Morning Anxiety

@hopeful- Good luck! Can you combine any of the questions. I always have a long list and what I do is tell the doctor that you have question. I don't make it a conversation. I turns out to be a question and answer period. It saves a lot of time.

@hopeful33250 Again, YEAH TEAM!! Anxious to hear about the visit. 😊

@hopeful- Good luck! Can you combine any of the questions. I always have a long list and what I do is tell the doctor that you have question. I don't make it a conversation. I turns out to be a question and answer period. It saves a lot of time.

@parus- Beautifully said. I'd like to expand a bit on this if you don't mind @parus. Knowledge and preparation go a long way in lowering anxiety, especially for me. If I have a situation, especially one that I have no control over, like CT scans or even a bad family situation I try and line up all the scenarios before hand. It's like picking out a wardrobe for a meeting the night before. If it's with a family member I know that I have no control over how they will act or what they would say or ask. My twin sister was like that for me. She was a demanding and sick person. Her entire social life was rapped up in addiction so she really didn't know how to have a decent conversation without bringing herself into it, or asking for things. I decided that unless there was a definite need for something I said no. I told her that I couldn't afford something if she asked why. She understood that. I tried to think of things that she might want instead of going back over things that drove me nuts and sad and angry.
Again, knowledge is everything to me. It empowers me because knowledge gives me understanding. It lowers my anxiety, maybe not all of it, but some of it. That's why I'm always nagging about research. There''s nothing like getting a handle on things!

Wow, @merpreb, I really like that analogy to picking out a wardrobe for a meeting. That is a great idea, thanks for sharing it. Hmmmm, now what should I wear today? For sure, confidence....

@merpreb Thank you. I may try that at my appointment today. I nearly always freeze and sit there afraid to open my mouth.

@hopeful33250 , Teresa, that says it all! I have often wondered if my awesome PCP would have come to the conclusions he has. If I had not thoroughly answered his questions. Every time I see him he says "So tell me what's going on"

And I do! I used to paint a rather rosy picture, lest I be thrown into a padded room with those cute little straight jackets. (Make mine lavender, please!) But leaving out details of our stories doesn't really solve our problems, now does it? We must be straightforward with our medical practitioners. That means we search and research, check out the reviews on his/her website. We Google and study, and keep a detailed log of any symptoms we are having. Honestly, dont they always say, "So how long has this been going on?"

You don't want be be found guessing and fumbling around for those kinds of details. Good physicians base a lot of their judgements on how we "present." If we haven't shown enough interest to help our own selves, they frequently conclude it is simply not an issue and move on. Sadly, to our detriment.

I used to be terrified going to see the doctor. Any doctor. Now, I view it as an opportunity to learn and to share. Mindfulness helps here, as well. So, take a few deep, cleansing breaths, and walk into that waiting room with confidence. We can do this! You just be you. That is more than enough. And you are worth it!

Mamacita

@hopeful33250 , Teresa, that says it all! I have often wondered if my awesome PCP would have come to the conclusions he has. If I had not thoroughly answered his questions. Every time I see him he says "So tell me what's going on"

And I do! I used to paint a rather rosy picture, lest I be thrown into a padded room with those cute little straight jackets. (Make mine lavender, please!) But leaving out details of our stories doesn't really solve our problems, now does it? We must be straightforward with our medical practitioners. That means we search and research, check out the reviews on his/her website. We Google and study, and keep a detailed log of any symptoms we are having. Honestly, dont they always say, "So how long has this been going on?"

You don't want be be found guessing and fumbling around for those kinds of details. Good physicians base a lot of their judgements on how we "present." If we haven't shown enough interest to help our own selves, they frequently conclude it is simply not an issue and move on. Sadly, to our detriment.

I used to be terrified going to see the doctor. Any doctor. Now, I view it as an opportunity to learn and to share. Mindfulness helps here, as well. So, take a few deep, cleansing breaths, and walk into that waiting room with confidence. We can do this! You just be you. That is more than enough. And you are worth it!

Mamacita