How to Get What You Want - About Determination
When Life Takes an Unexpected Turn
Here’s to your good health!
Sometimes life takes a sudden and unexpected turn. Suddenly, you are faced with personal dilemmas, and scary situations. Your well being or that of someone you love are threatened. People react differently. Some freeze like deer in headlights. Some revert to a child like state and obey whatever a doctor tells them. Some panic and lose hope. Some go into denial. Some get more determined to get themselves out of the situation. We are all probably one of these. Today, we will talk about the determined person, what they are like and what they need to do for themselves.
The Personality of a Determined Person
A person who is determined, is most likely scared, overwhelmed, feeling angry and confused, and still be in disbelief. But the difference is, the scared feelings don’t stop them. The overwhelming feelings are usually compartmentalized so they take one step at a time. The angry feelings are felt and dealt with so they don’t turn into depression. The confused and disbelief feelings turn a determined person into a person of action.
They don’t want to lose hope. They believe in themselves, and choose to surround themselves perhaps with a belief in faith, and positive people in their lives. They think positive and hold firm to the thoughts that things will work out. They don’t let the negative thoughts drag them down. They will feel sad, they will have negative thoughts, but the thoughts and feelings don’t stay dominant.
The Choices Are for You to Decide
Determined people will look to empower themselves and turn that empowerment into self advocacy.
When you have choices to make about making health decisions for yourself, or your loved ones, it is important to understand your options.
Doctors, hospitals, and the medical conditions people face can be an intimidating and overwhelming situation. It is natural to feel scared and unsure of what you are going to do next. There are steps you can take to become more informed, to speak up for yourself, and to gain knowledge about the different options that are available to you.
Things to Help Empower Yourself
Empower yourself:
- with the right attitude
- by educating yourself
- making sure you get your doctor’s undivided attention
- be assertive
- be aware of your insurance policy coverage
- be honest with your doctor
- empowering yourself to make decisions that are best for you
- have confidence in your doctor
The Right Perspective and Attitude
Perspective and attitude is everything. Try not to have catastrophic thinking by the believing the worst can happen. No matter what the news, there are people who have survived. No matter what the news, you have choices. No matter what the news, a large percentage of your road to recovery depends on your attitude. There is a lot to be said for thinking positive. Prayers, a good support system, and faith that things will turn out okay can help you get through the most trying of times. Doctors don’t know everything. They can be wrong too. So keep everything in perspective, keep your head on straight. Take one step at a time, so you can figure out your next moves.
Be Cognizant of Where You Get Your Information from
Educate yourself. Find out everything you can about the condition you are facing. Listen to the doctor, write down what they say, and get back to them with questions you may have. Always seek out at least two other opinions. If you choose to do research from the internet, make sure they are from reliable sources.
A lot of things on the internet, may give false claims, erroneous information, or worst case scenarios. Doing research can sometimes scare you more, if you don’t have the full picture of your condition. Finding sources can sometimes scare you more, just because the information you find, may not be your situation. It is just as important to check out the site you are getting the information from, as it is to do the research on the ailments. Avoid scaring yourself by doing careful and conscientious research. Write down any questions you have from your research and talk to your doctor about your findings.
Develop a Good Relationship With Your Doctors
A good relationship between doctor and patient is one in which they listen and guide. It should be a partnership, not a dictatorship. Don’t stay with a doctor who makes you feel rushed, or brushes your concerns aside. While they may be busy, you are important too. By the same means, you don’t want to take up too much of their time, so prioritize your concerns. The doctor should be available to answer all your questions. Don’t let them intimidate you. If they have to see other patients, ask them to call you at a better time so your concerns can be sufficiently addressed.
Be Assertive, Be Active in the Decisions that Affect You
If it is difficult for you to ask these questions yourself, get a family member or friend who is assertive to be there with you during your visits. The doctor should understand your anxiety, and want to educate you as much as possible.
Be assertive. Make sure your health care professional is doing their best for you. Make sure they are understanding and reducing your stress in this situation, not adding to it. Don’t be afraid to switch doctors if you need. Challenge the insurance company if they are denying payment for certain treatments. The Patient Advocate Foundation is a good source to learn about your insurance, employment and health resources. http://www.patientadvocate.org Stand up for yourself, but avoid being rude or insulting. The saying you catch more bees with honey applies.
Keep Your Own Medical Records
Be in the know about your health insurance policy. Understand what it covers and what it doesn't. If the provider doesn't initially cover the procedures, tests and drugs you need you can seek outside assistance. Websites like HealthCareAdvocates.com is designed to help you through the medical maze and assist you with various health provider problems.
Make sure your doctor knows everything about you. If you take vitamins, alternative treatments, smoke, prior medical history, and family history as these all lead to clues about the methods they will use to get the treatment they believe is best. You can store your medical records for free at a site called medicalvault.com. All your records, imaging films, test results, vaccines and immunizations and your medical history can be kept in one location. You can let your doctor access it with your approval. People who have been in an emergency room out of state have been able to access their records so the doctors can see the bigger picture for your better care.
Be Your Own Advocate
Doctors are wrong at times. Doctors don’t know everything. Doctors are human. Sometimes their decision is based on their own comfort zone. It is important you know where your doctor is coming from. Don’t just make assumptions that what they say is your only choice. Develop a trusting and mutually respected relationship with your doctor. In this way, you will feel like you are getting the best treatment possible. If your doctor talks down to you, treats you like you are a child, doesn't have time for you, or is barking out orders, it may be time to seek another in the profession. Even after you have sought treatment, you can still change doctors, or get other opinions about the course of your treatment.
Speak Up for Your Health and Financial Needs
Become an aware, empowered person who advocates for their best health care.
- trishatorrey.com
- theempoweredpatient.com
- download the webmd app for your mobile device and i pad to check symptoms, treatments and drug information.
- there are books available that will give you advice and gain knowledge about picking doctors, managing your situation, and avoiding mistakes.
Ask Questions - Seek Answers
Life is full of challenges, disappointments, and obstacles that we must face. People who are advocates, as opposed to taking a passive route to their self care may benefit from better health because they are taking action.
An empowered person wants to make choices for themselves. It is these choices that will make them invoke action. The mere act of doing something helps people feel productive, important, and purposeful. Empowerment inspires the mind to learn.
Empowerment inspires the body to take action. Empowerment inspires a person to go forward. Empowerment give you the will to make things better, to want to battle, to succeed, to cope, to do positive things for yourself, to take responsibility. All these things are mentally healthy. Good mental health encourages good physical health. No one else can empower another. Only you can empower yourself. Do it, live it, be it.
Your good health depends on you. Attitude is everything. Your beliefs lead to your thoughts. Your thoughts lead to your actions. Your actions lead to your behavior. Your behavior reinforces your beliefs. Self empowerment is the tool that will influence your thoughts, your choices. Grasp the reigns of life, and make good things happen for yourself. You have everything to gain.
Seek people and professional mental health counselors who can help you when times are the toughest for you. Motivate yourself towards wellness. Never give in, never give up. Where there is life, there is hope. You have the right to ask questions, seek answers, and make decisions that affect you. It is your body, your life, your choices. Empower yourself, be determined.
