Don't Let Anxiety Keep You From Seeing a Doctor or Dentist
If going to the doctor or dentist causes high anxiety levels for you, as it does for me, I recommend you find as many ways as possible to make the experience more comfortable. In this way, you won't be putting off or avoiding appointments that could save your life or impact your health years into the future.
Early cancer detection can be a lifesaver, and so can routine blood work that shows if you are at risk of developing diabetes, heart disease or stroke - just to name a few things doctors can find to significantly improve your chances of good health for years to come. Of course, regularly going to the dentist can help keep your teeth as you get older, avoiding situations that can end up much worse if left untreated.
I can only share a couple of the things I’ve found help me experience less anxiety, and hopefully, they will work for you and get you to the doctor more frequently and with less anxiety. I get so nervous when I have to see a doctor that my pulse shoots past one hundred and my blood pressure is in the very high zone.
Because I can't get a normal reading at the doctor's office and putting those numbers into my chart causes concern, I have come up with a plan that helps lower my anxiety and get an accurate reading of my vitals. I bought a blood pressure cuff, and at random times during the month, I will take my pulse and blood pressure at home and email the results to my doctor. This arrangement has been working well for a couple of years now.
I also decline to be weighed at my doctor's office because I weigh myself at home regularly. At the doctor's office, they have me step on the scale with shoes and a complete set of clothes that easily adds enough weight to push my BMI (Body Mass Index) to a range that makes my doctor think I need to start watching what I eat. The whole weighing at the doctor's office is also uncomfortable for other reasons because I feel like the person assisting me is judging me for the number on the scale. Although that likely isn't true, it causes me to feel bad about a trip to the doctor.
Another thing that makes a big difference to me and helps lower my anxiety is having conversations with everyone treating me in the office. I usually start by creating a little chit-chat with the person who checks me in, then I talk to the nurse and tell them as much about my situation as possible. I also try to engage them in conversation beyond my health. And lastly, I not only tell my doctor my symptoms, but I tell them about things that are going on in my life, like I started school or a new job, or something that takes away from some of the pressure and worries about why I am in the office in the first place.
Conversations with people are one of the most helpful ways for me to feel seen and heard and reduce the fear of hearing bad news. Who would you rather hear bad news from, someone who listens to you or doesn't know anything but statistics about your body or the condition of your teeth and gums?
Hopefully, if you put off seeking medical exams or treatment because of fear or anxiety, one or two of these suggestions will help you out. If none of my tricks work for you, try brainstorming what might make you more comfortable. Regularly seeing a doctor or dentist will be some of the best self-care you can do, and not only will the future you thank you, but I bet all your loved ones will too.
Rebecca Chamaa is a freelance writer, workshop instructor, and graduate student at Columbia University. She calls sunny Southern California her home.
