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Anxiety about getting medical help..

I lurked around this site for some time looking to see if anyone else shares the same fear/anxiety that I do .. Google says 20% of Americans have this fear/anxiety but I guess not many people talk about it? My fear/anxiety is anything to do with hospitals needles doctors dentist etc.

Some back story to this is that I do remember as a kid around 7 or 8 going to the hospital or doctors getting shots or taking blood always made me faint.. Even getting my ears pierced at age 12 made me faint to which my mom laughed at..remember at a young age I went to the dentist and was suppose to go back to get a cavity filled and my moms then boyfriend told me it was the most painful thing ever.. My mom not having good dental health herself and never gong laughed again.. Went it was time to go back to the dentist I sat in the chair when my mouth sealed shut after 5 mins dentists told my mom maybe another time and that was that never been back to the dentist again... Then when I was 13 she went to jail and I spent the next 5 years bouncing around from family to friends never once going to get my yearly physically or anything..

Over the years the fear of needles and doctors or hospitals has grown mostly of needles and taking blood so when I turned 18 and became an adult I had nobody there to encourage me to go to the doctors or dentist and I never did because I always associated doctors and dentist with needles..Im now 28 soon to be 29 and have only went to a doctors office or hospital a couple of times.. Once to get the morning after pill no blood test required and just last year I went to a psychiatrist because of my addiction to pain pills that stared when I was 19.. Doctor prescribed subutex and I've been clean off pain pills ever since.. Still that involved no medical test just a urine test and some questions to prove I I was addict.. Some may ask why don't  I talk to the psychiatrist  about my fear but  it cost $100 just for him to see me for 5 mins and give me my script

So now here I am about to be 29 and I've managed to avoid needles and hospitals for over 10 years.. I'm crying as I'm typing this because of the embarrassment I have about this... My teeth are my biggest embarrassment because the are bad and I hate to smile but yet I still don't have the enough willpower to go to the dentist because of my fear.. These past couple of weeks though this has all really hit me.. Started with a humming sound in my ear turned into a earache that I dealt with for a week.. Managed  to deal with the pain went to work and all and it finally went away humming sound still there a little but not enough to make me get it checked out.. Then this past Saturday I got bit by something on my foot and it made my foot swell up.. I've spent that last couple of days taking Benadryl and icing it for the swelling to go down but still it hasn't gone down all the way.. Even had to call out of work for 2 days because I couldn't stand on it.. Humming has come back to my ear and now I sit here at 3 in the morning making excuses on why I won't go I'll wait it out, maybe it will go away, I'll wait another day and see, I don't have insurance...And still I haven't gone.. My partner tries to comfort me and tells me it will be ok, tell them your afraid of needles yadayda but still even the thought of going to the hospital has my heart racing making me want to faint..

I just want to overcome this fear so badly I know the dangers of not getting routine check ups and going to the hospital when need be but I been playing it safe for 10 years or so I thought.. And now I'm at a point where I'm crying my eyes out because I know I should go but I'm just to afraid to go.. I just want to be normal like everyone else with normal health and normal teeth but this fear/anxiety has took over my mind and body and I don't know what to do I knew this day would come I just wish I had enough strength and courage to get up and get checked out... Please tell me someone else out here knows what this feels like
3 Responses
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6530778 tn?1456883801
I know what that feels like. I'm afraid of doctors, dentists, & needles too. When I was little I had many operations so that's why I'm so afraid now. I force myself to go sometimes and other times I make up excuses not to go.
I usually get someone to go with me.. Try that?
I'm not much help haha sorry
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
I am so sorry that you are so torn, on one hand you are in so much pain, that you need to get medical help, but you are afraid of being in even more pain at the dentist-doctor. You had a very bad experience as a child, most people have some fear of dentist as a child , but you weren't supported and encouraged to return by your mother. If you can think of your teeth issue like having a splinter in your foot, you can leave it there forever, in pain,fearing it will hurt to pull out, or you can pull it out ,ouch, and the pain is OVER....and you can get on with your life. Most dentist or doctor have seen many patients who have great fear, there are so many newer ways of treating your anxiety before hand, laughing gas, rub on numbing meds, that your doctor can use.If you check with your area health dept, most have low cost dental services. I suspect you may get tired of the pain, and make the choice to just do it, and if you pass out, no big deal, they have seen it many times in the office !
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1701959 tn?1488551541
you know, there are 2 types of hypochondriacs. The ones who go to see the doctor for every ache, pain, lump or bump then there are those who refuse to see the doctor NO matter the situation. I am not saying that is what you are, I think you have a true phobia but it sounds similar.

I am on the other end of the spectrum. I go to the doctors for everything as my anxiety is health anxiety. I get tests and tests and tests until I have reassurance, even then it only lasts a short time then I am back to wondering if something was missed. I also then worry about the radiation I may have gotten due to the xray etc. Its a vicious cycle!

How do you feel about seeing a therapist to help you with your fear or phobia?  I love mine, she is amazing and truly helps me to get over a lot of my anxiety. Remember, that is what they are there for, to help you get over your fears, to help move you along in life.  But you have to find a therapist you truly connect with.  

Doctors are there to help and they can make things much better for us. Do you have a friend or family member who can go with you to see the doctor? Even talk to your doctor about your fear of THEM. They can often give great advise on what you can do.

Once you get your issues addressed, you will be so happy you did. Just like with the dentist, they will fix you up and you will feel great showing off your smile again!!! :)
Helpful - 0
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Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
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