Flu season is my least favorite time of the year.

It’s not just because I am afraid I will get the flu. I have needle-phobia.

Every year, I’m forced to the doctor’s office to get a flu shot. Ever since I was little, I have been afraid of needles. I always dreaded going to the doctor’s office in anticipation of a shot or finger prick.

Not only was I afraid of needles, but getting shots made me pass out. Everyone always says that finger pricks hurt a lot more than shots, but I always thought that shots were much worse. Whenever I would have to get a shot, I would close my eyes and try to think of something else.

It never worked.

When I was 10 years old, I went to get my ear pierced at Merle Norman. I wasn’t very scared because I never thought about it being like a needle. I was definitely still nervous but not like I am when I am about to get a shot.

After I got my ears pierced,  I was sitting in the chair thinking about how much it really didn’t hurt. Suddenly, I began to feel very light-headed.

I stood up and immediately fainted. It took me a few minutes to recover. But once I got a Coke and something to eat, it was like it had never happened.

This past summer, I went back to Merle Norman to get a double piercing. It never even crossed my mind that I might pass out. I thought I had completely outgrown it because I hadn’t passed out from a shot or finger prick in a while.

I also honestly didn’t remember passing out the first time. Just like last time, it didn’t hurt and I thought I was completely fine. I stood up from the chair and walked around for a few minutes and felt fine.

As we were checking out, I began to feel light-headed. The lady checking my mom and me out was trying to hand me the bag, and I was just staring at her. All of a sudden, I collapsed onto the floor. Just like last time, as soon as I got a piece of candy I was completely recovered.

At the time, I hated my fear of needles, but now it makes for some really funny stories, most of them end with me fainting.