Sacred of going to the doctors

[Amandab]

Hello, I am new to the forum but have regularly read posts and found them really useful. I have health anxiety and have a dr appointment today with my gp, but really anxious about going and worried that my BP will be so high because of my anxiety. Any ideas how to calm myself down. I am actually only going to ask her for a referral to a cardiologist because I am having anxiety that I need to be checked. I have had high BP for many years and she has always checked it but with this high anxiety at the moment I am also getting chest pains and palpitations. I know this is probably because of the anxiety (they go away when I am not anxious) but I feel that I need to get it checked if only to reassure myself. Trouble is going to the doctors makes me so anxious it is even worse!

[gypsylee]

Hi Amanda and welcome :) I'm glad you've found reading posts helpful!

I think the doctor will understand if you just tell her you're extra anxious about being there. They sometimes do mine a couple of times because they know it isn't accurate and they tell me to take some deep breaths. It's not like she's going to judge you for being anxious.

All the best,
Gypsy x

[Amandab]

Thank you Gypsy. Have just got back from the GP. My BP was ridiculously high which just made me feel worse, but she was very nice and said she would disregard it in view of how high my anxiety was and she has referred me to a cardiologist, but she felt that my anxiety was the cause of the problems rather than the heart and that is what I need to get to the bottom of. Wish it was that easy!

[Kirk]

Welcome to the forum. As you may know, high blood pressure at the doctors office is called
white coat hypertension and is quite common. Deep controlled slow breathing will help lower
your blood pressure.

[fixmybrokenmind]

If you have health anxiety, visiting a doctor is the best thing you can do to calm it!

Take nice deep breaths, or maybe even try a guided meditation on youtube before you go!