I have a few physical and mental health issues. I have a condition called Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS), Complex-PTSD, anxiety and am on BP meds.

Both the CRPS and C-PTSD are deeply intertwined with the sympathetic nervous system. For whatever reason, having my BP checked with those automatic machines used by hospitals and private physicians triggers my panic response, which naturally raises my blood pressure. I don't know if it's the fact that those machines inflate so much more than necessary, causing not only pain but anxiety in a lot of people, but it definitely triggers my panic response dramatically. It took me a long time before realizing that having it checked manually might not elicit the same panic response and instead render a more accurate reading of my blood pressure. My doctor's appointments are a lot less stressful now that I don't allow my BP to be checked with those digital automatic machines. It's inconvenient for the physician's staff (or they act like it is, and many of them don't even know how to do it manually) but it certainly improves my experience.

I remain, however, very curious as to why my nervous system negatively responds to these automated machines? I do know that I don't get triggered until the cuff severely overinflates. There must be a physiological reason and I wonder if all patients with CRPS have this experience or if anyone else has experienced this.