tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post8039899120067103089..comments2023-10-29T04:55:16.990-04:00Comments on Adventures in Anxiety Land: Going to the Doctor Part I of II - The Background Work (or Tips for Dealing with White Coat Anxiety)The Blue Morphohttp://www.blogger.com/profile/16387317327488568515noreply@blogger.comBlogger8125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-54266202719185087342010-04-02T22:39:00.799-04:002010-04-02T22:39:00.799-04:00Hello expwoman - Whoa, that sounds much, much too ...Hello expwoman - Whoa, that sounds much, much too familiar. I am so sorry he went through it - it is so terrible to feel like you are on your own at that age. But I'm glad he knows now it had nothing to do with him being 'bad'. Yikes. Tough stuff.The Blue Morphohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16387317327488568515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-12652004710242038612010-04-02T13:33:16.053-04:002010-04-02T13:33:16.053-04:00I still remember when my husband first told me abo...I still remember when my husband first told me about being hospitalized when he was 3 years old for a urinary tract infection and then years of urology visits, and no one would talk to him about it. It was painful to imagine him so alone and scared. When he first realized that this was a form of abuse, that truly he did nothing wrong, it was like reimagining the whole world.expwomanhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/10556989048175473815noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-39101122683803417642010-03-26T04:28:29.429-04:002010-03-26T04:28:29.429-04:00Andy - Yeah, the acupuncture thing was very intere...Andy - Yeah, the acupuncture thing was very interesting. I was terrified of it for years. But after I started the somatic therapy, I got a better appreciation for what 'energy' therapies might be like. I had to get over the OCD fear of tetanus and infection. But having a better handle on that meant it could try it. Then it wasn't so bad and I did it again. Then again. Actually,The Blue Morphohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16387317327488568515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-56168458408358815332010-03-26T04:25:28.481-04:002010-03-26T04:25:28.481-04:00Amy - Yeah, spas can be strangely stressful. You ...Amy - Yeah, spas can be strangely stressful. You have to keep stating your needs to each new person, and then possibly repeating them. Sometimes the facilities can be confusing, too. Still, it helps me to remember that I am paying them lots of moola - it helps me speak my mind.The Blue Morphohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16387317327488568515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-31109369256358026862010-03-25T21:46:44.074-04:002010-03-25T21:46:44.074-04:00I can totally see that. IIRC, acupuncture was sur...I can totally see that. IIRC, acupuncture was surprisingly "easy" for you, though? Not trying to be contrary, just finding it interesting.<br /><br />I had gum surgery, which was absolutely nerve-wracking for me. I was pretty bent out of shape beforehand, worried about worst case scenarios that were basically impossible. But knowing they were basically impossible didn't help Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09496289268182148690noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-36798960699292460362010-03-25T18:34:02.130-04:002010-03-25T18:34:02.130-04:00I have just as much anxiety at spa treatments as I...I have just as much anxiety at spa treatments as I do at the doc. I think it's a trust issue, and because my skin and body are so sensitive, even a basic massage can hurt. So the first thing I have to do, like you and your "nothing touches my lips" rule, is explain what can and can't be done in terms of pressure what kinds of oils are allowed, etc. It stresses me out just Amyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/08754785071196846157noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-69136244771904226712010-03-24T14:39:18.350-04:002010-03-24T14:39:18.350-04:00Hey there Andy - Well, I think I generally find d...Hey there Andy - Well, I think I generally find doctors threatening in proportion to how physically intrusive the exam might be. Gyn is the worst, given where they are intruding. GPs can poke you with needles and take blood. Eye exams bother me, but I will not allow any eye drops exactly because they freak me out. So no eye drops means the exam is pretty non-threatening overall.<br /><br />The Blue Morphohttps://www.blogger.com/profile/16387317327488568515noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-7798745397188154232.post-39975660704687147332010-03-24T11:07:59.939-04:002010-03-24T11:07:59.939-04:00Some of those are great tips regardless of anxiety...Some of those are great tips regardless of anxiety level. Going to the doctor is already no fun, as you note. Are there any doctors you find non-threatening? Getting an eye exam, for instance? <br /><br />And perhaps this is a crazy question, but are there ever similarities for you between how you feel at a doctor's office and somewhere like a spa or hairdresser? They're totally Andyhttps://www.blogger.com/profile/09496289268182148690noreply@blogger.com