Comments on: Waiting Rooms and Post Traumatic Stress Disorder

By: JewishGal

JewishGal — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 02:16:48 +0000

I don’t have PTSD but I also hate waiting rooms and just started seeing a new therapist whose waiting room is so tiny I almost turned around and left on the first day. It fits two chairs and a table, and not so comfortably. I think it’s really a closet. And the lighting is also dim, but I don’t know if it should be brighter considering how small the space is. Also, the door is locked. It is extremely claustrophobic. The other day I came out of a session and someone else was waiting there and I almost fell on top of her. I have to prepare myself for the waiting room as I come down the hall, and try not to be too early!

By: Laurie

Laurie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 01:50:38 +0000

I really just popped over to say hi cause I was thinking of you..but then you had this great post up.

Waiting rooms are stress filled for me too. I like them quiet, and they are usually not. I am talking now about the doc and dentist especially. I have ptst..and the dentist especially sets me on a bad road to hell. I have a good one now..who knows all…and spent 3 hours with me last week, to work on one tooth. He was soothing and patient and told me we would stay until we were done..no rush…no panic. My issues with the dentist is abuse related…and surprise surprise…this dentist has studied the correlation between sexual abuse and dentist phobia.

The waiting room though…yuck. Kids running around screaming and yelling…gossiping going on behind the desk…causes my paranoia to kick it. At my therapists…I always feel like a child. I dont like how I am spoken to by the desk staff…and the air of superiority I sense. Again…is it me…or my illness.

Plain english…I hate waiting rooms.

By: Rosemarie

Rosemarie — Tue, 17 Mar 2009 00:48:28 +0000

I don’t like music in waiting rooms. One of my doctors always has it, one sometimes, and one never. It feels intrusive and it’s jarring when I’m already keyed up because I’m visiting a doctor. It also makes anybody who wants to converse (or even talk to the reception people) have to talk much more loudly, which is more noise.

But. I have really good hearing, so this may be a bigger problem for that reason than it would be if I were less…. sensitive?

All the waiting rooms I am usually in are well-lit. I don’t mind if they are a bit dim, though, as long as it’s not like twilight in there.

The waiting rooms are worse than the doctor’s office because there is so much more going on (other people, music, telephones ringing, children) and because I don’t know how long I have to stay there. It’s based on things going on I’m not participating in and can’t observe.

Another but: I’m agoraphobic. All public places in which there are other people make me anxious and uncomfortable. I don’t know how much of the problem is which of *my* problems. So I have no answers for the last questions.

Neurologist tomorrow. I always want to hide when I’m in his waiting room (the one with the music), but there’s no cover at all.

By: Vague

Vague — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 23:48:59 +0000

when i see my family doc, the waiting room is small, not *usually* too many people in it, it’s usually fairly quiet, and there may be quiet music or none, i haven’t really noticed. last time i saw the doc, there were more people than usual (the kind that look at everyone new who comes in the room) so i just told the nurse i can’t sit in the waiting room, and she put me in an examination room right away. the waiting room is small, kinda long and narrow, your back is always to a wall, and you can usually sit without facing someone square on. it also serves only two physicians – the floor my docs clinic is on, every 1-2 doctors have their own (windowless) waiting area. [by comparison, the office on the next floor has one large open waiting room with many chairs, lots of too-bright windows, lots of motion and sound, and serves as the waiting room for the whole floor, which is several doctors. i can't stand that waiting room... but i've sucked it up a few times to go with a friend.]

sitting in the waiting room is harder than the exam room, for sure. but my doc has things decorated home-like, and one room is even full of pooh bears (is our favrit!!!!) so its good.

when i go see my mental health team (not often anymore, cuz usually they come see me, lol), there are like three chairs in the waiting room, and it doesn’t take long to get in – they rarely get behind. it’s uncommon to be there with more than one other client, if any.

when i see my t, there is a couch, teddies and cushions, and no one else there. a radio playing moderate volume relaxing music (but a person could turn it up or down if they needed it)books, and the room has no windows and a couple of lamps, so it’s not bright but *not* to dark – at least for me. it’s pretty ideal.

therapists should definitely consider this. if the client comes into the office stressed out by the waiting area, how does that help the session?!

i don’t mind music playing, but i find when a waiting room or elevator or store has a radio station playing, the music/commercials/talk is too stimulating, hate it.

By: Enola

Enola — Mon, 16 Mar 2009 16:16:52 +0000

Most waiting rooms drive me bonkers. Light, soft music is okay. But the ones with TVs, music and talking drive me crazy. I also don’t like it when chairs are arranged in a way that you have to squeeze in and out of the “chair circle.” And I despise having my back to a room so I’ll often stand rather than sit.

My kids’ pediatrician’s office has a huge fish tank. I like looking at it – very relaxing.

The best waiting room was my last T’s waiting area. Her office is in an old house. The office rooms are quite large. The waiting room is very big and open. Tons of windows and light. The seating consists of couches and chairs. There is usually music, but it is light and airy. Best of all, they have a huge front porch with flowers. You can sit out there in the chairs or, my favorite, on the porch swing.