Part of this is rooted in a the fact that long ago, when our ancestors were scared or thought they were in danger, a part of their brain would jump into action and trigger their “freeze, flight, fright, or fight” reaction.2 They had “no time to think”, and could flee to safety or strike out at an enemy in time to protect themselves. It was the key to their survival in the dangerous world.
But now, unfortunately, this response can get activated during times when we really aren’t in mortal danger, but simply anxious. And being worried can make it difficult for the complex thinking part of our brains, the prefrontal cortex, to do its job. Many people can get nervous at the doctor’s office and you may be so worried about your illness being something serious, or so uncomfortable sitting on the exam table in the that thin little paper gown, that you find it hard to remember all the symptoms you wanted to tell your physician. You may forget what instructions you are being given, and your “flight” instinct may kick in, leaving you only wishing the appointment was over and you could get dressed and leave.
These types of reactions only adds to the difficulty you face during your appointment, particularly because with today’s current healthcare climate, he or she may be under a time crunch, dealing with electronic medical record inputting, and facing his or her own stressors, causing suboptimal communication.
To help combat your anxiety, take a few minutes to prepare for your appointment ahead of time. Make sure you list all of your symptoms, when they first occurred and if there is a pattern to them. Write down any questions you have for your doctor ahead of time and be sure to write down any instructions your doctor gives you to help you remember after you leave the office. Ask your doctor if he or she has any reliable sources of information on the internet that they might recommend for your condition as well!
Abir-Khalil S, et al. Prevalence and predictors of white-coat hypertension in a large database of ambulatory blood pressure monitoring. East Mediterr Health J. 2009;15(2):400-7.
Bracha, H., Ralston, T. C., Matsukawa, J. M., Matsunaga, S., Williams, A. E., & Bracha, A. S. (2004). Does “fight or flight” need updating?Psychosomatics, 45, 448-449.