Blood Test Anxiety - Hemaphobia

Magyarok · ‎05-08-2014

Hi All,

This may seem a trivial but it is a very real problem for me - i have hemaphobia which is a specific anxiety disorder relating to blood and in my case a very strong fear of blood tests. Even the thought of a blood test makes me feel queasy and feeling faint and i will noticeably go pale and my fingers and toes will feel funny and go weak. Needless to say that when i am faced with a blood test i will experience the above and i will freak out and i will go faint and black out.

Thankfully i have only experienced four blood tests in my life with the last being a few years back but now that i am in my forties i understand that regular blood tests may become an unfortunate reality and for this reason i avoid going to the doctors. But unfortunately i will have to go soon for a workplace medical and i am fearful that because of my age and that i haven't had a check up in years that the doctor may order blood tests for me which freaks me out.

I have tried to explain that i have a blood test phobia to doctors / nurses before but they just give me a perplexed look and suggest that i'm just being 'silly' and they will just down play it to a fear of needles. I am not scared of needles - i don't like them but i am able to cop them if necessary without drama. I can even go to the dentist no problem and not even flinch!

It is blood tests and anything else that is intravenous (drips, epidurals etc) that really freak me out and cause anxiety. Apologies again if this seems trivial but it is a very real fear for me and i don't know how i can possibly overcome it. Does anyone else experience this? Does anyone have any advice?

Take Care

ignoP

Neil_1 · ‎06-08-2014

Dear ignoP

Firstly let me just say that this is NOT a trivial matter. It IS a very important matter and needs to be dealt with as such.

I can understand to a degree your phobia - as in, when I have blood tests, I cannot look at it being done. I do get worked up and get sweaty and on a couple of occasions in my former dr's room, afterwards he had me lie down for a while as I became very pale and almost fainted.

My first suggestion to you would be to see if you can possibly change your doctor. It irks me that some doctors out there would not be more caring for their patients and they should realise that for a lot of people, the process of having a blood sample taken is a huge deal.

On this site, Beyond Blue have a list of dr's available. I mention these ones as if you can find one near you from the Beyond Blue site, the main reason they are on this site is that they are highly skilled in dealing with mental health issues.

If you can go to see one of these dr's, I'd be very surprised if they didn't treat you in a manner with which I would think they would - with utmost care and support for you - and dear ignoP; THAT'S totally on the assumption that you "may" even need a blood test.

The other possible suggestion is whether you have a real close personal friend or even family member who might be able to go along with you and be there with you to help comfort and calm you. The other reason for this is that would be there to drive you to and from the appointment, as you may well not feel up to driving afterwards.

I'm open to keep on with other suggestions, but these are my first two. I do hope you can get back to me on this.

ps: I have a massive phobia with dentists. 🙂

Neil

Magyarok · ‎06-08-2014

Hello Neil,

Thank you for your response and advice, i wish that those in the medical profession were as empathetic as you.

I've done some research and suggested treatments for hemaphobia (and other specific phobias) include gradual controlled exposure i.e. starting at a level where you are comfortable then gradually building up - this still freaks me out! Another suggestion was a short course of anti anxiety medication prior to having a blood test.

I know as i get older the necessity for regular check ups and blood tests will become a reality. I wish i could confront this fear and overcome it and i wish i could do things like donate but that completely freaks me out.

On the plus side having hemaphobia and a general strong dislike for doctors is a very strong motivator for me for living a healthy lifestyle.

P.S. i used to have a phobia of the dentist as a result of traumatic childhood experiences courtesy of the school dentist back in the 70's to 80's ....... jeez they were brutal! My adult experiences at the dentist have been much better so i have overcome that phobia but my phobia of blood tests is far more deeply ingrained.

Anyway thanks again for your advice Neil and i wish you the very best!

Cheers

ignoP:)

JayBee · ‎07-08-2014

Hi ignoP. What you described in your original post is virtually a word for word overview of my experience with anything intravenous. I have often fainted when I have had blood taken and if I haven't totally passed out - I have been very light-headed and need to stay lying down for quite a few minutes. I had one particularly distressing experience when I was in my late teenage years - as I fainted the needle must have become dislodged and 'apparently' blood went everywhere. I highlight apparently, as I vaguely remember hearing the nurse saying that - and I subsequently fainted again. Apart from the 'dread' factor, I have often felt quite a degree of embarrassment associated with this 'condition'. There is also an element of vulnerability and lack of control which has probably made me feel quite uncomfortable also. As you have also stated - I don't have any concerns with having injections or going to the dentist. For some reason (beyond my understanding) just the thought of having an intravenous procedure makes me feel uneasy - the days leading up to an actual procedure are quite challenging. I have tried a variety of strategies - attempting to push it out of my mind whenever the thought is highlighted; trying to convince myself that this time I will be okay; etc. I have accepted the fact that this is my lot and rather than trying to 'overcome' this difficulty - I have attempted to live with it the best way I know how - and by acknowledging that this is the way I am, can help to take away some of the impact of the peripheral issues which the condition can bring into the mix. My very best wishes.

Bint · ‎07-06-2015

Hi, ignoP,

This sounds very familiar. I had a phobia of all needles until a few years ago. I can now have injections without the (massive) drama, but blood tests make me chatter, punch and run - so much so that I've not actually had one in 30 years! Desperate, I've tried everything. There's a new innovation in the U.S. that requires just a finger prick, but I couldn't find anything available outside California (£££!) so tried hypnosis. That failed. The "fear of success" was also an issue - I couldn't imagine being okay with a blood test.

Eventually, I was persuaded to try CBT. Wow. I started with a list of things I feared - starting with touching my inner arm, to watching a blood test and then having one (10 or so things on that list). One by one we cracked it. I've just had my last session and can watch a blood test (on YouTube) without getting hysterical. I'm going in three days to have a blood test and am quite excited.... I had my first panic attack in a session, but it was a controlled environment (therapist on hand) so manageable and unlikely to happen again.

CBT is a great way to break down the fear, learn your body's reactions and how to counter them. It's all about being in control and, my, the difference in me! The proof will be in the pudding, but I'm so pleased (and amazed) by my progress. Part of it was watching videos on YouTube, designed for young people with severe learning disabilities. If you don't want to try CBT, try watching one of those? Control your breathing, keep watching until you're bored.

Above all, I've learned it's a very real and "normal" fear. And even if I don't get a blood test, after just 10 CBT sessions, I can honestly say it's no longer a phobia. If I "succeed", I'll let you know. 10 weeks ago I'd rather have died than have a blood test, but now.... It's an actual possibility (having a blood test, that is, not dying).

Really hope this helps and encourages you to try to find something that works. My research suggested that CBT most effective for this phobia - it still took me 30 years...

Beat of luck!

ptn71 · ‎05-07-2016

Hi Magyarok

CBT worked very well you?

Marzy · ‎22-06-2017

Hey there,

Were you ever able to conquer your fear? I'm almost 42 and have NEVER had a blood test. What you described is so very close to my reaction - I also even had a dentist phobia (from those brutal school dentists) but have overcome that. I just don't know how to get over the challenge of having a blood test.

Would love to hear how you went with it all.