Problems with Blood

[Clairea11]

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I'm taking first aid for gym at my university. Today, we watched a video on how to treat open wounds. I saw the blood and fainted in the middle of class. Do you have any advice on how I can get used to the sight of blood?

Thank you

 

[htg2010]

pretend its ketchup. goes great with hotdogs

 

[ShinyDome19]

I actually fainted once when I saw blood, though it was my own blood (not just from a small cut either...long story). It was always in the back of my head that I might not be able to handle blood and was nervous to go into medicine because of this. So, what I did was become an EMT and pretty much surrounded myself with it. You get used to it pretty quick. It doesnt phase me one bit now... Its just water with protein, iron and oxygen in it.

 

[Tin Man]

These kinds of things can oftentimes be overcome through psychological habituation, or the act of exposing yourself to the target of your phobia in small doses over a period of time. Kind of like the reverse of getting off of an addiction.

Pretty much any trained psychologist can help work you through this, but a lot of people are successful without professional help. In your case, though, I would enlist the help of a friend. It's hard to type "blood" into google and end up with small doses of it.

I'm not going to suggest any specific plan, since that would probably constitute unlicensed medical advice of some sort, but you can probably figure something out that works for you. Or, if you have a school psychologist, they might be able to help as well. But it's really not something you need to worry about affecting you forever if you take steps to overcome it now.

 

[Zona Pellucida]

I've had way too many bloody nose throughout my childhood that I've luckily been desensitized to blood. Just stay calm and realize that it is just blood, a fluid we all have. Over time I am sure you will become desensitized.

 

[armybound]

I feel like it's something you just have to put yourself around and get used to.

I used to feel really uncomfortable around cadavers, but once you're around them and cutting them up, it really desensitizes you.

 

[Exalya]

I would advise you to continue to expose yourself to the situation, as hard as that may be, if you're absolutely committed to medicine. I was in a marine biology program for a while, and when I started I was absolutely terrified of sharks. Even pictures of sharks. After a month or two of working in a lab breeding sharks, they no longer bothered me at all... it was just another animal. Hopefully with exposure, blood will become no more than just another fluid to you. 🙂

 

[bioteach]

Desensitization. Since you said it was a video you were watching...watch more of them. Find some on youtube. You'll get used to it, don't worry. The key is to start slow...pictures, video, then work your way up to seeing it in person.

 

[NightSwim]

Just to add, seeing your own blood is a whole different matter. It may be much harder to desensitize yourself to it than seeing other people's blood.

 

[chman]

I do what one of the above posters said. I just tell myself that all it is is mostly water with other chemicals. I try to look at most bodily fluids and solids that way. For instance, as a doctor you will need to deal with feces, urine, vomit. But what is feces? It is just food that has gone through the digestion process.

I also agree that you should expose yourself gradually. Start off by watching some video, then do some volunteering. Some people, like my mom, can never get used to it. That's o.k, but you want to figure that out sooner than latter.

 

[Clairea11]

Thanks so much for the help! I'll try and expose myself to blood more. I don't know if I'll be able to do any volunteering until winter break, but I can watch videos, etc.

 

[chman]

Thanks so much for the help! I'll try and expose myself to blood more. I don't know if I'll be able to do any volunteering until winter break, but I can watch videos, etc.

Just make sure to have a person in the house with you at first, and make sure to be sitting down just in case you pass-out (half serious, half joking).