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.
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.
The combo of the little bench and the inner elbow gets me
Sounds like it’s the particulars of the ritual that get you. I assume then you don’t have an issue with vaccination injections?
I used to be a little uncomfortable with all injections but vaccinations are so routine I got over it.