needle and blood phobia

Hi, I’m 25 y.o. male and I can’t get over my phobia of needles and of blood.

It wasn’t so intense when I was younger. In fact, I don’t remember anything particular about school vaccination or visits to doctors, it was probably a different experience when I was with my parents, people are patient and kind to kids. Thankfully, I didn’t need to deal with any tests or shots for a very long time, and there was no problem. Two years ago, I was hospitalized with pneumonia. Once they told me I was about to get an IV, I panicked. I’ve never had them! The thought of having a needle under my skin for almost half an hour freaked me out more than anything! I think I really scared the young man who was treating me; I was about to pass out. The first time he definitely didn’t get it that it was my fear of IV and not my fever. By the time of my second IV he probably noticed my anxiety, he was joking all the time, but it didn’t make me feel better…

What I feel is humiliation and shame. I had to take multiple blood tests after that, and the only thing that works for me is to ask if I can lie down before we start. Because the first time it happened, and I took a glimpse at my blood, my eyes went dark. I would surely have fainted if I were not sitting! So now I lie down, and feel like a baby and not a grownup man. Surely, there should be some tricks that could help me overcome this?

I need to do some injections at home next month. My partner can help me, she’s qualifed. Just thinking about it makes me so nervous. She knows about my fears, and she will search for child needles that are smaller in size. I wonder if I can somehow prepare myself psychologically too?

Any recommendations would be immensely appreciated!

Specialist answer

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Veena Choudhary

Specialist

There is no shame in having such a fear. it is a real concern that many go through it and you are not alone.

you can talk to the health specialist about what will happen before, during or after the injection. knowing what to expect will alleviate your anxiety. like knowing the information of why are you getting it done will help you.

you can also role play with your partner to practise managing your symptoms and remain calm

you can ask your healthcare provider if there is any numbing cream, spray or ointment to lessen your discomfort.

You can do certain distracting activities during the time of test. you can stare at one object in the room for a minute and then close your eyes an start picturising that image in your mind like how does it look, what colour it is, how would it feel if we hold the object in hand.

You can go to therapist for exposure therapy where they will slowly expose you to need through several weeks or months. at first you will be exposed ti photo of needles. then therapist will ask you to speak out how do you feel. they will do this for few weeks till you are comfortable then next stage would be to hold a syringe with no needle then holding a syringe with needle until you become comfortable with the idea of injection. you can try this at house also and see how does it feel. do this gradually.

See if you can reframe the thoughts. Think about how it started and has this feeling developed from an unpleasant experiences earlier in your life. See if its your misconception and belief from the past and challenge it. coach yourself with positive thoughts.

Do this applied tension technique thrice before the appointment. choose somewhere comfortable to sit. Tense the muscles in your arms, upper body and legs for 15 seconds. Release the tension and sit comfortably again. After 20-30 seconds tense your muscles again. repeat this 5 times.

You can squeeze a stress ball

i hope this helps.

Ben

Quite a lot of people dislike needles and some adults are afraid of them. One option is going to your medical care provider and asking them to prescribe you a sedative that you can take each time before the shot / blood test. This worked for me before a serious operation that crippled me with anxiety. On the other hand, an operation is something that rarely happens, and in your case you might not want to take pills all the time. But at least you’ll have a choice. Might be worth checking?

dexter bright

I think that any short-term “tricks” will be useful only for your upcoming shots next month. As with most phobias, therapy should help you long-term. A good specialist will know whether you need EMDR or exposure therapy. It’s clearly expensive, but it will help you eliminate your fears for the rest of your life, it’s a solid investment!

Samuel Descoteaux

Ha! I’m not afraid of blood or injections, but I avoid IVs at all costs! When my GP prescribed me either 5 IVs or two weeks of taking pills with the same active ingredient, I chose pills without hesitation. That’s not what my GP had in mind, she said intravenous was always more effective, but to hell with that! Personally, I believe my comfort is more important than what other people think about me.

Laura

I have rather significant anxiety issues about all medical procedures, so I can relate to your fears. I was told to drink plenty of water the day before any blood tests. Being hydrated somehow helps nurses to find the veins quicker, or something. I usually prepare myself to just grin and bear it, and concentrate on how nice it’ll be when it’s over. I hope it’ll be emotionally easier for you with your partner at home. Best of luck!

la-redoutte

These things are unpleasant for all people, trust me. I don’t fear needles, but I feel ill at ease if I have to look when it’s done. So I always look away, and I chat at random all those 30 seconds, about why I came, or I may ask how soon the results will come. The nurses are usually accustomed to people looking away, and I’m sure a man asking to lie down won’t surprise anyone. It’s just your peculiarity, there’s nothing to be ashamed of!

noname

My suggestion will seem radical to you, but hear me out. My theory is that such fears come from lack of control. It’s definitely not the pain, it’s only a quick pinch, right? So it’s more about the anticipation and the fear of the unknown, when someone is about to do something to you with a sharp device… So the only way to take control is to learn doing injections. For starters,you can buy a special gadget that will do the job for you, just to get used to the idea. Millions of people do it daily, for example, those suffering from diabetes who use blood glucose meters… I learned to make shots in the thigh when my wife was away for the holidays and I didn’t feel like paying extras for the service. It’s not that hard!

AthenaAro

To the best of my knowledge, cognitive behavioral therapy can be helpful when it comes to phobias of any kind. Focus on your breathing when it happens. Do not close your eyes, looking away is the right strategy. Distract your mind with counting to 10 or reciting the periodic table, anything complex will work even better. Anyway, don’t underestimate therapy, it can make a great difference.

fragile individual

It’s the same for me :( I avoided doctors for years because of it. When I told about my fears to hospital workers, they told me the only thing they can do is give me a sedative after the procedures, but I’m nervous about the whole thing before it happens! I haven’t found any coping mechanisms yet...

sk8ter

Have you rationalized about why these fears exist? Is it about the pain, or the thought of breaking skin? Are you panicking because you’re scared something will go wrong? I know you want some magic solution that will help you forget about the problem forever, but it doesn’t work like that. If you can figure out the root causes of your anxiety and when it started, you can address it. Find the time to think about it.

mrsKnobbs

I’m not afraid of my own blood, but looking at anyone else’s blood scares me. It makes me think of germs and diseases. That’s why I know I won’t ever be able to help anyone in an emergency, not even my own kid. I’m lucky that my husband’s sister is a nurse, and she takes care of all our mild family injuries.