Overcoming fear of donating blood.

[Jey]

Hi guys and gals,

Not sure why I am so peculiar but I have a terrible fear of needles and this is keeping me from not only donating blood but also my check ups. I did pass out when i watched my mother slaughter a chicken when I was a kid and been terribly afraid of injections even now. How do you guys / gals handle this? Share your experiences here. Really need all of your help.

Thanks.

Jey.

[irisbaggins]

I share your same fear. I remember punching a nurse the last time she tried to collect blood samples (when I was down with dengue)....

[tbearer]

my fear of blood donation, doesnt come from needles but the pain. i have very low threshold for pain. my mom always says that i'm so big sized but when it comes to pain i'm totally useless.

i have donated blood 3 times. and the pain comes from the prick at the finger tips(to check iron content) and of course when they insert the IV in your arm.

when i go for my bi-yearly blood tests, in order to avoid the pain, i pinch myself with the other hand so hard that i cant feel the needle prick. that's how i deal with it.

[arwai]

i also have this fear. the last one i went they injected pain killer to the spot where they are going to extract the blood. after that when they insert the IV, i didn't feel anything. but at the moment when the nurse about to insert i almost chickened out. i think now i can do every 3 months, no more fear already but will only to at that hospital

[hhtee]

It is a pity that some people have fear of needles or fear of blood. Two of my class mates during the Form 5 biology where we were supposed to prick our own finger to test the blood group, almost fainted! The amount of blood was just a few drops but I could see their faces turned pale / green.

I really do not know what is the reason for the fear. but I do suggest that on the extreme side, perhaps a consultation with a psycologist or something like that may be helpful.

I too am afraid of needles. When I recently donated blood, I just turned away when the pretty nurse (with an engagement ring :p) asked me if I don't mind to be pricked while standing up and she did a quick prick on my finger after I said "I don't mind" :D. I felt like an ant biting me and that's all. It wasn't that painful for me. I highlighted the pretty nurse because sometimes, distraction may cause you to forget about pain. Well maybe next time carry Paris Hilton's (pretty ar? ) photo in your wallet.

When you are donating blood, a bigger needle would be used. for me, I just do not look at the needle penetrating my vains. It's a bit scary for me to see the big needle going into my arm.

Now that I mentioned about needles going into my arm, I just recalled something. When I was young I used to play with knifes. One day when I was with my friends I cut my thumb while slicing the bark of a tree. DAMN! the cut was at the joint near where my thumb bends. I could see the bone if I recall correctly. I think I was dizzy a bit but not that bad. My swiss army was very sharp and that's why could cut me up pretty good. I didn't want to go see a doctor because I was short of cash and afraid of stitchings. Then my friend advised me to see. So I went. I asked the nurse what if I don't stitch? she said the wound will turn very bad. So the doctor stitched me. I watched as the doctor stitched me. I guess by watching the doctor stitching me, that eliminated some of my fears of needles. My mom scolded me for playing with knifes. The next day I played with the pen knife again but this time I went to spilt the school broom stick into two. Again I cut myself. Guess what? I stitched myself! :D

So for my case, I do believe that I am "A BIT" not scared of needles because when I was young I have seen the doctor using the hooked shaped needles to stitch my wound. I remember seeing the needle penetrating the skin.

But we cannot turn back the clock and ask you to go to the doctor and get yourself stitched. What I can suggest is a psycologist. Maybe somebody with psycologist knowledge can advise you. I remember seeing a documentary where people who feared spiders, were no longer afraid of spiders by the end of the show due to the help of some psycologist.

Also, keep a photo of Siti Nurhaliza if Paris Hilton's photo is no good :D

[Good Guy]

Hi guys and gals,

Not sure why I am so peculiar but I have a terrible fear of needles and this is keeping me from not only donating blood but also my check ups. I did pass out when i watched my mother slaughter a chicken when I was a kid and been terribly afraid of injections even now. How do you guys / gals handle this? Share your experiences here. Really need all of your help.

Thanks.

Jey.

If you have the conviction that you WANT to do your part in saving lives, then you will face the fear. After your ordeal, you will experience a sense of achievement and happiness that no money can buy. Then the next time will not be that bad. Take it from the one who has gone through the experinece many times over. GO AND DO IT. DON'T THINK ANYMORE. JUST DO IT! :eek:

[hhtee]

If you have the conviction that you WANT to do your part in saving lives, then you will face the fear. After your ordeal, you will experience a sense of achievement and happiness that no money can buy. Then the next time will not be that bad. Take it from the one who has gone through the experinece many times over. GO AND DO IT. DON'T THINK ANYMORE. JUST DO IT! :eek:

yeah. I have that feeling too. I had the feeling of wanting to save lives. Nowadays, I see a lot of con people going around asking for donation. They keep coming to me and ask for money but deep down inside my heart, I tell myself, I don't need to give money. I give "processed money" :D i.e. blood.

anyways, that's a good point you brought up. i.e. "diversion of attention". If one keeps thinking that, "I MUST SAVE LIVES", then perhaps their willpower could overcome their fear.

but I still think pretty girls are better attention diverters :D

[La Vida Loca]

Have a hot drink, milo or coffee and some crackers before you donate blood. Most people eat after they donate blood but I will always eat before and after I donate. Kiasu maybe but food always help to calm my nerves. When you have food in your stomach, pain treshold is always higher. I'm scared of blood, my own especially not the pain. The more you donate, the less scare you will become. That is my opinion.

[Jey]

Thanks mates, for your encouraging words. I know that the more it is done the less scarier it gets. Trouble is getting to do it the first time....ayooooo. EVen the thought is making me nauseating.

[jack10dd]

Guys - one way is NOT to look at what they are doing . Look away - this helps......

[Wild_Explorer]

Agreed fully, just don't look at what they are doing and the pain is just for a moment. I have been a regular donor for the last couple of years.

Having said that I still get butterflies in my stomach everytime I donate. :D

[cypaq]

Jey, good to know that you want to be a blood donor. I do understand your anxiety as I have gone through it myself. The first time is always the hardest. I'm a regular donor and have donated at least once a year for many years already. One of the way to reduce your anxiety is to go with a group of friends. The cadamarie is quite effective in taking your mind off the process. Before you know it, you would have completed it. My friends and I usually have our 'little race' on who can fill up their blood pack faster. :D

So, go and save somebody's life. :cool:

[Good Guy]

but I still think pretty girls are better attention diverters :D[/QUOTE]

Try to approach the prettiest nurse to insert the needle for you. It will be a pleasure mindfully following the smooth fingers inserting the needle! :cool:

[burntan]

I would suggest that, if you really, really scare, then just don't do it.

There is nothing to be shame about if you scare of something.

[hhtee]

but I still think pretty girls are better attention diverters :D

Try to approach the prettiest nurse to insert the needle for you. It will be a pleasure mindfully following the smooth fingers inserting the needle! :cool:[/QUOTE]

I don't want! I want the nurse to hold my arm and tell me everything is OK. :D I will tell her, it's NOT OK. My heart is beating so fast! Feel it :D

[hhtee]

I would suggest that, if you really, really scare, then just don't do it.

There is nothing to be shame about if you scare of something.

yes it's nothing to be ashamed of but I think Jey is very eager to donate (he PM me also). Jey also mentioned that this keeps him away from check ups. It's better for him to cope with the fear so that he can have a yearly check up or something like that. I think there are lots of benefits especially when the current health condition is known. what do you think?

[coleslaw]

i'm also terrified of needles..not the pain, just fear of being stabbed with it. that said, luck would have it, underwent 6 major op in the last few years..so needles galore. i have donated blood, so far, for friends. what i do is i don't look at all, eyes closed and face turned away! the heart of course is thumping away, cold sweat, the works. when it's over, i just sit down and wipe away the sweat and wait till heart beat is normal. then off i go! :o

[Jey]

i'm also terrified of needles..not the pain, just fear of being stabbed with it. that said, luck would have it, underwent 6 major op in the last few years..so needles galore. i have donated blood, so far, for friends. what i do is i don't look at all, eyes closed and face turned away! the heart of course is thumping away, cold sweat, the works. when it's over, i just sit down and wipe away the sweat and wait till heart beat is normal. then off i go! :o

looks like I will summon the courage to try this... dunno if it will work, but need to find out. :eek:

[Jey]

Just hoping that I will not pass out or something...

[coleslaw]

i'm not gonna push you into doing it. i was not pushed into donating blood for my friends. it just happened. all my friends know of my fear but they were running out of people who could donate and there was an urgent need. and there's no such thing as i'll do it when i'm ready. people like us are never ready! :) just go with the flow..if it happens, it happens..don't beat yourself up over it, i don't.