Why are people afraid of blood tests?

Why are people afraid of blood tests?

“We are preprogrammed to see something that pierces our skin as threatening,” Bedard-Gilligan explains. “Sometimes this response is helpful, but it depends on the context. With a shot or a blood test, this fear is happening in the wrong place.” Bedard-Gilligan likens your fear response to an alarm system.

How can I overcome my fear of blood tests?

If you’re anxious about blood tests, the best thing you can do is let your phlebotomist (the person taking your blood) know. Try to put your embarrassment aside and let them help you through it. Give them details about experiences in the past where it’s been difficult to draw blood, or you’ve felt faint or nauseated.

What is the fear of blood tests called?

While some people may feel uneasy about blood from time to time, hemophobia is an extreme fear of seeing blood, or getting tests or shots where blood may be involved.

How many people are scared of blood tests?

It is very common, affecting at least one in 10 people, and is nothing to be ashamed of. Fortunately, simple exercises and practice can help to overcome it. Many patients with needle phobia may have had a lot of blood tests or procedures as a child.

What is the fear of getting hurt called?

Pistanthrophobia is a phobia of getting hurt by someone in a romantic relationship. A phobia is a type of anxiety disorder that presents as persistent, irrational, and excessive fear about a person, activity, situation, animal, or object.

Are there anyone else afraid of blood test results?

I am always afraid of the results from these blood tests, always anticipating the worst! I am deathly afraid from them finding cancer or another disease – I hate seeing the doctor, but I did manage to make an appointment to see my family doctor next week. Anyone else have a fear of seeing doctors and getting blood tests done?

Why do people have a fear of blood?

Fear of blood is also linked to the fear of death or Thanatophobia. The sight of blood often causes the individual to faint; s/he may fear embarrassing oneself by fainting, which is actually the body’s defense response to protect itself from further stress. As with other extreme phobias,…

Why do I have anxiety about blood tests?

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.

When to talk to your doctor about your fear of blood?

Talk to your doctor about your fear of blood, especially if it’s starting to take over your life or making you skip routine health exams. Seeking help sooner rather than later may make treatment easier in the long run. Not only that, but facing your own fears may also help prevent your children from developing hemophobia.