How to Stop an MRI Claustrophobia Panic Attack (10 Tricks for Crushing MRI Anxiety!)

MRI claustrophobia affects about 1 in 10 people, and panic attacks while inside an MRI machine are not uncommon. Here are 10 of my favorite tricks for preventing and stopping panic attacks while inside an MRI machine.

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*Disclaimer: This channel does not contain professional or medical advice. The author of this website is not a doctor. This channel is based on opinions and my own personal experience with anxiety and panic.* ..

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🎓Fast-track your path to success and stop letting anxiety hold you back!🎓
"Anxiety Academy" is the course I wished existed back when I used to be an anxious mess.

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*Disclaimer: This channel does not contain professional or medical advice. The author of this website is not a doctor. This channel is based on opinions and my own personal experience with anxiety and panic.*

[tylerjellis]

Don't let your fears and phobias keep you down!

[katieday]

I had an MRI scan on my whole spine and brain yesterday so had to also wear a cage over my face. It took an hour and a half. I've had a few MRI scans now and can say the best thing to do is not look at the machine and close your eyes as soon as you're laid down and think of your happy place. There is lots of air movement in the scanner so you can feel you are getting air, it's just enclosed so doesn't feel like it but closing eyes means you don't get that sensation. You can do it and remember, it's for the good of your health to have these things ❤

[normastevens]

Thanks for the advice you’ve given in the video I’m going for my first MRI on Thursday and I feel overwhelmed at just the thought of it, really hope I can get through it without freaking out on the day 🙏🏻🤞🏻

[jeremymac]

Just came back from my 1st MRI on my rotor cuff. I didn’t last 45 secs. I had no idea it was going to be that bad for me. It was touching both my shoulders and the ceiling was like 3-4” from my face. Was embarrassing but tried twice and couldn’t do it. Reschedule is for this Friday after thanksgiving, I plan to sedate myself liberally before hand lol.

[HTX_Son]

First, you have an incredibly soothing voice. I had my MRI this morning and I was extremely anxious about it. Your tips helped. In fact, I had NO anxiety at all during the procedure. I had the tech play soft instrumental music and I kept my eyes closed the entire time. I did take a Valium before but honestly I'm not even sure it kicked in and I think I would have been fine without it. The exam was over before I knew it. Hang in there people! You can get through it! Oh, I did request to go into the machine feet first. Psychologically this helped me.

[Dana-mlsy]

In the last 2 years I’ve had several MRIs & today I will hopefully have another. I have claustrophobia & have rejected a small bore MRI several times on different occasions in different hospitals but managed a wide bore MRI. Whilst I don’t know which is which my body’s reaction does. It’s quite visceral, crying & then feeling stupid because I know it’s not going to hurt. I have never been offered music but a blanket helps. I self sooth, rhythmic tiny strokes with a finger or two against whatever part of my body my hand is against. I focus on the light inside but not all have them so will focus on a spot. I repeat in my head, This will pass. I think of a sunny beach, my head in in the shade, with the blue sea gently lapping close by & tell myself I’m relaxed & will rest for a little while. I play games with myself, how many words can I think of beginning with A or B etc? How many colours can I think of? What colours would go well with what in which room? I think of my cats gentle purring & warmth when relaxing beside me. Anything to distract me. Then I’m out! A MRI is a wonderful diagnostic tool that I feel grateful for. I took a fall last year & broke my left elbow & hurt my shoulder but a X-ray showed I didn’t break any shoulder bones. An X-ray showed the elbow break but it was a MRI (with shoulder coil ) that showed a rotator cuff tear which explained the pain I was experiencing. I had a head scan complete with head cage which was reassuringly negative.

[vagnusde]

I used 2 night flight masks to cover completely my face before they slided me in the tube and I listened the noises of the machine on you tube before the MRI. It worked like a charm. 15 minutes went by very quickly.

[cletislebow]

I HAD AN MRI DONE ON MY SHOULDER A FEW DAYS AGO...i was stressing about it for weeks but i was determined to get thru it as i have lived with severe shoulder pain for over 40 years. it's close/tight in there, and at first i was doubting whether i could get thru it. i closed my eyes and kept them closed for the 20 minute scan, the machine was running the sound was loud, no music or movies...just mri noise. i thought about a pastime i find fun and relaxing....fishing. i just concentrated like i was on the river fishing and the next thing i knew it was all over. piece of cake. caught 3 big ones while i was in there...lol

[HJC]

I have had multiple skin cancer removal surgeries on my face. I bought a cheap radio at Walmart and cheap headphones and I found that listening to music definitely helped. Those surgeries are done with you wide awake. I also used those for a prostate biopsy and it worked like a charm, so I am hoping music will help me get through my first MRI in a couple of weeks.

[kds]

thank you had my first MRI today and this helped me not to freak out I had to lay on my stomach for 30 minutes and if I hadn't mentally prepared I wouldn't have made it.

[rojo]

I watched this and 20 other MRI videos before my MRI today and wanted to share what I learned. First of all, I am no part time claustrophobic bag of nerves..I cannot get in an elevator, I immediately go into sheer terror in a tunnel so yes, I was terrified. But, I did it! This and other videos helped a lot. Some comments not so much! Here's what I can share that will help. The noise is awful. Awful!! So be ready for that. You must think of something for the 3 minutes of banging following by 3 minutes of clanging etc etc. I tried to remember lyrics of a song in my head. Talk to yourself! No one can hear you. What I didn't expect was my head to be out of the machine at the top so I could actually tilt my head back and see outside the machine. I could also move my arms. They played music but I couldn't hear it (as people have said in comments). I was given a lavender patch. This helped a lot! So maybe bring add lavender or other relaxing oil to your wrist before? I could move my arms enough to be able to touch my face and hair. Definitely that freedom helped and was distracting as I tried to plait my hair with one hand (other hand on emergency ball). The main key for me was to chat to the nurse a lot before so you have trust there and to be prepared with thought distractions. Keep telling yourself that this is all to help you get better. This is not anti you, this is FOR you. Hope that makes sense! My MRI was for lumbar exam. I am 5ft 2 and weigh 140. Hope this helps.

[raptordave]

Maybe just make the machine bigger? The damn thing is smaller than a coffin. I shouldn't have to get claustrophobia and a shoulder injury to fix my back injury. Doctors a humans right? Then why is it that most medical things are designed to be horrible for humans to go through?

[annbarrante]

Just listening to this makes my heart race. I have to go in soon and I’m trying to hard to work past

[SteveSnowman]

Thanks. I'm headed for my 3rd MRI of head cervical and thoracic W WO contrast. What a Monster session.

[thecrone]

OMG - thank you for trying to help people but - not everybody can just use any number of coping skills to get past an experience like this.
I had my first MRI when I was in my late 20's - it lasted approximately 2 minutes before I started screaming and trying to claw my way out. There was zero coherent thought. I'm 70 now and Since then I have had a few more - can't remember the exact number (6 to 8) because it is locked away in the back of my brain where it can't hurt me anymore. I have never had a successful one without strong sedation - even when it is just my lower body. I'm 70 now and I have a head scan next week and all they are giving me is 1 mg of Ativan - a drop of rain in the ocean. I must get this scan due to problems with my eyes. I have claustrophobia and EDS which keeps me in constant pain and trying to not move is impossible due to pressure points. I have repeatedly told them I need to be sedated. Pardon my bluntness but it is going to be a s&#! show and I hate being a "difficult" patient. Music and happy fuzzy thoughts are useless to people like me. I need moving air on my face and because of the pain I am always in, staying still is impossible. I have worked with mental health professionals and learned a lot of skills but the MRI is like being buried alive for me. I wish it was even a little bit possible for anything you said to work with me.

[ninalopez]

I don’t understand why they don’t design an MRI better for most people…
The loud sound and closeness is really unnecessary….

I just don’t like it and it’s annoying that we have to be stuck in a tube like machine with loud freaking sounds

[FMSFighterTab]

I'm afraid to even call them back to schedule it. I know that I need this MRI to figure out why my shoulder is in pain, and limited movement. I've been in misery for a month! I am so claustrophobic, and have a terrible fear of being trapped. I need to do this! Thank you for these tips... I think they are going to be very helpful! My doctor prescribed something to help me too... I got this! (I'm scared) 🙏😳

[justloirt]

I've recently had an MRI with contrast for my head/neck. I had to have a cage over my head. Best tip is to shut your eyes, keep them closed, (Soon as you lay down. Don't even look around - I have no idea what the cage looked like :-) breathe deep in and out and tell yourself "you are safe, you'll get through this, it's painless, and this test is needed to help diagnose my health issue and I'm grateful for this MRI" Breathe, keep your eyes closed and relax. At the end of the day, it REALLY is mind-over matter. The machine is open on both ends and you can breathe. You'll be good, you'll be find and you get through it! After 45min - 1 hour, I was done. I almost fell asleep while focusing on the positives and soothing self talk.

[michaelsteele]

Put me sleep before going in that room

[mifinedrefined]

I did my first today, it was the rotator cuff and upper arm. I was quite anxious before. I did contact them a few days before saying i wanted to be sedated. Got a pill 30 min before the MRI. So i would recoommend, sedation, extra earplugs that you actually stick IN your ear (plus the one they give you) and close your eyes the whole time while in there.
It went really good for me, almost fell asleep at one point. :)