The quiet hum turns into a rhythmic knock; the table slides you inside the bore. If your pulse jumps just picturing it, you’re not alone. Claustrophobia keeps thousands from scans that could change-or even save-their lives.

“Do the thing you fear, and the death of fear is certain.”
Ralph Waldo Emerson

That quote highlights three strategies every nervous scanner can harness:

Reframe the Tunnel

Think of the magnet as a giant camera capturing a high-definition documentary about you. It’s not a coffin; it’s a lens.

Control the Senses

Ask for noise-canceling headphones and your favourite playlist. Close your eyes before you slide in. Aromatherapy patches on the gown can trigger calm memories faster than counting backwards from ten.

Celebrate the Win

Tell a friend you’re going, then text them a victory selfie afterward. Small public commitments turn private nerves into shared triumphs.