For starters, trypanophobia is the fear of needles – in case you were wondering.
Apparently, there are specific fears related to each type of needle!
I can add myself to the group that’s experienced tattoo needles and doesn’t fear them.
I suppose that’s the goal of exposure therapy to eliminate the fear of needles altogether.
However, personally, I’m not one converting or erasing my fear at all.
Throughout my medical history I’ve endured jabs for vaccines, lab tests, intravenous medicine and hospital stays.
During those 25-some-odd years I’d heard that tattoo needle pain wasn’t the same as regular needle pain.
I’d dabbled in trying to find the pain I could tolerate by piercing the upper part of my ear cartilage in my early college days, but tattoos had always been rather elusive.
Outside of my general fear of needles, I worried that whatever I got inked onto my skin could be something I’d end up regretting down the road or healed horribly wrong.
I’d seen my fair share of horrible tattoos from observing the general public and from close friends that got theirs done from a “guy” they knew.
You know those “guys” – everyone has one that might be a bit sketchy for some reason or another, but they’re overall good friends and like to help their friends out.
I’d heard horror stories and seen botched work enough to know that I was going to have to make some long, hard and thought-out decisions before deciding what tattoo to adorn my body with.
I got caught up in the idea that if I had something custom designed with personal meaning then I could see the investment – not just in time and money, but also in building up the courage to get the actual work done.
I was trying to psych myself out with the lofty goal of erasing my needle pain and getting a cool piece of art at the same time!
Well, after a decade of doing that nonsense, I found myself just wanting to get a less-scripted tattoo done before I was 40 so that I can crush my fear and achieve a goal all at the same time.
Cue a random tattoo giveaway contest on Instagram that led to a road trip and bonding moment with my best friend last August.
I conquered that needle fear and got a colorful homage to my favorite Pokémon at the same time!
However, when I finally had my latest blood test taken last week I found myself fidgeting in the lab technician’s chair and trying to mentally prepare myself for the “little” stick.
I swear to you, that lady lied to me – it was worse than my tattoo and made me much more nauseous for one little tube than I’d remembered form any time that came before it.
“Little” stick my butt!
Now I’m still sporting a bruised inner elbow with lingering soreness and a renewed fear of needles – exposure therapy didn’t work one bit.
Though, much to mom’s dismay, I’ve also been entering other tattoo giveaway contests on Instagram with the hopes to add to my artwork collection.
I guess I can agree with everyone that told me it was a different type of pain though it doesn’t make me too eager to try exposure therapy again anytime soon.
