Blood Drug Testing

I have a fear of blood, and I am about to have a blood test. What can I do to prepare myself?

I have to go to the doctor next Tuesday. The visit includes having to take a blood test. I have a fear of blood. What should I do to prepare myself, and not get freaked out before or during the visit?

Public Comments

1. close your eyes. imagine it's just chocolate.
2. Just look away.
3. Don't look when they draw the blood. Also inform the person about to take your blood.
4. Get over it and go in there like a man. You can do it!
5. close your eyes
6. fear is something that is hard to ovecome. If I was you I would just try to subside some of that fear by thinking about happy thought. That is the best you can do because you have a fear in your mind and only the mind can counteract that.
7. close you eyes
8. I have the same fear as you. Tell them about your fear some clinics help you through it.
9. I always tell myself not to look and it will be over soon
10. Tell the gal at the desk and the one in the room about your fears. They will take care of you. You don't see the blood unless you look. They got dividers in the room so you dont' see any blood., it will all be over in less than a minute. You will be fine.. and tell yourself that and you will!
11. When I get my blood drawn I put my arm up on the table, take a few deep breaths, then breathe normally and look the other way until it is done.
12. First of all share this fear with your doctor. Sometimes blood work can be done every other year instead of yearly. Try some relaxation techniques to relieve your stress. They can be very simple and helpful. see http://wso.williams.edu/orgs/peerh/stress/relax.html
13. nothing.. im soooo scared of taking blood tests and everything related.. u cant do any thin about it in my opinion... think of happy thots =)
14. There's nothing to be scared of. Just make sure you look the other way when they stick a needle in you.
15. whateva u do dont look!!!!!! i tried that one time and threw up everywhere it just looked so foamy and nasty eeeeeeewwwwww
16. Take it from me, blood tests are nothing to be afraid of. Fear of blood and needles are common phobias, many people don't even recognise they have them until they are sitting there with the band tied around their arm :) In fact, they are so common that some nurses will enforce that the patient not look at the needle whilst the blood is being drawn. Best thing you can do is to relax. Remember that the people drawing the blood are rigorously trained professionals who have probably performed the procedure a million times. They've seen it all, stoics and scaredy-cats alike. They won't let any harm come of you. Also, for a blood test, they will only take a little of your blood. Once a vein has been found, it only takes a couple of seconds. Close your eyes if you feel squeemish.
17. I have a fear of needles... so I know where you're coming from... If it's just at a clinic or something, I just have to breathe deeply and close my eyes and keep reminding myself that my fear is irrational... and for me it's not about pain, so I don't know what my issue is... Just keep telling yourself that there's no reason to be afraid of your own blood and what they're doing is necessary... Once at a hospital, though, I was offered a Valium. I would recommend trying to speak with a psycologist about your fear and seeing if you can get a prescription for something like Valium. Of course, if you have an addictive personality, I woudln't recommend it... but it might be too short of a time frame for you to do this by Tuesday. Good Luck.
18. Don't look! At all! It works.