Dear Dave:

1) About Radiation and X-Rays (I will be adding the boldface feature to the following quotes):

“Sources of radiation are all around us all the time. Some are natural and some are man-made… Background Radiation is present on Earth at all times. The majority of background radiation occurs naturally… Naturally occurring radioactive minerals in the ground, soil, and water produce background radiation. The human body even contains some of these naturally-occurring radioactive minerals. Cosmic radiation from space also contributes to the background radiation around us… All of us are exposed to radiation every day, from natural sources such as minerals in the ground, and man-made sources such as medical x-rays” (EPA. gov/radiation sources).

“Any overexposure to radiation can lead to devastating effects. However, the amount of radiation in a typical x-ray is too low to cause issues… Imaging professionals that work in medical facilities and practices follow safety guidelines to ensure that patient’s never get exposed to more radiation than necessary. The staff provides special protective gear to limit the radiation that enters patients from an x-ray machine…

“Doses of radiation are measured in units called millirems (mrem) in the U.S. and millisieverts (mSv) internationally. People experience around three mSv of radiation each year naturally. In comparison, the level of radiation generated from a chest x-ray is only 0.1 mSv, similar to 10 days of normal walking around…  (glmi. com).

2) About Radiophobia (which includes X-ray phobia):

“Radiophobia refers only to a display of anxiety disproportionate to the actual quantity of radiation one is exposed to. In many cases, radiation exposure values are equal to or not much higher than  what individuals are naturally exposed to every day from background radiation.  For instance, some health patients refuse X-rays because they believe the radiation will harm them. Notable examples include Steve Jobs and Bob Marley, both of whom died after refusting radiation treatment for their cancer. While a healthy respect for the hazards of radiation is desirable, it’s crucial to strike a balance between caution and undue fear… Remember, understanding the actual risks associated with radiation exposure is essential to managing any fear or anxiety related to it” (dove med. com)

“Radiophobia Treatments… There are numerous different yoga poses that can substantially benefit someone who is suffering from radiophobia… Yoga can be thought of as meditation in motion. It can help to relieve some of the anxiety associated with radiophobia due to the mere fact that by engaging in yoga, your attention will be redirected… Cognitive Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Radiophobia…Reducing Caffeine for Radiophobia Exercise for Radiophobia: … such as swimming, biking, skiing, walking, and jogging…  Mindfulness has the potential to significantly help those suffering from radiophobia due to how it will help one to distract themselves from their fear by refocusing their attention onto something else… redirecting one’s attention to the various sensations felt when breathing can actually help to reduce the amount of mental anguish experienced during such an influx of anxiety… Besides focusing on your breathing, you can also focus on the sounds around you, the way your skin feels as you touch certain objects, the way foods taste, as well as the way certain aromas smell. Essentially, honing into your 5 senses can significantly help you to reduce some of the anxiety that is associated with radiophobia. Also, remember that it will take a lot of practice to become an adept meditator. So, practice is key…” (psych times. com).

What do you think and feel, Dave, about these quotes?

anita