Do You Have “Head-in-Sand” Syndrome?

The ostrich effect is when people avoid looking at information that might be negative or upsetting, like the myth of an ostrich that buries its head in the sand to avoid danger. (Spoiler, no. Not even ostriches think that’s a good way to operate.) In healthcare, this can mean people might ignore symptoms, avoid going to the doctor, or refuse to check test results because they’re afraid of getting bad news. Even though facing the problem early would be better for their health, they choose to pretend nothing is wrong because it feels less scary in the moment.

It seems so counterintuitive. You can’t wish your way to better health. And refusing to ask family members about inheritable disease risk won’t actually change your own risk. So why do so many people avoid information about their own health? The researchers identified five reasons why people might avoid medical information:

Too much information at once. When someone finds out they have a serious illness like cancer, it can be really confusing and scary. There’s so much to learn and understand that it feels overwhelming.

Not feeling confident. Some people don’t feel sure they can make good decisions about their healthcare. They might worry they won’t understand what doctors tell them or won’t know what questions to ask.

Being afraid of what others will think. People sometimes worry that if they get certain test results (like testing positive for HIV), other people will judge them or treat them differently.

Not trusting doctors or hospitals. Some people don’t trust the medical system because of bad experiences in the past. They might not believe that treatment will help them get better.

Falling for medical misinformation. Medical misinformation can make people think their symptoms aren’t serious when they actually are, or create unnecessary fear about treatments and tests that could help them.

Those reasons are real. But ignoring a problem will not make it go away. Here are some ways patients can overcome these worries and get the healthcare they need:

• Bring a trusted friend or family member to appointments to help listen and take notes.
• Write down questions before visiting the doctor, and take notes about what he says.
• Ask the doctor to explain things in simpler words or to repeat information.
• Take things one step at a time instead of trying to understand everything at once.
• Talk to others who have been through similar health situations.

Remember, your health information is private and protected by law. And doctors and nurses see all kinds of health issues every day and are there to help, not judge. Tell yourself what you’d think if a loved one was possibly facing a health condition but choosing to ignore it. Sometimes we give better advice to other people than we give ourselves.

Keep in mind that early treatment usually works better than waiting until problems get worse. The most important thing is to remember that taking care of your health is worth it, even when it feels scary or hard.