It is not uncommon to be fearful of visiting the doctor. Many other anxieties can be triggered as part of the process of a health checkup. In most cases, a fear of the doctor is part of general anxiety or a collection of phobias, such as a fear of needles, a fear of confined spaces, or a fear of not being able to escape. When a fear of the doctor becomes too powerful, it can have a detrimental impact on your overall health if you don’t attend important appointments. Take a look at some of the ways you can start to break down your fear of the doctor and become more confident attending checkups.
Determine the Root of the Fear
Knowing the underlying reason for your fear of the doctor can help you to tackle it more effectively. For example, you may have had traumatic memories of visiting the doctor as a child or knowing a loved one who regularly needed checkups for a serious medical condition. Sitting down to patiently and honestly confront the possible reasons for your fear can help you target specific areas in smaller chunks, making it a less daunting process.
Take Small Steps
As with addressing any kind of phobia, your approach should consist of small steps that lead to the end goal of being free of fear. You may not be able to attend an in-person appointment, but speaking with a doctor over the phone or online could be a great first step. NHS GP, for example, can help you access healthcare remotely from the comfort of your own home instead of going to an in-person doctor’s appointment. Not only does this mean that you will still be able to get important healthcare, but you will also make a gradual move in the right direction. You may be tempted to rush yourself and get over it quickly, but this can easily lead to making matters worse.
Work On Managing Your General Anxiety
While a fear of the doctor might be a specific phobia in your life, it is likely that you also suffer from anxiety that impacts you in other ways. Learning to manage this feeling in your everyday life can contribute to reducing your fear of the doctor. Techniques such as mindfulness and meditation are designed to let you notice negative emotions without reacting to them too quickly. Over time, you will come to accept that fear is a natural part of life but can be dealt with and overcome as needed.
Exposure Therapy
Simply avoiding the doctor is not a sensible option. This doesn’t help you to overcome your fear, and it puts your health at risk. Exposing yourself to situations that trigger anxiety will eventually teach your mind that its response is unwarranted. You can make these occasions easier by being upfront with the doctor about your phobia and rewarding yourself afterward for being brave enough to do it.
Fear of going to the doctor can get in the way of leading a healthy and happy life. Use the above tips to address your phobia in a measured and productive way.