubby!

He can't stand the thought of seeing the blood going into the syringe (or even the mention of it).

After many years of doing anything to avoid the situation, he had no choice the other month. He took our daughter with him to keep his mind on something else & to help him feel brave.

You are certainly not alone as many people have this phobia (maybe not as severe as yours, but some are worse).

At least as it is being done in your own home, you can have plenty of your own comforts around you to distract you. Maybe have your favourite music on in the background? Do you have a pet? If so, you could have your pet near you and you could talk to it whilst the test is being done?

The blood taking only takes a minute, but I know it will feel like a lifetime to you - the more relaxed you are, the quicker it will be. Do some deep breathing and focus on something or somewhere else.

I wish you the best of luck :-)

Well, it's just a little prick. Surely you've had more than a little prick inside you before? And there you are... thinking of something quite different now...

That's the best way to go. Pain is controllable to some extent. It is the response to damage occurring to your body, so that an impulsive response to remove yourself from the danger is initiated.

In this case, the damage is minimal and in the interest of your health, so removing yurself from it is not the best course of action. However, you're not going to undo a few million years of evolution just by telling yourself it's neccessary, so you have to come up with a strategy.

There are two ways you can go. One is to be very conscious of what is occurring, accepting that a needle is being stuck into you, accepting that damage is being done, therefore overriding feelings of pain because the message is being delivered. This one isn't for most people - especially if you don't like blood and needles.

The second way to go is to totally take your mind away from it, by not looking, not thinking about it - occupying your mind with something you are able to be deeply involved in while the blood is taken.

In extreme cases, hynosis is used - which is just a more intense way of taking your mind away from its fear trigger.

Hope this helps!

Hey

Guess what...I also have that kind of phobia, but I have one of the needle going in too but more of how much blood will come out. I was even crying. Try and set your mind on something else. Or you can self-hypnotise yourself!! Try this: Find a quiet, undisturbed place. Sit down rather than lying down, this will prevent you from falling asleep. And plan what you wan to overcome...in your case, not being afraid of blood tests.

-Take three or four slow, deep breaths, holding your breath for a couple of seconds then letting go with the word 'relax'.

-Focus your attention by concentrating on a point on the wall.

-Tell yourself you are going to take three special breaths-first to relax, the second to move towards hypnosis and the third to be in hypnosis.

-After the breaths, release all tension from your body by systematically relaxing the muscles from your toes to the top of your head.

-Now imagine a staircase with ten steps leading you to a special place. Count down from ten to one as you descend the stairs.

-Visualise your place, and try to experience how it smells, sounds and feels.

-Now begin your positive suggestions relating to the goal of your self-hypnosis.

-When you are finished, count yourself back up from one to ten, telling yourself you have enjoyed a wonderful session of relaxation, and that when you emerge you will feel refreshed.

Hope it helps
Good luck with your tests

i am a blood doner (thats approx 4/5th of a pint every 4 months)
sit back relax
read a book
look out the window
or focus on something you enjoy doing with your partner
some people talk to the doctor about anything as in nice weather
how are you
anything to take your mind of the test

2 days after i donate my blood level is back to normal talking about this i'm donating on the 16th

Yeah OK, so when the doctor approaches with the needle - turn your head in the opposite direction so that you do not observe where he/she is about to insert the needle and clench. It will be over in a matter of a minute or two and doesn't hurt that much.

Having donated some liquid - you now need to replace it - you can't walk around with an empty arm (shades of Tony Hancock - yeah I know that dates me) so, a glass of Brandy, or since it is Summer and quite warm a G&T Ice and slice would also serve as a treat for being good and not screaming.

ive fainted afew times.. but the last one i talked all the way through, with my eyes closed :) i did it with vararian.. totally takes the stress away, the nhs thinks its for making u sleepy.. its not, its for stress

whenever im in that situation, i have someone to be with me so that he/she will talk to me about other things so that my attention wont be on the attendant getting my blood then i usually have that someone make me laugh for me not to focus my attention on the red blood..kinda silly huh??but i hope itll help..

Find an NLP practitioner! NLP is superb for overcoming phobias fast!

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Blood test phobia?

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