When ever I am seeing a new doctor due to my regular doctor being busy, on vacation and so on I tell them right up front that I am a survivor of sexual abuse and I need to know what they are going to do before doing it.

Sometimes my regular doctor has new nurses and interns helping him out and he also does his part by letting them and the doctors covering for him know that I am very sensative to being touched for example My doctor knows I have DID.

Yesterday when I had my appointment he had a new nurse helping him because the regular one was busy with someone else at the moment. The minute my doctor started taking my vitals I started floating off. I could hear myself from my tunnel area start giggling from being ticklish and embarrassment. When the nurse came in for the internal part of the exam before we even started I heard him from my tunnel area as he explained to the nurse that - We have already hit a "ticklish phase" and he looked at me to make sure I was ok with his wording of my dissociating during exams and asked if I was ok to continue so I nodded letting him know that I was ok with his wording and could continue and told him I didn't know if I would still to be in and out of the "ticklish phase" or not. we continued and got the exam over with as fast as possible.

Maybe before new doctors and nurses touch you, you can do what my doctor office and I do - just let people know before the exam starts that I am a survivor of sexual abuse so I have many reactions to being touched so the best thing to do is to let me know what is going on ahead of time.

I also take a walkman and headphones and relaxing music including a relaxation visualization tape that my therapist and I made during sessions. I also carry with me a small bead pillow that one of my past therapists gave me for my relaxation and grounding tools. These have helped me though many doctor appointments ever the years. maybe the next time you go to a doctor you can take something that you can hold that will help to keep you calm.