Published on: 2nd April 2025
A woman from Bury has praised therapy for saving her life, after helping her overcome a severe needle phobia. Sarah, 30, was referred to Bury NHS Talking Therapies after her phobia prevented her from attending vital blood test appointments, receiving urgent medical care, and living her life to the fullest.
Born with Von Willebrand disease, a rare form of haemophilia that affects the blood’s ability to clot, Sarah needed to have regular blood tests to monitor her physical health. As a child, she spent a lot of time in and out of hospital and would need blood transfusions after something as simple as a nosebleed.
As she grew older and needed more treatments and tests, her phobia grew stronger. At every appointment she would cower away, cry, and ask to be left alone. Sarah explained: “I didn’t understand what was happening to me, or why I had to go through these really frightening experiences so often.”
At age 15, she needed surgery for a broken collarbone, but the added risks from haemophilia meant she needed blood thickeners. The process was particularly traumatic, as the medical team needed several attempts to find a vein. She said: “It was really painful. I was inconsolable and it left me feeling even more terrified than I was before.”
In her early adult years, Sarah began to ignore appointment letters and was eventually discharged from the service. She explained: “I had a newfound sense of control with being an adult and being away from home. I’d gotten to the point where I felt I’d been alright for such a long time without a test, that I started to get comfortable with it. I felt like I could live without them and ignore my situation.”
When she turned 21, Sarah became severely anaemic and was rushed to hospital. She refused to have a blood transfusion as her phobia took hold, and it was only when the medical team stressed how life threatening her condition was, that Sarah accepted a transfusion. “They told me I was close to having a heart attack. I was desperate for a way out, but on this occasion, I knew I had to do it to save my life.”
Sarah’s phobia also influenced choices about her future. She explained: “I’d always ruled out having children. I knew how closely I’d need to be monitored during pregnancy, so it meant that it was just completely off the cards for me. I’d always wanted to travel, but so many countries need immunisations and vaccines before you can fly, so it really limited my options as to where I could go.”
'Turning point'
But the true turning point came in December 2022, when Sarah found herself almost paralysed by a bleed on her spinal cord and was urgently referred for spinal surgery. She panicked at the thought of needing a blood test again and discharged herself against medical advice. Still unable to move, and with her condition worsening, she was taken back to the hospital. “I just couldn’t accept what they needed to do. At that time, my phobia of needles was stronger than my fear of not walking again.”
Eventually they gave an option to put her to sleep before starting the surgery and using any needles, so Sarah agreed to go ahead with treatment. After nearly three weeks in the hospital recovering, Sarah had an appointment with her haematologist, who mentioned NHS Bury Talking Therapies, and sent across a referral.
Sarah met with Joanne Gisbourne, cognitive behavioural therapist, and immediately noticed an improvement. She said: “Joanne knew exactly what to do. She understood me and knew the right stepping stones for me. She was incredibly patient and reassuring and worked flexibly around me to get the best possible results.”
Joanne arranged for Sarah to speak with an expert doctor to explain in detail about the different types of needles, how they work and what they are used for. She said, “No-one had ever explained them properly to me as a child, so it felt like I was having blood taken and all these procedures for no reason. The mystery suddenly went away. I always thought there had to be an easier way, but now I understand their function and how necessary they are.”
But Joanne didn’t stop there. She also reached out to Sarah’s local GP and asked for her to be able to sit in on someone having a blood test. They agreed to let her sit in on a nurse’s appointment, and this helped to desensitise her even further.
After 11 sessions, Sarah has been able to overcome her phobia. She said: “For the first time in my life I can think about needles and not feel anxious or afraid. I feel like I’ve got control over my body again and can live a much healthier and fulfilled life. I am so grateful.”
Joanne Gisbourne, cognitive behavioural therapist, explained more about the service: “We provide psychological interventions for adults experiencing common mental health issues, including specific phobias. Cognitive behavioural therapy focuses on helping people to understand the link between their thoughts, feelings and behaviours, and supporting them to make changes to improve how they feel and their quality of life. It’s fantastic to hear how much our service has helped Sarah and we wish her all the very best for a brighter future".