Is it possible to be terrified of hospitals?

[Flyback]

Basically, someone I care about is in the hospital. Their spouse is stalling the visit (even to bring items to the front desk like slippers, toothbrush, etc.). The person I care about in the hospital is really confused and upset by it.

It doesn't make much sense and the only part I can attribute it to is some bad past experiences (~10 years ago he saw some grotesque stuff in a hospital with family). Is that enough to completely terrify someone from beyond ever visiting another hospital? Does anyone here know someone like that or suffer from it themselves?

(Before anyone says MYOB: it's close family so it is my business.)

 

[tomywishbone]

Halloween II

 

[Farang]

Impossible.

 

[MagnusTheBrewer]

It's quite common for people to be afraid of hospitals. However, this case seema a little extreme. How about going with next time?

 

[HN]

Nosocomephobia

 

[George P Burdell]

Yea, I have a distant relative who is scared of hospitals. Didn't even go when his wife gave birth to their child.

 

[50cent1228]

Originally posted by: HN
Nosocomephobia

mayn u got it

 

[DarkThinker]

I am disgusted by hospitals, but not afraid of going to a hospital whenever the occasion calls for a visit either for treatment or visiting someone.

As a matter of fact I was planning on becoming a doctor when I was a teen. After High School I was admitted to a good medical school in the area (I excelled in Biology as I really enjoyed it) but I changed my mind at the last minute just because after thinking about it during the last year of high school I didn't want to be stuck being on call or being around sick people, viruses, germs and bacteria everyday for the rest of my life, it was then I discovered my passion for Physics, electronics and computers, I jumped on EE + CSE with no regrets, my family was saddened because they thought we were about to get our first in family doctor, instead they now have a 6th engineer to add to the gang :laugh: , and yes I still try to avoid hospitals like the plague.

 

[Bryophyte]

What reason does he give for not going? Has he at least been phoning her?

 

[Flyback]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
What reason does he give for not going? Has he at least been phoning her?

Yes he phones her and his family to tell them the latest news on a near-constant basis.

He tries to make up excuses such as: it's past visiting time, he might contract it or make her more sick, etc.

 

[Bryophyte]

Have you just flat out asked him if he's terrified of hospitals?

 

[Flyback]

Originally posted by: Bryophyte
Have you just flat out asked him if he's terrified of hospitals?

He has mentioned it in the past repeatedly but I just assumed it to be a slight joke and not this extreme. I think it just seemed a little absurd to be that terrified by them. I guess it is possible, though.

 

[Bryophyte]

Did someone he loved die in a hospital? I can see why people would be terrified of hospitals. They're full of sick, hurt, and dying people, they smell funny, they're not overly geared toward guests, when you're there, it's usually because of something awful, and it's a VERY good place to catch nasty stuff like antibiotic-resistant staph (my spouse gets staph every time he sets foot inside a hospital.) Obviously, he needs to suck it up and do what's right for his wife, no matter how scary it is. Maybe he could talk to his doctor about getting a prescription for anxiety?

 

[Flyback]

Thanks for the suggestions, Bryophyte.

Yeah a few people died in the hospital (rather gruesome ways to go). It makes sense, I just never figured a hospital could have that much bad stigma in someone's mind. I guess it touches everyone differently to see someone die (particularly when it is a bad way to go).

I'm going to try and talk to him more.

thanks again.

 

[Eli]

There are people that are deathly afraid of buttons. As in, a shirt button.

So yeah, I'd say there are probably people that are terrified of hospitals.