How To Beat Medical Appointment Nerves

 

Seeing medical professionals is a part of everyday life. For some people, however, having to actually get through an appointment feels like too much. You’re okay booking an appointment, you’re alright sitting in the waiting room alone, but once the medical professional calls you in and it’s time to go through your case, the panic sets in.

Sound familiar? Then you need to learn how to beat medical appointment nerves! And that’s what this guide is here for. If your heart speeds up out of control when you’re about to ask about symptoms or get test results, these tips could help you.

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Have a Chaperone in the Room

If you find it OK to head to an appointment on your own, but once you’re in the room with the doctor the nerves set in and make it feel like it’s hard to breathe, ask for a chaperone when you come to the reception desk.

Most medical offices will have chaperones available and all you need to do to have one come in with you is ask. It might take a few deep breaths for you to do so, but you’re going to feel ten times better when you know there’s someone else in the room who can help you advocate for yourself. If your medical fear comes from being talked over or being ignored by a doctor, this is something you can do to strengthen and empower yourself. 

Ask What You Can Expect Next

If you’re going for a preliminary appointment and you’re redirected to another service or the doctor sends you off for some tests, be sure to ask them what’s going to happen next. When you know what to expect, you can beat the fear as soon as it crops up! The possibility of the unknown is usually at the root of medical appointment worries, and this is the most direct way to beat them back.

Even if you’re sitting in a hearing test and the audiologist says you may need hearing aids, ask what will be talked about during the follow-up hearing clinic appointment they book for you. If you’re ever unsure what the future holds, but there’s a medical professional in front of you, make your worries known and ask plenty of questions. 

Remember, You’re Here to Be Helped

When you visit a medical professional, remember that you’re the one in need. You’re not here to answer a list of questions in the right way, and you’re not here to be shamed or judged. You’re here to be helped, and to access the help you need as soon as possible. When the nerves set in, that’s the important thing to keep in mind. It’s OK to be nervous, and it’s OK to need some help and/or reassurance, but always keep that root at the back of your mind.

Medical appointment nerves once you turn up at your allotted time? Take the tips above into account to get rid of the fear.

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