Receiving a difficult diagnosis is a frightening experience. No one wants to hear that they or someone they love has a serious health condition. As a health advocate, I think it’s natural to feel overwhelmed by the sudden need to make major decisions when you probably don’t know much at all about the condition. Here are some tips that can help you get through this difficult time.
• Give yourself a break – I really mean this. Unless your doctor is insisting the health threat is so serious that you must make a decision right now, I recommend giving yourself some breathing space. Take some time to process the news. Talk to the people you care about and start to pull together a network of people you can turn to for advice and overall support.
• Be your own advocate – I believe each individual is best suited to be his or her own best advocate. After all, who knows you better than you know yourself? You know your own priorities and values and what is most important to give you the best quality of life as you work through the illness. But if you just can’t wrap your head around what is going on, either because it’s too frightening or because you are too sick, decide who you can trust to help you make decisions. Part of being your own advocate is assembling your own support team. For some people, that means handing over control of the decision-making process to someone else.
• Think positive – Your mind is a powerful tool that can help you accomplish great things. So set your mind to getting better. Don’t dwell on what you think might go wrong. Don’t concentrate on “monsters in the closet” that your imagination created. When I receive a new diagnosis, I try to set myself up to succeed by reinforcing my own belief that I will be able to make a solid, informed decision when the time comes.
• Do your research – You can’t make an informed decision if you don’t have the facts. So dig in and learn as much as you can about the condition. That’s the reason why I created EmpowHER.com – to give people a place to turn to find answers when they need them in language they can understand. I also like to use medical facility websites like MayoClinic.com. The U.S. National Institutes of Health website is a clearinghouse of knowledge about all types of medicine. You can start at NIH.gov then focus in on the particular branch of medicine you need. They can also point you to the latest research studies and clinical trials. Depending on your diagnosis, you may also find specific organizations that focus on your condition, like the American Heart Association or the American Cancer Society.
Just make sure as you research that your sources have the most up-to-date information and that what you are reading is written or approved by experts in the field. Blogs and other personal websites can give you a patient’s point-of-view of your different treatment options. Just remember that no two people are exactly the same, so even if you have the same condition, you won’t have the exact same experience with symptoms or treatments.
• Talk to your doctor – Your physician is your own personal expert. Schedule time to sit down and ask questions to be sure you understand the diagnosis and your treatment options. I recommend taking someone you trust in to your doctor’s appointment with you to help you listen to what the doctor has to say. If you can, record the conversation so you can listen to it more than once if you need to. And don’t hesitate to get a second or even third opinion.
I’m also a big believer in gut instinct. If your gut is warning you away from something, pay attention and look for another option. Do your research, keep a positive attitude, and believe in your own ability to make the good decisions to be your own best advocate.