Just be calm, buddy. Lots of people hate getting blood drawn (I'm one of 'em), for a number of reasons I obviously won't go into here. And the med techs are used to it, and know how to help.
With luck, you'll get one of the people who will calm you down, talk you through it, give you a little warning when it's about to happen, and are so smooth you barely notice it. Just remember to breathe, and to do everything you can to relax. It will be over soon, promise.
Until I was 27, I was terrified of a seemingly small thing: the kind of blood test where they prick your finger and squeeze out blood. Although it isn't any more, it used to be a standard annual thing at my OB checkups, and every year I worked myself into a cold sweat about it for days in advance. Then, when I was pregnant with Chloe, I had gestational diabetes, and I had to prick my own finger multiple times every day to check my blood glucose level. End of fear.
That sort of sounds like I'm suggesting that you draw your own blood multiple times every day for 3 months, which I don't suppose is an option. But I do wonder if there's some other way to help you acclimate your way out of your fear: several small blood draws over a period of weeks to test for assorted things, or getting both kinds of flu shots on different days, or something. Maybe your doctor would have a suggestion.
In the meantime, as Filkerton says, breathe deeply.
Why am I so fucking stupid about when people's voices start raising? If I hear any hint of even potential yelling, I want to get away from the situation - EVEN IF IT HAS NOTHING TO DO WITH ME. I had a full-blown PANIC ATTACK after listening to somebody rant about her day at work.
It's just something. Maybe it's worth poking at with professional help if it's available to you. Maybe it's not. But you're definitely not alone in being "so fucking stupid" about things.
Don't feel bad... I'm a baby when it comes to needles and having blood drawn and I'm only a smidge younger. In fact, I have lab paperwork I need to go get blood drawn for on the counter right now, but I keep making excuses why I can't go each day.
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With luck, you'll get one of the people who will calm you down, talk you through it, give you a little warning when it's about to happen, and are so smooth you barely notice it. Just remember to breathe, and to do everything you can to relax. It will be over soon, promise.
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However, I can state firmly, from past experience that the Litany Against Fear doesn't work. ;-)
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;)
Tom is wise--listen to Tom.
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That sort of sounds like I'm suggesting that you draw your own blood multiple times every day for 3 months, which I don't suppose is an option. But I do wonder if there's some other way to help you acclimate your way out of your fear: several small blood draws over a period of weeks to test for assorted things, or getting both kinds of flu shots on different days, or something. Maybe your doctor would have a suggestion.
In the meantime, as Filkerton says, breathe deeply.
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It's just something. Maybe it's worth poking at with professional help if it's available to you. Maybe it's not. But you're definitely not alone in being "so fucking stupid" about things.
*hugs, but not the smothery kind*
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