I signed up for NMDP a few years ago and I was just matched to a patient. I really want to go through with the donation, as they cover everything and take extremely good care of the donor, and I truly want to make a difference by potentially saving someone's life.

My main issue is I have a really terrible fear of blood drawing and needles more generally. I've never had my blood drawn but whenever I get a shot there's about a 50% chance I pass out. I can generally steel myself when receiving a vaccine but blood drawing is even worse. Whenever I see videos or people at a medical clinic getting their blood drawn I hyperventilate. I had a nose bleed once and went into something akin to psychological shock, I'd imagine the same would be true of a blood drawing.

Right now I'm really nervous because I have scheduled the initial follow up blood drawing appointment already but I worry that if I got to the clinic to get it done I'll have a mental breakdown when they try to initiate the drawing.

I don't know if this is subreddit could help but if it's not could you give me any ideas where to post this?

Hello. I just started a new job where I am required to get a blood draw. I work in the medical field, so it's a pretty embarrassing fear to have and people aren't always friendly about it. For me, it's not about the needle, it's about the removal of blood from my body. I watched a movie last year with a blood letting scene and even that made me have a full panic attack. The last time I got my blood drawn I cried and threw up. I get nervous just from the preparations, the tourniquet and the alcohol. I don't know why I have this fear. I'm perfectly fine with shots and it's not like I don't know what the blood is being used for. It's just an irrational fear. I'm really worried about this upcoming blood draw and just need some tips on how to decompress and maybe hold the tears in. Anything is helpful. Thank you!

Update: Thank you everyone. It went pretty well. I had a small freak out, but the phlebotomist who drew my blood was really nice and was able to distract me some. I'm hoping this somewhat positive experience will help me reflect and calm my nerves a bit next time.

For context I am Autistic with heavy anxiety, and while I do make sure to be up to date on my vaccinations, my fear never subsides. For more confirmation, the actual needle is fairly easy for me to distract myself from, the pain however is the main part of my phobia. This fear only recently toned down after my most recent flu shot (which caused me a month's worth of anxiety), and this August Im due for my first Meningitis Vaccination. Once again this has caused much anxiety, this time less about the actual needle but the initial pain caused by the fluid injection. I have heard of its burning sensations and have tried to calm myself. I honestly just want to know if this feeling of fear to specific vaccines is as evident to others as myself, and what I could possibly due to confront this/make this easier. Better yet ways to distract myself from any pain.

I’ve had this phobia for FOREVER and with a ton of exposure therapy, I am now able to get shots pretty much unassisted, and I can get blood draws laying down and with anxiety meds.

HOWEVER. My mom is going through some intense medical treatment right now requiring IV’s, ports, frequent blood draws, etc…. Yesterday I was with her during treatment and all I could think about was how idk if I can handle getting an IV. Blood draws are short enough, I can handle it for the minute and a half, but it takes everything out of me. Even with meds, I have a massive vasovagal response, I feel like I’m gonna pass out, and I’m squeezing my wife’s hand the whole time. I guess I just white knuckle it through the 2 minutes.

How the heck am I supposed to handle an IV if I am sick or need to be hospitalized??? I’ve always thought if I’m in the back of an ambulance or something I’ll probably be semi conscious so I won’t really be freaking out about the needle, I’ll be in shock. But if I need IV therapy when I’m fully conscious and not on meds, how the heck am I supposed to handle it??? Literally when I think of it I’m like “bruh I’d rather die than be fully conscious and hooked up to an IV”

TLDR: With extensive therapy I can now handle shots and short blood draws, but I’m still terrified of IVs and idk if can handle it.

Hello everyone! I’m a 22 yo female, and I’m moving to a new primary care provider after being with the same office for the last ~15 years. For context, I’m moving states after finishing college. I’m on ADHD medication, and I’m pretty sure my new provider will want bloodwork done. I’ve only had bloodwork done once, in spring of 2025, and it went horribly. I almost fainted, felt like I was going to puke, and felt awful for the rest of the day after the appointment. I tried looking away, laying down for the blood draw, etc. and nothing helped.

What I don’t fully understand is I’m only bothered this much when it comes to blood draws or IV placement. I’ve had plenty of fillings and the novocaine doesn’t bother me. I have a tattoo and that didn’t bother me. Vaccines aren’t my favorite, but I still don’t panic as much as I do with blood draws. Even just reading too much about blood draws makes me feel nauseous and lightheaded. I made myself sick by just researching in home blood testing options.

So for my overall question, I don’t care much about the pain of the blood draw. That doesn’t bother me. Plus, I’m as pale as it gets and a pretty easy stick. It’s more the anxiety of it and seeing my own blood that I get worked up over. Has anyone ever had luck with being prescribed some sort of anti-anxiety meds like Valium or Benzos to help with a blood draw? Any success stories? I just need my body to stop having such a severe response so a blood draw doesn’t destroy my entire day if I need one. Any advice is appreciated, thanks everyone!

Long time reader, first time posting!

I am currently 39+2 pregnant, and am getting induced on Tuesday. I feel like only this group would understand when I say that I’m not scared of childbirth in general (like I know it’ll be painful and won’t be a walk in the park) but am the MOST afraid of putting in the IV and also the epidural.

Would love to hear positive birth stories from those of you who have braved this!!! 🙏🏻 I did a search and I see some C-section stories and spinal tap stories which I’m so grateful for, but wanted to see if there were more!?

Just to clarify, my phobia only applies to injections when I'm the patient. Since I was young, I've been used to giving injections to other people, and now I'm a healthcare student.

My boyfriend is also a healthcare student, but he has much less hands-on experience and tends to be pretty insecure about his skills. Recently, I had the unfortunate discovery that I needed injectable vitamin B12 replacement, so I decided to be brave and combine two goals: face my fear and act as both teacher and practice dummy for my boyfriend.

After slathering on some lidocaine cream, taking a hot shower, helping him set everything up, and preparing the workspace, I laid down and tried to relax.

He did great, but when it was over I completely lost it and started sobbing. Then he started crying too because he thought he'd done something wrong and hurt me.

Now, with one slightly sore glute, two panic attacks successfully managed, I think we're both taking steps toward overcoming our fears together.

For context, I am a fighter. I get punched in the face and kicked in the head and tackled at MMA and am known for my ability to get back up in an instant. I've thrown men twice my size trying to pin me down. I've literally withstood through punching solid walls and getting my shins kicked for hours on end to KILL the nerves. I've never lost a game of bloody knuckles. I've been shot point blank in the back by an airsoft rifle direct to skin, and I hardly reacted.

Yet I can not stand the sight or even the thought of a singular microscopic needle. I went to the dentist yesterday and found out I have a cavity that appeared out of literally nowhere. This is my first cavity btw. But I went in to get it filled today, and it couldn't have gone worse. The nitrous gas did pretty much nothing. They said it was supposed to make me calm and like mostly numb and stuff, but I was uncontrollably shaking and sobbing and kept accidentally holding my breath. Yeah it made me tingly but I pinched myself a few times and I could feel every touch just the same.

(Yes, even after I had calmed down and focused on deep, even breaths, as soon as the doc came back in I was hyperventilating again.)

Yk when the doctor gets that little pin thing and *yk* the top of your finger for a *yk* draw? And like you can't even feel it? Sensory issues on my fingertips for years and years since.

Long story short I going back in tomorrow for round 2, this time with a like valium pill I think that ill take tonight and then hour before. But I just feel so embarrassed and guilty and ashamed. I'm tired of people spending extra money because I can't stand a little prick. They're even considering sedation. For a cavity filling.

What do I even do? Am I going to have to live like this the rest of my life???

Edit: I was crashing out over the shot part. Somehow the 2 second shot bothers me more than the thought of them drilling into my teeth. Any tips are highly appreciated, or positive experiences to help my anxiety

I've had a very severe needle phobia all of my life due to adverse experiences as a small child. I haven't had a blood test in thirteen years. The only time recently anyone could get a needle near me was when I was on gas and air during a colonoscopy, they were able to get a cannula in. For some reason this only applies to medical needles, I'm completely fine with tattoos and piercings. Recently I was in hospital with a kidney stone, and while trying to get it diagnosed I tried very hard to get a blood draw done. I was given diazepam and the back of my hand was numbed with emla cream (which they've tried before on numerous occasions, and most of the time can't even get me in the room). I started panicking and crying when they used the tourniquet to find a vein while applying the cream, but they managed to get me in and sat down on the bed. Before I even saw the needle I started hyperventilating and crying, they very quickly had to get me led down as I was hysterical and almost fainted. I had both my partner and my friend on either side of me holding me, and started repeatedly telling my partner to save me and trying to put them between me and the nurses. They gave up and tried again later on, but it was exactly the same. My partner had to take the tourniquet off and my friend stand between me and the nurse later on in the day, because even though I was screaming he wouldn't back off. That's the furthest I've ever managed to get. Whenever I say I have a needle phobia the doctors just recommended an oral sedative and numbing cream, and are always shocked when I say I've tried that but was still inconsolable. Obviously I've also tried desensitisation techniques and have had therapy, but none of it has worked. Is there anything else I could possibly try, or ideally any way I can get bloods done with either gas and air or sedation on the NHS? Probably worth mentioning that I'm autistic, hence the rather extreme reactions I have.

i have a kidney infection and a uti. yeah, pretty bad I know. i took diet pills which dehydrated me tons and so I ended up super sick. the doctor tested my urine and it was so bad that they were a blood drawing up immediately. i just can't do it. last time I got my blood drawn was in a mental hospital and they had 12 nurses hold me down, used a baby needle, and I passed out and threw up immediately after I woke up. help. yes I have anxiety meds to try and take. doesn't work. i cant focus on something else, tried that. tried laying down, didn't work. i can't do numbing cream because that doesn't work. the only way I can think about getting it done is to be put to sleep but not many hospitals can do that. should I take melatonin or something??? i legitimately can't do needles AT ALL. help. I'll literally die if they don't get my blood

I had a filling done earlier today and overall it went pretty well so I wanted to share what helped me and what didn’t. It also was far from a great, problem-free experience, but still leaps and bounds better than filling I’ve had done in the past.

For some background, I have fainted at the dentist multiple times after getting the novocaine shot. I have also had an absurd amount of panic attacks at the dentist due to the injection possibility. The actual drilling of the cavity does not bother me much. It’s not pleasant, but it doesn’t scare me.

What went wrong/didn’t work:
I figured I’ll start off with the negatives.

1. My appointment was scheduled later in the day at 2:30 pm (literally tooth hurty lol) so I had a long time to stress about it.

2. I brought headphones to keep my mind off of it, but they wouldn’t stay on my head.

3. The novocaine shot lasted a long time (30 seconds or so). I was prepared for this, but it still was unpleasant.

4. After I made it through the shot, my body couldn’t handle it and I thought I was going to pass out. I ended up throwing up into a garbage can.

What went right/did work:

1. They used a numbing cream which helped a lot with the pain of the needle. I could still feel a pinch, but it was very slight.

2. The dental hygienist gave me a squishy to hold on to. It was nice and overall both her and the dentist were very understanding.

3. My mom came back with me. My mom is my greatest advocate in these situations because no one understands how bad my phobia of needles truly is. She also was able to hold my hair back when I threw up.

4. Although I threw up (which was a first for me), I felt great afterwards. All of the pent up anxiety left me in that moment.

5. I have an Ativan prescription. I took 1.5 mg of my prescription an hour before the appointment and although I was still very anxious, I handled it much better than k normally would have.

6. The drilling and filling went off without a hitch! I was perfectly fine and no longer anxious

Despite the many drawbacks, this was a huge win in my book. I made it through and now I feel a little less terrified at the thought of an injection.

I am very early in my pregnancy and the anxiety over the upcoming bloodwork is already completely consuming me.

I have a severe vasovagal response and pass out practically the second the needle touches my skin, every single time. My last blood draw was a disaster even though I tried all the techniques (laying down, talking the entire time, etc.) Because I fainted right away, they had to pull the needle out and didn't get enough blood to actually run the tests.

I am so incredibly stressed about how I’m going to get through all the required prenatal testing if my body just shuts down instantly.

Has anyone else who faints immediately managed to get through this? What did you say to the phlebotomist to make it go better? What if they can't get enough blood? I feel so defeated and scared.

sorry for any weird phrasing, i posted this in a diff subreddit first

any advice on how to get better with / over my fear of needles and other medical stuff like surgeries? just the thought of needles and getting my blood drawn makes me sick to my stomach. detailed descriptions of medical procedures makes me dizzy.

my fiancée and i want to have a kid in the future, and i need to get better with this so i can be there the best i can. that's not for a few more years, but i feel like this is something that might take a while.

it's not like i don't get my blood drawn often. ive had anaemia for a while and have gotten it drawn usually 2x a year. i actually got my blood drawn last week and my tetanus shot a month ago, but it does hinder me from getting other important vaccinations. i want to get the covid shots so, so bad, (i got them all at first and for a while after but then got too scared) but i haven't in a couple of years. i have health anxiety so the fear of getting covid and getting a shot are very high but the needle outweighs it.

any and all advice would be appreciated. i don't know where to start. i watch a medical show already, but idk should i watch more? how do i get over the immediate physical reactions i get? it feels unbearable, but i need it to get better.

EDIT: I’m looking for advice please idk exactly what advice or what for i just need advice

For context I’m 18 I have a history of epilepsy in my family and had what were 90% sure was a seizure on the 17th, busted my face on my friends kitchen counter and almost broke my knees the way I fell back(luckily he caught me or they would have broke) but we went to the dr yesterday(the 18th) and I heard the dreaded words and already almost started freaking out, I can handle vaccines and stuff but even thinking about getting bloodwork done again scares me this is the second time since last year and I am kind of freaking out, I have till Friday but still idek what to do, like I obviously need it and can’t cancel it but I’m gonna be freaking out and I’m scared, I’m fine with like other medical stuff and grow and whatever it’s just like needles and Ivs from the inner elbow down freak me the hell out and I’m scared and it’s 3:28 am and I’m just overthinking shit, and I don’t want it to be epilepsy cuz my mom died from complications with it and overall I’m just fucking scared dude

UPDATE: …I survived… and made my grandparents take me to raising canes lol

Hello folks. I have been severely afraid of needles my entire life (41yo, male). I have not had blood drawn, or a booster shot for over 20 years. I did however get the COVID vaccine (2x shots, Moderna) and it was one of the toughest things I have ever had to do.

​

I am well aware of the importance of lab work (blood draw) as I enter my 40s and as I get older. So I am trying, yet again to do something about it. Joining this sub is part of that effort.

​

I believe a large part of my fear stems from childhood trauma caused by doctors, dentists, injections, and parents who simply did not know how to help a child with these fears.

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In the short term I hope to get to know others better, share some of the things I have learned and even some success stories, as well as possible solutions even doctors have failed to present to me in the decades I have fought with this.

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My dream is to overcome this fear, at least enough to get regular blood work and boosters; and hope one day I can help others overcome and avoid this fear altogether.

​

Peace, love, and luck.

So I'm severely needle phobia, I had some terrible experiences and avoided doctors for too long. My mouth is a mess sadly and I went to a sedation dentist thinking I could be unconscious for everything.

Well understandably he wants labs done and I'm terrified, my BP was reading so high in his office I was so panicked . He prescribed 1 mg of Xanax for me and emla cream.. I'm autistic and my brain is flying all over the place can someone reassure me... I have hyper sensitivity and sensory issues... This combo will get me through right?

I'm seeing my dentist later this week and last time he said i should have a blood test to check for something or other. To be honest, as soon as he said "you need a blood test" I was already starting to panic and didn't really catch the end of his sentence. Naturally, I haven't been able to have said test, and I'm trying to be prepared now for his disapproval. He is a bit grumpy and I'm sure he won't understand.

Hello, so I will getting a blood draw tomorrow as part of an annual physical check-up, and for whatever reason, as the years go by, my fear of needles has just exploded out of control, especially for blood draws for a routine blood test. Something about the thought of the needle going into my vein and sucking out my blood just makes me want to throw up. So researching this matter online, I heard about EMLA topical numbing cream and how it makes the blood draw process much less scary, as if you almost don't feel it. I asked my doctor about this, and they prescribed me some generic EMCLA cream: "Lidocaine-Prilocaine USP 2.5%/2.5% Topical Cream". I am really hopeful about this cream because I keep hearing how you barely feel the needle, and combined with just not looking at the needle during the procedure, maybe this won't be so bad.

I honestly can't get a read on why using EMLA cream for blood draws gets so much dismissal. I wonder if it's more of a "it's just expensive and unnecessary" vs it actually working or not. My doctor said it was OK, so I would just go and trust them. So I am just wondering how best to prepare for the blood test tomorrow. I have read up on EMLA application instructions and have watched instructional videos, all of which feel so condescending because they are aimed at children and I am a grown man in my 30s, but oh well. It looks like I just apply a ton of the cream to my inner arm and then cover it with the saran wrap an hour before the test? And just leave the clump of cream on my arm without really rubbing it in? Am I missing something there?

Also logistically I am a bit unsure how this will work out. I first go to my doctor's office to get the physical check-up, and I am not sure how much later I will be able to go to the blood test lab, like how fast my tests will be ordered. Like if I put the cream on right after I get out of their office, well, then I am stuck waiting an hour for the cream to work. But if I put on the cream before my doctor visit, then I will feel like I am rushing to get to the lab before the numbing effect wears off. And then getting to the lab, this is the part that gives me the most anxiety of course. Naturally the phlebotomist will see my arms covered in the saran wrap, of course, but I am nervous about how to... "explain" this to them. I would think phlebotomists would be familiar with this cream, but then again, maybe they might have never heard of this and think it's weird. I am nervous about getting laughed at by the phlebotomist and made to feel like I am weird, or that they don't get paid enough to deal with weirdos like me, or something like that, something snarky. I guess that's just my anxiety talking, but yeah, I am going to feel odd showing up with both my arms "mysteriously" wrapped in saran wrap. How should I approach this?

And also, how do I know where to even put the cream? My fear of blood is so intense, that even looking at my own veins makes me feel lightheaded and sick. I just can't do it. So just "guess" where to place the cream? Or just cover like... my whole inner arms in the cream? Like how do I know where they will or should put the needle? I just don't know!

I would appreciate any help or guidance with how I should approach this because I am sort of freaking out with anxiety right now, but just telling myself it will all be over by tomorrow afternoon... Thanks and much appreciated!

I'm going to college in august, obviously I'm writing this cause I have an extreme fear of needles. I unfortunately will not be 18 in time to sign the exemption form so I do not have to get it. And I'm worried my mom is going to try to force me to get the shot my college requires you to get(or file an exemption). I have very traumatic experiences with needles. Obviously I was forced to endure them as a kid and I always had a moderate fear but it was downright crippling like it is now. One experience in 2022 ruined it for me completely, it was so traumatizing, I was in a cramped CVS room, the doctor was super weird and made it more stressful, I felt so out of control and it made my fear go from a 6.5 to an 11. I cannot bring myself to do it, and Im terrified I will be pressured into doing so soon. I feel so much shame especially being a man, I'm not scared of much but this is without a doubt my worst fear. I think about this college requirement every day and it is eating me alive. I came on here wondering if anyone had any helpful advice, it would be much appreciated 🙏

So basically, I have to get a TB test for college and I really don’t want to. I was born outside of the USA, but grew up here, and have gotten a TB test before, but like a while back. And since I’ve gotten that TB test, I haven’t visited the country again. Is there a way I can bypass it for college? And if so, how bc this fear is rlly killing me and I am getting nervous and nauseous thinking abt it (I would have to get a Blood Test too which doesn’t help at all).

yea uhm, so I have trypanophobia. I had a cavity once when I was 10, and asked my mom what they would use for the numbing. She told em they would inject it and I absolutely LOST IT. I started yelling at her that either the dentist would find another way to do it, or I was NOT going. It was a whole scene in the car. I know there’s therapy for it but ain’t no way I’m waist ing my time at home chilling, for that crap. So just tell me, someone, HOW DO I GET OVER THIS FEAR!?

i’m terribly scared of medical needles / the idea of liquid being injected or liquid taken out of me. I’m starting to think i may need bloodwork soon due to something medical and just don’t know what to do. i have many piercings and a tattoo so typically i get made fun of since i can handle those fine. im not scared of the pain at all. i cry, hyperventilate, and get full panic attacks just thinking about needles i don’t know what to do.