What Are The Best MRI Anxiety Tips?
MRI stands for magnetic resonance imaging and is a scan that allows medical professionals to see various organs (such as the brain) and other structures throughout the human body. Although an MRI scan is a painless procedure overall, there are a couple of key bits of information that can make the process much smoother. Below is a list of MRI anxiety tips that will surely help you reduce your anxiety before and during the MRI test.
1) Minimize MRI Claustrophobia
The MRI procedure uses a tight, confined space to ensure scan accuracy and maximize your health. However, about 12.5% of the U.S. population has some form of claustrophobia, which is a fear of an enclosed space. This is an understandable fear to have and below are a couple of actions you can take to avoid MRI claustrophobia during your next doctor’s visit.
Although MRI scans do not allow anything magnetic into the MRI machine, you might be allowed to listen to your favorite music. If medical professionals do not allow headphones or earbuds, ask them what they can do to help you remain calm during the procedure. The right choice of song can help you reach a happy place where you are not focused on the enclosed space.
2) Use Deep Breaths to Slow Your Heart Rate
Even simple deep breathing techniques can be extremely effective at allowing you to remain calm. One simple method is to take long, deep breaths in followed by long, deep breaths out. Over time, this method will slow your nervous system functions (such as heart rate) and help you remain calm through the MRI scanners.
Feel free to also find a variety of other breathing techniques that are just as easy to perform online! This is definitely one of the most effective MRI anxiety tips.
3) Bring a Family Member With You
Although a family member cannot go into the machine with you, knowing they are in the MRI room can provide emotional support. Ask a close family member to come to your next MRI appointment. Combining this tip with other strategies, such as deep breaths will increase effectiveness.
4) Talk to Your MRI Technologist
Rather than being fearful of the unknown, talk to your MRI technician to get a better understanding of the MRI procedure as a whole. They are a trained professional that likely performs MRI scans daily! Any MRI anxiety tips that exist, they are most likely to know more than anyone.
The most important thing you can do to reduce your anxiety is to understand how an MRI works.
5) Understand The Loud Noises
The number one reason many are so afraid of an MRI test is because of the loud noises that are produced during the procedure. Depending on the type of scan you are getting, the volume of sounds can range from mild to extremely jarring. Understand what to expect to have a significantly better chance to avoid MRI anxiety.
Listen to music through non-magnetic headphones or wear noise-canceling headphones throughout the procedure. Drowning out loud noises allows you to focus more on breathing and going to your happy place! Think about the MRI anxiety tips you have learned here when focusing your attention.
6) Use an Eye Mask or Sleep Mask
Eye masks that block sensory input can allow you to easily focus attention inward on your breathing and thoughts. This prevents additional MRI anxiety by ensuring you do not stare at the machine as it scans around your body. In addition, a sleep mask might make you feel relaxed or even sleep when combined with noise-canceling headphones.
If you are able to fall asleep during the MRI procedure, this is easily one of the best MRI anxiety tips!
7) Consider Anti-Anxiety Medication or Mild Sedation
Mild sedation is a possible route for individuals with anxiety that is specific to the MRI scan itself. Ask your MRI technologist about mild sedation during your upcoming MRI scan.
For patients with severe anxiety, anti-anxiety medication from your physician might be the appropriate answer. If you already have anti-anxiety medication, this is an easy aid that can improve the overall MRI experience. Be careful when combining SSRIs and sedative drugs.
8) Avoid Panic Attacks
Panic attacks might be triggered by feelings of claustrophobia, loud noises, or many other factors anxious patients might be concerned with. Following as many of the tips listed as possible will maximize your chances of avoiding a panic attack. Let a medical professional know before the procedure that you have had panic attacks in the past. This will give both you and the medical professional a plan in case a dreaded panic attack does unfold.
9) Mentally Prepare For Your MRI Appointment
Sometimes the best way to avoid anxiety is to confront any troubling thoughts or feelings you have prior to your MRI appointment. This can be done consciously through meditation on your own, or with help from a therapist.
Talking about your fears and negative thoughts will make them go away in many cases.
10) Ask How Long Your MRI Scan Is
Depending on what part of your body is being scanned, the total length of time the procedure will last from 15 to 90 minutes. This is clearly a pretty large range of time to be in a small space, which might initially cause you more anxiety. Figuring out exactly how long you will be in the MRI machine will allow you to choose the most relevant MRI anxiety tips!
11) MRIs Have Strong Magnetic Fields
This fact is important to understand for a couple of reasons. First, you cannot go into an MRI with anything that is magnetic (especially nothing magnetic inside of you). Next, it is important to understand that the powerful magnets inside the MRI are responsible for the loud noises. Your MRI technician should brief you on these things prior to the procedure!
12) Open MRI Machine Option
Most MRI machines will be a closed MRI, which is the normal circular machine that you go halfway into. However, there are other MRIs that use an open MRI machine. Since open MRI machines are farther away from your body, the resolution of the image they produce will be lower. The open MRI machine might be an alternative for you if you have severe anxiety.
13) Wear Something Comfortable and Bring a Pillow
Being uncomfortable throughout the MRI procedure will only worsen your anxiety. Wear clothing that you have worn in the past to relax. Also, use a pillow to avoid head discomfort from the hard surface of the MRI machine. In addition to being comfortable, make sure to use the other MRI anxiety tips that we have covered to maximize calmness throughout the procedure.
Wearing anything other than a hospital gown, when permitted, is ideal for your anxiety.
14) Gain Control of Your Thoughts
Often times anxiety runs rampant because we allow our thoughts to do the same. Bringing your attention to the present moment can be a very powerful tool. This can be achieved through visual meditation, or through a breathing technique.
Breathing techniques are best if you are a beginner, as your breath will always pull you away from your thoughts and into the present moment.
15) Have The Right Preparation For an Anxiety Attack
This tip might be one of the most important of all the MRI anxiety tips. Having a plan for the worst-case scenario will help in the moment, but it will also help ease your initial anxiety. Your ideal preparation might be completely different from another person with anxiety.
Conclusion
Ultimately, many individuals might develop anxiety surrounding an MRI scan for many reasons. Although there are many factors that can cause anxiety, there are also many MRI anxiety tips that can be used to minimize the anxiety experienced. You might find some of the list of tips above more effective than others, which is why you might remember at least a few of them. Breathing techniques, noise-canceling headphones, and the presence of a family member are my personal top picks. Good luck with your future MRI scan and leave a comment if you found this post helpful!