Putting off seeing a doctor
July 7, 2008
This is the final part of my series about the four main reasons why people put off seeing a doctor:
Reason #1: It will go away.
Reason #2: Money.
Reason #3: Time.
Reason #4: Fear:
I cannot tell you how many times I have heard in my career of relatives of patients who do not go to doctors and ended up with a life threatening cancer. They ended their life early. This fear is often strong enough in people to the point that they will not even pick up the phone to call a doctor when they know something is wrong. The same thing happens with TMJ disorders. Many people who avoid treating their TMJ disorders trying to avoid what they perceive as the surgical option is the only option. They think if they go to see a doctor about this they will end up with surgery or losing a part of their jaw. Sometimes they are afraid that they will be told they have a worse diagnosis like rheumatoid arthritis or some type of brain tumor.
What these people are actually afraid of is the unknown. The reality is that if a proper diagnosis is made no matter what it is, intervention can be very successful and the person will be much better off than if they never had treatment at all. They will be better off in many different domains of their life including their work, their social life, their family life, and basically enjoy all aspects of life that can be enjoyed without the pain they are suffering from.
Fear is at its deepest root a lack of trust in God. When a person is fearful of a situation what they are saying to God is that “I do not trust you that you have my best interest at heart.” A person who has a deep trust in God, when they think about any situation such as pain or cancer or any medical condition, then they will trust God that whatever the result is, whatever the diagnosis is, whatever the treatment is ahead, that God will get them through it. That trust takes away all fear.
Therefore I encourage patients to put aside their fear and come in and get a proper diagnosis so that we can deal with whatever the problem is. This in the end, will actually alleviate worries and when the unknown is known, anxiety decreases and healing can begin.
Dr. Prehn
