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For some people, nothing is more scary than receiving a call from a doctor asking you to come in to discuss lab results. Sometimes, the results are fine and a person can breath easy and carry on with life. However, this does not always happen and often the ride to the doctors, during the meeting with the doctor and finding the results from the doctor can create a situation where the individual or family member might require some anxiety therapy Calgary.

When terrible and scary information is shared about someone’s future, it’s important to begin dealing with how to deal with really bad news. Let’s take a look at some anxiety Calgary information that can help support you or a loved one who has received news that might create an outcome of a really bad day.

Anxiety Therapy Calgary Support #1: You’re Going to Feel Scared.

Driving to the office and not knowing what the report from the doctor can create an existential experience. For some, complete fear and panic take over, for others, their lives might flash before their eyes. Either way, fear of the unknown can create intense feelings of anxiety for the individual.

During the drive to the office, there is often a sense of no control. When you think about it, nothing you do or say is going to prevent what the doctor is going to logically report to you, whether it’s good, neutral or terrible news.  

Anxiety Therapy Calgary Support #2: Breathe

Part of not knowing potential bad news or being told bad news can sometimes be traced back to a lack of control. In other words, at the moment, there is nothing we can do about it. However, the good news is that there is an area of healthy control we can allow ourselves to control, and that is intentional deep breathing. Deep breathing keeps us connected to our brain’s emotional and logical parts. If we don’t deep breathe, we are stuck only in the emotional part of our brain, where part of our out-of-control fear thoughts can overwhelm us.

Anxiety Therapy Calgary Support #3: Stay Away from Dr. Google

After the doctor’s appointment, it can be very easy to get home, and I want to immediately begin researching what has been described to you. I’m not saying that you shouldn’t look things up to create a better understanding; however, bad news deserves some time to process in a safe environment and not continue to feed the anxiety machine stirring in the mind.

Give yourself permission to process the information both intellectually and emotionally. You might even want to consider taking the day off or the next day off in order to work through some of the fears, consequences and unknowns you might be feeling or thinking…Then, do some research with a clearer mind and write down questions you may have wanted to ask your doctor but didn’t know what to ask due to the moment of shock by the information given.     

Anxiety Therapy Calgary Support #4: Dealing with the bad day the next day (beware of isolation).

Whether you or a loved one has slept through the night, or not, it is important not to isolate yourself from your loved ones or the world at large. This is a time to get up and continue your routine and begin to open up with someone you trust about how you feel about the bad report handed to you. This is a perfect time to reach out to those who you think might be able to support you during this personal crisis. It might be a partner, a close friend, a counselling therapist or even a religious leader such as a Priest, Rabbi, Pastor or Iman. 

Receiving really bad news can be a traumatic event that can affect the individual or even the whole family. If you or a loved one are not dealing well with given bad news, it might be time to consider anxiety therapy in Calgary and reach out to a qualified counselling therapist and work through the difficult deck you have been handed.