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(HealthNewsDigest.com) – Not many of us actually enjoy going to the dentist or the doctors but we know it is just something we need to do for our health but for some of us, the fear of visiting or the treatments that we might encounter, is a real cause of anxiety.
That anxiety can develop into a medical phobia and result in someone suffering from a phobia like this to just decide that the best way of dealing with the issue is to stay away from the dentist or the doctor on a permanent basis, which is a potentially life-threatening decision.
Regular access to the health services we need in order to stay well and identify any medical problems is essential to our wellbeing and ensures that we get referred to specialist doctors when we need them, which is why it is so important to try and face any fear and anxiety being felt.
Phobias explained
A good starting point is to understand what a phobia is so that you can understand it and conquer it.
Phobias are very common and about 10% of the population are likely to suffer from sort of phobia, so you are not alone if you fears about certain things. One of the most common type of phobia is a medical phobia, meaning you might have real feelings of fear regarding dentists, hospitals and quite often, the sight of blood and injections.
Phobias are basically a medical term for specific fears, and we all have certain fears that we face in our daily lives, such as being mugged or having your home burgled, but generally we manage to keep these fears largely under control.
Many of us experience what you might want to class as a sensible or acceptable level of anxiety when we are confronted with the prospect of having medical treatment or dental work and this is quite normal.
Where that anxiety becomes a phobia is when the body reacts in the normal way to what we perceive to be a threatening situation, but when the situation is something that can be put into context as not that dangerous despite what our mind and body are telling us.
A classic example would be the fear of an injection. We know that the injection is not actually going to harm us and is intended to make us better, but we still experience that fight or flight scenario that is a natural reaction to real danger and a genuinely life-threatening situation.
Facing your phobias
Once you understand that your phobia is a natural reaction that just needs managing and is therefore resolvable, you can set about training yourself or getting professional help in order to manage and conquer whatever type of medical phobia you suffer from.
Don’t deny your feelings
The first vital step on the road to conquering your phobia is to admit that you are afraid and face your fear once you have identified it.
Be honest with yourself and try to talk over your feelings with loved ones. A very high percentage of people with phobias such as a fear of hospitals for example, will often delay medical care and if you suffer from a fear of needles, you might decide to postpone obtaining the important medical tests you need.
Identifying your specific fear and accepting that you have a problem in this particular area will be a massive step forward in managing and beating your phobia.
Desensitization
When it comes to phobias there is not really a one-size-fits-all solution and whilst one type of treatment might help someone conquer their fears, it might not be sufficient for somebody else.
There are several desensitization methods to consider as a way of tackling your dentist phobia for instance.
It might help if you watch videos of dental treatment and even witness it in real-time if your dentist can arrange it and you might want to consider just spending time in the waiting room and even the dentist’s chair, so that it becomes more familiar and comfortable to you.
It also works to maybe agree a pre-arranged signal with your dentist so that they know when you need them to stop, as this will give you a greater feeling of control and reduce your anxiety.
Get help
You can try any number of self-help ideas in order to tackle your phobia by yourself, but it might need some professional help in the form of therapy, to get it under control.
Cognitive behavioral therapy is considered a useful tool in dealing with phobias, as it is designed to help replace negative thoughts and behaviors with more positive ones.
Phobias are unpleasant and do feel very real at the time, but when you consider the importance of medical and dental treatment to keep you well, it is a fear that needs to be managed and conquered, which can be done more often than not.
Ric Strobe works in adult mental health and likes to share his insights online. His articles mainly appear on health and wellbeing blogs.
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