Some people avoid going to the doctor or seeking help for their physical healthcare needs. For some, this is due to anxiety about their health or anxiety about seeing a doctor. Medical professionals, from specialists to those qualified through a family nurse practitioner program, likely see many patients with some level of anxiety around healthcare. Still, Iatrophobia presents a far more extreme challenge. Some patients with this phobia will avoid or even refuse treatment from healthcare professionals. This helpful article will explain what Iatrophobia is and how those with the condition can understand and overcome it. Read on to learn more.
What is Iatrophobia?
This condition is a diagnosable phobia, and you’ve probably heard of arachnophobia or another common phobia. In this instance, Iatrophobia is an extreme fear of doctors, medical care, or the medical care system as a whole. The word comes from the Greek word for healer: “iatro” and “phobos”, which means fear.
Someone with this condition may refuse to seek medical care and attention, even when they are extremely sick or showing signs of a serious illness or disease. They might ignore their symptoms and ignore feeling ill or unwell until they require hospitalization.
There are no specific statistics for how many American adults have this condition. Still, some surveys have demonstrated that 1 in 3 Americans avoid going to the doctor, even when they think they need medical care. The COVID-19 pandemic may have made this phobia more common, with people avoiding healthcare settings due to the risk of exposure to the respiratory virus.
What Causes Iatrophobia?
Someone with an illness anxiety disorder (IAD), formerly known as hypochondria, is much more likely to develop a fear of doctors or medical testing. This disorder causes people to excessively worry that they might be getting sick or have an illness. Someone with IAD may fear that their doctor will diagnose an illness or incurable disease. People who smoke or who have a substance use disorder may also develop Iatrophobia due to fear their medical professional will tell them to quit smoking or using substances.
Iatrophobia can also develop as a child, as many children are afraid of the doctor because they associate a visit to the doctor with getting an injection such as an immunization shot. This fear can then carry over into adulthood.
The Risks of Avoiding Healthcare
There are a range of risks of avoiding healthcare if you have Iatrophobia. Suppose you have a chronic disease such as heart disease, diabetes, obesity, hypertension, or high blood pressure. In that case, a lack of treatment can result in these conditions becoming much worse. Without adequate medical treatment, these conditions can result in severe health complications and even death. Medical treatment, including blood tests, other diagnostic processes, and medication can help you to manage severe health complications.
Even if you don’t have a severe health issue that requires immediate treatment, proactive medical care, including regular check-ups and testing, is part of a holistic approach to your health and wellbeing that every person should undertake. Neglecting routine medical care can mean you are at increased risk of developing a severe illness or disease, which routine medical care can pick up early and reduce the risks of developing illnesses such as diabetes, cancer, or other serious problems.
Treatment for Iatrophobia
Luckily, there is treatment for Iatrophobia. A qualified counselor, therapist, or psychologist can help you to work through your fear of doctors and medical care.
Cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT, is a form of talk-based therapy that helps you explore your thoughts, feelings, and behaviors related to your fear of doctors and healthcare. With the therapist’s assistance, you can learn strategies and methods to challenge your thinking and change your perceptions and associated behaviors.
Exposure therapy is another technique used to treat phobias, which combines relaxation techniques and gradual exposure to specific phobia triggers to make someone less sensitive to the fear. This is called desensitization.
Anti-anxiety medications and antidepressant drugs can also ease symptoms of the phobia and are often combined with the therapies mentioned above. It is worth noting that a therapist or counselor cannot prescribe these medications. Still, they might be able to refer you to a psychiatrist, a psychiatric nurse practitioner, or a primary care doctor who can prescribe the medications and review them while you seek therapy for Iatrophobia.
Strategies to Manage Iatrophobia
It is important that you manage Iatrophobia, as delaying or avoiding medical care and attention can put your health at risk.
You could request telehealth for an initial appointment to avoid the stress of heading into a doctor’s office. You can seek treatment via phone, video call, or text chat. If you do go in, ask for the first appointment of the day to avoid spending too long waiting for your appointment and sitting in the waiting room. Pack a book, Kindle, magazine, or tablet to have a handy distraction while you wait. You can ask a family member or a friend to come and wait with you as a support person. You might even pick a doctor who has a relaxed, friendly vibe to reduce the anxiety associated with visiting.
Make Medical Care a Priority
This helpful article has explained all about Iatrophobia and how you can understand and overcome a fear of medical attention. Medical care is vital to overall health and wellbeing, so you must address this fear if you have it and seek the treatment described above.