Needle Phobia

Hmmm. I have a very similar problem. I've always been horrible with needles. Also, i've been horrible with blood. I remember when I was 7, I got a tetanus shot, and I threw up from it. Ever since I can remember, I have passed out from simple blood tests. Not even the ones where they draw a little tube of blood, but the ones when they take about 3 drops of blood. I know it's stupid, but I can't help it. Last year, I went to the hospital to have a blood test to check if I had appendicitis, I was turning all sorts of colors, and passed out a few times when they took the blood. A month or so ago, I had a mono test at my doctors office, and before they even took out the needle or blood, I went in the bathroom and threw up, and blacked out on the floor. I know it's a phobia, since I can acknowledge the fact that it's ridiculous of me to freak out like that. But, as I said, I can't help it. When I was 2, I believe, I was hospitalized with an extreme stomach virus. I was so dehydrated, I nearly had severe kidney damage. I was in the hospital for a week, and had an iv in my arm the whole time. I could have possibly associated such a horrible event with the needles, being a little kid. Now my mind is set up to have extreme reactions to such a harmless thing. You could have been through some trauma and caused your subconcious to link needles to something life threatening.

I have found only one thing that works for me. It's extremely hard to do, but get your mind off it. Try reading something, listening to music, or just singing a song in your head. It's worked for me only once, mainly because I think myself into getting sick. I even feel queezy while typing all this. Oh, and the ironic thing is, my veins are huge, and visible even if I don't want them to be. I'm not old enough to donate blood, but i've had people asking me to donate. I feel bad saying no, but I can't handle it. I'd rather not have a panic attack.

The reason you get sick and pass out is because when a person gets nervous, all of the blood rushes to the veins and arteries around the stomach. This causes you to feel like you are going to throw up. This also drains the blood from your head making you feel dizzy and possibly pass out. The only thing you could really do is to try like heck to keep your mind off of it. You could also have them recline the chair that you are in, which will keep some of the blood in your brain, so you do not pass out. Sorry I could not help more!

Yeah, that's basically all you can do. Do you tell the doctor about your phobia before they do the blood work?

Hi,

i also have a needle phobia. When I have blood work done, about an hour prior to, I put a creme called emla on the area from which they will draw the blood. It freezes the area and I don't feel the needle at all.


Renee

Hmmm.. I'll try that out. I don't think it's the pain, though. I've had panic attacks from needles. It was so bad once, I could feel the blood being taken out, and it felt like all the veins in my body hurt. Thanks for the advice, though.

Unfortunately, I don't think there are any ways to get rid of a phobia. Well, a true phobia. A phobia is a body's reaction to a stimulus that is blown completely out of proportion. There's a difference between being afraid of something, and having a phobia of it. Being afraid causes slight body changes (i.E increase heart/respiration rate, adrenaline flow). A phobia, once triggered, causes huge changes in the body. A phobia usually causes a near panic attack, rather than discomfort. People tend to think that phobic people are faking it, or starving for attention. People don't realize it's merely more than just saying "oh, I hate that", and the phobic person cannot control their response. The body goes into panic mode. The body reacts the same to a little needle as if it were a lion about to eat them. I personally have a phobia. I'm sure a lot of people do. People tend to mistake a phobia with a common fear though. I actually experience panic attacks when it comes to needles/taking blood things. Phobias are considered psychological disorders (so are things like schizophrenia, and did: dissosiative identity disorder).

I'll look into it. I'd like to get rid of this phobia. I want to donate blood, and help people in need, but I cannot handle it presently.

I start feeling ill with the tourniquet. If I didn't pas out yet, I feel ill as the blood is drawn out of me. I feel ill for the next several minutes. My mother also has needle problems and passed out in the parking lot once.
Next time I think that i'll ask to lie down. I'll also make sure that the good blood taker will take my blood. She does everything quick and doesn't leave as bad as bruising as most of them.
There is a psychological component though for sure. I do feel ill hearing about blood and needles or seeing it. It is different from other even severe anxiety that I have experienced. Maybe it is more intense. Why would I pass out so suddenly?

You pass out and feel ill because all of the blood leaves your brain very suddenly and goes towards your stomach (causing the puky feeling). This can happen with any terrible fear. I have always felt that way. Now, getting my blood taken does not really bother me at all. I used to have it done every week to monitor levels of drugs in my system, so I amazingly got used to that. After they have taken my blood I always feel sick for at least a day after.
But now, shots bother me a lot. I have to lie down for at least twenty minutes every time so I don't get really ill. Lots of people have this problem. I really do not know how to deal with it other than try not to worry about it, but of course we all know that does not work.

Nakia, I passed out once when I was pregnant almost 30 years ago because of them taking blood. I have small veins or they disappear when a needle hits them. I end up with many bruises and bandaids. Most of the time the blood has to be taken from my hands and then it takes forever to fill a tube. I have gotten so used to it because nowadays I cannot feel most of the pricks because I have ms. Have you talked to your doctor about this. Take care.

My advice is to try to relax through it, and don't think about what is happening. Like, think of yourself lying in the sand at a tropical beach, instead of that sharp, pointy, dreadful needle in your skin. My guess is you are just getting too nervous about it, and that could be why you're fainting or passing out. Here's another wild guess, you could be allergic to the metal in the needle? People pass out if they're allergic to something the doctor gives them at an office sometimes. I'm really scared and freaked out about needles. Im 12 years old and every time I get blood taken or a shot at the doctor's office, I usually cry a lil bit.

I'm not totally sure on what I just said, but it's just a thought.

Today I took a blood test, and as usual, I fainted just a few steps after it's done. It always happen to me when I take blood test, and only blood test. It's kind of weird, i'm not afraid of needles, when I do get an injection, i'm cool and calm. When I see blood, or bleed due to a cut, i'm ok.
However, when it's a blood test where blood flows out through a syringe, I end up fainting.
Few time I did survive it without any problems. But most of the times I take it, I knock out!!! It started when I was 12, and took a simple finger blood test, and I fainted due to it.
Today's one was bad, I went straight to the floor. When the blood came out, I was looking at it without any fear I know of, but my heart was pumping soo fast. When I go out of my unconscious after fainting, I was having cold sweat, and had a really bad headache that gave me a big depression that I didn't know where it came from.
Really don't have a clue where this came from. I had bad cuts before in my life where I bled bad, but I was alright. And I had big needles coming into me (not taking out blood), and I was alright. But the combination of blood and needle through a blood test just causes problems....

I used to hate needles, especially blood draws. Then I fell and had to get stiched and get a tet shot in my butt-which I actually enjoyed-since then ive never had a problem with shots and actually enjoy them. Dont know how this turn around happened?