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World's Worst Case of White Coat Anxiety?
I think I have the worst case of white coat anxiety (getting nervous at the doctor's office) ever. I went to get a free physical with my school and they couldn't clear me because my heart rate and blood pressure were too high (HR: 140, BP: 160-170/80-100). My heart rate's not high normally, and I've taken my BP at home a few times and it's okay. It's just that being around doctors and having a physical done makes me terribly nervous and edgy. Everything else was normal by the way, and the EKG they did was fine but too fast.
My family doctor will probably understand; I'm hoping he'll be able to clear me on the grounds of having normal readings at home and everything else being normal at the physical.
So I guess what I'm asking is how can I deal with this anxiety (I've been told to just relax, but I can never seem to do that), and how can I improve my readings at the doctor?
Also what's weird is that I think it's actually the act of my blood pressure being taken that makes me nervous, because it even happens at home. It's pretty much the fear of a high reading that causes a high reading.
2 Answers
- 1 decade ago
Calm down, it's not the world's worst case of anything. You simply seem to have a little phobia going on is there. First, know that feeling nervous about the doctor is normal. After all, you have to go up to a total stranger, undress and have your body touched/examined/evaluated. And a lot of doctors/nurses aren't really all that nice. This is enough to make anyone a little nervous when going to an appointment.
Try to find a doctor that reassures you. Maybe a doctor of the same sex and that has a nice, open personality. Explain that this type of situations makes you nervous. But don't ignore your high reading. There's a chance it is not just due to your anxiety.
