Today, I learned I'm claustrophobic by having a raging oh-god-I'm-gonna-fucking-die panic attack while I was stuck inside an MRI scanner. FML
Collection
Fall
Dead leaves, the first cold of the season and an umbrella flipped inside out: fall, the season of grace.
Today, while getting my MRI, I found out I had claustrophobia when I had a major panic attack and then was pulled out after only completing a single scan. I suffered through the other 10 because if that happened a second time, we'd have to reschedule after I took meds for it. I didn't even know I had claustrophobia. FML
Today, I had a panic attack while giving a presentation on how to breathe to avoid having panic attacks. FML
Today, I got stuck for a while in a hallway between two security doors due to a malfunction. I'm not claustrophobic, but I sure am sensitive to horrifying smells coming from a nearby bathroom stall. FML
Today, I had a panic attack. Not on a crowded train, or an airplane, or in school, or any of the expected places. It was in my yoga class, which my therapist recommended for me, while I was in a dead-body position. FML
Today, I had a panic attack because I was constipated. FML
Today, I was squeezed through an overly-crowded hallway down to my psychologist's. There, I sat in an overly-crowded waiting room to see him, next to an obese woman and an insane man. I finally entered the smaller-than-a-closet room. My reason for seeing a psychologist? Claustrophobia. FML
Today, as a last resort for my back problems, I tried acupuncture. After the needles were placed and the doctor had left, I couldn't move for 30 minutes. I had a panic attack. FML
Today, I finally told my boyfriend that I see a therapist every week because, amongst other things, I'm terrified of being locked in a room. He didn't believe me, so he locked me in the bathroom "for a laugh." I had a panic attack and passed out. FML
Today, I blanked and forgot to take out my piercing before going for my MRI, even though the nurses asked me multiple times to make sure I had no metal on me before entering, you know, the big machine made of massive electromagnets. The piercing was on my clitoris. FML
Today, I was in the bathroom at work. The lock on the stall door broke, and I couldn't open it. I was all alone and I started having a mini panic attack. After several minutes of frantically trying to fix the lock and hyperventilating, I realized I could just crawl under the door. FML
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Top comments
xsydneyx123 28
Oh no. I'm glad you're okay, OP. Coming from a person with severe claustrophobia, i know how much that sucks. I really hope they pulled you out and made sure we're okay. As a side note, you were being scanned for a reason so I hope everything is all right. Please do a follow up and let us know how everything is. (:
lexiieeex3 32
Hopefully they pulled you out and you're safe now! I can't imagine how terrifying that must be. Good luck OP!
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Comments (59)
magicalswaci 12
I'm glad you're alright though OP, I've had way too many MRIs to count for chronic illnesses and they seriously suck. If you ever need another, ask for some kind of sedation. They usually do that for anxiety and kids who can't sit still. Sometimes they also have movie goggles that gives you something to focus on rather than just staring at the walls.
lauralabia3 13
I'm not claustrophobic usually, but when I had one, I totally freaked out and ended up having to be sedated so they could finish the Damn thing....definitely a cringe worthy moment.
AssassinD3 19
I'm a pretty big man, and I hardly fit in the MRI tube. I nearly had a panic attack at my last one. Hope whatever you were getting scanned for is okay! Good luck OP!
lily1006 3
You know what? I heard that it happen to a lot of people. When I was getting one, that's what the lady told me so she warn me that I should keep my eyes closed. I know it's long but it works.
mahaliah17 9
shit been there done that lol
boudica9 6
I am so sorry about the bad MRI experiance. They can be really stressful with the size and loud noise. Its the noise that gets me. I have had so many of the damn things im used to them. Even in a open mri my dad had problems. At all the MRIs i and my family members have had they always ask if your claustrophobic or really nervous when you your doc tells you to get one. If you are they perscribe you xanax or something similar. Did they not do something like that for you?
hberri331 18
Next time I would see if you could go to an open MRI.
KingHyp3 13
Man, those things are scary. I broke my leg when I was six and the doctor had to hold me down because I was crying so hard because I was scared of the MRI scanner. Hey still freak me out
Linda Graber 12
If you need an MRI in the future find a place that has an Open MRI. I am very claustrophobic but can handle an open one. I was able to see out both sides.