Would you describe yourself as squeamish when it comes to blood? Maybe you start feeling dizzy or woozy whenever you cut yourself, or maybe you feel ill whenever there's blood shown in a movie. If this is true of you, then the idea of having to go in for a blood test might be overwhelming. But instead of letting yourself get too worked up, take solace in the tips below. They will all help you get through the experience of a blood test as a squeamish person.

1. Tell the practitioner you're squeamish

You won't be the first squeamish person the practitioner has seen, and you won't be the last. So don't feel shy about sharing your feelings up-front. Tell the practitioner as soon as you sit down. Say something general like "I feel really anxious about this," or be more specific and say something like "blood makes me want to vomit." This way, the practitioner will know to focus on keeping you calm and not letting you see the blood.

2. Let yourself be distracted

Once the practitioner knows that blood tests bother you, they will generally do their best to keep you distracted as they draw your blood. However, you have to do your part and allow yourself to become distracted. Focus on the conversation. Give thorough, accurate answers to the practitioner's questions, which will probably be totally unrelated to your blood and your health. If you find yourself thinking about the blood for even a second, tell yourself to re-focus on the conversation.

3. Don't look

Your practitioner will generally do their best to keep you from looking directly at the vial being filled with blood, but you must also make an effort to look away. Focus on your practitioner's face, or if you're struggling to do that, look at a wall. Most people feel far less squeamish if they do not actually see the blood being drawn.

4. Plan on sticking around afterward

Sometimes, knowing that you're going to have to suck it up and move on to something else after a blood test is enough to make you more anxious. So, rather than scheduling things tightly, try planning to stick around after the blood test. Just expect that you're going to feel a bit faint and need to sit in the doctor's office to recover for a little while. If you don't feel the pressure to move on and do something else, you'll often feel better faster.

With the tips above, you can navigate a blood test, even as a squeamish person. Contact a blood testing service to learn more.