fear of doctors - Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) Message Board

sk32 · 01-10-2002, 09:24 AM

I am terrified of doctors (all doctors and dentists, although some are worse than others). I hardly ever get sick, but I am getting a little older (22) and should go for checkups and stuff, but the thought makes me very, very, very upset. I shake because I'm so afraid. I think I'd rather die of a disease than go to a doctor to find out I have it. I don't talk about it with anyone, not even my friends (although some of them know I am afraid, they don't know that it is to the extent that I simply don't go to a doctor). Other than this, I'm a pretty happy person - try to eat well and exercise - and I don't have a lot of other fears.

I do seem to have overcome the dentist part of this fear and have my teeth cleaned every 6 months now. I even had my wisdom teeth out recently, and although I was scared I got through it. The doctor fear has always seemed much, much worse than the dentist fear, though. Does anyone else have this incredibly irrational fear? Any advice?

Marla_girl · 01-29-2002, 11:45 AM

YES!! I have the same fear! If I know I have an appointment one day I am freaked the whole day before my appointment. And when I get there my heart is racing. I am terrified! I don't know why I get this way but it's like I cannot control it. I too, avoid going to the doctor because of this. I am 23 and I have been like this for as long as I can remember, although it seems it gets worse as the years go by. I can completely understand and sympathise what you are going through. Are you terrified of hospitals too by any chance? Cause I start shaking and get all scared just going into one. It's so annoying and weird. I wish you the best of luck and I wish I could tell you how to stop it, but all I can say it "I am right there with ya"

MendyR · 09-10-2003, 01:11 AM

The are thousands of websites relating to Iatrophobia - fear of doctors!
The following seem to be rather dedicated and specialising in this topic
The following link offers an E-Book for sale on this issue. [url="http://www.phobiascured.com/fear_of_doctors.htm"]http://www.phobiascured.com/fear_of_doctors.htm[/url]
[url="http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/problem_detail.asp?phobiaID=1616&SDID=83 1"]http://www.changethatsrightnow.com/problem_detail.asp?phobiaID=1616&SDID=83 1[/url]

I included this link for information purposes only as it's a clinic in Seattle. I like how they briefly describe how to deal with it on this page. There are other websites that offer tapes or telephone sessions for hypnotic therapy with money back guarantees. The link above is probably more practical. [url="http://www.hypnosisseattle.com/fear_of_doctors.htm"]http://www.hypnosisseattle.com/fear_of_doctors.htm[/url]