Controlling anxiety at the doctor surgery

[buddy2blue]

Hi all I don’t know if anyone else has this issue, but whenever I have to go the surgery for my bloods or INR my anxiety goes through the roof. The last few times I have been I have come Close to having a full-blown panic attack. I obviously have a lot of hospital appointments and I never have any issues there but going to my local surgery just sets it’s off. It’s really annoying as I’m having the District nurses coming to me at the mo. I know they don’t mind but that’s not the point

[Hidden]

I have same anxiety by time I go in to see gp blood pressure is through roof and heart rate too. When I have to go to see anyone medical I now go fifteen minutes before and sit outside doing deep breathing to relax and it does work. Best of luck

[Beta70]

Hi Tory, you have obviously spent years attending regular hospital appointments and it's likely you see the same professionals who you know and trust, and have helped you previously, so you are in your comfort zone there. Possibly going to your local GPs surgery you may not know or have seen the GPs or nurses you have appointments with and it could be that its the unknown that creates the anxiety for you? Personally, I find seeing someone I have not seen before causes me anxiety and I am currently dreading seeing a new dentist after having seen the same lovely lady for a few years who has now left. Logically I tell myself that all these professionals are well trained and it will just take time to develop trust. Best wishes.

[Hidden]

Hello to you, so sorry to hear about the anxiety that you have over a visit to your GP surgery, but to be honest with you I don't find our local one as friendly anymore and even my stress level can be tested trying to get an appointment that they say I need!

Can’t the district nurse do your bloods at home? Or if they know your situation with your Gp surgery get them done in hospital which you find a little better to attend.

Hope it gets sorted for you as you have enough worries to contemplate without adding this to your list.

You are in my thoughts.

[Hidden]

I've been gob smacked that the last few times I've had my BP checked at the surgery it's been virtually identical to the reading I've had at home.I used a "relaxation" technique my wife explained to me.

Basically when I'm in my happy place and feeling chilled and relaxed I do all I can to take the moment in and when I'm feeling really chilled I squeeze my thumb and index finger tightly together.

Then when I'm for instance having my BP checked or feeling a bit uptight about something I squeeze my thumb and index finger together and take my mind back to my happy place.

Sounds silly I know.....but it works for me.

[LesleyJ59 in reply to Hidden]

Absolutely not silly - I train in Qigong (similar to Tai Chi) and it's a technique often used in training and in meditation. If you've ever seen depictions of the Buddha or other Eastern deities, they often hold various 'mudra' or hand positions.

My Qigong teacher explained that when you are in a state of mind that you want to come back to another time, you use a mudra as a kind of cue or trigger that will set up neural pathways that help you reproduce that frame of mind. As he put it, it's not the hand position itself that triggers the state of mind, you have to practice and put the work in to build up an association. Hope that makes sense!

Incidentally before he told me that, I used to use a mudra for palpitations that worked for me for a long time (sadly no longer). You curl the tip of your index finger to the base of your thumb, touch the tip of the thumb to your middle and ring fingers and extend your little finger, and hold until the palpitations stop (you can use one or both hands). It works for a lot of folk but not everybody.

[Hidden in reply to LesleyJ59]

Thanks for the explanation Lesley

[Handel]

Hi Tori. I think you've had some good replies (and I might use some of the relaxation techniques).I can only sympathise. I don't have anxiety or panic attacks and am really a laid back person but as soon as anyone tries to take my blood pressure, something goes into overdrive and the readings (as one kind doctor said!!) pointed to me being 'clinically dead'.

Apparently 'white coat syndrome'? My husband has it as well!!!

I hope you can get things sorted out.

As always, sending love and hugs to you (and Penny next time you see her). Jan xxxxxx