Help! Major phobia of injections and blood

[Jariel]

I've been dodging injections, blood tests and any kind of medical examinations for the last 10 years because I have an extreme phobia of injections and blood. Even when I'm ill, I avoid the doctors as I'm scared he'll want some blood and one time he asked to take a blood sample I froze up and started shaking. He could see my reaction and decided against it. My knees were trembling so much I could barely stand up after and it was so embarrassing.

Now, I'm thinking that I really need to have a check up, and that's going to involve giving a blood sample.

To be clear, it's not the pain of injections that bother me and I'm not that bothered by injections that go into the muscle, but the idea of injections in my veins fills me with utter fear.

I've tried hypnotherapy tapes, books, positive thinking and affirmations, and I honestly don't know where else to seek help. My other phobia was public speaking, but I managed to overcome that. Yet this is a real hard one to fight.

Anyone had much success overcoming paralysing phobias like this?

 

[Desdinova]

Anyone had much success overcoming paralysing phobias like this?

I usually take my phobias on head first. I go into it 5hit scared, but knowing that it's nothing that I should really be afraid of. I also get it fixed in my mind that I'm going to cure the phobia.

Dude, you should really look into your past and find out why you're so goddam scared of it. Finding the sources of the phobias is one good step into fixing the problem.

Best of luck.

 

[Jariel]

Originally posted by Desdinova
I usually take my phobias on head first. I go into it 5hit scared, but knowing that it's nothing that I should really be afraid of. I also get it fixed in my mind that I'm going to cure the phobia.

Dude, you should really look into your past and find out why you're so goddam scared of it. Finding the sources of the phobias is one good step into fixing the problem.

Best of luck.

Thanks for the reply. I actually know where this phobia started: I suffered meningitis as a kid and had to endure more injections than I can remember, including a lumber puncture (excruciating injection in my spine). I've never been the same since.

I keep wanting to face it head on, but every time I get close I feel like I'm about to be sick or pass out. With other phobias I've felt like I could push through it, but with this I feel literally paralysed.

 

[DJDamage]

Tell your doctor about your situation and see if he can accomdate you.

I tend to avoid blood tests as well since I had a bad experience as a child. I tend to be fine with the whole ordeal because I look the other way and I can barley feel the needle. My problem is right after they take the needle out I feel a bit dizzy and the whole room starts spinning so I have to lie down or put my head on a table for 5 mins.

Its a small price to pay though.

DjDamage