Whenever I have an appointment with a medical specialist or plan to have any medical interventions, I go into worrying mode days before it and can’t sleep the night of the appointment. I think I have iatrophobia. Only recently did I find out that this silly fear has a name. The only kind of doctors I don’t mind are dentists, but that’s because my uncle is a dentist and visiting him is like coming home for tea.
I’m terrified of MRIs or IVs, the very atmosphere of hospitals makes me sick. Whenever I feel bad, I put off going to the doctor for days. It cost me two serious infections last year, and my family think I should do something about it. All my mother knows is I’m careless about my health and have canceled a gynecologist three times now. They don’t realize I’m trying. Each time the appointment approaches, I panic and backpedal. What do I fear? A combination of awkwardness from being touched by someone strange and fear of the unknown. I’ve read many other stories of people with the same problem, and the main advice is to find a doctor you get along with. How can I do that when I can’t even visit the doctor in the first place??
