When to Seek Professional Support
Feeling nervous before an infusion is common — and, in many cases, completely normal. The key difference between everyday anxiety and something more serious is how much it interferes with your ability to function, Crawford says.
You may encounter anxiety that’s interrupting your work, school, or relationships with symptoms like:
- Feelings of panic, fear, or dread
- Edginess or irritability
- Difficulty concentrating
- Physical symptoms like restlessness, loss of appetite, or insomnia
“If you’re spending an excessive amount of time worrying about the infusion or other aspects of your treatment, so much so that you’re irritable and can’t sleep or keep up with your relationships and responsibilities, that’s a sign that the anxiety has gotten out of hand and that getting some support could be really helpful,” Crawford says.
PTSD related to IBD, which can affect roughly one-third of patients, may develop after emergency surgeries, hospitalizations, invasive procedures, chronic symptoms, or even a difficult infusion or medication reaction, Riehl notes. “It can cause flashbacks, nightmares, heightened anxiety, or avoidance of medical settings,” she says.
But help is available in many formats. Riehl points to evidence-based treatments with a GI psychologist, including cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) and exposure therapy for needle or infusion phobia.
If anxiety or past medical trauma is affecting your care, talk with your medical team. They can help you access mental health support and make infusion days safer and more manageable, Riehl says.
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