Fear of MRI scans
A fear of MRI scans can make a routine appointment feel impossible: the narrow tunnel, the loud knocking and the need to lie still can all set off panic before you even reach the hospital.
Many people find that with the right help, they can lie still through a scan feeling calm, and get the tests they need without dreading them.
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Understanding this fear
Most people feel a little uneasy before an MRI scan. For some, the fear is much stronger: the narrow tunnel, the loud banging and buzzing, the time it takes and the need to stay still can all feel unbearable. Some people fear feeling trapped, some fear panicking and not being able to get out, and some fear what the scan might find.
It is often linked to a fear of small spaces (claustrophobia), but it can also be part of a fear of hospitals, a fear of doctors or health worries. This page is about the fear itself, not medical advice. Your hospital team can tell you exactly what your scan involves and what options they have.
Common triggers
- Being told you need a scan
- The narrow tunnel of the scanner
- Loud knocking, banging or buzzing
- Needing to lie still for a long time
- A cage or coil over your head
- Not being able to see the way out
- Waiting for results
- Hearing someone else’s bad experience
Where it shows up
- Hospital MRI departments
- Mobile scanning units in car parks
- Private scanning clinics
- Waiting rooms before the scan
- At home in the days before
- Any test that means lying in a machine, such as a CT scan
Symptoms
In your body
- Racing heart and fast breathing
- Feeling hot, sweaty or sick
- Shaking or restless legs
- Tight throat or chest
- An urge to sit up and get out
In your mind
- What if I panic and cannot get out?
- Feeling the machine is too close
- Fear of what the scan will show
- Worrying about letting staff down
What you might do
- Putting off or cancelling appointments
- Asking for repeated reassurance
- Watching videos to check what it is like
- Pressing the call button early in the scan
What causes it
A difficult scan in the past, or a panic attack in a small space, can start this fear. It often grows from claustrophobia that was already there, or from worry about health and what the scan might show. Stories from friends and online forums can add to it. Avoiding or cancelling scans brings quick relief, which teaches the mind that the scanner really was dangerous, and the next appointment feels harder.
How it can affect your life
The biggest worry with this fear is that it can delay tests that matter for your health. People may cancel appointments, need several attempts, or only manage with medicine from their doctor. It can also bring weeks of worry before each scan and make ongoing check-ups feel like a burden.
Things that can help day to day
- Tell the scanning team you feel anxious when you book and again when you arrive, as they are used to helping
- Ask what will happen, how long it will take and how you can talk to the radiographer
- Practise slow breathing at home, breathing out a little longer than you breathe in
- Ask whether you can listen to music, close your eyes or bring someone with you
- Picture somewhere calm in detail and practise going there in your mind before the day
When to get help
If fear is stopping you having a scan your doctor wants, talk to your GP or the team who referred you as soon as you can, as they may be able to offer support or different options. It is also worth getting help if the fear is causing weeks of worry or spreading to other medical tests.
How I can help
If you’ve tried to talk yourself out of this fear and it hasn’t worked, that isn’t a lack of willpower. A phobia is an alarm your mind learned, and logic alone rarely switches it off.
When I work with a fear of MRI scans, I first look at what sits underneath it, whether that is being shut in, the noise, the loss of control or worry about results. Using hypnotherapy and NLP over Zoom, I help you build a calm, safe place in your mind that you can go to while you lie still. We rehearse the whole scan in your mind, from the waiting room to the end, so your body learns a new response. You get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to in the days before.
I’ve spent 17 years in clinical practice and helped more than 1,000 people with phobias. I hold a Postgraduate Certificate and a Postgraduate Diploma in Clinical Hypnotherapy, both with Distinction.
If you’re feeling low or on edge most of the time, talking to your GP or someone you trust can help too.
Common questions
Will they stop the scan if I panic?
The radiographer can talk to you during the scan and you are usually given a call button. Ask about this before you start, as knowing you can stop often makes it easier to stay.
Is there anything that can make an MRI easier?
Hospitals often have ways to help, such as music, a mirror to see out, or going in feet first for some scans. Some places have wider or open scanners. Ask your team what they can offer for your scan.
Can hypnotherapy help before a scan?
Many people find that learning to relax deeply and rehearsing the scan in their mind helps them feel calmer. It works alongside your medical care, not instead of it, so keep your team informed.
How do sessions work?
I use hypnotherapy and NLP to change how your mind responds to this fear. Sessions are one to one over Zoom, and you get a recording of the hypnosis to listen to afterwards.
How many sessions will I need?
Many clients notice a real difference after one 90 minute session. If the fear goes back a long way, three sessions gives us room to make the change stick.
Further reading: NHS 111 Wales: Claustrophobia · NHS: Phobias
Ready to start?
A short call is the simplest next step. We’ll talk about your fear, what you’d like to feel instead, and whether I’m the right person to help.
- Take the free test at the top of this page to see how strong your fear is.
- Book a 30 minute call. Use code PHOBIA at checkout for half price: £24.50 instead of £49 ($29.50 outside the UK).
- Start your sessions over Zoom from wherever you live, or face to face in Hertfordshire.
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