The photo was taken by Juraj Varga from Pixabay
For many people, fear of the doctor can be a big source of stress. It’s not just about a major medical problem that causes stress, it could be the littlest appointment. So what can we do about this?
Ask Yourself What You Are Really Worried About
If you are concerned that going to the doctor will cause more problems, or some test result will bring the news that you have a horrible disease, you’ve got to ask yourself what you are really worried about. If you are concerned that it’s just going to be bad news, it’s not always the case.
A good example is an ultrasound appointment. Pregnant women that go for ultrasounds are inevitably anxious, and this is further compounded when they don’t know what’s going on. And the fact that a scan can be one of those very anxiety-inducing environments because of all the technical equipment. If someone sees a wireless ultrasound machine and doesn’t understand this, this is going to send their anxieties higher. If you ask yourself what you are worried about, you then get to the root cause of the problem. Because if it is something to do with the technical details, be sure to tell the specialists. Medical appointments don’t always end up in bad news.
Is it the Doctor?
Sometimes, we have an irrational fear of going to a medical specialist because we don’t have a great relationship with them in the first place. Many doctors are not the most personable of people, and over the years, we see many doctors being very blase, and lacking in people skills.
If you really feel that it’s due to your own health care provider, have you thought about changing doctors? Getting a new doctor or physician assistant that matches your personality can make things easier. We’ve all had bad experiences with doctors, and we are well within our rights to find someone who suits our personality but also has those people skills.
Finding Support
You may need to consult a therapist, so they can help you understand the source of your fears. You may be avoiding going to the doctors for many reasons, and it gets to the point where if you do not go to the doctor this could result in a devastating illness or disease. Also, don’t be afraid to ask a friend to come with you. A family member or close friend can provide moral support to help you through these difficult moments.
Knowing What to Expect
Another reason we become fearful of the doctor is that we fear the unknown. This is a course, to do with a lot of the technical components but also about the poking and prodding that sometimes comes along with tests.
If you are worried about an appointment, ask the health professional what the procedures and tests are so you know what to expect. Sometimes, this helps us prepare mentally, especially if it’s an important appointment, that we have to recognize that when managing any fear, we need to understand where it comes from. This is going to help us look after ourselves far better. It’s not an easy thing to be fearful, but medical fears are a lot more common, but there are practical solutions.
