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Hello, friends. In this episode, I answer questions on the worry about losing your high-pressure job if you seek help for your mental health, and managing extreme pharmacophobia, the fear of medication.
Question 1:
Hi Dr Duff, A close friend of mine is going through some serious personal family issues. My friend really wants to find a therapist to help them work through this time in their life, but is concerned that even asking to see a psychologist may result in losing their job, and any ability to work in their chosen career again. My friend works in an industry that requires regular medical fitness evaluations, which include reviews of all of their medical records. Although these personal issues are not work related in any way, my friend is not willing to take the chance that they may never work again just for seeking some help through a tough moment in their personal life. Assuming my friend is capable of paying out of pocket, do you know of any resources they may be able to utilize in a situation such as this? Thanks.
========== Background Info (just in case it helps): My friend is a pilot. Recently the FAA has been cracking down on all sorts of medical things. For instance, pilots taking over the counter Tylenol. The fear being, if a pilot has something going on that would result in them wanting to take Tylenol, then they may have a problem that would make them unsafe to fly. Etc. Since getting grounded for medical reasons would result in the inability to ever fly again, and since the education for pilots often cost $125k or more, my friend is incredibly afraid of doing anything that may jeopardize their ability to continue to fly.
Question 2:
I recently enrolled in your online course. I am in the exposure therapy section. You talk briefly about phobia of injections. I currently am suffering from extreme pharmacophobia, the fear of medication. I have severe psoriatic arthritis and was prescribed injections. I also suffer from panic disorders and am medicated for ADHD. I am prescribed Adderall for nursing school to be less fidgety and concentrate. I have been too scared to start either prescription and have had these prescriptions for months now. How do I expose medication? In my perspective, it’s either I take it or I don’t. I’m afraid of the side effects or of dying. I am seriously stuck but don’t know how to use exposure therapy for injections. any advice is welcome.
Thank you for helping people who truly suffer from their own mind.
Episode 319 – Related Posts
As well as listening to the podcast, you can also find my thoughts on the questions in written format in these related posts!
Question 1 – Mental Health At Work: Will I Lose My Job? – Duff The Psych
Question 2 – How To Treat A Phobia Of Medication – Duff The Psych
Sponsor:
This episode of Hardcore Self Help is sponsored by BetterHelp.
If you are in a mental health slump, consider reaching out to a licensed professional to help. BetterHelp has a large counselor network and you can begin chatting with someone very quickly. Check out betterhelp.com/duff to get 10% off your first month.
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