How do you cope with appointments and panic?

[Bonnibelle]

I have had anxiety a few years now, which started as panic attacks and I started rarely leaving my home in 2013. Since then I get out more but I don't venture too far by myself. I am living a much happier life now, what caused my anxiety I walked away from and life is good. I still have anxiety but it's more manageable. The only part that seems to linger is that I struggle socially, I find it hard to socialise by myself as I get very panicky and anxious but it mainly hits during appointments. I think this is still the agoraphobia affecting me.

When I go to the doctors the last 2 years my husband attends with me. It helps a little as I feel a little more able to do the appointment but I still get very stressed about it. Beforehand I will feel highly anxious for a week before, then on the day I can't keep still, feel dizzy, feel hot in my face like I will pass out etc.. So I only go to the GP if I have to :winks: I have stopped avoiding and this year I have been to the dentist, optician and GP several times but still it's not getting any easier. I feel very panicky and hot during appointments and can't wait to get out of the room. My husband says you wouldn't know by the way I am in the room, he says I appear confident and calm. Inside though I feel terrible and like I will pass out from how dizzy and hot I feel.

Well my smear is 2 months late and I am going on Friday. I am dreading it and have no idea how i will cope. It's not a little quick appointment with a sore eye or sore toe. It's something that will take much longer and cause anxiety in me because what woman looks forward to such an appointment :blush:

I was just wondering does anyone else struggle like this with appointments or does anyone have any tips for me? It seems to be the final hurdle in my journey and if I have anything coming up like this it will throw me into a little anxiety set back where I feel very anxious and don't want to go out because I feel so anxious during the build up to that day. It's horrible. I can do anything now, get out with hubby and the kids, holidays in the UK, walks, working out.... it frustrates me that this part just isn't getting any easier.

Thank you.

Bon

[GingerFish]

I'm the exact same as you both in my anxiety being higher at appointments and my overall anxiety and panics being easier to manage now. I still get my mum or boyfriend to come with me to appointments. Personally I find the waiting room to be the worst part because its so quiet, no one talks and the doctors are always running late so god knows how long you will be waiting for. I'm usually fine once I am in with the doctor.

A tip would be to bring your hubby or a friend along with you to keep you calm in the waiting room. As for being in the room, explain to the nurse or doctor that you feel nervous when you go in. Having your feelings out in the open instead of trying to bottle them up and hide them will instantly make you feel better. 9 times out of 10 they will be understanding, especially if it a woman doctor or nurse as they will know from experience no woman enjoys a smear test. I'm due for one, my first one, and I am dreading it too.

[MyNameIsTerry]

When I was at my worst I broke one of my wisdom teeth. It also got infected and after months of suffering from jaw pain I decided to get a dentist appointment.

I didn't have a dentist so had to find a new NHS one. They are excellent with anxiety. I find dentists are more open and able to deal with it than any GP I've seen and I guess its part of the job for them as a lot of people are afraid of the dentist. Some offer specific sedation or hypnotherapy for it too so they are well versed in panic!

I went and had 2 appointments to check me over (and a course of antibiotics for the infection) and then came the extraction day. I didn't sleep barely all night and ended up in panic & tears calling them to rearrange.

I made it to the next one, bottle of water in hand. I sat in the waiting room watching their TV (ads for treatments!) and trying to focus on objects and then came my appointment. I had a couple of injections as the first didn't stop the sensation and went back into the waiting room. Then came the extraction. I had struggling with feeling sick when they tilt those chairs back and I just tried to tell myself I was ok and nothing happened before, for all the good that did! When he started I looked straight at the ceiling light and I stared very intently throughout. I did feel rising panic but I kept doing this and it got me through 15 minutes of him pulling it side to side because he couldn't get it out (it was shattered and could barely be gripped so may have needed a hospital appointment and a long wait if he couldn't get it)...it was like a bloke with a wrench going from side to side and he had to change which side he stood on 3 times!

So, I got through it that way. I had read about using this distraction technique before and thought it worth a go. It can work in certain circumstances where you don't need to be doing much talking or thinking.

How about some relaxation techniques, breathing exercises or Mindfulness? Once you can do Mindfulness, the idea is you can employ it quickly and for short periods such as waiting in lines or for the dentist.

Another option is something called Applied Relaxation. This is supposed to be available on the NHS as well as CBT yet since I've been on this forum I've never seen anyone mention it!

AR is an updated version of Progressive Muscle Relaxation (PMR) and trains you to employ relaxation in anxiety provoking situations. As you near the end of the course you are taught to create relaxation quicker and quicker until it occurs in under a minute.

I wonder why our GP's aren't getting us doing that as NICE recommend it for GAD & Panic Disorder!

[CrispyTowel]

I feel exactly the same. As soon as I get into the waiting room my heart starts pumping like crazy, my head spins, feel like I can't breathe, start shaking, everything. I don't really know why, it doesn't make much sense. There aren't really many more places safer to be when you're not well than a doctors surgery!

I sometimes find that playing a little casual game on my phone while trying to breathe properly can help. Something that isn't too difficult or require to much focus, but provides enough of a distraction for the mind.

[Bonnibelle]

Thank you all.

Hopefully I can relax once in the room, well I doubt it ;-) but yes the wait is the worst thing. Once in the room I do feel hot and anxious but like to just get on with it so I can get out again. I am just dreading this being a smear as it's invasive so I have the anxiety of that plus the fear I will panic and run out and not be able to go through with it. I can see me having a huge panic attack there, so I am really dreading it :-(

Thanks for your lovely replies.

Bon

[ricardo]

I and many others are exactly the same. This waiting period which could be even stuck at the traffic lights or waiting to pay at a supermarket, and in three decades it has never changed.
If possible I actually try to talk to someone, anyone, when in the doctor's waiting room and the mind gets distracted.
Maybe we know regardless how anxious we are, when in the doctor's room one is in a safe haven and the mind thinks if something happens to me, I will be taken care of.

[Davit]

Well this is why I posted the thread "words". The difference between wanting to do something and having to is like day and night where Agoraphobia is involved.