The Dreaded Doctor's Visit

Even if you have the world’s biggest case of needlephobia, you have to admit that getting a quick injection is better than getting a deadly disease. In fact, the best way to survive your vaccinations may be to understand exactly why you need them in the first place. The shots you receive as a teen can protect you from some nasty illnesses, like meningococcal disease—a contagious bacterial infection that can lead to brain damage, hearing loss, and limb amputations. It’s most common in teens, and 1 in 10 people who are infected end up dying from it. (A little pinprick doesn’t sound so bad now, huh?)

If that knowledge still isn’t enough to calm your anxiety, ask the nurse for some ice to numb the spot beforehand, or simply close your eyes and use a tried-and-true distraction technique—anything from popping in your earbuds or squeezing your other fist really hard, to sucking on a lollipop like you did as a kid. The receptionist won’t look twice if you grab one from her bowl on the way in—promise

From the moment you step on the scale, it begins: You’re questioned, measured, touched, tested—and you can’t help but wonder if a lecture is on the way. But every doctor we talked to wanted us to tell you that they’re not there to judge! In fact, they want you to be 100 percent honest with them and summon all of those “am I normal?” questions that you can’t ask anyone else—whether you’re worried about your weight or sprouting body hair. They assured us they’ve seen/ heard/smelled it all before (from weird-looking warts to funky body odor) —and, most important, that they know how to help you.

We get it. Your mom was the only one who could drive you to the doctor, and you’d rather faceplant in front of the whole school than ask about your puberty problems while she’s in the room. Luckily, by the time you turn 13, your doctor should ask to chat one-on-one. But what if that doesn’t happen? At the end of your visit, say, “Can I email you with any questions I forgot to ask?” (Most docs told us they’re totally open to continuing the conversation that way.)

If you’re apprehensive about confidentiality, bring it up! Your pediatrician will gladly explain that—as long as you don’t share anything that could harm you or someone else—what happens in the doctor’s office stays there. They can’t (and won’t) tell your parents what you’ve discussed.