Anxiety about blood pressure measuring at doctors

Hello, I know this isn't a new thing for this forum but I'm hoping for support and maybe ideas. I refuse getting my bp taken at docs offices because it is falsely high. I can feel when it's high and it only happens at the doc. My anxiety has gotten so bad that I can't even get an accurate reading at home by myself. I psych myself out.
The issue is that I'll have a series of doc appts coming up where I'll need to get my bp measured at the doc and I need them to be accurate. It'll be about 9 months of doc visits if you catch my drift.
I really want to be safe and careful and would appreciate some help. Thanks y'all!

Anxiety doesn't cause long-term high blood pressure (hypertension). But episodes of anxiety can cause dramatic, temporary spikes in your blood pressure.

If those temporary episodes occur frequently, such as every day, they can cause damage to your blood vessels, heart and kidneys, as can chronic high blood pressure. In addition, when you have anxiety you're more likely to resort to other unhealthy habits that can increase your blood pressure.

I would like to suggest you start to work with your physician re your blood pressure problems. You posted, " My anxiety has gotten so bad that I can't even get an accurate reading at home."  Perhaps the readings you are getting at home and at the Drs office are accurate readings so don't take a chance on assuming you do not have a blood pressure problem.

Take care and keep on talking with us here in the forum as we understand anxiety well.

Kindly,

Kitt 

 

Yes, I have this problem, too! Every time I measure my own blood pressure, it's either normal or very occasionally in the pre-hypertension range. Most often it's normal. But I hate visiting the doctor and almost every time they take it, it's not only high it's really high. And I can feel my own heart beating (isn't that a lyric?). My current doctor understands and didn't want to put me on anything, but I've had doctors who practically freaked out about it, which makes it worse the next time I go see them.

I just try to relax as much as I can while I'm in the waiting room. If there's nobody in there and I can relax, it's not high even when they take it, or if it is it's not by much. On the other hand if there's a bunch of kids running around and babies crying...well.

What I need to do is listen to music. Headphones. Maybe some chill Pink Floyd from Dark Side of the Moon or something. Perhaps that would help you? If you have an iPhone there are also white noise apps. Some of them are computer generated white noise; others are waves hitting a beach or thunderstorms or whatever. And you could do the same thing at home before you monitor your own BP. I only take mine when I feel at rest.

And I'd do what Kitt says. Write down what you have at home. Make sure you're doing it consistently every time. You know...cuff in the same place and all of that. The American Heart Association website has a guide with pictures to show you how to do it the correct way.

Good luck!

No one has posted in this forum lately, but it is exactly what my issue is. I have always had super low blood pressure, but I went to the doctor once and it was high. I think their reaction completely freaked me out. They wanted to keep me there and monitor me to be sure it came down. That only made it worse. Then they insisted I take medication, and I hate to take medication unless I am certain I need it, and I wasn't. Since then, every time I think about having my blood pressure taken, I freak out. If I can get over the initial panic and take it at home, it's usually high because I'm freaking out, but I push through the anxiety and take it over and over and over until I begin to see it fall. Once I can see that it CAN be normal, I relax. The secret is to keep taking it on a regular basis so the fear doesn't build up again. Once you see that your blood pressure is normal at home (keep a log to convince the doctors), you will relax and know that even if it is high at the doctors office, it isn't a true reflection of what you know to be true from taking it at home. It's odd that using your logic and your brain is what can overcome this issue that is caused by your being illogical. The problem is making sure it IS caused by anxiety and not actually a condition sneaking up on you. I hate taking medication, and they always try to put me on blood pressure medication when I go to the doctors because it is high there. I have gotten to the point now that I tell them I don't want it taken. Period. I just don't want to go through the stress of it all. They're okay with that as long as I take it at home. My problem now is that I have gotten out of the habit of taking it at home since it has been so long since I've been to the doctor, so now I'm back to fear and anxiety about taking it and getting over that hump. I have the fear that there really is an issue with it (because I keep going back to WHY was it high when it has always been so low, even in doctors offices before). I wish I didn't think so much! I'm just going to have to take a Xanax and overcome it again, but the thought of it is just freaking me out. Mostly I just wanted to come here to vent, because other people don't seem to understand and look at me like I'm nuts. Maybe I am. :) I think this comes from my distrust of doctors in general. I've had a lot of weird things happen in my life to me and people I care about that were mistakes caused by doctors. I think that is the root of my fear. I've also had my body betray me with an 'autoimmune' disease, so I never know what it is going to come up with next. It's a feeling of a lack of control over my own life and health, I think. I hate that I have become so focused on this issue. I know that fear is a lack of faith, and really my faith in God is what keeps me going. I know He is always here with me and I shouldn't fear anything. Knowing that really does help calm me down, but then my head starts freaking me out again. Sigh. Anyway....I know what you guys are going through. If anyone wants to 'chat' send me a note. Maybe we can take our blood pressures together for moral support, and overcome it together! :D

Hi,

I know it's easier said than done, but what I do and what might
help you is try to distract yourself by looking at a magazine or
newspaper. This has worked for me sometimes as I try to focus
not on my BP. Good luck.