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The Fear of STD Testing: Why It Happens and How to Beat It

The Fear of STD Testing: Why It Happens and How to Beat It

Sexual͏͏ health͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ vital͏͏ component͏͏ of͏͏ overall͏͏ health,͏͏ but͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ avoided͏͏ by͏͏ many͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ anxiety͏͏ and͏͏ fear.͏͏ Whether͏͏ the͏͏ fear͏͏ is͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ stigma,͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ positive͏͏ test,͏͏ or͏͏ simply͏͏ of͏͏ visiting͏͏ a͏͏ clinic,͏͏ this͏͏ anxiety͏͏ can͏͏ keep͏͏ individuals͏͏ from͏͏ taking͏͏ active͏͏ steps͏͏ toward͏͏ their͏͏ health.
07 February 2025
9 min read
815

The͏͏ Unspoken͏͏ Struggle͏͏ with͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ Fear


You're͏͏ not͏͏ alone͏͏ if͏͏ you've͏͏ ever͏͏ been͏͏ apprehensive͏͏ about͏͏ being͏͏ tested.͏͏ A͏͏ lot͏͏ of͏͏ individuals͏͏ do͏͏ experience͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ anxiety,͏͏ sometimes͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ extent͏͏ of͏͏ avoiding͏͏ testing͏͏ altogether,͏͏ even͏͏ though͏͏ they͏͏ know͏͏ they͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ tested.͏͏ The͏͏ good͏͏ news͏͏ is͏͏ that͏͏ this͏͏ fear͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ explained,͏͏ managed,͏͏ and͏͏ even͏͏ conquered.

In͏͏ this͏͏ piece,͏͏ we'll͏͏ look͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ reasons͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ anxiety͏͏ is͏͏ present,͏͏ the͏͏ prevailing͏͏ myths͏͏ that͏͏ drive͏͏ it,͏͏ and͏͏ realistic͏͏ tips͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ past͏͏ it.͏͏ We'll͏͏ also͏͏ cover͏͏ how͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ offers͏͏ an͏͏ important͏͏ alternative͏͏ for͏͏ individuals͏͏ with͏͏ clinic-based͏͏ anxiety—without͏͏ suggesting͏͏ it's͏͏ a͏͏ single͏͏ solution͏͏ for͏͏ everyone.

Why͏͏ Do͏͏ People͏͏ Fear͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing?


STD͏͏ test͏͏ fear͏͏ can͏͏ have͏͏ a͏͏ number͏͏ of͏͏ different͏͏ sources,͏͏ and͏͏ for͏͏ many͏͏ individuals,͏͏ it͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ one͏͏ individual͏͏ fear͏͏ but͏͏ rather͏͏ a͏͏ multitude͏͏ of͏͏ different͏͏ concerns.

Fear͏͏ of͏͏ a͏͏ Positive͏͏ Result


The͏͏ greatest͏͏ fear͏͏ of͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ probably͏͏ getting͏͏ bad͏͏ news.͏͏ Being͏͏ told͏͏ that͏͏ a͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ terrifying,͏͏ causing͏͏ panic͏͏ about͏͏ relationships,͏͏ future͏͏ health,͏͏ and͏͏ stigma.͏͏ Individuals͏͏ would͏͏ prefer͏͏ not͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ tested͏͏ at͏͏ all͏͏ than͏͏ risk͏͏ a͏͏ potential͏͏ diagnosis.

Personal͏͏ Story:͏͏ Emily,͏͏ 27.


"I͏͏ delayed͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ for͏͏ years͏͏ due͏͏ to͏͏ fear͏͏ of͏͏ getting͏͏ bad͏͏ news.͏͏ I͏͏ figured,͏͏ 'What͏͏ if͏͏ I͏͏ test͏͏ positive͏͏ for͏͏ something͏͏ severe?͏͏ How͏͏ am͏͏ I͏͏ going͏͏ to͏͏ deal͏͏ with͏͏ it?'͏͏ Fear͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ unknown͏͏ prevented͏͏ me͏͏ from͏͏ doing͏͏ it."

Stigma͏͏ and͏͏ Judgment


In͏͏ spite͏͏ of͏͏ sexual͏͏ health͏͏ normalizing͏͏ efforts,͏͏ there͏͏ remains͏͏ social͏͏ stigma͏͏ surrounding͏͏ STDs͏͏ and͏͏ testing.͏͏ Individuals͏͏ are͏͏ afraid͏͏ of͏͏ being͏͏ labeled͏͏ "promiscuous"͏͏ by͏͏ testing͏͏ or͏͏ judged͏͏ for͏͏ requesting͏͏ a͏͏ test.

Even͏͏ under͏͏ confidentiality͏͏ in͏͏ a͏͏ medical͏͏ office,͏͏ patients͏͏ are͏͏ not͏͏ willing͏͏ to͏͏ share͏͏ their͏͏ sexual͏͏ history͏͏ if͏͏ they͏͏ are͏͏ afraid͏͏ of͏͏ being͏͏ shamed͏͏ by͏͏ a͏͏ doctor͏͏ or͏͏ nurse.

Fear͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ Testing͏͏ Process


For͏͏ others,͏͏ the͏͏ stress͏͏ is͏͏ not͏͏ so͏͏ much͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ outcome,͏͏ but͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ experience.͏͏ Visiting͏͏ a͏͏ clinic,͏͏ talking͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ provider͏͏ about͏͏ one's͏͏ sexual͏͏ health,͏͏ and͏͏ getting͏͏ physical͏͏ examinations͏͏ or͏͏ blood͏͏ work͏͏ can͏͏ all͏͏ be͏͏ daunting.

Example:͏͏ There͏͏ are͏͏ people͏͏ who͏͏ have͏͏ white͏͏ coat͏͏ syndrome,͏͏ in͏͏ which͏͏ medical͏͏ settings͏͏ heighten͏͏ anxiety,͏͏ get͏͏ their͏͏ heart͏͏ racing,͏͏ or͏͏ even͏͏ trigger͏͏ panic͏͏ attacks.

Waiting͏͏ for͏͏ Results


The͏͏ wait͏͏ between͏͏ the͏͏ test͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ results͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ excruciating.͏͏ Such͏͏ "waiting͏͏ anxiety"͏͏ may͏͏ cause͏͏ individuals͏͏ to͏͏ overanalyze͏͏ all͏͏ possibilities,͏͏ and͏͏ therefore͏͏ they͏͏ stay͏͏ awake͏͏ at͏͏ night,͏͏ get͏͏ anxious,͏͏ and͏͏ become͏͏ mentally͏͏ exhausted.

Example:͏͏ According͏͏ to͏͏ the͏͏ Journal͏͏ of͏͏ Anxiety͏͏ Disorders,͏͏ a͏͏ study͏͏ discovered͏͏ health-related͏͏ uncertainty͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ significant͏͏ instigator͏͏ for͏͏ individuals͏͏ with͏͏ anxiety͏͏ and͏͏ consequently͏͏ medical͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ especially͏͏ distressing.

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Common͏͏ Misconceptions͏͏ About͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing


Misinformation͏͏ plays͏͏ a͏͏ large͏͏ role͏͏ in͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ fear.͏͏ Following͏͏ are͏͏ some͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ prevalent͏͏ myths͏͏ and͏͏ the͏͏ realities͏͏ behind͏͏ them:

Myth͏͏ 1:͏͏ If͏͏ You͏͏ Don't͏͏ Have͏͏ Any͏͏ Symptoms,͏͏ You͏͏ Don't͏͏ Need͏͏ to͏͏ Get͏͏ Tested

Reality:͏͏ Many͏͏ STDs,͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ chlamydia,͏͏ gonorrhea,͏͏ and͏͏ HPV,͏͏ may͏͏ be͏͏ symptomless.͏͏ You͏͏ can͏͏ have͏͏ and͏͏ transmit͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ without͏͏ being͏͏ aware͏͏ of͏͏ it.͏͏ Getting͏͏ tested͏͏ regularly͏͏ is͏͏ important.

Myth͏͏ 2:͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ Is͏͏ Painful͏͏ and͏͏ Invasive

Reality:͏͏ Although͏͏ some͏͏ tests͏͏ involve͏͏ blood͏͏ draws͏͏ or͏͏ swabs,͏͏ most͏͏ modern͏͏ STD͏͏ tests,͏͏ particularly͏͏ at-home͏͏ tests,͏͏ are͏͏ fast,͏͏ minimally͏͏ invasive,͏͏ and͏͏ painless.

Myth͏͏ 3:͏͏ STD͏͏ Tests͏͏ Are͏͏ for͏͏ People͏͏ Who͏͏ Sleep͏͏ Around

Reality:͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ has͏͏ nothing͏͏ to͏͏ do͏͏ with͏͏ morality͏͏ or͏͏ lifestyle.͏͏ It's͏͏ a͏͏ regular͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ preventative͏͏ health͏͏ care,͏͏ the͏͏ same͏͏ as͏͏ visiting͏͏ the͏͏ dentist͏͏ or͏͏ getting͏͏ an͏͏ eye͏͏ exam.

Myth͏͏ 4:͏͏ At-Home͏͏ STD͏͏ Tests͏͏ Are͏͏ Not͏͏ Reliable

Reality:͏͏ Good-quality͏͏ at-home͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ kits͏͏ are͏͏ FDA-approved͏͏ and͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ as͏͏ accurate͏͏ as͏͏ laboratory-based͏͏ tests,͏͏ as͏͏ long͏͏ as͏͏ they͏͏ are͏͏ used͏͏ properly͏͏ and͏͏ according͏͏ to͏͏ manufacturer͏͏ instructions.

How͏͏ to͏͏ Get͏͏ Past͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ Anxiety


Learn͏͏ About͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing


Knowledge͏͏ dispels͏͏ fear.͏͏ Learning͏͏ about͏͏ the͏͏ testing͏͏ process,͏͏ what͏͏ the͏͏ results͏͏ indicate,͏͏ and͏͏ how͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ treated͏͏ can͏͏ help͏͏ alleviate͏͏ anxiety.

Go͏͏ to͏͏ trusted͏͏ sources͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ the͏͏ CDC,͏͏ WHO,͏͏ and͏͏ Planned͏͏ Parenthood͏͏ for͏͏ correct͏͏ information.
Learn͏͏ about͏͏ treatment—most͏͏ STDs͏͏ are͏͏ treatable,͏͏ and͏͏ many͏͏ are͏͏ entirely͏͏ curable.

Normalize͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing͏͏ in͏͏ Your͏͏ Own͏͏ Mind


Make͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ sound͏͏ as͏͏ normal͏͏ as͏͏ a͏͏ dentist͏͏ appointment—a͏͏ part͏͏ of͏͏ good͏͏ health,͏͏ not͏͏ something͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ embarrassed͏͏ about.

Example:͏͏ If͏͏ you're͏͏ sexually͏͏ active,͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ as͏͏ routine͏͏ as͏͏ an͏͏ annual͏͏ physical͏͏ if͏͏ you're͏͏ sexually͏͏ active.

Consider͏͏ At-Home͏͏ STD͏͏ Testing


For͏͏ those͏͏ who͏͏ do͏͏ not͏͏ feel͏͏ at͏͏ ease͏͏ visiting͏͏ a͏͏ clinic,͏͏ home͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ an͏͏ option.

  • Privacy:͏͏ Test͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ privacy͏͏ of͏͏ your͏͏ own͏͏ home.
  • Convenience:͏͏ No͏͏ waiting͏͏ rooms͏͏ or͏͏ appointments.
  • Ease͏͏ of͏͏ Use:͏͏ Most͏͏ home͏͏ tests͏͏ require͏͏ just͏͏ a͏͏ simple͏͏ swab͏͏ or͏͏ urine͏͏ sample.

Seek͏͏ Support


Discussing͏͏ how͏͏ you͏͏ are͏͏ feeling͏͏ with͏͏ a͏͏ close͏͏ friend,͏͏ partner,͏͏ or͏͏ therapist͏͏ can͏͏ make͏͏ the͏͏ emotional͏͏ process͏͏ of͏͏ testing͏͏ easier.

It͏͏ is͏͏ helpful͏͏ for͏͏ some͏͏ people͏͏ to͏͏ bring͏͏ a͏͏ partner͏͏ or͏͏ friend͏͏ along͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ clinic͏͏ for͏͏ moral͏͏ support.
If͏͏ anxiety͏͏ is͏͏ overwhelming,͏͏ talk͏͏ to͏͏ a͏͏ mental͏͏ health͏͏ professional͏͏ about͏͏ health͏͏ anxiety.

Consider͏͏ the͏͏ Benefits͏͏ of͏͏ Knowing͏͏ Your͏͏ Status


Rather͏͏ than͏͏ "What͏͏ if͏͏ I͏͏ test͏͏ positive?",͏͏ consider:

"Knowing͏͏ my͏͏ status͏͏ helps͏͏ me͏͏ to͏͏ take͏͏ control͏͏ of͏͏ my͏͏ health."

"If͏͏ I͏͏ test͏͏ positive,͏͏ I͏͏ can͏͏ receive͏͏ early͏͏ treatment͏͏ and͏͏ prevent͏͏ complications."

Fact:͏͏ Treating͏͏ STDs͏͏ early͏͏ lowers͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ of͏͏ long-term͏͏ health͏͏ problems,͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ infertility,͏͏ chronic͏͏ pain,͏͏ and͏͏ HIV͏͏ risk.

FAQs


1.- Can͏͏ anxiety͏͏ produce͏͏ physical͏͏ symptoms͏͏ that͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ confused͏͏ with͏͏ STD͏͏ symptoms?

Yes,͏͏ anxiety͏͏ can͏͏ generate͏͏ physical͏͏ symptoms͏͏ like͏͏ tingling,͏͏ itching,͏͏ or͏͏ pain,͏͏ which͏͏ will͏͏ be͏͏ incorrectly͏͏ interpreted͏͏ as͏͏ STD͏͏ symptoms͏͏ by͏͏ some͏͏ people.͏͏ A͏͏ healthcare͏͏ provider͏͏ should͏͏ be͏͏ consulted͏͏ for͏͏ proper͏͏ diagnosis.

2.- How͏͏ can͏͏ I͏͏ cope͏͏ with͏͏ stress͏͏ while͏͏ waiting͏͏ for͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ results?

Stress͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ dealt͏͏ with͏͏ by͏͏ doing͏͏ things͏͏ that͏͏ distract͏͏ and͏͏ relax͏͏ you,͏͏ like͏͏ exercise,͏͏ a͏͏ hobby,͏͏ or͏͏ hanging͏͏ out͏͏ with͏͏ people͏͏ you͏͏ love.͏͏ Mindfulness͏͏ exercises͏͏ and͏͏ slow͏͏ and͏͏ deep͏͏ breathing͏͏ may͏͏ also͏͏ reduce͏͏ stress͏͏ while͏͏ waiting.

3.- Is͏͏ it͏͏ normal͏͏ to͏͏ feel͏͏ guilty͏͏ or͏͏ ashamed͏͏ about͏͏ getting͏͏ an͏͏ STD͏͏ test?͏͏

Yes. Most͏͏ individuals͏͏ feel͏͏ guilty͏͏ or͏͏ ashamed͏͏ because͏͏ of͏͏ social͏͏ stigma,͏͏ but͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ a͏͏ mature͏͏ and͏͏ responsible͏͏ step͏͏ in͏͏ maintaining͏͏ your͏͏ own͏͏ and͏͏ your͏͏ partners'͏͏ health.

4.- Can͏͏ I͏͏ rely͏͏ on͏͏ the͏͏ accuracy͏͏ of͏͏ home͏͏ STD͏͏ tests͏͏ as͏͏ much͏͏ as͏͏ clinic͏͏ tests?

If͏͏ used͏͏ appropriately,͏͏ FDA-approved͏͏ home͏͏ STD͏͏ tests͏͏ are͏͏ accurate.͏͏ You͏͏ do͏͏ need͏͏ to͏͏ read͏͏ the͏͏ instructions͏͏ carefully͏͏ and͏͏ contact͏͏ a͏͏ health͏͏ care͏͏ provider͏͏ if͏͏ you͏͏ get͏͏ a͏͏ positive͏͏ test͏͏ result͏͏ or͏͏ have͏͏ any͏͏ question.

5.- How͏͏ can͏͏ I͏͏ get͏͏ past͏͏ fear͏͏ of͏͏ judgment͏͏ from͏͏ healthcare͏͏ providers͏͏ when͏͏ getting͏͏ STD͏͏ testing?

Keep͏͏ in͏͏ mind͏͏ that͏͏ healthcare͏͏ workers͏͏ are͏͏ professionals͏͏ and͏͏ are͏͏ trained͏͏ to͏͏ deal͏͏ with͏͏ situations͏͏ like͏͏ this͏͏ confidentially͏͏ and͏͏ without͏͏ judgment.͏͏ If͏͏ you͏͏ feel͏͏ uncomfortable,͏͏ try͏͏ to͏͏ find͏͏ clinics͏͏ that͏͏ specialize͏͏ in͏͏ sexual͏͏ health,͏͏ where͏͏ workers͏͏ tend͏͏ to͏͏ be͏͏ more͏͏ sensitive͏͏ to͏͏ these͏͏ issues.

6.- What͏͏ if͏͏ my͏͏ partner͏͏ won't͏͏ get͏͏ tested͏͏ because͏͏ they're͏͏ anxious?

Have͏͏ an͏͏ empathetic͏͏ conversation͏͏ regarding͏͏ the͏͏ need͏͏ for͏͏ sexual͏͏ health͏͏ and͏͏ propose͏͏ alternatives͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ home͏͏ testing,͏͏ which͏͏ may͏͏ ease͏͏ their͏͏ fears.͏͏ Suggesting͏͏ testing͏͏ together͏͏ can͏͏ also͏͏ be͏͏ reassuring͏͏ and͏͏ help͏͏ dispel͏͏ fears.

7.- Do͏͏ support͏͏ groups͏͏ exist͏͏ for͏͏ people͏͏ facing͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ anxiety?

Yes,͏͏ both͏͏ online͏͏ and͏͏ offline͏͏ support͏͏ groups͏͏ are͏͏ available͏͏ where͏͏ people͏͏ share͏͏ their͏͏ experiences͏͏ and͏͏ how͏͏ they͏͏ cope.͏͏ Online͏͏ forums͏͏ such͏͏ as͏͏ Reddit͏͏ have͏͏ groups͏͏ where͏͏ members͏͏ talk͏͏ about͏͏ their͏͏ fears͏͏ and͏͏ provide͏͏ support.

8.- How͏͏ can͏͏ I͏͏ separate͏͏ realistic͏͏ health͏͏ worries͏͏ from͏͏ anxiety-induced͏͏ concerns͏͏ regarding͏͏ STDs?

See͏͏ a͏͏ healthcare͏͏ provider.͏͏ That's͏͏ the͏͏ best͏͏ action͏͏ to͏͏ take.͏͏ They͏͏ can͏͏ offer͏͏ testing͏͏ and͏͏ reassurance͏͏ to͏͏ help͏͏ sort͏͏ out͏͏ actual͏͏ symptoms͏͏ from͏͏ those͏͏ exaggerated͏͏ by͏͏ anxiety.

9.- Do͏͏ prior͏͏ negative͏͏ STD͏͏ test͏͏ results͏͏ ensure͏͏ that͏͏ I͏͏ am͏͏ still͏͏ negative?

A͏͏ negative͏͏ result͏͏ indicates͏͏ your͏͏ status͏͏ at͏͏ the͏͏ time͏͏ of͏͏ testing.͏͏ New͏͏ exposures͏͏ or͏͏ sexual͏͏ activities͏͏ that͏͏ have͏͏ taken͏͏ place͏͏ since͏͏ the͏͏ test͏͏ is͏͏ why͏͏ frequent͏͏ regular͏͏ testing͏͏ is͏͏ required͏͏ to͏͏ remain͏͏ sexually͏͏ healthy.

10.- Can͏͏ therapy͏͏ assist͏͏ with͏͏ my͏͏ fear͏͏ of͏͏ STD͏͏ testing?

Yes,͏͏ cognitive-behavioral͏͏ therapy͏͏ (CBT)͏͏ and͏͏ other͏͏ forms͏͏ of͏͏ therapy͏͏ are͏͏ extremely͏͏ effective͏͏ at͏͏ treating͏͏ health-related͏͏ anxieties.͏͏ A͏͏ mental͏͏ health͏͏ provider͏͏ can͏͏ collaborate͏͏ with͏͏ you͏͏ to͏͏ build͏͏ coping͏͏ skills͏͏ specific͏͏ to͏͏ your͏͏ situation.

Check Your STD Status in Minutes

Test at Home with Remedium
10-in-1 STD Test Kit
Claim Your Kit Today
Save 61%
For Women
Results in Minutes
No Lab Needed
Private & Discreet

Order Now $189.00 $490.00

For all 10 tests

Making͏͏ the͏͏ Move


STD͏͏ test͏͏ anxiety͏͏ exists,͏͏ and͏͏ for͏͏ some,͏͏ it͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ debilitating.͏͏ However,͏͏ skipping͏͏ testing͏͏ doesn't͏͏ make͏͏ the͏͏ risk͏͏ disappear—it͏͏ just͏͏ postpones͏͏ peace͏͏ of͏͏ mind͏͏ and͏͏ possible͏͏ treatment.

For͏͏ people͏͏ who͏͏ find͏͏ traditional͏͏ clinic͏͏ testing͏͏ difficult,͏͏ home͏͏ STD͏͏ testing͏͏ can͏͏ be͏͏ a͏͏ less͏͏ daunting͏͏ and͏͏ confidential͏͏ option.͏͏ They͏͏ won't͏͏ eliminate͏͏ the͏͏ fear͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ result,͏͏ but͏͏ they͏͏ will͏͏ eliminate͏͏ a͏͏ lot͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ obstacles͏͏ that͏͏ put͏͏ people͏͏ off͏͏ getting͏͏ tested͏͏ in͏͏ the͏͏ first͏͏ place.

If͏͏ you're͏͏ finding͏͏ it͏͏ hard͏͏ to͏͏ get͏͏ past͏͏ the͏͏ anxiety͏͏ of͏͏ STD͏͏ testing,͏͏ try͏͏ breaking͏͏ it͏͏ down͏͏ into͏͏ smaller͏͏ steps:

✔͏͏ Find͏͏ out͏͏ more
✔͏͏ Myth͏͏ busting
✔͏͏ Look͏͏ into͏͏ home͏͏ testing
✔͏͏ Get͏͏ help͏͏ if͏͏ you͏͏ need͏͏ it

Your͏͏ health͏͏ is͏͏ important,͏͏ and͏͏ assuming͏͏ control͏͏ of͏͏ it͏͏ is͏͏ one͏͏ of͏͏ the͏͏ most͏͏ liberating͏͏ actions͏͏ you͏͏ can͏͏ take.

Sources


1.- How to Remain Calm While Waiting Your STD Testing Results

2.- Health Anxiety: What It Is and How to Beat It

3.- Always Worried About Your Health? You May Be Dealing with Health Anxiety Disorder

4.- 9 Tips for Coping with a Positive STI Diagnosis

5.- Taking the Anxiety Out of STD Testing with These Tips

6.- 6 Ways to Stay Calm While Waiting for Test Results

7.- 4 Ways to Drop the Stigma from Your STI Test

8.- Anxiety Avoidance: Causes, Treatment, and Support

9.- Health Anxiety: Detection and Treatment

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