When Your College Student Is Too Anxious to Go to the Doctor
Take these five steps to get your college student the medical care they need.
Posted May 21, 2026 | Reviewed by Ekua Hagan
“Mom, I know I need to see the doctor, but I’m afraid they will find something wrong. I’m better off not going.”
“I should get my blood drawn since I have anemia, but I feel faint every time I go to the lab.”
“I know I need to see the dentist, but I’m afraid of getting fillings.”
As a psychiatrist working with university students for over 30 years, I’ve seen students who would benefit from seeing the doctor, but don’t go for a variety of reasons, including a lack of time and cost. However, another major impediment is anxiety . The fear of going to a medical provider’s office or getting a medical treatment is called iatrophobia . As a parent, there are ways you can help your college student overcome it and get the healthcare they need.
What causes iatrophobia? Some students have general health anxiety—i.e., fear that they have a terrible health problem—that keeps them away from the doctor’s office. In fact, health anxiety in college students has increased from 1985 to 2017. Other students may fear seeing the doctor due to a traumatic healthcare experience of their own or of a loved one.
If students have a fear of seeing the doctor, their sympathetic nervous system may get activated, leading to increases in heart rate and blood pressure. They might have high blood pressure in the doctor’s office, known as "white-coat syndrome." A solution to this problem is to have patient check their blood pressure at home and report back the results to the doctor.
Some students have specific fears or phobias related to medical procedures. One common phobia is a fear of needles or blood draws. This fear becomes a major problem when they need lab work. They may be anxious, and their sympathetic nervous system may be activated when they go to the lab. When they see the needle, their parasympathetic nervous system may kick in, lowering their heart rate and blood pressure and leading to a vasovagal reaction . They may feel dizzy or even faint.
If your child has general fears or specific phobias about their healthcare, they must get help now so they don’t avoid healthcare in the future when more serious problems can develop. And even healthy young adults benefit from yearly check-ups for preventive healthcare regarding exercise, nutrition , and alcohol /substance use. After the passage of the Affordable Care Act (ACA), which included coverage for yearly check-ups of 18- to 25-year-olds, annual visits for this age group increased from 28 to 32 percent.
What can you do to help your student get healthcare? You can encourage good healthcare for children of all ages. Although you can no longer make appointments for your adult children, you can discuss options for yearly checkups, such as seeing their pediatrician during vacations or seeing a campus medical provider.
Steps for Defeating Iatrophobia
If your child has anxiety that prevents them from getting the healthcare they need, there are steps you can recommend:
In this complex world of healthcare, there are already too many barriers to getting help. If your student is anxious about medical appointments, you can encourage them to address their anxiety with mental health treatment. Treating this anxiety is essential to leading a life of health and wellness.
Details have been altered to protect patient privacy.
To find a therapist, visit the Psychology Today Therapy Directory .
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Marcia Morris, M.D. , is a psychiatrist with Talkiatry, a telehealth company. She is the author of The Campus Cure: A Parent’s Guide to Mental Health and Wellness for College Students .
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This article is part of the Bringwise Psychology Journal — daily insights on human behavior, mental health, and personal growth.