You may have trouble sleeping at night, find yourself being nervous, or be preoccupied with thinking about the diagnosis. Verywell Health's content is for informational and educational purposes only. Read our editorial policy. When the fear response is activated, heart rate increases, muscles tense, teeth clench, and breath shortens. Read our, Typical Emotions You May Experience When Waiting for a Medical Diagnosis, How Anticipatory Grief Differs From Grief After Death, How to Tell Your Family You Have Breast Cancer, How to Respond to Anger and Aggression in Dementia, How to Cope With Grief From Difficult Diagnoses or Medical Errors, What to Say When Someone Is Diagnosed With Cancer, What Loved Ones Should Know About the End of Life, Your First Steps When Diagnosed With Lung Cancer, Recognizing Terminal Restlessness at the End of Life, Best Ways to Support a Partner During Menopause, The 5 Emotional Stages of People with Cancer, Help Your Child With Autism Manage Emotions, Stress effects on the body: Nervous system. If there is an issue, testing is the first step to addressing it. 4. Whatever the reason, the mental, emotional, physical and spiritual parts of you are out of balance. Here are the ranges of incubation periods for some of the most common STDs. Sores appear usually 1 week after exposure. Many times, the beliefs we attach to anxiety can be more painful than the experience of the emotion itself, Davis says. While normally this would be fine, most likely youre having a million questions and doubts running through your mind, leaving you no choice but to turn to the internet for answers. The reality is: When we simply think of the dangerous stimuli, our brain and body respond as if its already happening.. 5 days to 2 weeks. Gould notes it was with consistent exercise that the active mice experienced higher levels of GABA in response to the stress. Some require the sample to get sent out to a second lab with more specialized equipment. Youre going to find answers to one part of your question but itll end up planting a million other tiny seeds in your brain. How to ease worry when waiting for medical test results It can help to learn about the condition you might be facingbut don't rush that processyou will be ready to know more when the time is right for you. This is key because anxiety builds due to a person allowing their emotions to do the thinking for them. Get ready for four days of yoga, music, food and more at the biggest wellness festival in the UK, Try a subscription to Psychologies magazine today and pay just 5 for your first 3 issues. The amygdala maintains and modifies anxiety and fear, operating as an alarm system. If you are anxious, bottling up your feelings can make you feel much worse. Start by accepting that youre worried and that its normal. According to Nnatu, our tendency to assume the worst can depend on several factors. Personal interview. Waiting for Test Results? Here's How to Cope - Nine Circles Community Once you realize you have no control over the results of that test anymore, you can move on . An obvious solution is to shut off your brain and relax, however, the road to a good nights rest starts earlier than you might think. Self-forgiveness and making amends are a few ways to cope. In the past Ive let this kind of situation undermine my peace of mind by thinking of what I should have done better in the past, worrying about the possible outcome, and even trying to read something into the timing of the results arrival as Im standing in the hallway ripping open the envelope. gonorrhea. Thats okay if it happens here and there, but if you continue to entertain the negative ideas theyll only put a damper on your day. Our clinical information meets the standards set by the NHS in their Standard for Creating Health Content guidance. "I struggle with anxiety anyway and I always feel worried when I'm waiting to find out the results from a medical screening like cervical screening," says Jo*, 29. You can look on your accountor call into 1-800-456-2323 and someone will be glad to help. In order for this feeling to go away, it needs the neurotransmitter GABA to essentially hush these excited neurons. Frustration refers to the feeling of having your purpose or action blocked. Anju Goel, MD, MPH, is a board-certified physician who specializes in public health, communicable disease, diabetes, and health policy. Waiting on STD test resultsfreaking out : r/NarcissisticAbuse - Reddit While caffeine alone might not be the cause of anxiety or nervousness, they can significantly raise the risk of increasing your anxiety. The increased heart rate you face alongside your racing thoughts will also not do too well in reducing . 3. While it might be tempting to spend a waiting period staring at the clock, fretting over . Get into a conversation with someone else (not as a distraction, but to show your subconscious that more adrenaline is not needed in the situation). Gym Anxiety Due To Heart Palpitation Fears. Knowing this can also be helpful to friends and family of the person waiting for that result. 3 Ways To Clear Your Mind While Waiting For STD Test Results Engaging your 5 senses may be a powerful tool when managing anxiety. 5. Testing for sexually transmitted infections (STIs) can be done at a public health unit, health clinic or doctor's office. Photo: Yulia Reznikov/Getty Images. Seek alternatives for coffee, such as black tea or decaf coffee with low caffeine levels, Opt for decaffeinated versions of your favourite soft drink, If you are not actively exercising, a ten-minute walk can also help to clear your mind, During your exercises, visualise yourself being successful years from now, After exercising, you can utilise breathing techniques to slow your heart rate and relax your mind, Do something you love with someone, such as any shared hobbies and common interests, Let them decide an activity-filled day filled with surprises, Have them accompany you to your appointment at an. When Should I Get Tested for STDs After Unprotected Sex? Don't be afraid to ask for help. If you have to gather information for work or school, go to the library and use books or magazines for research. However, rather than spend all your time being anxious, worried and overthinking, here are 3 helpful ways to clear your mind while waiting for your STD test results. Most people never take the time to question their emotions, and a deep breathing rhythm will help you do just that, and overcome anxiety while waiting for doctors test results. First, chances are very, very slim that you have HIV based on that incident. Waiting is sensory, and its related to how we sense and perceive time. As the day for your results gets closer, take extra good care of yourself. -The Journal of Neuroscience. But in modern times, our emotional experience of anxiety may create a physical response incongruent with the actual level of danger in a situation. Hey guys,For the last couple of months I have been experiencing a weird symptom. Living with Regrets and How to Deal with Them, 9 Ways to Cope When You Feel Unattractive, Why Do We Cry? Ask your testing provider for their usual STD testing results time frame while getting tested. These normal emotional and bodily responses are due to the potential future occurrence that might show up, and the mind is really good at jumping to conclusions during an uncertain event. Test: Where do you slip up when creating wellness goals. Pouyesh V, et al. The problem in being alone between taking the test and getting the results is theres only me, myself, and I in the room. That's why we ensure that all of our visitors have access to a dedicated professional who they can call to talk about STDs and STD testing. Nancy Irwin, a therapist and clinical hypnotist, has six suggestions for people who are waiting for test results to come back. Potential positives included being a role model to others, appreciating life more, and strengthening their relationships. Egton Medical Information Systems Limited has used all reasonable care in compiling the information but make no warranty as to its accuracy. Shred them, ball them up, burn them, throw them away, whatever is most satisfying to you! Remove TVs from the bedroom. You may feel fed up with the entire process of diagnosis and feel like just walking away from the whole thing. The longer you have to wait, the more you may have ups and downs, and the more intense your feelings may become. genital herpes. Lets say youve hit the gym, your friends are busy, youve banned yourself from the internet, and yet the test is still in the forefront of your brain. We caught up with Strictly favourite, Dianne Buswell, who reveals how an eating disorder nearly caused her to have a cardiac arrest. On top of helping you see the silver lining, theyll make you laugh. However, by researching your next steps and getting informed about incubation periods and testing windows, you're already well on your way to getting the care you need. Its your favorite season right now. Dr. Chapman says that doing this means you've acknowledged the thought, but you're not feeding into it. Who isnt guilty of resorting to that panicked research and research loop until youve found enough sources that either confirm your suspicions or worsen the most worst case of worst case scenarios? It's important to note that your friends and family members may also experience many of these emotions while waiting for your diagnosis. This is where you think about all the good that might come from getting what you would consider to be bad news on results day. Eat to ease anxiety. Different factors can trigger these mental disorders, ranging from the fear of getting or passing the infection, anxiety when waiting for STDs test results to the uncertainty of life after learning that you have an infection. July 17, 2019. "Avoid searching the internet unless these are recommended sites.". Not even your health insurance so it wont get on your medical records. it doesn't sound like you have any of those things, so that's good. Speed sends direct signals to your nervous system letting it know whether a legitimate threat exists, or not. There are two parts of the brain mainly involved in our perception of waiting, according to Marlon Rollins, PhD, licensed mental health counselor and professional clinical counselor in Los Angeles. If you think evolutionarily about how humans came to be the way we are, its not good for survival to not have any idea whats coming and not have any control over your fate. Unfortunately,ifyou cant get friends over due to busy schedules, youre left alone. Our website is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Not even your health insurance so it wont get on your medical records. It was important for our ancestors to feel a sense of distress when faced with uncertainty about their next meal, or lack of control around safety from the elements.. Your mind may fill with negative thoughts and what-if scenarios. Although it can be hard to feel motivated, research has shown exercise is a great way to help alleviate worry and stress. Tests & Exams. The Waiting Is the Hardest Part, But You Can Make It Easier Sometimes it goes back to the tried and tested things that people sometimes just overlook and they forget about in that huge panic, says Robinson. Many people experience anxiety while waiting. Alexa became entangled in the sexual health business after coming from not only "abstinence-only" schooling but where the reproductive anatomy chapter was literally torn from her textbook. Emotional mirroring could be to blame, Daydreaming isnt a waste of time, as were often told, but the gateway to creativity, problem-solving and even to the realisation of our potential. Theres nothing in that situation you can control at all. A pain, a discomfort, a hunch? It lightens human burdens. 2-12 days. But then, neither of these things are . When not writing for Exposed, Alexa enjoys taking vacations in the mountains with a good book and her dog, Nova. Its when its over the top that causes damage to our minds and bodies, causing symptoms similar to those of HIV and other health issues. Then the researchers took measures of anxiety and various strategies people used to deal with anxiety at four points in the processthe day after the exam; 6 weeks after; 12 weeks after; and the . When we're more aware of what's going on around us and inside us, it also helps us notice signs of stress and anxiety and helps us deal with them better. Do you have good friends who help you be hopeful that you can spend more time with? Urbandictionary.com has this definition: Anxiety and worry that accompanies the period of time before . In other words SLOW DOWN. 3. Notes on How to ease worry when waiting for medical test results, https://patient.info/news-and-features/how-to-ease-worry-when-waiting-for-medical-test-results, How to stop mum guilt from impacting your mental health, Thalassophobia: how to manage your fear of the ocean. You may feel hopeless about your situation. STD Test Is Negative But Still Worried? | False Negative Results Feeling Anxious About Seeing the Doctor? 7 Tips That Might Help Herpes. Make time to focus on your bodys health and keep your mind off of your test results. After all, it may not feel "safe" to release your frustration with the clinic where you are receiving care (you might want to be seen as a "nice patient"), so you may finally let it go when your spouse forgets to pick up milk at the grocery store. 2023 Dotdash Media, Inc. All rights reserved. Engage in Relaxing and Joyful Activities. I'm working hard to keep myself occupied. So keep up with the healing journey with compassion and understanding for yourself. Stress effects on the body: Nervous system. Often the strategies that help people learn how to cope with waiting for test results and feel better are simple things, and people find they already know in their heart of hearts what works. Verywell Health uses only high-quality sources, including peer-reviewed studies, to support the facts within our articles. Test: Which type of yoga is right for me? The motto behind this kind of panic and anxiety is better safe than sorry. In other words, better to be prepared than caught off guard in case the threat does show up. Many of us tend to breathe faster when were anxious, which can make us feel sick and dizzy - which in turn can make us feel more anxious. If its telling a few trusted people or even a stranger on a support line, all those things are fine.. This is where you call on your friends for help! 5 Practical Tips to Manage Anxiety While Waiting for Test Results #1. Blood test. There are many online communities dedicated to family caregivers, and this might be helpful for your loved ones. However, whether you struggle with waiting periods can also depend on your personality. You may feel flooded with feelings of anxiety, dread, guilt and worry. bacteria. While caffeine alone might not be the cause of anxiety or nervousness, they can significantly raise the risk of increasing your anxiety. Despite your best efforts, you might not be able to control your thoughts and get them to leave you alone. In fact, the helplessness that loved ones often experience can magnify your feelings even further. You may feel impatient with your spouse or friends. By Mary Kugler, RN You may even become impatient with yourself, wondering why it takes so long to do some of the activities you have always done. BTW, I'm middle aged, and I've gone into my doctor several times in the past few years for . The person you talk to may have ideas that can help you out as well! It is part of the fight or flight reaction designed to protect us from danger. See if there's anything that can be done to help control your symptoms, even if the interventions are only temporary until you find out what treatments you will need for the long term. Have a laugh with a friend. 2023 Psych Central, a Healthline Media Company. Talk to someone you trust about how you're feelingexpressing your emotions and feeling understood can help improve your mood. Its time to re-invent the way we perceive Britains often drizzly days and discover what walking in the rain can do for your health and wellbeing, Discover how to overcome low self-esteem and be more confident in yourself with these mindfulness tips from Journalist Deborah Ward, We take a closer look at how stress affects your gut health, before explaining how to manage your stress levels and protect your microbiome, Try this non-dominant hand writing therapy technique for a fresh perspective on your life and troubles, advises our writing columnist, author and coach Jackee Holder, Do you tend to feel worse after talking through a problem with a friend in the same situation? or call into 1-800-456-2323 and someone will be glad to help. Each person can experience some or all of them, and you might experience some at different times than others. r/Anxiety - Consumed with fear waiting for HIV test results, please Anxiety can be a big problem, especially if you are waiting for your results after taking an STD test. Youve been there, Ive been there, others have been there. If its telling everybody whats worrying them then thats fine. Learn how listening to music. You cant make the results arrive faster, she says. "Even when I booked a GP appointment to get a mole checked out, I managed to convince myself that I definitely had skin cancer. journals.lww.com/anesthesia-analgesia/Fulltext/2014/08000/The_Effectiveness_of_Interventions_Aimed_at.26.aspx, sciencedirect.com/science/article/abs/pii/S1089947219304046, journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/19375867211067542, onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/10.1111/ijn.12682, sciencedirect.com/science/article/pii/S0001691819301209, How to Reduce Anxiety Right Here, Right Now, Grounding Exercises: Using Your 5 Senses for Anxiety Relief, What to Do If You Feel Disconnected From Your Family. Waiting a long time for a diagnosis that has serious implications can lead to feelings of having no control over things or being overwhelmed. Eber also states that writing down things youre grateful for, It isnt merely the right thing to do. If youre a soda drinker, try a decaffeinated version of your favorite soft drink. You could also try relaxation exercises too, such as tensing your muscles one by one. For example, while youre in the bath practice gratitude or go for a walk/jog with a friend. Thats right, it will associate the experience with safety, and you can begin naturally feeling calmer. This article describes the common emotions you might face when waiting for a diagnosis and provides some suggestions for coping with these feelings. The body and mind are on a feedback loop. September 11, 2018. Another method is entering a state of flow - that wonderful zone where you're completely absorbed in what you're doing, and time seems to fly past. It can be very difficult, at times, to know whether you are dealing with situational sadness or depression. Professor Sweeny found that people tend to worry most about results at the beginning and end of a waiting period so around the time of the test itself and again when the results are about to be given. Think about why youre there in the first place. 6 and 12 months. This means that if you can play a movie in your mind prior to arriving at the doctors office that reflects calmness and optimism, it will show up physically as well. "For instance, if the results arepositive, would it not be preferable to know the results as soon as possible so that you can take action? The effectiveness of interventions aimed at reducing anxiety in healthcare waiting spaces. The fastest results possbile - available in 1 to 2 days. Find authentic things that youre grateful for. Colleen Ryan, MD Depending on how complex your test might be, you may be able to receive your results within 24 to 48 hours. "You can also help relieve anxiety by taking care of yourself," Bell adds. Impatience can workits way beyond your diagnosis and enter other parts of your life as well. Peers who are calm, aromas, and massage can all give you internal and external queues that the threat of waiting is not real, Rollins says. Result anxiety, which can arise in relation to academic performance, is one common example of waiting-related anxiety experienced by students. Having the medical system constantly making you wait for thingsappointments, tests, consultations, resultscan make you feel like throwing in the towel and just giving up. Its a period thats fraught with worry, says Professor Sweeny. Often, just being able to hear from someone who has felt the same things is an enormous help, reminding you that you are not alone. My Panic While Waiting for STD Test Results - Medium Another technique you can try to ease anxiety involves supporting yourself with calming sensory stimulation, such as music and aromatherapy. These rules apply for the internet on your phone too! And you might have to deal with symptomssuch as dizziness, nausea, or painwhile you're waiting for an answer. This is probably one of the reasons why mindfulness meditation is so beneficial in the waiting scenario as it grounds you in the present moment. How To Deal With Anxiety Over Getting Tested For STIs - Bustle Second, onset HIV symptoms are often described as flu-like, aka chills, fever, nausea, etc. Sometimes people will have a test and get results on the same day; for other tests, they may have to wait to get results from their doctor. The fight, flight, or freeze system is constantly scanning your environment through your sensory systems, and many times gets it wrong. Lai JC-Y, et al. This wait can make you feel numb or it can make you feel like the Tasmanian Devil is living inside your head, running in 100 directions . This simple physiological shift can make all the difference in countering anxiety while waiting for doctors test results. Give yourself some ease-of-mind with some relaxation practices. Some women may also try to maintain their normal routines to help lessen feelings of nervousness and . Coping With Scanxiety During Cancer Treatment - Verywell Health Even though getting tested is the responsible decision, it doesn't make the wait for an STD test result any less stressful. You're not. (2019). Caffeine alone probably wont make you too nervous or anxious, but because youre waiting for your results it poses a risk of increasing your anxiety. Pretend youre an internet addict for a bit and limit your usage as if youre in rehab. Friends are a support system. Stress can lead to comfort eating as adrenaline causes blood sugar surges that make us crave sweetness. Even doing this just once a week had benefits. on Waiting for test results can be tough, especially when a lot is at stake. Khosravi, S. (2021). 10 Ways to Reduce Anxiety While Waiting for Imaging Test Results. Waiting for Imaging Test Results? 10 Ways to Reduce Anxiety and Worry Youre not alone and no STD is a death sentence. Know that you will be notified as soon the lab results are available to you. We use cookies to ensure that we give you the best experience on our website. Feeling Worried or Anxious Waiting for Bar Results? Impatience is perhaps the first emotion many people feel when awaiting a diagnosis. So why do we do this? It is possible to live a normal life after being positive and people do. New York, NY: Columbia University Press. Right now, all three personas are deeply invested in figuring out the results but have no choice other than to wait. This type of thinking can play a major role in whether or not a person experiences anxiety while waiting for doctors test results. Waiting anxiety can even occur in a doctors office, according to a 2014 review. Soothing sensory tools and grounding techniques, such as music and deep breathing, can help when youre experiencing waiting-related anxiety. Your mom, boss, neighbor. Read a chapter or until youre exhausted. Whether scans are being done for diagnosis, to monitor treatment, to check for a recurrence, or simply for follow-up, it doesn't matter. Everyone gets anxious from time to time, particularly if we are worried about our own health and well-being. Many people may feel angry at times while waiting for an answer. You dont have quit caffeine for the two three days you wait for your results, but lowering your intake wouldnt hurt. For this, you need to be actively engaged in a task that is challenging but not so challenging that it causes frustration, and that also provides you with positive feedback on how youre doing. It's normal to have a range of emotions when you're waiting for a diagnosis. Dealing with anxiety while waiting for HIV test results? Youll find that there are 100s of more reasons to support the fact that youre healthy, rather than physically sick. I cant begin to tell you how much this helped me during my health anxiety and GAD struggles. Whats really torturous is the combination of not knowing whats coming and not being able to do much, or anything about it, says Professor Kate Sweeny, of the University of California, who has made a study of waiting in the areas of both health and academic tests. If someone is sensitive to noise and is overstimulated when experiencing anxiety, the recommendation may be to not listen to music because it may increase anxiety.. Crafted with love by, 10 Ways To Deal With Anxiety While Waiting For Doctors Test Results. How many times has laughing made you feel more stressed out? This test coming back clear (which it will) won't kill the anxiety. Its not your bodys fault for feeling anxiety while waiting for doctors test results. Anxiety While Waiting, Firstly, know that a little worry is normal. 4. 8 Ways to Cope with Anxiety While Waiting for Test Results Sometimes this frustration can erupt. It would be counter-intuitive, right? Empowered vs depressed, stay empowered no matter what. You can use it before an exam, before that big interview, or before opening test results. STD testing can be done at Elyon Clinic.