1. Use good earplugs.

2. Focus on mindful breathing (not on anxiety-inducing thoughts). Just pay attention to your breathing and know that the MRI doesn't last all that long. I think I counted breaths, starting over when I got up to 20. Every time I counted 20, I thought: OK, I'm that much closer to being done.

3. If you have a friendly technician, maybe ask him or her to talk you through it. Mine told me how long the MRI would take (about 20-25 mins) and during the scan would say things over the speaker like, "The next scan will last about two minutes," etc. He did this until the MRI was over.

It isn't pleasant, but you can cope with it. Just find something neutral to focus on and try not to stoke your own anxieties.