Yeah, I mean, I'm still not jumping up and down doing the happy dance at the prospect of needles, but it did make me somewhat more casual about it.
I find the best tactic is to make sure you are looking elsewhere and doing slow deep breathing. I always sort of explain that I will not be looking so just let me stare at the ceiling tiles in happiness and slowly breathe. I think the more you tense the more it's liable to hurt. But if I'm just looking at a distant point of have my eyes closed and keep breathing I sometimes barely even notice when it happens.
*hug* That's for courage!