It is a scenario that happens every single day in clinics across Australia. You visit your general practitioner because you have been dealing with a stubborn health issue. Your doctor hands you a referral for a Computed Tomography scan or a Magnetic Resonance Imaging scan to get a clearer picture of what is happening inside your body. You walk out of the clinic room, look at the piece of paper, and instantly feel a knot of anxiety form in your stomach.
If the thought of lying still inside a medical imaging machine makes you feel nervous, trapped, or completely claustrophobic, you are definitely not alone. Medical anxiety surrounding diagnostic scans is incredibly common. In fact, thousands of Australians delay booking vital medical appointments every year simply because they dread the thought of entering a scanning room.
At Gippsland Lakes Medical Imaging, we believe that your health journey should never be put on hold due to fear. We are a proudly independent, locally owned practice operating across East Gippsland, and our core philosophy is built entirely on providing diagnostic imaging with genuine compassion. We understand your fears, and we know exactly how to help you overcome them.
You don’t have to do it alone. If it is a comfort to you, you are welcome to bring a support person into the MRI room with you, if they are screened appropriately and it is deemed safe. Whether you need to visit our Lakes Entrance clinic or our purpose built Bairnsdale facility, here are five practical, easy to follow tips to help you manage your anxiety and get through your upcoming scan with total peace of mind.
A massive part of medical anxiety comes from a fear of the unknown. Understanding the difference between the machines can instantly lower your stress levels because you realize they are not as intimidating as they seem.
A Computed Tomography scan machine looks like a large, slim donut. The ring is quite wide, and the tunnel is remarkably short. Most patients find that their head or legs remain completely outside the machine during the process. The scan itself is incredibly fast, often taking only a few minutes to gather highly detailed structural data.
A Magnetic Resonance Imaging machine is longer and shaped more like a tunnel because it uses a powerful magnetic field to capture intricate soft tissue images. While it is more enclosed than a Computed Tomography scanner, modern technology has come a long way. At our Bairnsdale facility, we utilize advanced medical technology designed with patient comfort at the forefront, featuring wider openings and shorter tunnels to significantly reduce that boxed in feeling.
When preparing for your appointment, what you wear matters a lot. Many people assume they will always be forced to change into a standard, thin hospital gown, which can sometimes increase feelings of vulnerability and nervousness.
You can often avoid changing out of your own clothes entirely if you dress strategically. Choose loose, comfortable clothing that contains absolutely no metal. Look for soft trackpants, leggings, plain cotton tshirts, and comfortable jumpers. Ensure there are no metal zippers, wire underwires, metallic buttons, studs, or reflective metal threads in the fabric.
By wearing cozy, metal free clothing, you can stay in your own garments throughout the procedure. Feeling physically comfortable and warm goes a very long way in calming an overactive nervous system.
Our team at Gippsland Lakes Medical Imaging is not just here to push buttons on a machine. We are healthcare professionals who genuinely care about your emotional well being. The moment you are called into the scanning room, be completely honest about your anxiety or claustrophobia.
There is absolutely no shame in telling our technologists that you are terrified. When we know you are nervous, we can adapt our approach to support you. We can explain every single step before it happens, show you how the table moves, and talk to you through the internal intercom system between scans. We will also place a safety buzzer directly into your hand. If at any point during the process you feel overwhelmed, you simply press the buzzer and we will stop the scan and come into the room immediately. Knowing you hold the ultimate control can instantly break the cycle of panic.
When our bodies enter a panic state, our breathing automatically becomes shallow and rapid, which signals to our brain that we are in danger. You can actively override this physical reaction by using simple breathing exercises while lying on the scanning table.
Try the four count box breathing method. Inhale slowly through your nose for four seconds, hold your breath for four seconds, exhale gently through your mouth for four seconds, and hold empty for four seconds. Focus your entire mind on counting the numbers.
Alternatively, close your eyes before the table even begins to move and keep them closed the entire time. Plan a mental distraction before you arrive. You can mentally reconstruct your favorite holiday walk along the Lakes Entrance foreshore, trace the steps of a favorite bushwalk, or mentally list every track on an album you love. Keeping your mind busy prevents it from focusing on the space around you.
Many patients do not realize that they have complete freedom of choice when it comes to their healthcare. If your doctor hands you a referral form that has the logo of a massive corporate radiology chain printed on it, you are legally allowed to bring that exact same referral to Gippsland Lakes Medical Imaging.
Choosing a locally owned, independent clinic means you are choosing an environment built around community care rather than corporate targets. Our brand new Bairnsdale facility was purpose built from the ground up to feature bright, open, and soothing spaces that intentionally lower patient stress levels.
You do not have to let claustrophobia stand in the way of getting answers about your health. If you have an upcoming scan, get in touch with our friendly regional team today. Let us show you how a compassionate, patient first approach can completely transform your medical experience.
