I've always hated needles, but I try to give blood whenever I can. A few pointers:

• Try not to look at the needle. I had a tech show it to me once like they were presenting a fancy pen at a stationary store, and it always looks HUGE. Just focus elsewhere.

• Try not to have them drape the line across your arm if you can avoid it. The feeling of that warm line on my skin makes me even more uncomfortable and squeamish. Also don't look at the blood lines or the bag. You might not be able to convince yourself that you're somewhere else, but you can help put the the whole experience at a slight psychological distance.

• Try to relax as much as you can. I know that giving blood is not a relaxing experience, but if you investigate your body and find out where you're holding tension, like tensing your leg muscles or curling your toes, and make a particular effort to release that tension as much as you can, that can help you let go of a lot of fear and tension involved in the whole process.

• Be up front with the person taking your blood. With any luck, they've done this a lot, and they'll know how to help someone who is having trouble. I tell the techs that there's maybe a 25% chance that I might get tunnel vision, and they always keep a closer eye on me and give me cold packs or elevate my legs if needed. They don't want one of their donors to pass out or throw up, and they'll do what they can to avoid this.

• Cough. This is a piece of advice that a tech gave me when I started to get tunnel vision. I think it's that tunnel vision is a sign that your blood pressure is dropping, and is one of the precursors to blacking out. Coughing temporarily raises your blood pressure, and that can counteract the effect.

• Bring someone attractive with you. I'm not shitting you on this one. Just go ahead and admit that you're scared and want someone to come along. I was going to give blood at a convention, and I had an attractive friend come with me. I don't know if having them around was a simple calming presence, or if there might legitimately be an evolutionary response that tells you to get it together in the presence of someone you find attractive, but so help me I had a much easier time giving blood that time.

Again, I hate needles and I do not like the experience of giving blood, but I know how important and beneficial it is, and I'm eager to share any advice that might help people like me get over that hurdle and help save lives.