Too scared to take a test? Come on,
you’re tougher than that.
Procrastination - you’ve probably got it
down to a fine art. Need to clean the bathroom? Sure, right after you update
your profile picture on Facebook. Got a pressing email to send? You’ll get
straight on it, as soon as you’ve finished your H&M online order. Hey, it’s
not hurting anyone. Unless you’re putting off seeing the doctor about that
weird mole on your back or having your routine smear test... Suddenly the
stakes get a lot higher.
We don’t want to sound like your mum, but
if your body’s started doing a little funny business, you really should get it
checked out. Actually, maybe we do want to sound like your mum - a survey by
Cancer Research UK and Tesco found that 40 per cent of people needed a nudge
from a relative or friend to finally see their GP about a worrying change in
their body.
‘No
matter how silly or subtle it may seem to you, pass the worry onto your doctor,
don’t deal with it yourself,’ she says
It’s natural to feel anxious or embarrassed
about your health issues, but it’s not your job to worry about it. Instead,
delegate the task to your GP, says Embarrassing Bodies’ Dr Pixie McKenna, who’s
supporting Cancer Research UK and Tesco’s campaign to raise awareness about the
importance of early diagnosis (cruk.org/spotcancerearly). ‘No matter how silly
or subtle it may seem to you, pass the worry onto your doctor, don’t deal with
it yourself,’ she says. ‘Many people are too afraid to take a smear test or to
talk about their bowel motions with their GP, but it’s our job, we really don’t
mind!’
Get a grip
OK, so you know you should make a date with
your GP, dentist or nurse and yet, you still haven’t picked up the phone. So
what’s the hold-up? Whatever it is, you’re not the only one using It’s natural
to feel anxious or embarrassed about stalling tactics. ‘I regularly see people
with these kinds of fears,’ says meditation expert and Headspace founder Andy
Puddicombe. ‘Going to see a doctor or dentist is often both physically
uncomfortable and emotionally unsettling, so it’s perfectly normal to have less
than positive associations with both places.’
Instead of taking the ostrich approach
(that is, burying your head in the sand!) you can use a simple mind game to
keep your stress levels in check and your thoughts from spiraling out of
control. ‘Scientific research has shown that meditation can alleviate anxiety,
and induce what’s known as the “relaxation response”,’ says Andy. ‘In this
state, your breathing slows, your heart rate slows, and your body’s release of
the harmful chemicals associated with stress stops altogether.’
‘Scientific
research has shown that meditation can alleviate anxiety, and induce what’s known
as the “relaxation response”,’ says Andy
It’s a good idea to practice meditating to
nail the technique before you head off to your appointment (visit
getsomeheadspace.com to learn a simple 10-minute meditation and download the
free Headspace app), but once you’ve mastered it, it’ll become your first line
of defense against those irrational and stressful thought patterns. ‘Anxiety
and stress require a great deal of thinking and energy to fuel them,’ says
Andy. ‘But if you know how to step out of that thinking, you essentially
short-circuit the loop. It doesn’t mean they will immediately cease, but a
different sense of perspective on these thoughts means that they will almost
certainly subside.’
It’s
a good idea to practice meditating to nail the technique before you head off to
your appointment
Get organized
Once you’ve booked your appointment, get
your head clear about exactly what’s worrying you, the questions you want to
ask and the answers you want from your practitioner.
‘I always encourage my patients to book an
appointment when they know they won’t be in a rush - for example, no quickie
appointments in a lunch break.’ says Dr. McKenna. ‘Try to see a doctor you know
and trust. You can always have a chaperone if you’re anxious about going in on
your own, and if you want a female doctor, ensure you specify this beforehand.
And make sure you don’t leave the surgery without a management plan. How are
you going to get your results? What’s the next step? Be clear on this and
ensure the surgery has your correct details.’
Some
dentists specialize in treating nervous patients and will make more time for
you.
Remember that you have the power of choice,
too. If you’re looking for a new dentist and the mere thought of the drill
terrifies you, go slowly. ‘Your first appointment should just be for a consultation,’
says Dr. Nigel Carter OBE, chief executive of the British Dental Health Foundation.
‘See it as an opportunity for you to “interview” the dentist and have a chat
about what you should expect next time you come in. Some dentists specialize in
treating nervous patients and will make more time for you.’
Part of the fear of dentistry is knowing
that you’ll have the power of speech taken away, so if you’re having fillings,
‘agree with your dentist on a sign that means “stop now - I need a break”
before the treatment starts,’ says Dr. Carter. ‘Usually you can just raise your
hand. Once you know that you can control the situation you’ll feel much more
confident.’
On the other hand, if you’re literally too
scared to speak up, put your concerns in writing, tips Dr McKenna. ‘Hand the
doctor the piece of paper detailing your symptoms,’ she suggests. ‘Ideally,
only bring your most important problem to the consultation; if you try to
multitask. Your Main issue may not get the attention it deserves.’
Ignorance isn’t bliss
Unfortunately, there’s no one single test
you can take each year to rule out absolutely everything, and the frequency
with which you should visit your GP or dentist varies depending on the
individual. What you can do is get to know your own body and stay on top of any
changes that occur, rather than allowing them to fly under the radar.
‘Nine out of 10 cancers are diagnosed in
people over the age of 50, but anyone can develop cancer, so it’s important to recognize
what’s normal for you,’ says Dr. McKenna. ‘You should see your GP if you notice
any unusual or persistent changes to your body.’
You
should see your GP if you notice any unusual or persistent changes to your
body.’
Those changes can range from bleeding after
sex to bloating that won’t subside, unexplained weight loss, a change to a mole
or skin blemish, or a mouth ulcer that doesn’t go away. It might not be
painful, but if it’s different and it worries you, pick up the phone and get a
date in the diary. And in the meantime, know that statistics are on your side.
‘Most tests are normal,’ Dr McKenna says. But whatever the outcome, it’s better
to know than not know.’
