Are you a doctor dodger? Both men and women are guilty of not seeing a doctor when they have a health concern. However, men are more likely to put off a visit to their local clinic. Studies have found that 65% of men delay seeking medical attention. Often, men refuse to see a doctor until the situation becomes an emergency.
Putting off a consultation with a doctor can increase the chance of a health problem getting worse. What might have been an easily treatable condition could evolve into a more serious problem that requires more invasive, more risky or more expensive treatment. In extreme cases, some men even die from conditions that could have been easily treated were they diagnosed earlier.
What is the psychology behind putting off a visit to the doctor? There are many different motives. Some of us may even have multiple excuses as to why we refuse to see a doctor. This post explores some of the most common reasons why men refuse to see a doctor.Â
Lack of Time
Local clinics are typically only open on weekdays for select hours – usually when most of us are working. A lot of us do not want to take time off work to see a doctor. Booking an appointment can also be time-consuming – some clinics require you to ring early in the morning and join a phone queue to book an appointment. A busy morning routine means that few of us have the patience for this.
The reality is that many of us do have the time to see a doctor, but we do not prioritize it. Also, while local clinics may have restrictive opening hours, many can carry out phone or virtual appointments, plus there are out-of-hours services that can use. Many clinics also have online systems for booking appointments that allow you to bypass phone queues. All in all, some solutions can allow you to fit a doctor’s appointment around your schedule for those who are willing to look into such solutions.Â
Fear of Bad News
Some men avoid seeing a doctor because they do not want to accept that they may be seriously ill. Having to receive additional lousy news when you are already having a hard time might seem like too much to deal with. In other cases, men may not want to have to change their lifestyle or disrupt their routine to get treatment or have to share news with family and friends.
Of course, eventually, you will have to face the problem if it gets so bad that you cannot avoid it. This is why it’s sometimes best to grin and bear it. Besides, it may not be as bad as you think it is! Almost everyone who finds an unusual lump fears that it’s cancer, despite only 10 to 20% of lumps being cancerous.Â
Embarrassment
Some health conditions can be embarrassing. We may barely feel comfortable talking about them with our friends, let alone strangers. This can cause us to put off seeing a doctor.
Overcoming embarrassment can be difficult, but it must be done if you want to get treatment. It’s important to remember that doctors are professionals who are there to help you and are sworn to confidentiality. They are not going to laugh at you or talk to others about your condition. In some cases, you may find that you don’t even have to talk to a doctor in person – for some discreet health problems, there are phone services and virtual services that you can use. This includes online pharmacies where you can order medication like ED pills or STI tests. Â
Mistrust in Doctors
Studies have shown that a third of Americans have an unfavorable view of doctors, and that nearly half of us have an unfavorable view of the US healthcare system. Many of us put off seeing a doctor because we do not trust their judgement, do not trust the quality of treatment or find the healthcare system inefficient.
There’s no doubt about it: the US healthcare system does have its problems. However, there’s also no denying how many people get successfully treated. If all US doctors and hospitals were useless, there would be no successful operations, and no prescription medication would ever work, which just isn’t true. Some of us are unlucky enough to have had multiple bad experiences with doctors. But it’s important to remember that good doctors are out there – you may need to try a different clinic.
Cost of Treatment
Treatment for some health conditions can be expensive. If you are already financially struggling, you may decide to put off treatment simply because you cannot afford it right now. Even a visit to the doctor can be hard to justify if you’re broke.
Providing that you have health insurance, most consultations and forms of treatment should be covered. It’s also important to remember that there are other solutions, such as 0% interest loans and fundraising. Most of us would prefer to have no medical debt at all, but it’s one of the most justified forms of debt, considering how important our health is.Â
Fear of Vulnerability
Many men hate being vulnerable and going to a doctor forces us to be vulnerable. It’s hard to ask for help from other people you barely know – especially when it comes to mental health problems. Some of us may feel that we are being a burden by opening up and asking for help. This can cause us to delay getting treatment until something gets serious enough that we feel desperate enough to get help.
Realising that vulnerability doesn’t equate to weakness is important. Sometimes, we have to discuss our problems with others in order to find a solution. Do not feel you need to be in an emergency situation to receive help. Some people are likely to see a doctor for much less serious issues. Even if your symptoms are not serious, it is better to see a doctor just to confirm this.
Belief It Will Get Better on Its Own
One of the biggest reasons men don’t see a doctor is the belief that they will get better on their own. Too many of us feel that we are invincible and that because we have naturally recovered from health issues in the past, we can do the same with other health problems.
However, if a health issue is persistent and seems to be getting worse, you need to draw the line at some point and realize that you may not get better by yourself. Suppose the over-the-counter medication and lifestyle changes aren’t making a difference. In that case, it may be time to see a doctor so that you can get prescription medication or look into procedures. You don’t want to wait until it becomes an emergency – seeing a doctor now could stop it from getting to this point and allow you to stay in control.Â
Conclusion
There is never a good reason to put off seeing a doctor if you have a health concern. While many of us like to make excuses, there are solutions to all of these excuses. Instead of putting off a visit to the doctor, start getting doctor’s appointments out of the way as soon as possible. You could save yourself a lot of pain and misery in the long run just by getting checked out early.
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