Fear of Blood Tests and I Will Freak, What am I going to do?

Question

I'm dead afraid of blood tests! My reaction can be described as "AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH, GET THAT NEEDLE AWAY FROM ME, DON'T MAKE ME TAKE THE TEST"! and then I run out of the room yelling with fear. Too bad I'm easy to find because I would be standing outside of the room trying to control my breathing. I panic when the nurse finds me and I run away yelling again. This time I really panic because I'm caught in dead end, I get surrounded by 2 nurses, AAAAAHHHHH! She takes me back to the room and tries to keep me calm, while the other preps the needle. Everytime that needle gets close to me, I tense up and start flinching. I'm full of extreme fear and start yelling again "NO, IT'S GOING TO HURT"! I can't deal with needles at all, I FREAK OUT if I see them. SOMEBODY PLEASE HELP ME!!!!!!!!!!!

Answer 1

Let the phlebotomist know that you're scared of needles. We don't always know this, and sometimes assembling the equipment in front of a fearful patient makes things worse. Before I draw a nervous patient, I ask if they want me to tell them before I stick, and I a smaller gauge needle, some people fake being scared so they can get a smaller needle, but it's easy to weed them out.

Take a deep breath, it will be over soon. Look for the distraction poster, and chat with the phlebotomist, sometimes they may not initiate conversation, but go for it! If it makes you feel better to talk about shoes or hair, then strike up a chat to distract you.

I'm a phlebotomist who hates having my blood drawn, so I do know what it's like---hope that you find someone like that!


Good Luck!

Answer 2

Phlebotomist gave some excellent advice.

In addition, most of the time, you can have a friend or relative in the office with you when they draw your blood. If this is the case, ask somebody that you trust to be there with you.

As Phlebotomist suggested, inform the phlebotomist of your fear of needles or inform the doctor so he can inform the phlebotomist for you. When they are about to draw your blood, engage in conversation with your friend or relative and force yourself to concentrate on your conversation. Ignore what is happening around you.

When the needle is inserted, you might feel a small prick but the pain goes away instantly.

Just remember, they don't stick needles in to hurt people. They do it to help people. You have more chance of dying from a lightening strike than you do from a blood test.

By the way, I failed my last blood test. I forgot to study for it ;)

All the best to you!

Answer 3

Just take d-e-e-p breathes in-and-out, slowly and deep. How I overcome needles is

1. by not looking directly at them. Sometimes it hurts more when you do strangely.

2. don't even think about them when its happening. Think of happy, optimistic thoughts, and what you will do throughout the day.


3. Most of all remember.. It won't kill you!!! Just have that mindset that this little tiny harmless prickle only lasts for 2 seconds, and then it will be all OVER, and you'll be able to move on with the rest of your life like it never happened!

In situations like these.. Big egos count.. Feeling over-confident in this situation really makes you tolerate the pain more. Best wishes, I hope this helps! (:

Answer 4

O.k. lets just slow down and stay calm. Needle can be scary to anyone but they don't need to be. Here are a few steps to help you through:
1. As soon as you sit down don't look towards the equipment
2. Take someone to talk to
3. Tell the nurse you are nervous
4. If you feel like you are going to faint or be sick ask to lie down.
5. Take an Ipod and listen to music or squeeze a stress ball
6. Relax as best you can
7. Tell your self you are brave and can ge through it
8. Once you do get through it reward yourself

Hope this helps, remember that with a little enourangement and faith you can get through anything.

Answer 5

When you know you are going to have a blood test, calm yourself...take deep breathes and take control of yourself...only you can do this. Then DO NOT look at person drawing the blood. Look away and think about something else. Distract yourself!
When I have to go to the dentist and get a filling and the numbing shot that goes with it...the dental assistant taps on my arm while the dentist is giving me the shot and it distracts me enough that I don't mind as much. Get a grip on yourself.

Answer 6

I'm the same way and I had to blood taken not too long ago and my boyfriend came with me and I was fine until I sat in the chair and saw her getting everything ready and I just began to cry and freak the nurse felt so bad she told me she would use a butterfly needle on me instead (it's what they use on little kids) it made me feel better cuz the needle was so small and it went pretty fast and wasn't that bad. Good Luck!!

Answer 7

Don't look, tell the nurse if you are feeling faint or want to throw up, focus on something good, tell yourself you are brave and strong and buy Emla cream that you can get online to numb the area where the needle goes. You won't feel a thing.

Answer 8

I had a blood test, and she filled 3 viles with blood, it wasn't so bad, JUST DON'T LOOK. When she took it out, I started to sweat, and nearly passed out. Try to sqeese something, And Spell one of your friends with a really long last name backwards. It gets your mind off it, but if you fell you are gonna pass out or vomit, like I, tell the nurse.

Answer 9

I deal with this alot. I tell the patient to look the other way then pinch their finger and focus on that....surprisingly it has worked for so far....