Why I'm Proactive with My Health

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It’s that time of year for me: doctor exam time.  Although I’m still (relatively, and don’t argue with me) young, I’ve been proactive with my health for my entire adult life.  I actually became more proactive with my physical health before my mental health. Suffice to say, that ended up biting me in the ass. Anyway, when it comes to my physical health I have yearly checkups with different doctors, and twice a year with my dermatologist because of my college tanning bed days.  Things that bite me in the ass, round two.  Although I (knock on wood) currently have very few physical problems, I still find it important to never skip a beat in being proactive with my health.

Why I'm Proactive with My Health

I don’t like the doctor’s office, by any means.  They are full of germs, visually displeasing, and generally cause a spike in my anxiety.  If I see any tools or needles, you might as well keep the door open for me to make a quick exit. Having blood drawn on a yearly basis gets me so mentally worked up that I awkwardly pressure the nurse into talking about T.V. (my happy place) while she does it.  That being said, when I was in my early 20's I decided to face my fear and make friends with the doctor's office.  Why? Well, there are a few reasons. Plus, I figure the safest place to have a panic attack is in a doctor’s office anyway.  Always thinking positively.  

One reason I’m proactive with my health is because I’ve been a hypochondriac my entire life.

I have self diagnosed myself with more serious diseases than I can count.  I’m really going to age myself here, but the wonderful world of Google came into existence when I was a teenager.  There was now access to all this information so I could actually confirm my self diagnosis. Just call me Nic, M.D.  Thankfully, I have retired that title (frankly, I wasn’t a very good doctor) and have built relationships with real doctors who I see on a regular basis and trust.   

Another reason I have become proactive with my health is because my mom passed away, rather suddenly, when she was in her 40's.  

She was young, healthy, and diagnosed with cancer. It started with a pain in her knee and it turned out to be bone cancer that had already metastasized into many other places.  She passed away almost 4 months to the date from her diagnosis.  If that doesn’t throw some PTSD at you, I’m not sure what will. I was already an anxious hypochondriac prior to this traumatic experience, but for many years afterwards, I was convinced that any serious pain was cancer.  I was 22 years old at the time, and pretty young to be having yearly physicals, but it made me feel less fearful in regards to my health. I’ve also proactively sought out genetic counseling to ensure I am not at a high risk for certain cancers.

News flash, I have anxiety.  

Being proactive with my health makes me feel more in control, which is the ultimate anxiety cure for me - real, or perceived.  Some will say that knowledge is power, but there's a fine line with that for me and my anxiety. I’ve learned to just say "no" to Google, because it will lead to fearful thoughts.  I also believe there’s a mind/body connection, so sometimes knowledge really isn’t power when it comes to thinking I have a disease that I don’t have. Getting sick in general often intensifies my anxiety because my body just feels off.  If I know that I am staying up-to-date on my health with proactive checkups though, then that allows me to release a little bit of my anxiousness.

My recommendation:

find doctors you like, who you can trust, and who have a good bedside manner.  Build a relationship with them. This could be alternative or Western medicine, whatever floats your boat.  I do believe in certain alternative methods such as acupuncture, chiropractic care, essential oils, etc. But, I do believe in Western medicine as well.  I see a doctor who is on the Western medicine side, but she is also very in tune with the mind/body connection and knows when to refer me to other alternatives such as therapy.  She is extremely thorough and never writes off how I’m feeling. I like her and I trust her, and it makes the whole doctor experience so much better.  I actually kind of wish I was real life friends with her.  

Physical health aside, it’s no secret that I’m proactive with my mental health as well.  

Frankly, I have to be. While I generally feel pretty healthy physically and go to the doctor as good practice, my mental health practices are absolutely necessary.  I cannot say enough good things about therapy. I think there is still a stigma surrounding seeking therapy, but I find it no different than seeking out a doctor if you are sick.  They are professionals who can diagnose and treat ailments - sounds pretty similar to me.

What I’ve learned is that being consistent with doctor exams is not only healthy for me physically, but also mentally.  It’s better than ignoring my health, especially out of fear.  Now does this mean that I never text my doctor friends panicking from time to time?  That’s a strong no (sorry, friends). But, I have let go of a lot of my fears surrounding my health by taking control and being proactive.  And my doctor friends receive fewer panicked texts now, so they are happier with me.

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How to Help Someone Through a Panic Attack