I'm due for a doctor's appointment but they're gonna want to do blood work and I have a phlebotomy phobia
I'm due for a doctor's appointment but they're gonna want to do blood work and I have a phlebotomy phobia
I think it's an actual phobia, my earliest memory is being held down by some doctors as they drew my blood. I'm not sure what to do about it:
- Continue ignoring doctors
- Simply accept the panic attack and get a blood test
- Try to get prescribed a single benzo or attempt to self medicate with phenibut before the test
- Go to actual therapy and successfuly eliminate the phobia (is this even possible?)
Yeah after typing this out the choice is clear. I will go with number 1.
In my experience, neither number 3 nor 4 are possible. You cannot reduce or eliminate this phobia, and they will never ever give you medication to make this less of a nightmare because it doesn't really work and it can make it more challenging to actually get the blood draw. Same problem with self-medicating.
Your best bet is to try and find an excuse for a procedure where you're under general anaesthesia and have the draw done while you're under. This is the literal only way I've ever been able to get a draw done.
It's ridiculous only dentists and maternity wards have nitrous available
Depending on your PCP, they may be able to prescribe you benzos for your panic attacks. If they're cool and you tell them that you have them semi-regularly (you don't need to say that you have an exact cause) and that they are impacting your life in some way (school, work, etc.), then they should be comfortable with the prescription.
I’d recommend being honest and communicate this to your doctor. Let them know you’re due but that you’ve got this acute fear and see what they can do, maybe skip that or find some solution. Is it the needle going in that’s the trigger for you (trypanophobia), or is it the sight of the blood itself (hemophobia)? Depending on the nature of it, there might be different methods of dealing with the fear.
I have really bad Aichmophobia and though I can manage it with most things, needles really drive me batty
Personally, I manage by dissociating wildly while staring away from the needle
Accidentally clicked onto your profile and saw this post. Might be worth looking into getting a ShotBlocker or a knock off shot helper device. I've heard that they work pretty well.