Is anybody scared of Doctors?

[Gilly 1086]

OK I plucked up the courage to make an appt with my GP today, it's not until the 23rd so I'm not feeling too scared yet. I always worry I will sound like a bumbling idiot and forget everything I wanted to ask so I'm going to make some notes to take with me.

[sphinx 0]

Notes are the way to go - and just take it one day at a time - and then one step at a time.

[Gilly 1086]

Notes are the way to go - and just take it one day at a time - and then one step at a time.

Yeah, thanks

[Mystique 1]

I have a fear of seeing my gynaecologist especially after I had the Bartholin cyst drained out. After several routine check-ups, there was nothing wrong with me. I do not have any infections what-so-ever, and yet, every time I "feel" something is wrong and I know I should see her, I dread it. She's the best gynaecologist I've ever met and I shouldn't feel scared of seeing her, and yet, I do!

[shaun 6]

I think for those whose fear is related to something serious being found they should focus on the earlier serious things are caught the easier and more likely they are to be cured.

Take the woman with a lump in their breast or the man with a lump on their testicle - if they go to their doctor the very minute they discover these things there is an excellent chance of making a full recovery. If they are nervous and take a couple of weeks to pluck up the courage they still stand a good chance of recovery – however if they are scared of visiting the doctor, and scared it might be serious, and put it off and off and off the chances are when they finally do get to the doctors it is far, far too late.

So maybe people being who are scared of doctors and scared of it being serious if they try repeating to yourself “if I go now it won’t be serious, if I wait it will.” “Going now stops it being serious” might help.

Definitely, it is a fear of the unknown. Everyone dreads being told they have a serious illness or disease, avoiding the doctor and hoping it goes away is the easier option. I have had a few health problems in the past and I avoided the doctor because I feared the outcome.

[Gilly 1086]

My appt was supposed to be tomorrow, I cancelled it. I chickened out. I do feel better though.This happens so many times, I make an appt but by the time it comes around I feel better or the same thing isn't bothering me. Ugh now I'm questioning if I should have gone, arghg.

[Twinks* 16]

My appt was supposed to be tomorrow, I cancelled it. I chickened out. I do feel better though.This happens so many times, I make an appt but by the time it comes around I feel better or the same thing isn't bothering me. Ugh now I'm questioning if I should have gone, arghg.

No comment!!!!!

[Gilly 1086]

No comment!!!!!

I'm sorry Mary, I'm a big chicken.

[Twinks* 16]

Poop on u...i wished you would have gone.

[Esperahol 0]

I don't know if I would call it a terror, but I really dislike going to the doctor and will reason my way out of doing it if at all possible. It doesn't help that unforunate events seem to pop up everytime I do try to do the right thing and go. It's like I keep getting negative reinforcement against the idea of regular visits nevermind visits for problems. I also hate the dentist but that has to do with quite a few bad incidents (like not numbing the area before drilling) and dental hygenist who shouldn't be in this line of work obviously.

[tn13 0]

The funny thing is that I've had a phobia of doctors all my life (I had a lot of medical treatments as a young child so that's likely why) but when I was really anxious, that went away and I was willing to have whatever tests and appointments I thought I needed because my fear of dying and illness was worse than my fear of the doctor. Now that that anxiety is regulated, my doctor phobia is back. Wish I could find a happy medium.

[shaun 6]

The funny thing is that I've had a phobia of doctors all my life (I had a lot of medical treatments as a young child so that's likely why) but when I was really anxious, that went away and I was willing to have whatever tests and appointments I thought I needed because my fear of dying and illness was worse than my fear of the doctor. Now that that anxiety is regulated, my doctor phobia is back. Wish I could find a happy medium.

I think this connundrum is common among people who fear the doctor or hospitals etc. You will visit the doctor If your symptoms are bad enough because you don't want to die! There comes a time when anxiety is the secondary issue and you are more concerned about the bigger problem.

The problem with a doctor fear is that you can't face the fear regularly, and that is one of the main methods for overcoming the fear. The solution is to change your thinking and realise the fear is irrational.

[SarahLizzie 2]

I am petrified of my doctor, but I have several reasons. First, I have an extremely strong phobia of needles, and he always wants to take my blood. Secondly, when I was in junior highschool I was diagnosed with multiple heart problems. When i was 20 years old, my doctor feared I need to get a pace maker by the time I hit the age of 30. Since then I have avoided my doctor. I am now 27, but avoid my PCP all the time, so he does not make me go back to the cardiologist again. Since I lost my insurance, getting this surgery, along with others that are recommended for, are absolutely out of the question.

I dont even go back to the doctor when I am sick. Like to the point that I have started using my Grandfather's method. When he would get sick, he would have a shot of whiskey before he went to sleep, and by morning he would feel a great deal better.

[anxietywomen 0]

I have a fear of medications and of "different" doctors. I trust my family dr no one else. If i cant see my dr and i have no other choice but to go the the hospital......it really freaks me out. I am scared of everything medical. I haven't seen my dentist it 9 years or more. too scared to go. I ended up in the er last night because my tummy swoll out of know where and it was paining really bad. they decided to do blood work because the dr on call thought it was a gall stone (i don't have a gall bladder) or pancreatic....that just scared the shit right out of me. i sat in the waiting room for 2 hours crying because i thought this is it......i am going to die. I really hate this and I want the fears to go away. I want to be normal again.

[Gilly 1086]

Are you still waiting on the results of the test? I'm sure everything will be ok, feel better soon.

[BeautifulAngel 1]

To be honest I like to go see doctors, I like check-ups so that I know I'm healthy and everything is okay with body and what not. I know a lot of people (like my mother for example) who really dislikes doctors and dentists, she said she just has this panic feeling and she feels a lot of anxiety. I guess some people just don't like the doctors, to be honest I think it's a subconcious thing and it's a fear that can take forever to get over.

[shaun 6]

I recently read that doctors kill thousands of patients each year due to negligence and incompetence. I will consult my doctor when it is absolutely necessary, but I generally don't trust doctors and I certainly don't treat what they say as the gospel truth, like some people do.

[josephconrad 1]

I'm not scared of doctors per se because I think the good ones are here to help us and are working in our best interests. I am EXTREMELY wary of psychiatrists, though, because I have heard too many stories about people being putting on drugs that they didn't need to be put on either to help out the drug comanies, or protect the psychiatrist against lawsuit, or because it's easier than the alternatives, or any number of reasons. So what it comes down to is that I trust a doctor who gives me a physical, but as soon as medications or drugs come into the picture, especially mood-altering drugs, I proceed with a lot of caution.

[leyash 4]

I am terrified of doctors. I will not go unless I absolutely HAVE to because it scares me so bad. I'd rather be ill, or whatever. I'd rather wonder what it is, and look stuff up, then go to a doctor and get bad news.