How to Cope with Anxiety While Waiting for Medical Test Results

Waiting for medical test results can be overwhelming. Maybe you’re checking the patient portal over and over or keeping your phone close in case a doctor calls. You might even search online for worst-case scenarios.

Columbia social worker and psychotherapist Kristina D'Antonio, LCSW, says this reaction is completely normal. “As humans, we have a really challenging time living in the unknown,” she explains. “In these spaces, we can find ourselves anticipating bad news in an effort to mentally and emotionally prepare ourselves for the worst.”

Although the stress of waiting for medical test results can feel difficult to control, there are several healthy ways to manage it.

Why is waiting for medical tests so stressful?

The anxiety of waiting for results usually comes from fear of the unknown. That fear can show up in many ways, including racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, nausea, or difficulty focusing. Some people also experience intrusive thoughts, irritability, heart palpitations, dizziness, sweating, or headaches.

“We want our results to show that we are physically healthy,” says D’Antonio. “It’s unfortunately very easy for most to think about all the scary possibilities associated with a poor result, including illness, disease, and ultimately our own mortality.”

What can delays in test results mean?

One of the hardest parts of waiting for test results is the variance in timing. Some results, like X-rays, are ready within hours. Others, like biopsies, can take days or weeks. Timing depends on many factors, including test type, lab processing time, and how long it takes your health care provider to review the results.

“A delay itself does not mean something is wrong,” says D’Antonio. But patients, even those not usually anxious, might interpret it that way. Better to remember that a delay is often simply how the health care system works. Nothing more.

How to cope with the anxiety of waiting for medical test results

As manager of clinical services and psychotherapist in the Women's Mental Health Division, D’Antonio works mostly with people who are pregnant, postpartum, or trying to conceive. She recently helped a patient through the “two‑week wait,” which is a commonly stressful time between ovulation and embryo transfer.

Together, D’Antonio and her patient discussed ways to manage the uncertainty: walking on a treadmill while listening to a favorite podcast, using breathing techniques when the anxiety felt overwhelming, and finding the best ways to talk through her fears with her husband.

“These small steps helped the patient feel more grounded during a time full of unknowns,” says D’Antonio, who shares more ways to cope with waiting:

• Distract yourself: Instead of over-checking your patient portal, find a distraction that can interrupt your spiraling thoughts and give your mind space to settle. D’Antonio recommends activities like reading a book, listening to a podcast, going outside, or exercising. Even everyday tasks, like cleaning the bathroom or cooking a meal can provide relief.
• Connect with others: Talking to someone you trust is another effective tool. Meet a friend for coffee or a walk. Sharing your worries can help you feel validated and less alone.
• Avoid “Dr. Google” and social media : Searching for medical answers online can make anxiety worse. Much of what is out there is sensationalized and not relevant to your specific case.
• Share your anxiety with the medical provider who ordered the test: Your provider can often provide validation, offer insight into expected timing, and remind you not to try to read or interpret a report that appears in the patient portal without their guidance.
• Practice self-care: Continue your daily routines and try not to let the anxiety interfere. Make sure you’re eating well, maintaining your exercise regimen, and using any preferred relaxation practices such as meditation or yoga.

If you already have an anxiety disorder or see a therapist, it makes sense to bring these fears into your sessions, says D’Antonio. “Having a space to feel held and validated while fearing the worst can help tremendously,” she adds. “A therapist can also help you practice strategies that work in real time.”

Waiting for medical results is hard, and anxiety is a normal human response to uncertainty. So rely on healthy ways to get through a stressful wait, and remind yourself that uncertainty does not automatically mean a bad outcome.

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Kristina D'Antonio, LCSW, is a social worker who provides direct care to individual patients and groups using psychodynamic, relational, and cognitive-behavioral approaches. She also serves as the manager of clinical services in the Women's Mental Health Division of Columbia’s Department of Obstetrics and Gynecology.