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anxiety about medical/dental exams

Over the past few years I have developed a terrible anxiety syndrome a about any kind of medical exam.  

I have had extensive dental work over the years and it seems to stem from this.  I have never experienced any great pain with my teeth nor have I ever experienced any pain from dental procedures except for the initial injections into the gums and that only lasts a second.

Increasingly the sound of the equipment bothers me having instruments and hands in my mouth make me feel like I am going to choke, any pressure exerted on my teeth makes me feel as if my teeth might crumble any second or an instrument is going to slip gash a hole in my mouth.

I am in tears from the moment I sit down in the chair until I get up.  Sedation with gas is not an option as it makes me ill.

This anxiety has now begun to take over in the doctors office no matter how minor the problem.  I was in the doctors office two weeks ago just for yearly physical exam and was in tears about that.

Today, I had an eye exam  for new glasses.  By the time I had read the chart several  through the instrument in which you must lean your chin and forehead on I was in tears and had to leave without finishing the exam..

I gave up going to the hairdresser 6 months ago because I am now afraid that the hairdresser is going to poke me in the eye or snip my earlobe off.

Fortunately my health has always been good and I have never had to have any kind of an operation.  I am 71 years old.  

I don't take any medication for any ailments.  I have been extremely healthy all my life.

Any suggestions , does anyone else suffer from anything like this?
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Avatar universal
Ask your doctor about a prescription for Ativan that you can take as needed. .5 or 1 mg taken an hour before your appointments will help you tremendously, and you'll be back to normal a few hours later.
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Bring a stress ball with you to squeeze.
Focus on breathing.
maybe bring headsets with you.(thats what i do)
make sure you have a doc with a good bedside manner to comfort you.

Do you think maybe in your old age you are becoming a little fearfull because you have been so healthy and you are worried so much about something going wrong?

just know that all of this is in your mind   maybe think of someone who looks up to you pretend a young person is standing in the room wathching you  visualize a young boy or young girl  and you are being brave for them.    you can definetly overcome this!    

goodluck
Helpful - 0
Avatar universal
Hi.  I am not an expert but I noticed you are waiting for a response.  I can only suggest you have a look at the millions of people daily that get dental work, hair cuts, medical exams.  These accidents you speak of would make the news. Try to think of something else while your hair is being cut. This might be the easiest and least invasive  activity to start with. When you feel more comfortable here, try the eye doctor, then dentist and so on. I find myself being very still when the hair dresser is cutting my hair so there is no accident that's my fault.  Try that.  Be still, calm and let them do their work. Deep breathe.  Take a minute break if you need and then continue.   Also remember, unless this is your first haircut or appointment, part experiences tell you you'll be fine.  Breathe.  Think of what you're doing after the appointment.  You'll get through them  :)
Helpful - 0
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Avatar universal
Arlington, VA
370181 tn?1595629445
Arlington, WA
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