Appointment Anxiety

[r_ellen]

I was diagnosed as Type 1 about 18 months ago and I cannot say it has been easy! At first I was thankful for all of the appointments and found them a comfort to know that medical professionals were looking after me.

Over the past year, this comfort has turned into fear and I have experienced panic attacks just from seeing an NHS letter coming through the door. My last consultant appointment I fainted at as I was so worked up.

I have three appointments coming up in the next month and I just cannot stop thinking about them - I struggle to sleep, worry constantly and cannot shake this horrible anxiety around it all. They always comment on my blood pressure and how I need to sort it out, but the reason it is so high is because I am panicking over nothing!

I feel like I am in a vicious cycle and so alone & really not sure on how I can resolve it all.

Does anyone else feel this way and if so, how do you stop this from affecting you?

Thank you <3

 

[azure]

Welcome @r_ellen

I don't like hospital appointments but I don't get that anxious fortunately. I think it helps a lot if you know and like the people you're seeing eg my consultant is fantastic and I actually look forward to seeing her.

Is it worry about what they're going to say to you, or just a general dislike of medical things?

 

[DiabeticDadUK]

Hello there. Until recently I suffered anxiety over the blood tests taken during reviews. Prior to that anxiety over eye tests. Both made me feel sick and light headed.

I don't have a magical cure for anxiety but I know there are relaxation techniques you could try, such as the ones people use when they have a fear of flying. My own anxiety has lessened by repeated exposure - that may work for you in time too.

Perhaps you could take and record your own BP at your GP? One less thing to worry about and you can do that at your leisure