Here are a few tips for overcoming your fear and taking charge of your health.
Image Depositphoto by AlexLipa
It's common to feel anxious before undergoing a medical test, especially if it could be uncomfortable or pose another risk. Even a routine blood test causes some discomfort at first. Trypanophobia, a severe dread of needles, causes some people to avoid blood tests, medication infusions, and immunisations. It causes some people to swoon at the sight of the coming needle.
Other medical examinations that entail radiation exposure, such as x-rays and CT scans, cause some people anxiety. Additionally, claustrophobia, or the dread of being in an enclosed space, can cause panic when someone is transferred into the confined setting of an MRI scanner.
A separate phobia known as latrophobia makes people scared to visit a doctor, even one they know and like. Some aspects of the physical examination may be uncomfortable for some people, and for others, a medical checkup may feel like an intrusion on your privacy. Most likely, people worry that their appointment with the doctor will result in negative news.
Fortunately, there are methods for dealing with these worries and compelling arguments for doing so.
Anxiety-inducing factors
Depending on the test and what you anticipate experiencing, test anxiety can have a variety of causes. Here are a few instances:
discomfort and pain. "Needles hurt, and many operations are unpleasant or uncomfortable. Former exposure to the surgery can also trigger painful memories, according to Justin Gillis, a clinical therapist at McLean Hospital, which is connected with Harvard.
A test result gave bad news. Even if we are not concerned about pain from a test, we may be highly concerned if the test results reveal negative information. Therefore, we may be tempted to postpone the test since no test means no unpleasant news.
problems with the test. There are hazards, although they are very tiny. These risks include exposure to dangerous levels of radiation, reactions to contrast dye used in imaging studies, and colon puncture during a colonoscopy. Doctors have assessed the benefits of the information these tests can provide against the extremely low risks of prescribing them.
Consequences
Avoiding diagnostic procedures or doctor visits can have detrimental effects. "If you postpone testing, you could not learn about issues that we can identify early and manage. According to Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at the Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, if you wait, the condition could get worse and become difficult to cure. " For instance, memory issues are not usually indicators of oncoming dementia, which you can do little to prevent. Sometimes these are symptoms of an illness that may be treated quickly, like a low thyroid or a B12 deficiency. But getting the tests is the only way to find out, according to Dr. Salamon.
Delaying tests can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. "Despite my pleading, a patient of mine who had a higher than average chance of developing breast cancer refused to undergo routine mammograms. We then found a sizable lump in her breast. Late last year, she passed away," says Dr. Salamon.
How you can help
Try the following and discuss it with a friend or doctor to determine whether taking the test is more important than skipping it.
Adjust your viewpoint. "Skipping a test won't change the potential that a health issue could exist. And if there is a problem, finding out about it as soon as you can will provide you with more alternatives for therapy and perhaps a solution," says Gillis.
Prepare yourself with knowledge. To learn more about a test and its dangers, speak with your doctor. Alternately, conduct research on reputable sources like the National Library of Medicine (www.medlineplus.gov) or Harvard Health Publishing (/ncoa-hear).
Improve the test's comfort. Inform your provider about your worries. Dr. Salamon explains, "We can prescribe medication to numb the skin prior to a shot, or we can prescribe a tranquillizer to lessen the fear of an imaging test like a mammogram." Ask for an "open" MRI, which is performed in a machine that is open on the sides (unlike a regular MRI), if you suffer from claustrophobia.
Managing the present
Use these ideas to help you deal with tests more effectively.
Bring a friend along. The buddy can soothe you throughout the encounter by holding your hand.
Try some relaxation techniques. Take a few deep breaths. Or concentrate on a pleasant memory, such as how something seemed, tasted, or sounded.
Keep your eyes off the needle. If you watch the needle go into your arm, you'll concentrate on the discomfort. Distract yourself instead by turning your head away.
Focus on a fun activity. Have a plan in place for something exciting to happen after the exam, like viewing a new movie, advises Gillis. It will support you through the event and offer a pleasant reward after it is over.
Other medical examinations that entail radiation exposure, such as x-rays and CT scans, cause some people anxiety. Additionally, claustrophobia, or the dread of being in an enclosed space, can cause panic when someone is transferred into the confined setting of an MRI scanner.
A separate phobia known as latrophobia makes people scared to visit a doctor, even one they know and like. Some aspects of the physical examination may be uncomfortable for some people, and for others, a medical checkup may feel like an intrusion on your privacy. Most likely, people worry that their appointment with the doctor will result in negative news.
Fortunately, there are methods for dealing with these worries and compelling arguments for doing so.
Anxiety-inducing factors
Depending on the test and what you anticipate experiencing, test anxiety can have a variety of causes. Here are a few instances:
discomfort and pain. "Needles hurt, and many operations are unpleasant or uncomfortable. Former exposure to the surgery can also trigger painful memories, according to Justin Gillis, a clinical therapist at McLean Hospital, which is connected with Harvard.
A test result gave bad news. Even if we are not concerned about pain from a test, we may be highly concerned if the test results reveal negative information. Therefore, we may be tempted to postpone the test since no test means no unpleasant news.
problems with the test. There are hazards, although they are very tiny. These risks include exposure to dangerous levels of radiation, reactions to contrast dye used in imaging studies, and colon puncture during a colonoscopy. Doctors have assessed the benefits of the information these tests can provide against the extremely low risks of prescribing them.
Consequences
Avoiding diagnostic procedures or doctor visits can have detrimental effects. "If you postpone testing, you could not learn about issues that we can identify early and manage. According to Dr. Suzanne Salamon, associate chief of gerontology at the Harvard-affiliated Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Centre, if you wait, the condition could get worse and become difficult to cure. " For instance, memory issues are not usually indicators of oncoming dementia, which you can do little to prevent. Sometimes these are symptoms of an illness that may be treated quickly, like a low thyroid or a B12 deficiency. But getting the tests is the only way to find out, according to Dr. Salamon.
Delaying tests can sometimes mean the difference between life and death. "Despite my pleading, a patient of mine who had a higher than average chance of developing breast cancer refused to undergo routine mammograms. We then found a sizable lump in her breast. Late last year, she passed away," says Dr. Salamon.
How you can help
Try the following and discuss it with a friend or doctor to determine whether taking the test is more important than skipping it.
Adjust your viewpoint. "Skipping a test won't change the potential that a health issue could exist. And if there is a problem, finding out about it as soon as you can will provide you with more alternatives for therapy and perhaps a solution," says Gillis.
Prepare yourself with knowledge. To learn more about a test and its dangers, speak with your doctor. Alternately, conduct research on reputable sources like the National Library of Medicine (www.medlineplus.gov) or Harvard Health Publishing (/ncoa-hear).
Improve the test's comfort. Inform your provider about your worries. Dr. Salamon explains, "We can prescribe medication to numb the skin prior to a shot, or we can prescribe a tranquillizer to lessen the fear of an imaging test like a mammogram." Ask for an "open" MRI, which is performed in a machine that is open on the sides (unlike a regular MRI), if you suffer from claustrophobia.
Managing the present
Use these ideas to help you deal with tests more effectively.
Bring a friend along. The buddy can soothe you throughout the encounter by holding your hand.
Try some relaxation techniques. Take a few deep breaths. Or concentrate on a pleasant memory, such as how something seemed, tasted, or sounded.
Keep your eyes off the needle. If you watch the needle go into your arm, you'll concentrate on the discomfort. Distract yourself instead by turning your head away.
Focus on a fun activity. Have a plan in place for something exciting to happen after the exam, like viewing a new movie, advises Gillis. It will support you through the event and offer a pleasant reward after it is over.
