get over my "blood/injection/injury" phobia

Although I think the counselling was a good first step, I decided to do my own research and came up with “applied tension” as a tool to possibly help me. I ordered a book on this and want to develop some sort of plan. I put this into practice a few weeks ago when I had a medical appt. I used distraction, as well as applied tension and I got through it without fainting. I’m not sure which helped more so I will work on both. I’m not going to say I’m “over it” yet, maybe after three successful appointments…...

it’s so hard to tell from the first visit if this will fix things but he did bring to light one possibility as to why things seem to be getting worse for me over the last few years and I had never thought of this before. My father died very young and he was sick for a few years before he died—I am now approaching the age when he first became sick….the therapist asked me to think about this before our next appointment.

My best friend once passed out in the hospital because she saw blood. That’s very weird. I suffered from hypochondria once (it’s when you imagine that you’re ill of some terrible disease) but got over it after a couple of years without a psychiatrists’ help. Also, I suggested Marina (a.k.a. the friend mentioned before) to start meditating and try to forget about her fears. It helped, or as she would say “you saved my life, sista”. I advise you to seriously work on your fears, get a pet rabbit or something, that way you’ll keep your mind off it (fears that is)

I went to my Doctor a few weeks ago and asked for a referral for some sort of therapy to fix this. I got the impression that it would be some sort of desensitization therapy-I’m a bit skeptical at how this will work for me because I faint and I’m not sure how to stop that-but I will try to keep an open mind. I had gotten a referral for this a few years ago but life got in the way and I procrastinated. The goal is to actually go this time..

well, I recently had to go to the hospital to get a piece of glass removed from my foot, and had to get a tettanus (sp?) shot in the emerg room. The shot itself did not bother me, but after when I was sitting in the waiting room, I started to be overcome with anxiety…..I’m starting to think it is the hospital setting that is bothering me. It took everything in me to take my mind off of it and after a lot of effort, it worked. Perhaps desensitization is the key….

Know anyone that faints at the sight of blood? Well that’s me only worse. I can’t quite pinpoint when it will happen, but I’ve been known to faint taking about injuries, not just seeing them! My most recent “incident” was a couple of weeks ago when I was accompanying my friend to have her wisdom teeth taken out at the hospital. While the nurse was explaining what they were going to do to her, I knew I was not going to make it. Up until the moment the nurse started talking, I didn’t even think my phobia would be an issue because it wasn’t me undergoing the procedure-I was wrong! I have been doing some searching on the internet about this and how to fix it and I have since learned that if I tense up all of my muscles if I feel myself going, it should prevent me from fainting-we’ll see if that works!