So normally, I'd use something like lidocaine to numb the pain when I have shots or bloodwork, but recently I had a mental breakdown when I needed to take my blood sugar, locked myself in the bathroom for several hours, having several micro-panic attacks, and I eventually ended up accidentally pricking myself when I decided to take apart the device...

anyway, I hadn't had that big of problems with taking blood sugar in the past, and I knew it wouldn't be that bad... but i couldn't seem to get over that overwhelming fear at the time... and now, I'm gonna have to take a vaccine for the epidemic, and I'm stressing out over it... usually I'd have lidocaine and a distraction to keep me from seeing the needle, but i can't stop thinking about it rn... because I'll still feel my arm being handled and I'll be aware of what's happening...

I'm thinking about getting some sort of comfort thing, like a stuffed animal... but is there anything else I can do? mental prep, therapy, etc... just something to help myself get past the fear or work through it so it doesn't overwhelm me...?