Can you tell I've been listening to too much Blue October recently?

I've talked before about medical issues I've had in the past, and while I've never been afraid of needles (too many piercings and tattoos as proof), I'm terrified of having IVs done. Having had large quantities of blood replaced in my body by outside sources has made me extremely squeamish when it comes to having my veins punctured, even just having blood drawn was horrifying. So much so that I've had PTSD nightmares many a time, waking up shivering and in tears.

With another major issue (under active thyroid) going on recently with an easy fix (one pill a day) but in need of regular adjustments to keep me feeling normal-ish, I've had to get regular blood tests. I've had 3 in the last 6 months, and the first one was terrible. I ended up needing anti-anxiety meds, and basically came home a zombie, zonked out on drugs and in tears. The second one was a bit better. No drugs, and a bit of humorous exchange between myself and the tech.

The third one, which I had today (aside from the purple inner arm) went really well. She even had to stick me a couple of times to find the vein. I even drove on the way there and back.

This wasn't all about giving myself a pat on the back, but rather two other things: 1. I feel slightly foolish that I made such a big deal out of getting blood drawn. 2. Things are often far worse in your head than how they actually are in life.

Basically, I say to myself: Suck it up buttercup.