Contents:
- Medical Video: HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR
- Why are many people afraid to see a doctor?
- Overcome the fear of health check
- 1. Start slowly
- 2. Change unhealthy habits
- 3. Look for a doctor or trusted health facility
- 4. Be careful when looking for health information sources
- 5. Therapy exposure
Medical Video: HOW TO OVERCOME FEAR
Try to remember, when was the last time you checked your health to a doctor or health facility? Are you just going to see a doctor or hospital if there are serious complaints? It could be that you have anxiety or fear of a health check. Certain people even refuse to check their health even though they have experienced various symptoms of the disease. The fear of health checks is often the case. In fact, not seeing a doctor or health facility can be fatal. To overcome the fear of health check, consider the following tips.
Why are many people afraid to see a doctor?
In order for you to be able to face health checks with more confidence and courage, you need to understand exactly what you fear. The source of fear for each person may vary. Here are the most common fears that haunt society.
- Afraid of doctors. Data compiled by the health website WebMD show that fear of doctors is experienced by about 20% of the world's population. Because it is quite common, this fear is known as the white coat syndrome. People with white coat syndrome usually associate doctors with negative experiences. In their eyes, doctors are bad messengers and intimidating figures.
- Afraid of medical procedures. Another fear that many people experience is a scary medical procedure. People who are afraid of medical procedures are usually people who cannot stand the pain. As a result, the image of being injected, extracted by his teeth, or being operated on is so haunting his mind.
- Feel guilty. Although not realized, many people who are afraid of health checks actually only feel guilty about the lifestyle they live. For example, a heavy smoker is afraid to see a doctor when experiencing a severe cough. He had suspected that the cause of his illness was smoking, but he could not and / or wanted to change the habit.
Overcome the fear of health check
The main key to overcoming fear of health check is willingness. Don't let you just check if it's too late. Remember, your health is far more important than the fear you experience. So for your health, this is a surefire way to overcome the fear of going to the doctor or hospital.
1. Start slowly
If going to a hospital or clinic sounds scary, start slowly. You can accompany friends or relatives who are checking. That way, you become more familiar with the atmosphere and the people.
When your own turn to check arrives, don't wait until the symptoms of the disease are severe enough. The sooner you check, the better handling is given. You may not need to take blood or prescribe too many drugs. If the symptoms of the disease are serious, it's only natural that you are afraid of health checks. So, getting used to going to the doctor when being attacked by a disease that is not too serious is a good start for further health checks.
2. Change unhealthy habits
If the reason you are afraid of health checks is an unhealthy lifestyle such as lack of drinking water, smoking, or hobbies staying up late, you might already know the solution. Change the unhealthy habits first. You will also become more confident when you have to check with your doctor or hospital.
3. Look for a doctor or trusted health facility
You may be afraid to see a doctor or hospital because you have heard of malpractice cases. Or you really don't believe in the health worker who handles you. For that, look for a doctor or health facility that is usually visited by people closest to you. Your anxiety will decrease if you are in the hands of a doctor or health facility that has proven competence.
4. Be careful when looking for health information sources
Sometimes reading too much unverified health information can make you more nervous. Because the information you get can be misleading or excessive. So, be careful when sorting out health information sources. Make sure the site or book you are reading has been reviewed by a doctor or trusted medical person.
5. Therapy exposure
If all the methods above have been tried but anxiety and fear have not disappeared, you may have phobias. One way that can be taken to overcome this is psychological therapy. To remove phobias from doctors or medical procedures, you may be advised to take therapy exposure. In this therapy, you will be confronted with medical objects such as a stethoscope, tensimeter (blood pressure measuring device), or a photo of a doctor. Over time, you will get used to and be able to control the fear that arises when you have to check your health.
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