Test Your Knowledge

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While this sounds intuitive, this statement misses crucial points.
First, people with needle phobia ARE already brave - that's why this site is called Brave Enough.
Second, phobias are different than everyday fears or anxieties. 

Third, the "just do it" approach can sometimes make a needle phobia worse, not better. 

Needle phobia can be so severe that the person faints and/or loses control of their body simply from seeing or thinking about their triggers. No one likes parking tickets, but imagine if you ended up unconscious every time someone even talked about parking! 

Specific Phobia according to the DSM-5 is exactly that -  specific!
People with needle phobias may have diverse triggers, but one thing they all have in common is that they are specific to needles, or medical proceedures, or the medical environment, etc. Percings and tattoos may not worry someone with a needle phobia at all. 

All phobias of are, by definition, not rational. And, needle phobia isn't a pain phobia - otherwise, it would be called a pain phobia! Someone who engages in extreme sports and laughs off pain and injury could still have a severe needle phobia.

This couldn't be more false. While someone may desperately want and need medical attention, their phobia may cause them to lose consciousness or lose control of their body. They do not have conscious control of these reactions. Even nurses and doctors can have medical phobias. 

Again, phobias are quite different than everyday anxiety. Someone might be a meditation instructor and still not be able to "breathe the phobia away."
Additionally, needle phobia is different than other phobias. While others cause our heart rate and blood pressure to increase, needle phobia does the opposite. Relaxation can lead to fainting, which is not only unhelpful, it can further traumatize the nervous system and deepen the phobia in the long run.