Hospital anxiety

Does anyone else experience this? I dread going to the hospital, I'm constantly on the verge of tears, I start breathing rapidly, my heart beats so fast it feels like it's gonna break my chest and at times I start to depersonalize. Just typing this and thinking about it made me start getting symptoms. I can't even explain what's wrong with me because I start crying and doctors cut me off. I told myself I'd go today and I'm frozen in place.

I think a lot of people don't like hospitals. They're usually linked with serious illnesses and injury. You would go to a doctor otherwise, after all.

Maybe you had a bad experience before, some fears come from bad experience. I'm terrified of dentists because I had one in my childhood that was pretty rough. He was good but rough.

It might be possible that you also had people around you that made you fearful of hospitals or that somehow, your perception of them was warped due to someone or some sort of influence in your life (media that left a lasting impression, someone that's close to you that had a bad experience, etc.)

I was afraid of going out in public, taking the bus and going into shops before. I had desensitization therapy with a worker to help with that. It works by gradually putting myself into the situation or the place that I fear. One step at a time. First would be to get near the door, then go inside with my worker for 5 minutes, then a bit more. Slowly desensitizing myself to the thing that was giving me anxiety and panic.

That might be something you could try. Perhaps just get near the hospital first, then go in it for just a couple minutes and so on.

I had a horrible experiencel last year, but I've been afraid of hospitals for longer.

Also, I actually went a couple of weeks ago and my issue was promptly dismissed as nothing. It's getting worse now, but I don't want to go because, on top of making me feel like $#%^, it's most likely not gonna help at all. I'm not strong enough to insist, I feel like I'm going to collapse.