I am claustrophobic and I have scheduled MRI for next week. How should I deal with it?
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Hello, I am 18 years old female. I have been suffering from back pain for the last 6 months. My lower back used to pain a lot and the pain was so crucial that I wasn’t able to walk. I took painkillers for the pain relief but it didn’t provide much relief. My doctor asked me to take an MRI test to know the real cause of my pain. MRI is scheduled for next week but the problem is I am claustrophobic and I am worried. How I will deal with it? Please suggest what should I do while I am in there? Thanks.
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@jin Hello, being claustrophobic myself and experiencing MRI I totally understand your situation. I took MRI twice in my life. The first one was a very drastic experience I got so panicked that they had to stop the process early but during my second MRI everything went smoothly. What helped me I’ll tell you. Meditation and relaxation techniques helped me inside the MRI machine. Yogic breathing techniques help me tremendously. Granted, stillness is a requirement, so I can’t take deep breaths without making movements. But even with ordinary breathing, you can count breaths as a way to focus attention on something besides the test. When I do this, I end up falling asleep. By the time I get to the top of my head, I’m relaxed and no longer feel my heart pounding through my chest. Relaxation and breathing techniques will help you as well. Thanks and All the best.