How to overcome needle anxiety?

Yeah, that is a lot to say. “Scared of needles” is easier. 😉

@crabby55 There are small, portable, vein ultrasound machines. Handheld. They find the best vein. All hospital blood labs have them but don't want to use them for some reason. You have to tell them about your vein problem and request the ultrasound. They are cheap devices, so I don't know why some blood labs don't have them. If you are able to have a choice of labs, I would call ahead and ask if they have the machine. Ofcourse, then they have to actually utilize it!

@colely Some labs don't have them because they take specialized training in order to be qualified to use them. I am an older nurse and prefer not to use the ultrasound because it takes quite some time to find a vein which I feel heightens anxiety for both the patient and myself. I am one who can visualize in my head where a vein is and can get a stick first time 95% of the time.

I find newer nurses are losing their skills at doing sticks because of technology. Heaven forbid the day we lose technology: none of the nurses will be able to do squat.

First, first, first - tell them - DO NOT PINCH ME before the injection. The way to have (usually) painless injections is to relax the muscle - then the needle goes between the muscle fibers. If you tense up (like after they pinch you), the needle tears through the muscle fibers and causes pain. About blood draws - I just don't know. I have to have weekly blood draws and it just depends on the phlebotomist. Some are angels and others are frigging vampires! I hope you are able to resolve this issue, because the anxiety is going to wear you down.

@ashleyharris728
Donate platelets at a blood bank/Red Cross and you'll never complain about the tiny needles they use for blood draws & injections.
Jake

@thisfatoldlady thanks for your comment, it made me smile. And yes it wears me down.

@jakedduck1 I know that many people who comment here mean well and I am going to assume your comment is tongue in cheek. I probably did not explain this well in my initial question, but it is much more than fearing a bit of pain. Ever since I was a teen, my body faints at the sight of blood. I’m not trying to be dramatic or hysterical, it just happens quickly so I’ve either anticipated the issue and gone off to another room to lie down and faint, or just avoid the situation as much as possible. I’ve been able to white knuckle my way though a lot, but I’m also tired of losing function of my arm or hand for weeks due to hematomas. I know my issue sounds pretty pathetic, but I deal with a lot of health issues and sometimes they get to a breaking point where I feel like I just can’t deal with one more thing. I’m only 40 and I have so many other things going on, I just want to do what I can to make the simple things easier. Hearing about other people finding success gives me hope.

@ashleyharris728, I have fainted multiple times, even gone into shock from multiple injections (apparently 2 is my limit), and thrown up from shock. I’m 64 and remember the first time I fainted when I was 11, and that was just from seeing the needle for getting my ears pierced. (Albeit that woman kept showing it to me and telling me that she was going to stick it thru my ear lobe.)
If there is a way not to become anxious, I’d love to know. My heart races, my blood pressure goes up, and I feel faint just thinking about having the injection. Then I “jerk” when the needle is inserted, vaccine or blood withdraw, sometimes becoming dizzy and faint when it does happen.

I fainted snd was unresponsive during a blood draw, although that may have been because I have low blood pressure to start, and the lab called a code blue on me. (Sit me down, put my head between my knees, and make sure there is a bowl when I come to because I most likely will vomit.) Now I lie down when I have my annual blood draw.

@ashleyharris728
When are the phlebotomist at the Red Cross told me it's usually more a fear of blood by a needle itself.
The first time I donated platelets at the Red Cross I got dizzy and felt strange and they did take me and lay me down, but thankfully, I didn't faint.
Have you ever asked them to use a a higher gauge needle maybe 30 or 35 gauge needle and I assume you alylook away. At the Red Cross they use a 17 gauge needle and when they take it out, you can actually see a hole in your arm. If you ever get blood on your clothes, peroxide is great for taking it out. When you do. I knew people at the Red Cross who would always keep their eyes closed while they were donating so I know it's not the pain of the needle going in itself.
Take care,
Jake