Dej, looking at the tube might have been your whole problem.
I have issues too. Once they lay me down, my eyes stay closed until they tell me to sit up. Not once do I open them. I DO NOT want to see any part of that darn machine.
I do get anxiety issues while in there. I tell them not to tell me how long any or all of it will take; I breathe deeply, esp when I get panicky; I pray to God and ask for peace, and remember some passages from the gospel that seem to help me calm down. But it is always touch and go. And my neuro wants the MRIs from a 3 tesla, since they're more specific...which means no open MRI...
The main reason I can keep from going overboard is that I don't want DH to have to take the day off to drive me. So I stay sane for his sake.
I wonder if putting my arms above my head would make me feel as if I have a bit more room in there?