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What Causes Fear Of Going To The Hospital?
Question: Hi XXXXXXX here. I have recently realised that I have a major fear of going to hospita/being admitted into hospital and I want to find out where this comes from. Could it be connected to anything I have been mentally diagnosed with i.e. Personality disorder? It makes my depression episodes worse as soon as I am aware anyone is even considering taking me to hospital. It also brings on what I can only describe as an anxiety attack (my Generalised Anxiety Disorder).
Also when I have what I call a full blown depression episode, the more severe the episode, sometimes I am unable to verbally communicate. Can depression do this? If it is not depression doing this, what else could it be? I really need your thoughts/ideas on these concerns/worries please?
Also when I have what I call a full blown depression episode, the more severe the episode, sometimes I am unable to verbally communicate. Can depression do this? If it is not depression doing this, what else could it be? I really need your thoughts/ideas on these concerns/worries please?
Brief Answer:
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX good to hear from you as always. Thanks for reaching out. I'd be happy to work through all these concerns with you.
You are certainly not alone in your fear of hospitalization. Let's explore this in more depth, to get a better grip on where this comes from. It may be related to a personality disorder, your anxiety disorder, or some combination. Describe to me your specific worries about the hospital. What about being in the hospital worries you? What specific thoughts or concerns run through your mind?
Regarding the inability to communicate during a severe depressive episode, this can indeed be related to depression itself. One part of depression is psychomotor retardation, meaning generally being slowed down, which can also affect thoughts and speech. This is a serious symptom and always needs evaluation by a doctor as soon as it begins to happen.
You get 4 followup questions as part of this thread, so respond to your heart's content!
Dr. Sheppe
Private Consultation
Detailed Answer:
Hello XXXXXXX good to hear from you as always. Thanks for reaching out. I'd be happy to work through all these concerns with you.
You are certainly not alone in your fear of hospitalization. Let's explore this in more depth, to get a better grip on where this comes from. It may be related to a personality disorder, your anxiety disorder, or some combination. Describe to me your specific worries about the hospital. What about being in the hospital worries you? What specific thoughts or concerns run through your mind?
Regarding the inability to communicate during a severe depressive episode, this can indeed be related to depression itself. One part of depression is psychomotor retardation, meaning generally being slowed down, which can also affect thoughts and speech. This is a serious symptom and always needs evaluation by a doctor as soon as it begins to happen.
You get 4 followup questions as part of this thread, so respond to your heart's content!
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
XXXXXXX here,
In answer to your question of what thoughts run through my head/what are my concerns:
Fear of being out of control;
Fear of lack of trust with the medical staff at the hospital; as when I was born my Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus obviously had to be investigated to find out how severe both disabilities were at the time and how much more they were likely to deteriorate over the years.
Among all the medical investigation that went on, the doctors gave my parents inaccurate information and wrongly advised my parents to walk away from me and not to get emotionally attached to me as is was unlikely that they were going to be able to look after me long term. It was only realised my parents were given the wrong advice to walk away from me when it was too late.
The fact that even if I wanted to, I couldn't physically discharge myself from the hospital.
I'm sorry if this follow-up message doesn't make much sense. I am not actually 100 percent sure of exactly what my fears are. It's just every time anyone suggests hospital/or brings a stretcher in to transfer me to take me to hospital, I straight away burst into tears.
In answer to your question of what thoughts run through my head/what are my concerns:
Fear of being out of control;
Fear of lack of trust with the medical staff at the hospital; as when I was born my Spina Bifida and Hydrocephalus obviously had to be investigated to find out how severe both disabilities were at the time and how much more they were likely to deteriorate over the years.
Among all the medical investigation that went on, the doctors gave my parents inaccurate information and wrongly advised my parents to walk away from me and not to get emotionally attached to me as is was unlikely that they were going to be able to look after me long term. It was only realised my parents were given the wrong advice to walk away from me when it was too late.
The fact that even if I wanted to, I couldn't physically discharge myself from the hospital.
I'm sorry if this follow-up message doesn't make much sense. I am not actually 100 percent sure of exactly what my fears are. It's just every time anyone suggests hospital/or brings a stretcher in to transfer me to take me to hospital, I straight away burst into tears.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
The fact that your doctors told your parents not to get emotionally attached to you is frankly horrible. It's no wonder you have a distrust of doctors, since they gave advice to your parents that was so obviously wrong. I'm sorry that happened to you. I think anyone in your situation would have a fear of being in a hospital.
The loss of control and inability to discharge yourself may speak to a deeper issue. Do you often feel like you do not have control in your life? How do you react when you feel you are trapped or do not have control? Is it usually emotionally, such as crying, rather than rationally?
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
The fact that your doctors told your parents not to get emotionally attached to you is frankly horrible. It's no wonder you have a distrust of doctors, since they gave advice to your parents that was so obviously wrong. I'm sorry that happened to you. I think anyone in your situation would have a fear of being in a hospital.
The loss of control and inability to discharge yourself may speak to a deeper issue. Do you often feel like you do not have control in your life? How do you react when you feel you are trapped or do not have control? Is it usually emotionally, such as crying, rather than rationally?
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
I hate feeling out of control. Hate decisions being made for me, even though that is what I have had all my life bar the last 12 years of my life. I can't stand being told what to do. There are only 2 people in my life I accept being told what to do by. Anyone else and I rebel/fight against them. Any time I feel trapped in any way I often respond/react verbally and /or physically aggressive. This ends up with people not wanting to stay in my company any longer. By this time, they get someone to witness how I am behaving; then on the agreement of the second person they walk out/leave me whether they have done what I needed them to do or not, and I end up threatening them that I will be taking action against them if anything happens to me as a result of them leaving without doing what they were with me for.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
I suspect that most of this can be traced back to early childhood experiences, the earliest perhaps being your parents' early emotional abandonment as you described. This likely makes you fearful of abandonment by others in your life, and your emotional reactions to perceived abandonment (or its opposite, total control) are destructive. Have you been in therapy before to try and get a stronger grip on this?
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
I suspect that most of this can be traced back to early childhood experiences, the earliest perhaps being your parents' early emotional abandonment as you described. This likely makes you fearful of abandonment by others in your life, and your emotional reactions to perceived abandonment (or its opposite, total control) are destructive. Have you been in therapy before to try and get a stronger grip on this?
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
I am in on-going private counselling with Dash a lady I pay. She does CBT with me. I know the fears of rejection/abandonment are not real and are not justified, but I still don't seem to get rid of them, this adds to my emotional distress.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
CBT is a good treatment modality. I might also look for DBT therapists in your area if there are any available, as this might be good for your particular case.
I wouldn't say your fears of rejection/abandonment aren't real or justified -- I think they are very real and justified insofar as you were abandoned and rejected early in life. I think the more you understand that, the less you will direct your anger and frustration at the people around you now, and instead relegate that anger and frustration to the past where it belongs. Does that make sense? That should be the goal of therapy for you.
One more followup question on this thread for you. Then, if you'd like, open up another thread, and we can continue with this exploration of your past and how it affects your present-day functioning.
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
CBT is a good treatment modality. I might also look for DBT therapists in your area if there are any available, as this might be good for your particular case.
I wouldn't say your fears of rejection/abandonment aren't real or justified -- I think they are very real and justified insofar as you were abandoned and rejected early in life. I think the more you understand that, the less you will direct your anger and frustration at the people around you now, and instead relegate that anger and frustration to the past where it belongs. Does that make sense? That should be the goal of therapy for you.
One more followup question on this thread for you. Then, if you'd like, open up another thread, and we can continue with this exploration of your past and how it affects your present-day functioning.
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Naveen Kumar
I'm not sure of I have told you but I have recently finished working with mindincambs in a personality disorder group and having 1-1 sessions with my key worker from the team.
Since finishing with them I have been trying (and so far failing to find another treatment to move on to. I have been assessed by the Personality Disorder Community team and they have said that I don't fit the criteria to warrant secondary care from the team; I am not severe enough.
I am inclined to question if I am not severe enough to meet their criteria, why have I just been part a the personality disorder group from mindincambs?
The mental health team seem to do nothing more than see me for an assessment then go no further treatment wise. I keep putting the question to people, if I don't need treatment suggestions from the mental health team? why are people who do look after me/support me referring me for an assessment?
Not only is this bringing up feelings of rejection/abandonment, but I also feel that they are aware of my knowledge of my diagnosis and they are using that to their advantage. I am too knowledgeable about my diagnosis. I can almost manage most of my symptoms too well to need more support than what I am getting. I keep hitting a bring wall as to where I go from here.
Since finishing with them I have been trying (and so far failing to find another treatment to move on to. I have been assessed by the Personality Disorder Community team and they have said that I don't fit the criteria to warrant secondary care from the team; I am not severe enough.
I am inclined to question if I am not severe enough to meet their criteria, why have I just been part a the personality disorder group from mindincambs?
The mental health team seem to do nothing more than see me for an assessment then go no further treatment wise. I keep putting the question to people, if I don't need treatment suggestions from the mental health team? why are people who do look after me/support me referring me for an assessment?
Not only is this bringing up feelings of rejection/abandonment, but I also feel that they are aware of my knowledge of my diagnosis and they are using that to their advantage. I am too knowledgeable about my diagnosis. I can almost manage most of my symptoms too well to need more support than what I am getting. I keep hitting a bring wall as to where I go from here.
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
I can certainly understand your frustrations. It feels like another kind of abandonment, to be told you don't meet criteria for secondary treatment. This is very frustrating.
It could be a good thing, however, that after careful assessment by a team of trained professionals, they think you are actually relatively healthy, and in fact don't require more rigorous treatment. This could be a testament to your ability to cope and manage your symptoms on your own, which is a great thing you have accomplished.
I would be happy to work with you through private text-based therapy on this site. Typically how it works is you begin a topic via asking a question via my private link (which you are now familiar with), and we discuss this topic using your 4 free followup questions. We can repeat this process as often as you'd like. I think you have wonderful insight and a sharp psychologically-oriented mind, which would do well in therapy examining your past and how it affects your current relationships.
We've reached the end of this thread, so please remember to rate and close it. I'd love to hear from you again to continue therapy via my private link:
tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
I can certainly understand your frustrations. It feels like another kind of abandonment, to be told you don't meet criteria for secondary treatment. This is very frustrating.
It could be a good thing, however, that after careful assessment by a team of trained professionals, they think you are actually relatively healthy, and in fact don't require more rigorous treatment. This could be a testament to your ability to cope and manage your symptoms on your own, which is a great thing you have accomplished.
I would be happy to work with you through private text-based therapy on this site. Typically how it works is you begin a topic via asking a question via my private link (which you are now familiar with), and we discuss this topic using your 4 free followup questions. We can repeat this process as often as you'd like. I think you have wonderful insight and a sharp psychologically-oriented mind, which would do well in therapy examining your past and how it affects your current relationships.
We've reached the end of this thread, so please remember to rate and close it. I'd love to hear from you again to continue therapy via my private link:
tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
Dr. Sheppe
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Arnab Banerjee
I want to look at one of the things you raise in your latest reponse/correspondence. I worry every time I am told that either I am not severe enough/i don't meet the criteria or that after being in therapy with someone for some time, they want to review my progress and tell me they think I am improving. I don't like hearing I am not severe enough because if that was the case I wouldn't be there in the first place. I also tend to think why am I so badly affected in my close relationship and my close friendship with my beat friend if I am not severe enough/font meet the criteria? Also being told I am improving I never see as a good thing as in my head that spells out the end of my working relationship. I know I sound like I have a really messed up head, for want of a much stronger phrase
Brief Answer:
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
As I note above, we've reached the end of this thread (4 followups), so please remember to rate and close it. I'd love to hear from you again to continue therapy via a new question thread you can begin at my private link:
tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
A brief answer to the concern you raise, which we can explore more in-depth, is that you may have difficulty seeing yourself as a person who is not severely ill. It may be that being labelled as severely sick makes you more comfortable in a way, because that brings you more support. I think you definitely need psychotherapy, and would be happy to do this with you. Hopefully with therapy you can learn to interact with people such as friends in such a way as to avoid pushing them away.
Dr. Sheppe
Private Followup
Detailed Answer:
As I note above, we've reached the end of this thread (4 followups), so please remember to rate and close it. I'd love to hear from you again to continue therapy via a new question thread you can begin at my private link:
tinyurl.com/DrSheppeAnswers
A brief answer to the concern you raise, which we can explore more in-depth, is that you may have difficulty seeing yourself as a person who is not severely ill. It may be that being labelled as severely sick makes you more comfortable in a way, because that brings you more support. I think you definitely need psychotherapy, and would be happy to do this with you. Hopefully with therapy you can learn to interact with people such as friends in such a way as to avoid pushing them away.
Dr. Sheppe
Note: For further follow up on related General & Family Physician Click here.
Above answer was peer-reviewed by :
Dr. Sonia Raina
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