When I was in high school I dated a guy who workked nights at the hospitol doing phlebotamy. He was the youngest guy on the team, but the very best. Some people just have a knack, and some never will. He was the only one who stuck babies, because it is tricky, and everyone felt better letting him do it. He wanrted to type my blood for fun one night when things were slow. I was a total whimp about needles. I told him no way. Another friend who was also visiting his work said he wanted to know his blood type. My boyfriend did it, but he made it sqirt on purpose. I had to go home.
I had to go into surgery maybe a year before that. They made me dopey first, then they were supposed to put me under in the OR. I had this druggie flashback of seeing a Mission Impossible episode when I was little. Somebody was killed when a bad guy injected poison in his IV. That nurse was going to put a needle into my IV! I swung at her and knocked her across the room, dumping the tray of instuments. (Poor girl)
I KNOW the panic, but over the years I have donated quite a lot of blood and plasma.
It became okay for me when I took charge.
Find out who the go to guy is. Most places have SOMEBODY who is just a natural. When I became a regular donor, I asked them out front and loud who does the whimps. Everyone, including the donors called out, “STEVE, you have a new one!” Knowing he was that trusted helped, but I was still nervous. When he got to me, I told him, “Do you see where my hand is while you get ready to stick me? If you hurt me, I will grab what is closest, and hurt you back.” He smiled, said, “Ooo baby!” as he slid a needle into my vein.
You may have fears based on something from so long ago, you can’t remember what started them. If hypnosis (as already suggested) is realistic for you, give that a go. Just keep in mind, you are not a victim. You are in charge. You have the right to ask for someone specific. People who advise to not look are people who don’t know the panic. Looking is exactly what you should do. Be in charge of your own “bleed”. Watch. Feel the fascination of watching what takes place. It is something you can handle, and watching takes the control from them, and gives it to you.
Whenever I need any blood drawn, I always ask for the whimp-sticker, but I’ve gotten much better at it. Be in charge, know you are not a victim, watch, and keep a sense of humor. You will do fine.