Health Care Providers: When You See 'Anxiety' in My Chart, This Is How I Need You to Proceed

I dread going to the doctor’s office. I don’t know many people who actually enjoy receiving health care, but I find it’s a very anxiety-inducing experience. I hate that sterile smell that’s characteristic of doctor’s offices and hospitals, and it makes me feel a little uneasy just thinking of it because I can distinctly smell it in my mind. It’s not just that I get anxious about diagnostic tests, physicals, blood tests, needles, and the usual experiences that come with those spaces; it’s that I often find I’m treated poorly for having anxiety.

I’ve had a number of unfortunate experiences with doctors who either don’t know how to deal with anxiety properly, or don’t know how to best support people with anxiety. So, if you’re a health care provider, these tips are for you:

1. Take anxiety seriously.

I’ve lost track of how many times I’ve been dismissed by health care practitioners who brush off certain symptoms as “just anxiety.” More often than not, anxiety and other mental health conditions are treated as less serious or severe than physical health issues, so doctors can be very dismissive of someone with anxiety. So if you’re with a patient and know that they have anxiety, don’t diminish how serious and debilitating it can be. Don’t tell us that “it’s all in our heads” or to just exercise more, because it isn’t always that simple. Anxiety is one of the most serious health conditions I deal with, and I want support from a health care system that recognizes its gravity.

2. Be mindful of health anxiety.

I have a lot of trauma from poor health care that I’ve received. I’ve spent time in psych wards, and some of my most significant trauma arises from those experiences — often at the hands of terrible health care practitioners. So when I have anxiety about going into hospitals or health care spaces, it’s not coming out of nowhere. I need to be reassured and made comfortable in an environment that evokes a lot of intense emotions. It’s dismissive and scary when health care providers don’t take health anxiety seriously or brush it off. For example, I get so anxious when getting bloodwork done that I throw up every single time, and I always tell the nurse that but they never seem to care. These things might seem small or easy to someone who is in health care environments every day, but for those of us with health anxiety or trauma, it’s a big deal.

3. Let me have a say in my health care.

Since I’ve had significant mental health care challenges, and been “locked up” in the hospital before, I don’t always feel like I have a say in my own health care. I’ve been in situations where I felt I couldn’t discuss medication or treatment options — I just had to do what I was told, and it made me feel powerless. I had a great doctor once who was the first person to ask me “what do you think will help?” and “what are you comfortable with trying,” and it was a game changer. We deserve to have an opinion or conversation about our health care. I need to feel like I’m a part of the process so that I feel comfortable about the health care choices being made. If I feel like medication or treatment isn’t working, or if I feel uncomfortable with trying a treatment method, I need that opinion to count for something, and I need the freedom to choose. It’s not fair to be told what to do without any discussion or conversation.

4. Don’t dismiss health concerns as ‘just anxiety.’

Just because a person has anxiety, it doesn’t mean that they’re immune to other health conditions. In fact, it’s probably the opposite because anxiety can be linked to a number of health issues. so if you see a patient with anxiety in their chart complaining of chest pains or with an elevated heart rate, don’t just assume it’s anxiety without doing your due diligence. A small example of this is acid reflux — I have gastroesophageal reflux disease (GERD), and one of the main symptoms I deal with is chest pain. In order to deal with that, I have to take a proton pump inhibitor, and no amount of therapy for my anxiety can make it go away. It’s important that doctors consider other health care concerns before automatically assuming it’s “just anxiety.” While this is a small example, it can have very dire impacts for health conditions such as asthma or even heart attacks — heart attack symptoms for women are very similar to anxiety or panic symptoms.

Whether it’s at a hospital, a doctor’s office, or a clinic, it’s usually a frustrating and disappointing experience when it comes to anxiety. And I know that there are good doctors out there — I have a few friends that are wonderful doctors — but it seems harder and harder to find them. It shouldn’t be so difficult to get quality health care where my anxiety isn’t dismissed or belittled, and where my voice is heard in all aspects of my health care. It makes it difficult to reach out for medical support when I need it because I rarely receive the care I deserve.

On top of that, having had a lot of trauma at the hands of health care providers doesn’t foster a trusting doctor-patient relationship. I do my best not to let those experiences cloud my vision when seeking out health care, but it’s hard not to be wary when you’ve been traumatized multiple times.

I also know that it isn’t always the health care provider’s fault. They’re forced to take on more patients, move faster, and not overburden the system. There’s barely enough time to read a patient’s chart, let alone spend time talking to a patient to get their perspective. But I worry that in the pursuit of efficiency, we’re compromising patient care and putting people’s lives at risk. I hope that there’s more support built for health care practitioners. Because while I have a lot of issues with my experiences, I know they deserve better, too. Better pay, better hours, better support.

So I hope that we foster better conditions for our health care workers, who try tirelessly to help people. Because the only way for us to receive better care with anxiety is to ensure that those providing care are taken care of as well.

For more on what to say (and not say) to someone with any health condition, check out The Mighty’s Patient Translator.