Panic Attack During an MRI Scan: What to Do

Updated 10 November 2026

What to do if panic starts inside the scanner

1. Tell the radiographer

The radiographer runs the scanner from another room, but they can hear and speak to you during the scan¹. You're not alone in there. Before you go in, ask how to let them know if you need a moment, so you know your way out before you need it.

2. Slow your breathing

Breathe in gently through your nose and out through your mouth, counting slowly. The NHS advice during a panic attack is to breathe slowly and deeply and remind yourself that it will pass³. You may be asked to hold your breath for parts of the scan¹; follow those instructions, then go back to slow breathing. See breathing exercises for panic attacks.

3. Close your eyes

Keeping your eyes closed from the moment the bed starts to move means you never see how close the scanner is. Picture somewhere calm and spacious instead; the NHS suggests focusing on peaceful, relaxing images during a panic attack³.

4. Expect the noise

MRI scanners make loud bangs and clicks as they take pictures, and you'll be given earplugs or headphones¹. The noise is normal and doesn't mean anything is wrong. Some people count the rhythm of the knocks as something to hold on to.

5. Remind yourself it's not dangerous

Panic attacks are frightening but not dangerous, and won't cause you physical harm³. Most last 5 to 20 minutes (more in how long panic attacks last).

Why do MRI scans trigger panic?

You're lying still in a narrow tube, often for 15 minutes to an hour¹, with loud noise around you and no easy way to get up. That combination is close to a textbook trigger for claustrophobia, the fear of confined spaces, which affects around 10% of people in the UK at some point². The NHS lists MRI scan anxiety as a specific concern for people with claustrophobia², so if you feel this way you're far from the only one.

What helps before an MRI scan?

• Tell the hospital in advance. Let the staff know you're anxious before the day of your appointment². They see this often and can plan for it.
• Ask about a medicine to help you relax. Talk to your consultant well before the scan². If you have one, someone will need to collect you, and you shouldn't drive for 24 hours¹.
• Ask to bring someone. The NHS suggests asking whether someone can come to support you during the scan¹.
• Ask about open or upright scanners. These are designed for people with severe MRI anxiety, but are often only available privately².
• Practise a breathing exercise beforehand. A technique you already know is much easier to use lying in the scanner.
• Skip the extra coffee. Caffeine, alcohol and sugary drinks can all make panic attacks worse³.

What if you couldn't finish the scan?

It happens, and it doesn't mean you've failed. Tell the doctor who referred you, so the next appointment can be planned differently, for example with a medicine to help you relax or at a different type of scanner. If confined spaces trouble you beyond scans, claustrophobia is treatable with talking therapies such as CBT and exposure therapy². Exposure work is best done with a trained therapist rather than on your own.