Hi Whatawally,

I understand your fear, I have suffered with health anxieties, too.  I waited over 15 years between smears and ended up with cervical cancer. My advice to you is go get the smear. If there are issues, you can face them and move on. If there are no issues, then you have taken a huge step to winning over your fear. The professionals we see are used to people like us and know how to handle us. Once you go, I know you will think "this is what I was worried about?" because it will seem like nothing once you are done.  Knowing is SO MUCH BETTER than worrying, take it from me.  Once you take charge of your health fears they will be much easier to manage.  I hope this helps. 

Laura xx

Hi - you have two young children and already know you shouldn't miss something treatable because of this fear. Posting on here means you are building up steam to get this done. So we're rooting for you!!

I recently got over a different fear by promising myself something special at the end of it. The treat was personal to me. I HAD to vanquish my fear. There was no option not to do so.

Try and book that appointment today without thinking it over any more (or get a friend to do so with you standing alongside so you can give the authority to any receptionist) - have done this for a friend when they couldn't face making an important call then handed phone over to the too-scared-too friend. Also if needed get a friend to accompany you on the appointment day at least to the clinic door (not allowed to have them in waiting room given COVID) but they can wait outside to give you support afterwards. Then reward yourself and try to forget about the test. This strategy of simply doing it now without further thought may or may not work. I wish you the very best of luck. But I think you want to do this for both your sake and that of your children. So go for it! Hugs xx