Going to the doctors

[MellowCat]

Does anyone have anxiety about going to the doctors? I used to get terrible anxiety about any doctor or dentist visit. In general, I'm better now, but I still get anxious about specific things, especially when new. I'm going to get an IUD today and that is making me feel really anxious, even though the doctor is very nice and personable, and she answers all my questions. I just hate doing anything new. It makes me feel scared, and like I'll be the one out of however many that everything goes wrong with!

 

[cinnamoos]

Yes! I get terrible anxiety when I go to the doctors. I don't even want to think about the dentist. I'm mostly afraid of them finding something wrong and I also get pretty antsy when they take my blood pressure. I honestly find making small talk with the doctor whenever possible helps me to get my mind off of what's happening inside the office. It sounds like you're in luck since you said your doctor is personable. Treat yourself to something good afterwards! (Like ice cream, or an at-home spa day.)

 

[MellowCat]

Thanks for your response, cinnamoos! It always does help to know that you aren't the only one who gets anxious or nervous. Everything went well, though I hadn't anticipated getting dizzy and feeling sick after. Apparently when they do this procedure, it stimulates the same nerve as when you have your blood drawn. Thankfully she did tell me that after and to make sure that I took it easy and didn't' stand up too fast. I went and found myself some carrot cake cookies at the Walmart bakery after. Yummy! Well, dentists, yes. I used to be terrified. The only thing that cured me was a really cute funny Mexican dentist I had for a few years. He was so much fun to go and see that I completely got over the fear. Every doctor and dentist should be so much fun!

 

[ineedmystrength]

Going to the doctor doesn't make me as nervous as it used to...having an auto-immune disease the requires bi-monthly checkups has "helped" with that fear. The dentist, on the other hand, is terrifying. I have to be sedated every time I go in, even for check-ups. I'm not sure what bothers me so much about the dentist, but I can't stand going. Ativan and my friends taking me for ice cream afterward is the only thing that makes it even mildly bearable.

 

[Laneorexorcist]

My dentist is an extremely attractive and smart man, so I really get nervous to see him because of that reason, lol. But I do have a problem when it comes to general doctors, especially if I know that they are going to touch me in some way, even if it's just obviously for professional reasons and it's their job, I just can't with that thought... it's the whole process, you know? waiting for your turn, buying the medicine, and I think that the process can be the same as stressing as the physical contact part for me.

 

[pwarbi]

I wouldn't say that I have anxiety about going to the doctors as such, but I do get anxious about going to any formal meeting with anybody, and the visit to the doctor's can be classed as one of them. When I was younger I don't think I saw the doctor in many years as I wasn't really an ill person and it's only in the last couple of years that I've had to start going. There seems to be an in-built issue though for most people that have to go to the doctor, and it's as if people are brought up thinking that they only go when something is wrong, and if you make an appointment, that must then mean your ill, even if that might not actually be the case at all.

 

[John Snort]

There is a time I used to see doctors every three or so months because that's how often I got sick. Though initially I didn't like hospitals I got used to being in hospitals seeing different doctors. So, no, seeing any doctor doesn't make me anxious. There's someone I know however who gets anxiety attacks any time she to see a doctor because she's terrified of injections.

 

[kelden]

Yes, when I was a child I remember growing very anxious and would start crying loud before go to the doctor. It was embarrasing, for me and my parents. But It was clear I got some issues and next to none self control. Nowadays, being a young adult, I only become a bit nervous but that's all. The trick to not end up anxious before going to the doctor is to trust the qualifications of your doctor and you will eventually get better after this. If you look forward for the future of your well being, a syringe is nothing. But I don't know, I fear I would probably freak out if I am diagnosed with some cancer or any other life threatening illness.

 

[joshposh]

I totally forgot about this one. I always find an excuse not to see the doctor. I never could put a finger on it. But I guess it has to be some form of anxiety as I avoid it until the very last minute when I can't seem to figure out what's wrong with me.


It's probably why I have taken to eating a healthy diet and finding home remedies for regular occurring ailments. Once it gets worse or at the point when I have to throw in the towel and go see the doctor. It doesn't happen often. But it happens maybe once every 5 years or so.

 

[amy88]

I get anxiety for a lot of appointments - doctors, dentists, the works really. I hate having to check in at the front desk, I hate waiting, and then someone calling my name out loud, I hate having to explain to the medical professional what the situation is - it's just a lot of awkwardness all around, to me.


I probably don't go to the doctors as often as I should because I get anxious. Basically if I feel like I can get better on my own, I just don't go.

 

[Alex]

I go to the doctor only when I have to. When I was on medication I had to see them every 6 weeks because they wouldn't give me a stockpile of medication so it forced me to see them and I had no choice. I still don't like to go, but sometimes you have to bite the bullet and do it. I avoid the dentist and didn't go for a decade. Luckily it was just a scale and polish, but I do take care of my teeth and health as much as possible.


I hope doctors realize it's hard for some people to leave the house to make their appointment, and I was lucky that the receptionist were very understanding if I couldn't face going and found me another appointment.

 

[dcompton]

I have a family member that has anxiety about going to the docter , this family member had a bad experience with a shot a few years ago, that had a very bad reaction. the docter this person went to said that the shot that was given was not a steriod shot when in fact it was . Now this family member refuses to get shots , Probably fear of having the same thing happen again. I know that just because of one bad experience that does not mean all docters will do this. I do not know if i will be able to ever convince this person of that. I can say this that there are some good docters out there that do care about there patients ,so you CAN overcome this anxiety, it just may take time.

 

[ricemaster214]

I always have anxiety when I go to the doctors now. Even though she may be nice about everything and talks me through everything, I always dread the fact that there may be something wrong with me and my life will be turned upside down.

 

[samijean]

I used to get sooo anxious going to the doctors. I even made my mom join me until I was 17 because I hated talking to the doctor so much and got panic attacks if I had to do it alone. It still makes me anxious, but I have to go every three or so months so I can at least talk to the doctor alone now. Yay me!

 

[Sue]

I have terrible anxiety about going to doctor so I usually end up putting it off and not going as often as I should. If there is something wrong with me it has to be pretty bad before I will go to the doctor about it. When I do go my blood pressure is usually really high because I am so stressed about it being there. When I take my blood pressure at other times it is always good but at the doctors office or hospital it is always extremely high. I can't call and make a doctors appointment so I usually end of up going to the ER if I have something wrong with me. That usually ends up being a 6-8 hour wait, going to the doctors office would be so much easier and less time consuming but I just can't do it.