If You Hate Getting Your Blood Drawn, Try These 5 Tips

Getting blood drawn can be an uncomfortable experience for many people. The mere thought of a needle pricking their skin can trigger anxiety and make people feel dizzy and lightheaded.

In fact, roughly 1 in 10 people struggle with trypanophobia , the term for being fearful of needles, and 2.5% of adults pass out during or immediately after a blood draw.

It’s common to get jittery about needles, but an intense fear of syringes can cause some people to avoid necessary bloodwork , thereby increasing their risk of becoming seriously sick. It’s an overlooked issue, research suggests, but one that can be effectively managed with a bit of preparation.

We asked two mental health professionals how they help their patients get through blood draws. Here’s what they said:

First, here’s why you faint during blood draws.

According to Lienna Wilson , a licensed psychologist in Princeton, New Jersey, there are two main reasons why people faint during blood draws: their genetics and psychological health.

“As with many mental health conditions, phobias have a genetic component, meaning that if your parents or relatives suffer from anxiety, you are more likely to have a genetic predisposition to developing an anxiety disorder,” she said.

In addition, many people develop phobias, such as a fear of needles, due to negative experiences in the past. If, for example, someone had a horrible or traumatic experience having blood drawn when they were younger, they may get nervous about the procedure years later as an adult. Trypanophobia is also more common in people with chronic conditions that require frequent injections or blood draws, evidence shows.

Trypanophobia causes a vasovagal response, which is a physiological reaction that