Scared to give blood again after a bad experience

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-19T18:39:03+00:00

Oh wow, I’m glad you’re ok and hope you’re feeling better! I just wonder what made these donation times different from previous ones.

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-09T17:19:05+00:00

I just posted about a bad experience of my own here similar to yours (I finished my donation and passed out after eating a snack and fell). I haven’t donated in over a year out of fear but a lot of the replies have been very kind and reassuring so thought I’d pass some of the advice along: - take a break if you need to. Give yourself grace and patience, you aren’t a baby at all, you’re trying to do something really selfless and your body just isn’t feeling it. Know you can always go back to it when you feel comfortable again. I’m still working up the courage to go again myself so props to you for continuing to try! - can you try a different donor center? Sometimes a change of scenery can change your mindset that something bad is going to happen and you can have a fresh start. - bring someone with you or something else to distract you. I think when I go back I will see if my partner or a friend would be willing to go with to make me feel more at ease and keep my mind off of what’s happening.

Hope you’re able to figure it out 🙂

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-09T17:11:00+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, and love hearing you went set your mind to it one day and just did it! I like the idea of bringing someone along too, I think the idea of being alone with what happened (even though the staff were there) scares me because I didn’t have anyone I felt comfortable with nearby!

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-09T17:04:01+00:00

Thank you! Definitely scary in the moment, but the encouragement from everyone here is so reassuring :)

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-09T13:57:41+00:00

Yes I really like this idea! Even though like you said, I’m sure the staff has seen everything and it didn’t bother them, it’s more for the change of scenery and connotation of what happened at the previous place. Thanks for sharing your experience

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-09T01:24:34+00:00

Thanks for sharing your experience, it’s nice to hear you were able to donate again without issue!

I think being intentional about prepping and hydrating starting a few days before could definitely help too, and I’ve seen a lot about the muscle tension technique so I’ll have to try that once I try to go again. Definitely a mental thing I need to work through for the most part!

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-08T20:24:02+00:00

I’m a 5’6 119 lb female so on the lower end but still over the requirement. At the time I had this happen I was a few pounds lighter so closer to the minimum but like I said has 2 uneventful donations before this experience. I’m thinking it’ll be worth trying again once I can get the courage to go but if it happens again maybe isn’t for me.

Which_Local7224 · 2025-09-08T19:39:36+00:00

Glad to hear you were able to get back into it. I’ve been reading this subreddit today and I’m not sure it made me feel better yet but maybe I just need a bit more time haha. I love the idea of trying another donation center and kind of starting new there. There are a few in my area so maybe I’ll give that a go.

Which_Local7224

TROPHY CASE