Share this on:Copied!

You’ve got a doctor’s appointment scheduled in a week, and you can already feel yourself tensing up. Maybe you haven’t been to the doctor in years, or you once had a bad experience with a doctor. You may even consider canceling the appointment just to relieve your anxiety.

You’re not alone. While most people don’t delight in going to the doctor, many have an actual phobia of doctors — a fear that can become a crippling anxiety. There’s even a medical name for the fear of doctors: iatrophobia.

Here are some reasons why you may dread going to the doctor — and how you can ease your worries.

Types of Medical Anxiety

People suffer from different types of medical anxiety. Some of the most common are:

• Claustrophobia — fear of enclosed spaces. If you’re scheduled to have magnetic resonance imaging (MRI), you may need to be in an enclosed scanning machine. Being claustrophobic could stop you from getting the necessary testing.
• Iatrophobia — What is iatrophobia? The fear of doctors and medical tests. This fear may stop you from seeing a doctor for routine concerns. Putting off exams or treatments can result in bigger problems later.
• Trypanophobia — the fear of needles. No one loves needles, but for some people the anxiety they feel about getting a shot is overwhelming. It may stop them from getting much-needed blood tests, vaccines, or other treatments.
• White coat syndrome — when your nerves make your blood pressure rise above normal levels. You may have a higher-than-normal blood pressure reading because of the anxiety you feel in the doctor’s office.

Why It’s Important to Have Regular Checkups

Even if you’re not sick, it’s important to see a doctor on a regular basis. Routine checkups can catch problems early when they’re easily treatable. With immunizations and healthy lifestyle choices, you may even be able to prevent illnesses from happening in the first place.

When you see your doctor on a regular basis, they become familiar with your medical history and specific concerns. Your primary care doctor gets to know you over time and can help you lead a healthy lifestyle.

Well visits to your primary care doctor can include:

• Blood tests for cholesterol and glucose levels.
• Checks of blood pressure, heart rate, height, and weight.
• Conversations about any of your specific health concerns.
• Immunizations for flu, COVID-19, tetanus, pneumonia, and shingles.
• Screening for certain cancers, such as colon, breast, cervical, and lung cancer.
• Screening for depression.
• Screening for sexually transmitted infections.

Dos and Don’ts to Make Doctor Visits Easier

Avoiding doctor visits isn’t a good long-term solution to medical anxiety. Skipping checkups and screenings may allow small health problems to turn into bigger ones.

Here are some dos and don’ts for making doctor visits easier.

Do

• Communicate honestly with your doctor. It’s okay to say straight up that you get nervous about doctor visits. Chances are your doctor will be able to ease your fears by explaining procedures and reassuring you such feelings are common.
• Consider telehealth appointments. Some doctor visits can happen online these days. For many people, being in the comfort of their home instead of a doctor’s office eases their stress.
• Distract yourself. Reading, listening to music, or enjoying a favorite podcast in the waiting room can draw your mind away from your phobia of doctors. Even scrolling through social media can help take your mind off your worries.
• Get there early. Being rushed can add to medical anxiety, so plan to arrive at your appointment with time to spare. Listen to a soothing piece of classical music, work on a crossword puzzle, or try meditating in your car while you wait.
• Know that your doctor has your best interests at heart. Their goal is to keep you healthy. They’re not there to judge you in any way. Viewing your doctor as a trusted partner in your wellness can help ease your anxiety.
• Try relaxation techniques while you’re in the examining room waiting for the doctor. One of the easiest (and most effective) is taking deep, focused breaths and slowly letting them out. You can also try slowly counting, consciously relaxing your muscles, or using imagery of a favorite calming place to relieve stress.

Don’t

• ·Be afraid to ask about choices for treatment or testing. There may be a less invasive or stressful alternative. For instance, if you have claustrophobia and your doctor schedules you for an MRI, an open MRI scanner may be an option.
• Book your appointments at times of the day when you’re already stressed. If your afternoons are hectic with work or picking up kids from school, try to schedule doctor visits in the morning. If you feel more relaxed later in the day, an afternoon appointment might be better.
• Go it alone. Instead, take a supportive family member or friend with you, even if they can’t come into the examining room. Just knowing that someone is waiting for you after the appointment can provide much-needed moral support.
• Go unprepared. Writing down a list of questions may help calm you before the visit because you’ll feel more confident and ready. Your mind may go blank in the doctor’s office, so your list will also help you remember any questions you have.
• Google every symptom. Searching for medical advice online often gives you a worst-case-scenario outlook. It’s better to get the opinion of your doctor, who knows your medical history and individual situation.
• Pretend your anxiety doesn’t exist. Acknowledge your nerves and know that it’s normal to feel some apprehension about going to the doctor. Sometimes just speaking your fears out loud is enough to make them seem smaller.
• Watch every procedure. There’s no need to look at the needle when you’re getting a vaccine or having blood drawn. Turn your head away and take deep breaths instead.

Finally, don’t be afraid to seek outside help. If your fear of doctors causes you to miss important checkups and screenings, you may benefit from talking to a counselor.