How to Prepare for Doctor’s Appointments When Anxiety is High
Doctor’s appointments can be hard for anyone-sick or not, but for me, it feels extremely overwhelming. Everything that I want to explain to the doctor feels like it gets stuck in my throat and I immediately get overwhelmed. For me these visits bring so much pressure, and if you suffer from brain fog or get anxious like I do, it all gets mixed together and can make for a horrible visit. All I want is to be seen and to be taken seriously, and at times, I leave feeling defeated and like I’m not believed.
One of the things that makes me feel the most overwhelmed during these visits has been feeling as if I’m unprepared. I struggled so much in the past with things like remembering my current medications and important questions needing answers. Those struggles led me on a path of finding out how to best to get myself ready for future doctors’ appointments. I realized that in order for me to show up in a better mindset ready to listen and be heard, I needed to feel prepared. Taking these steps has reduced the “scary” aspects of my appointments and has started to slowly reduce the amount of anxiety I feel during these meetings.
As I’ve been thinking about how hard these appointments can be, I wanted to share some of the ways I prep for these important visits. I realized that if it’s been tough for me navigating these hard meetings about my health, I know that means someone else is experiencing that feeling and I want to help. Here is a list that may help:
1. Track health patterns instead of relying on memory
In preparation for appointments, write down and make a list of things like symptoms and daily pain levels that you don’t want to forget. Include any details that feel important no matter how big or small it seems. Doing this can help you to explain what is happening to your body more clearly.
2. Medication Lists and Additional Information
Before you make it to the doctor, write down all the medications you are currently taking and their dosages. In addition, you can make notes of whether the medication is helping you or if you feel it’s been ineffective. This information helps to make sure that you and your doctor have the correct data and can assist you in providing clear and concise information about what you are experiencing.
3. Prewrite Questions
To avoid walking out of an appointment saying, “I forgot to ask about..etc ”, write out your list of questions ahead of time because sometimes memories are unreliable and you may forget what important things need to be asked or answered. Doing things this way can help make it easier to have conversations with your healthcare provider and assist in finding solutions for your care.
4. I prepare mentally and physically.
A doctor not believing your struggles can weigh down your mind, and the energy needed to physically be at the appointment can leave anyone depleted. Considering these obstacles, make it a practice to do things that help you feel more confident and more at peace before these high-tension meetings. Some examples of what you could do are: practicing positive affirmations which can lower your stress and curb negative thoughts you may be feeling. Breathing techniques may also help to calm your mind and body against any anxiety you may feel.
5. I try not to be the easy patient.
After being dismissed when serious things happen to your body, you may feel the need to try being the “easy patient”. You never want to be the person that doctors dont want to help or that they don’t believe. Whatever you do, try your best to switch from this mindset but know that it won’t be easy. Just remember, it’s ok to disagree with treatment and/or to stand up for yourself at these appointments.
6. I give myself permission to space out after an appointment.
Due to how heavy these appointments can be, it’s important that you give yourself time to decompress. Find things to do that might be relaxing to you, for example coloring, watching a movie, reading a book, or listening to music. The most important part is that you give yourself something to look forward to that will help you to reset.
This is in no way a complete list of the ways you can help yourself navigate this crazy world of chronic Illness. This list is not set in stone because as your illnesses evolves and changes so will your coping techniques. Please note that even with your techniques, your appointments still may not go as planned. However, because you have made every effort to help yourself navigate the hard moments, you may feel as if you can handle those difficult situations a bit better. It will be something you continuously need to work on. My hope is that if you have an appointment coming up, I hope that you remember to give yourself grace and celebrate the small wins. Every appointment will not be perfect, but what is perfect and beautiful is that you get up and try every single time. Eventually, I hope that appointments won’t be so difficult to navigate and won’t be something we must constantly fight through.