Medical Library

Tips for Dealing with Anxiety about Medical Tests

by Steven Brown, M.D., Ph.D.
©2008

  1. Be informed: Some of our worst fears come from uncertainty about what will happen. Ask your doctor, her nurse, or someone at the test facility what to expect.

  2. Bring a companion: Bring a friend along. Their support will make you feel less isolated, and their conversation will help distract you from your worries.

  3. Listen to music: Because MRI scans take a long time and require you to lie in a small space, most facilities play music for you while you are in the machine. In addition, all operating rooms have the ability to play music. If you have particular music you want to hear, ask in advance and bring it along.

  4. Take some medicine: If you are feeling particularly anxious about a test and have someone to drive you home afterwards, ask the doctor if you can have a prescription for a mild tranquilizer. If you are worried about pain after the test, ask the doctor about pain medicine for afterwards.

  5. Remember FDR: I cannot tell you that the only thing you have to fear is fear itself, but I can tell you that most medical tests are not nearly as bad as people expect.