I know the feeling. Try reading the book "Panic Away" or wait until Monday a.m. and see how I did with it. The cruise ship is as big for me as the needle is for you (at least I feel the terror). The book has been making sense. Two weeks ago I was panicking just thinking about the cruise. Today I am calm. I leave in 2 hours! Still calm.So if you can wait until Monday a.m. I will be the test model. There have been several testomonials on this book. I've also spoken to the author via email. He has broken through his panic attacks that he had for years.

i can look for the book but im broke right now, and i can wait until moday AM.
thank you so much for the advice

I am back! I made it! I might be able to give you a few tips if you can't afford the book. It will be hard. this trip was hard for the first part. But I went! I didn't have the ship turned around and take me back! But it takes practice. I will need more practice. I will get more confident with more. I kept remembering people on DS who needed help and I was determined to be the best I could for this test. I want us to be able to conquer these panic attacks. It's debilitating.

YAY! congratulations, your so brave! :)
and yea tips would be great

Well, what your counsellor is doing is practicing like what I had to do. Doing it the smaller steps like she is doing is the best way. On Thursday when she start probing your are and poking like a needle let yourself feel the anxiety. Yeah! Thats right. When you think you are going to have a full blown panic attack then say "is that all you have to give! Come on, surely you can give more than that. More! I want more!"

Your anxiety can't feed off your panic if there is no fear there. Even if you have to shout it "more, more" you anxiety will dissipate.

Dont get me wrong. It will not go away overnight. You have to practice. I will give you his website so you can read the testimonials. Saturday night was my practice. I go on the Carol cruise ship Dec 9. I would like to do another practice without the choppy waters. We had a real wind storm that night. Mention this to your counsellor. It will be explained better than I ever could. In the meantime I will search up the website address.

Hey! I HATE needles too! When I was a little kid all the doctors had to hold me down and I'd try and kick my shoes at the doctor. Even in later years, like when I got the stomach flu, I tried to walk out of the hospital when the pills didnt work so I wouldnt have to get the shot.

My mom made fun of me for this naturally. Compared me to little children and said they acted better than I did, etc.

I kinda have some advice for you, because lately I have been getting my shots without walking out or anything. Its kinda messed up advice tho, I dunno if u wanna follow it. I just tell myself, 'its better than dying.' haha, strange, yes?

I can try to help you, coming from one who is usually the one giving the injections or taking the blood. Of course on my end I dont feel a thing but i do know that you are. dont worry its all over in a matter of a second and it really dosent hurt any more than a little bee sting.

Here is the website for Panic Away. Right now I believe he giving a free mini series. But check anyway.

www.panicaway.com

Hope this helps