When Your College Student Is Too Anxious to Go to the Doctor |
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Fear of going to a doctor's office (iatrophobia) can be caused by health trauma in oneself or a loved one.
Fear of medical procedures can activate the sympathetic and/or parasympathetic nervous system.
Treating underlying anxiety disorders and depression is important to helping patients overcome iatrophobia.
“Mom, I know I need to see the doctor, but I’m afraid they will find something terribly wrong. I’m better off not going.”
“I should get my blood drawn since I have anemia, but I feel faint every time I go to the lab.”
“I know I need to see the dentist, but I’m afraid of getting fillings.”
As a psychiatrist working with university students for over 30 years, I’ve seen students who would benefit from seeing the doctor, but don’t go for a variety of reasons, including a lack of time and cost. However, another major impediment is anxiety.
The fear of going to a medical provider’s office or getting a medical treatment is called iatrophobia. As a parent, there are ways you can help your college student overcome iatrophobia and get the healthcare they need.
What causes iatrophobia? Some students have general health anxiety—i.e., fear that they have a terrible health problem—that keeps them away from the doctor’s office. In fact, health anxiety in college students has increased from 1985 to 2017. Other students may fear seeing the........