Hi everyone,
Could anyone recommend a really good Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) book or any online CBT content/courses related to claustrophobia and MRIs?
I need to have a cardiac MRI and I suffer from claustrophobia (which has prevented me from completing standard MRIs in the past).
Best regards,
CBT works over quite a long period of time and is not a fast fix. I have had several months of treatment for anxiety and I am still needing treatment. There is a lot of advice on You tube on dealing with claustrophobia.There is nothing to lose by looking at those sites. .... and maybe also on the NHS site.
I have been in the same situation, and have cancelled appointments and not slept for weeks leading up to it ect. I now have recently had my 3rd one in one and a half year. I did find wearing a comfortable eye mask made a massive difference. Also last time a nurse held my foot for the first couple minutes, which also helped a lot. Other things were concentrating on breathing evenly, also consciously realising that there are big openings on both sides of the machine, so your head is very close to the back opening. Also imagining yourself in a big open space with a never ending vista. So for me that entails sitting by the coastline looking into the horizon of the never ending sea. And lastly stay busy on the day (and the days leading up to it), stay busy right up to your appointment - don’t give yourself time to think about it.
If you freak out at night thinking about it, get up and get busy or read a book - distract yourself away from the thoughts as much as possible.
All the best
Cbt might not be the best form of treatment. It depends on the underlying reasons and triggers. That said the ukcp holds a register of all suitably trained, qualified and professionally registered Psychotherapists of different modalities. Each has their own profiles that you can read.
Good place to start!
If you find something effective please let us know. I was astounded to find out just how claustrophobic I am when it comes to an MRI.
I've h ad to be pulled out of the last 3 MRI scans I was sent for which is very odd as I never had problems before. I Used to go potholing so I shouldn't be claustrophobic. I'm now facing possible serious spinal surgery for which an MRI is needed but hey are going to do a CT scan instead. Not happy as it will be my third and the amount of radiation is large. My problem is when an MRI starts, my feet start to get hot and that heat spreads up my body until it's unbearable. I was sedated last time and just about got through it with lots of fans blowing on me but I still struggled. There are a few open scanners in the country but few and far between.
I had to be pulled out, as I was in total panic (goodness knows what sort of reading they get when the patient is in that sort of state!) However, I was then told that the scan was really necessary, so in advance worked hard on breathing techniques, also took lavender scented eye mask, and two nurses stood and had a conversation with me throughout, asking me lots of questions about grandchildren, holidays, etc., so that I had to concentrate and my mind didn't wander onto the unpleasant situation. It depends very much on the staff, of course, but I managed to get through it without freaking out.
Good luck - it's a horrible feeling, as many of us know, but the end result is very useful.
i can understand your concerns. As I had similar worries. However the mri is not that bad . The hole is a bit tighter than a ct scanner. But the way I tackled it was deep breath. Relax shut my eyes put my hand to my side and pretend I was doing my muscle relaxing exercises. Bit like meditation. They did ask what music I liked to hear. I said 80s ended up with heart radio. However I could not hear the instructions. So I just listened to their voices and done as I was told. Also while laying there I was thinking of being on beach. Which may have been a holiday you once had. But remember to just breath slow and steady. They will ask you to breath in hold and then breath out. But nothing too strange. In the end I found it quite comfortable. But I do understand your concerns if you always suffered. but it is not that bad. Just think think of it as an excuse to lay down for 40 minutes and relax. The machine does make noises but as you have ear phones on they are not that loud. I hope you can get over the phobia it's not that bad.
Angina in the stomach
Living in a pressure cooker 
My father and sister both died of heart disease in their 60s so do I have it too?
Mental state post surgery
question about my heart condition
