Licensed Clinical Psychologist
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On Health (CR, May, 2013) tells us that 38% of those over 50 have never had a colonscopy, despite 90% accuracy by screening. Fear puts off screenings and care for cancer, stroke, heart attacks and much more. And who doesn't have a fear of needles, dentists, side effects, and hospitals? Emotional problems of panic, anxiety and depression can be put off even though these conditions are well known and very treatable. In our center's study, sufferers of panic put off their first appointment for an average of 9 years!
Fear is more than the catch phrase, "fight or flight". Please add; "freeze". This often begins a habit of actively avoiding whatever might remind you of your worry. Changing the subject, procrastinating, waiting and see, hoping for the best, minimizing, covering up, repressing, compensating elsewhere -
it's a full time job!
I would add "facing up" to the three catch phrases above. This means facing your fears of what it could be - and not be. Describing it completely, even writing your experience down, is the first step to facing up. That history could be very helpful to your therapist, too.
Second, tell someone who cares about it. You may get the comfort of someone with similar experience and good direction to a specialist. Of course, you get relief just from sharing it.
Third, get an experienced practitioner online, if you don't have one yourself. Insist on a good diagnostician if you don't know your condition. If you do, insist that the doctor/therapist have some specialization with your condition.
Then, for your appointment, bring along a your spouse or a friend. It can be reassuring to have someone who will ask questions, share what you find, or just distract you from your worries. Your partner will help you get and remember the whole picture, as well as the overall plan.
Congratulations! If you can do all the above you have earned the virtue of Courage. You have faced up to what it is, its limits, what you can do about it, and how others can help. Now you can get on with who and what matters in your life.
"Facing up" frees you.
About Dr. Raynard
Dr. Richard Raynard is a licensed clinical psychologist with 35 years experience resolving a broad range of emotional problems. As a cognitive-behavioral therapist who has specialized in anxiety and phobic disorders since 1980, he has spent the last 35 years fulfilling his life-long desire to explore and define the true purpose of emotions and how people can easily use emotions to create meaning and satisfaction in their lives. Dr. Raynard's series of books on emotions can be found on Amazon.com. His other books include Don't Panic, and Anxiety & Panic Medications.
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