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Nearly seven years ago, I walked into a hospital to find that my father had suddenly passed away of a massive heart attack. Since that terrible day, the thought of entering a hospital at any time, for any reason, fills me with unspeakable, unbearable dread.

In those few times I made it through the doors, I felt like a lamb being led to the slaughter. The sights and smells would invade my body like soldiers raiding an enemy camp. My breathing would accelerate, my hands would shake. Everywhere I turned, I was faced with sickness, pain, and loss.

Thankfully, for the most part, I've been able to avoid going to the hospital. However, when a friend was recently injured in a car accident and admitted to the Intensive Care Unit, I felt the need to visit him and his family, yet my anxiety toward hospitals loomed in front of me like the pre-1989 Berlin Wall. After a heated personal battle, I made it as far as the lobby, but ended up fleeing after having a card and balloons delivered to his room.

After talking to others about my phobia, I found many people suffer from a similar ailment. So, I decided to take the horror out of the hospital with a little bit of humor. Granted, many experiences in hospitals cannot be trivialized, but for those of you just trying to overcome your inner demons to visit a friend, these ideas may make your trip less daunting.

• The Dating Game. If you're single, hang out at your local hospital to snag a sexy doctor! Take a seat in the cafeteria and scan the room for some eye candy. Just try not to look so suspicious! This time it won't be the hospital making your pulse quicken!

• Yummy Tummy. OK, we've all heard the myths about deadly hospital food, so why not put it to the test? Head to the food court and load up. If you clean your plate without experiencing stomach cramps, you can put another hospital horror story to bed! If they clean your plate without using hot water, you may want to go ahead and book that doctor's appointment.

• Be My Baby. If you think hospitals are filled with pain and tragedy, take a trip to the maternity ward. Unless your heart is made of stone, you won't be able to resist smiling and waving at all the newborns and watching new mommies cuddling their precious babies.

• Calming Forces. So what happens if you try everything and you still feel like a caged bird? Why not head to the chapel? Take a moment to collect your thoughts and sit in peace and quiet. A hospital can be a very hectic, chaotic place, and there you can catch your breath and prepare to face the outside again.

Written by Jordan Meffert

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