Anxious to see a doctor...

Not sure it belongs here... My apologies if it doesn't

I know I'm quite new here and I usually don't complain on the Interweb but... I really need help on this one.

I'm alone in South Korea at the moment with my ankle swollen, which is probably due to practicing too much Melbourne shuffle in the cold and misplacing my nerves upside down... I'm a "hypermobile" so my nerves tend to do weird things every once in a while, but this time it is not resorbing by itself and I think I'll have to go and see a doctor when I return to Japan.
My problem is, I am scared of doctors, hospitals and anything related to medicine. Like, very scared. I can face anything with calm but this. My blood pressure goes up every time I know I've got to meet any kind of specialist. I even use essential oils to cure my colds and prevent having to see a doctor. Now I do know I have to see a doctor and go through various tests but I'm just too scared, and the simple thought of it drives me crazy.
I've still got to wait for my japanese visa in Korea for a few more days but I'm afraid my sanity won't make it. And then when I return, I'll still have to face a doctor and explain what happened in Japanese (or in English but anyway not in a language I feel confident using). I feel stressed, although there's obviously no reason. I've been relying on meditation a lot to calm down the past days but I'm really starting to give in to panic...
Then I thought maybe some fellow Jedi could help me. Any advice and/or positive vibrations would be more than welcome.

Thank you for reading, and as always...
May the Force be with you all.

This is the exact place this should be.

I too have an unnatural fear. But mine is of needles, Hypodermic needles to be exact. Getting stitches or getting a tattoo doesn’t bother me in the slightest; but, pull out a hypodermic needle and my heart races, B.P. drops like a ton of bricks and the anxiety of fear washes over my entire body! So, you have my sympathy.

And I can think of no rational argument that will comfort you; but, if I were there know that I would hold your hand and be by your side the whole way through this ordeal…. You have my thoughts and my prayers.

May fortune follow you and smile upon all your endeavors and…
May the Force be with you my friend, always.

Well..don't think of it as a doctor's visit. Just think of it as visiting a friend
And to further ease your nerves, I wouldn't visit a doctor in a hospital. Try finding a small clinic instead. They usually feel a lot warmer, and ther are no medical tools just lying around or nurses with white gowns type stuff.

Another trick is to close your eyes and just lay back in the chair. Focus on the warmth of their hands and pretend you are at a day spa.

I hate needles too. It's like my entire body knows the needle does not belong here and will somehow hurt me. I obsolutely hate the plastic thing they leave inside as well. When I was a kid there was no shortage of needles in the sandpits, I guess it left a mark on me

Anyway Aanor I think all you can do is just go there once and for all, it usually turns out not to be that bad after all, why would it be different this time?

Aanor wrote: Not sure it belongs here... My apologies if it doesn't

The almighty hand of the moderators will put stuff in the correct place if you ever make a mistake so don't worry

As for myself well I'm terrified of being in water, I will never have a bath

EDIT: I do have showers though

I can swim and sometimes it's ok, but I hate being on boats or near the edge of a river

This even extends to playing video games, I can sometimes get absolutely terrified if I am underwater

It sort of like 'mood swings', sometimes I'm ok but sometimes I am not at all

The only advice I can really give, from personal experience, is to maybe go there with a friend or perhaps just keep thinking to yourself that you can do it and then at some point you might sum up the courage and that's when you should go

Don't just rush into it, because then you might suddenly freak out (like what sometimes happens to me), only go there when you're ready and feel calm

Good luck!

You have my sympathy Aanor, I can't imagine how you must feel. I agree with the advice given by the others so far, also meditate before you go and try to maintain your meditation, as far as possible, throughout the appointment. Also try to get an appointment early in the day so you don't have to spend the day thinking about it. Please try to take comfort in the fact that your brothers and sisters in the Force will be thinking of you and sending positive energy your way and remember the Force will be with you, always.

anxiety is a normal response, many people are apprehensive about going to the dr's office...for various reasons(needles,bad news,dropping trough and having a bunch of people looking at your junk :laugh: , etc) i've found that by meditating and focusing on positive things, along with researching various possible ailments and treatments that the anxiety abates itself...a little knowledge goes a long way...

I absolutely hate going to the doctor and put off going for weeks or months sometimes, and I can't really explain why, it's not needles or anything, I just get really nervous and full of adrenaline (the negative kind...heart racing, dizziness, cold sweat etc) beforehand for no apparent reason. I don't really have any methods for solving this up my sleeve, but I will say that once I'm there and afterwards I always feel much better for having actually gone and found out what the problem is, and I always feel it was worth the major stress!

Also, you said you were alone in South Korea but you didn't mention whether you'll be alone in Japan - take someone with you if you can, and they can help to keep your mind off it and calm you down.

Good luck, may the Force be with you

I'm not doctor, but I dont think they would jab you for a swollen ankle, so it would just be a feel to sense the pressure in the swelling and move the foot to test range of movement... then off to get an xray or ultrasound if its a damaged tendon or bone break, which again are non-intrusive and do not even require disrobing. The body tries to heal itself but it needs help and thats what doctors are meant to do.

If though its whats called by some an 'irrational fear' which is more like a phobia, then have you tried visiting them when you have nothing wrong - as if you did that a few times it might become more comfortable. So when you do have something wrong the only fear you feel might be related to the injury itself. Then you can research the particulars for that beforehand to get a good idea that there might be nothing to fear. Another idea might be to start using hospital smelling disinfectant at home and watch more tv drama's about the doctors and nurses.

Thank you for your kind responses. That really made my day when I finally could access the Internet.
I am quite aware that this is a totally absurd and irrational fear, and I tried to fight the need to write in here before posting but I couldn't help giving in to that fear... This might (not) be helped by the fact I'm in South Korea - I understand none here and it has proven to be quite mutual today. If you ever travel there, don't go alone would be my advice !

I happen to hate needles too, the unnatural feeling of them inside my arm is just freaking me out... Exactly what you describe. But I don't think they'll be required here, hopefully not...
I'll have to wait for 2 more days now to go back to Japan and get my appointment but your words will sure help me go and get it as soon as possible. I just need to convince myself, that it is worth the stress... 2 days... meditation, you're so right... I'll also try to look up for some informations as you suggested, but I'm afraid of what can be found on the Internet sometimes.
I won't be alone in Japan, but unfortunately I don't know my Japanese friends so much as to ask them to come with me. They'd probably freak out even more than me. I guess I'll have to go with the Force as a company.
As for TV dramas, I used to watch House and such but although I found it funny in a TV drama situation, unfortunately it didn't help much in real life. Maybe that wasn't the best one to watch though.

Anyway, thank you so much everyone. I feel a little less alone, and relieved.

May the Force be with you all.