Help me get over my irrational fear of needles BG!

[Nevex]

Buy one of these. It may help you not to think about it:
http://www.animesekai.com/images/uploads/plsffx003.jpg

[Byrthnoth]

Heroin is the solution to this problem.

[Rabidelly]

Hello fellow super-needle phobe! I too once (and mostly still) had an extreme and irrational fear of needles in any form. Now I'm diabetic and get to be poked by needles and lancets all the time, HURRAY!

First of all, you're not a wuss. You can tell yourself it's an irrational fear and that it's stupid to be afraid of it all you want, but if you're like me it's something that you have very little control over. I would have panic attacks any time I needed a shot, and blood tests were like hell. I still have to have blood tests done on a reclined chair, and afterward I have to wait 10-15 minutes to sit up because I feel so lightheaded.

Once I was diagnosed as a type 1 diabetic, I had to quickly learn to deal with needles multiple times a day. The resident endo I saw in the ER just kept saying how she saw a camp of diabetic kids who weren't bothered by needles so I shouldn't be either. Ugh, sorry but that doesn't change the fact that I was beyond terrified of needles. Thank god my bf was able to give me my shots since I physically couldn't do it myself (trust me I tried and tried and tried and got nowhere but having tons more anxiety). I was even given a prescription for a generic Zanax and it just made me sleep.

Eventually I went to see a psychologist because it wasn't something I could tackle on my own. First thing she had me do was practice breathing exercises. And by that I don't just mean "breathe deep and slow" I mean breathe deep and slow and don't think of anything else and relax your body. Learn to push any other thoughts away. Then we went on to the "Find your happy place!" stage. Again this sounds silly but, figure out some scenario where you feel safe and calm, make it stick in your mind. Once you're comfortable, try imagining watching a needle on a tv or something.

Eventually I got to the point that I can do my own finger sticks with no issues, but I still can't give myself a shot. And to boot, I can handle shots/blood work at least 10X easier than I ever could before. I still cry and freak out a bit, but it's much much more controlled.

Any time needles are involved, I always tell the person that "Hey, I'm a super needle phobe, just to let you know." I also tell them that I will let them know when I'm ready for them to do what they gotta do. Figure out a method of calming yourself, and when you can tell them when you're ready, you have an element of control in a scary situation. Hell, sing the alphabet once you're ready or any other song so that you have to think about that, rather than what is happening.

[Melena]

I'm terrified of needles, but after quarterly cholesterol screenings, two shoulder surgeries, and appendicitis, i've learned to just deal with it. They still squick the shit out of me though, but I can at least deal with the whole drawing blood thing.

[BadKarma]

Vasovagal sounds like my symptons....fuck

[synistar]

I pass out if I'm not laying down when someone draws my blood. And we're not talking a unit, just 10-15mL worth. Not afraid of needles at all. I can hum to myself all I want at the dentist as they are drilling away or shooting me up with novacaine and be perfectly fine.
I was even talking the last time I was getting my blood drawn at work. 5mL just fine. 10mL, starting to get light headed but still talking. 15mL in getting really woosy and they wanted 20mL more after that since I said they could get that much! Needle out after 15mL, still talking, then next thing I know it was smelling salts and they told me my lips were blue and out cold for a good minute or so. Banned from selling my blood to work after that since I'm the only one that has passed out TWICE in the 200+ people they have gotten blood from.

[Lucavi]

Pussy. Bring on the needles. You can have my blood. Such a weird phobia...

[BadKarma]

Pussy. Bring on the needles. You can have my blood. Such a weird phobia...

Called sono a pussy. Aw shit

[Celestialstrife]

If you have small veins, you should drink more water. I get told that all the time when I go in to donate plasma. Hopefully that helps some!

[Kaylia]

They refuse.

Also the hand is painful as fuck

Hands fucking suck. It's by far the worst place that I experienced.



On topic, just man it up and look at the needle. Looking away is the worst thing you can do to get over your phobia...you're just cultivating the fear that something terrible is going to happen.

Next time you're about to get a shot, just think about manly shit and take it like a boss.

Spoiler: show

[Rabidelly]

It's hard though, when you mentally WANT to do or be able to cope with something but your body physically won't let that happen. And depending on the severity of the fear and the person, just throwing yourself at it may make it worse.

[RKenshin]

May help to sort of meditate when the time comes.

Relax, get comfortable, calm your mind and focus on only your breathing as much as you can. Taking long, deep, slow breaths. Focus on that completely, as if you're competing for the slowest, deepest, calmest breathing world championships.

For best results, practice doing that a few to several times before (for a minute or so) so you become familiar with the feeling and act of doing it.

Typically any potential combination of the panic, over-thinking, shortness in breath and elevated heart-rate are what will cause you to pass out in situations with an irrational fear, so if you can successfully stay relaxed, calm, and/or distracted from it you should be able to avoid that reaction.

[Pharaun]

Heroin is the solution to this problem.

This is the correct answer, you will have an irrational love of needles at that point.

[Lucavi]

Called sono a pussy. Aw shit

I love the piercing feeling and I love the suction feeling. I'd say man up, but its not something you can just "get ya ballz up" for. You can either tolerate it or you can't. Why are you worried so much about getting over it? You don't need to live your life with needles strapped to your arm all day until you hit retirement age or have some fatal illness.

[Ksandra]

I hate hate hate hate needles. Not sure if I could ever get over them either. I have extremely thin veins and they are rollers, too. I don't think I've ever had a nurse be able to get the needle in my vein on the first try. I've had times where they've poked me in like ten different places before their done. On top, of that, I am a complete wuss and if any blood is drawn I get dizzy and have to lie down/get fluids in my system. It pisses me off as I was a tomboy growing up and it frustrates me how much of a wuss I am when it comes to that. It's just the needle too. When I was young (5th grade maybe?) I got a wart on my finger. My parents had the doctor do the whole numb it and cut it out deal. I watched the whole thing, blood pouring out n' all. So I really think my fear is based on getting poked OVER AND OVER AGAIN. FUCK.


Not that any of that helps, but just wanted to let you know I hate them, too.

[Tagus]

Just accept that you're possibly going to pass out, inform the people performing the test, and don't worry about it. I've passed out several times when giving blood for some reason, yet I give my wife monthly injections for crone's disease and am a dose drawing technician, which means I handle literally hundreds of needles a day at work without even the slightest concern. It's just ingrained into your head, there's not much you can do. Looking away doesn't help me, either... it's the sense of the needle being inserted that knocks me out. No worries, mate! Happens to the best of us.

[Kuya]

I fucking hate intra muscular injections.

[Rabidelly]

Sometimes it helps to think of a reward for afterward and you can focus on that. Being diabetic, I go YAY FOOD! Cookie for me.

[SteveMc]

I bet Ive had 10 students attempt their first IV on me. Anytime me, my wife, or my kids get anything done, I like using students, they couldn't be more focused on not fucking it up.

I know it was last page, but I love this philosophy Tyche, I know they had to learn somewhere, but this is honestly brilliant in my drunken little mind right now.

Edit: Also HIIII Katie how's your demon spawn? (Please don't ban me )

[kuronosan]

http://upload.wikimedia.org/wikipedi...fly_needle.png


This fucking thing, this is the thing they use for blood tests. I am a gigantic pussy, along with apparently 40% of other americans.

A butterfly needle? No wonder you're so fucking scared. They use that needle for collapsed veins or tiny veins. Fly over my house. I'll help you get over that shit.

They're using the wrong type of needle for you. Butterfly needles hurt the patient more but make the person drawing your blood happier about their shitty technique.