"After a recent auto accident, my doctor ordered me to have an MRI of my dystonic cervical spine (fancy term for my stiff, aching neck). I've had MRIs before, and I'm not a fan. I wouldn't say I'm pathologically claustrophobic, but I don't especially like enclosed spaces; and like many people with a mood disorder, I'm hypersensitive to intense noise."
"The one bright note was that the imaging facility, to my surprise, was in a nearby Four Seasons Hotel. So that was all right-I like grand hotels, no matter what the occasion. As I walked from the parking garage to the lobby, I saw the oddest thing: an enormous statue of a bunny rabbit at the entrance to a secluded rose garden. It was Alice in Wonderland come to life-except that the rabbit wasn't white, it was bright turquoise. Curiouser and curiouser."
"Nobody else was around, and I felt a strong urge to go explore. But I was running late for the MRI, so I did the grown-up thing and went to my appointment. Reluctantly, I put on a gown and screwed in the ear plugs the technician handed me. He also gave me an escape button I could push "if absolutely necessary.""
External rewards can motivate behavior for some individuals while undermining intrinsic motivation and personal initiative for others. Psychological research about the effects of rewards is contested, with studies offering conflicting evidence on whether incentives enhance or decrease long-term motivation. Mental health recovery benefits from trusting one's own judgment and lived experience as part of regaining agency. Anxiety triggers such as enclosed spaces and loud noises can intensify panic during medical procedures, while small accommodations like escape options and familiar comforts can help moderate distress. Individual differences and situational context determine whether rewards aid sustained behavior change.
Read at Psychology Today
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