There were times in my health journey that my concerns were dismissed by well-meaning practitioners. My concerns were serious and my state of mind was in dire-straights. If I hadn't of known how to advocate for my health; I am not sure where I would be today.
Self-advocating involves speaking up about your feelings, asking for what you need and making sure your rights are respected, all of which can help health care providers treat you more efficiently and effectively.
In my practice, I advocate for my clients to learn more about their own health, to listen and understand the way their body is speaking to them through symptoms and to learn to educate themselves and ask for help. I have listed some helpful tips below.
Self Advocacy Tips
Be curious about your body. You know your body better than anyone. Know what is normal for you and begin to recognize when something doesn't feel the same.
Listen to your body through symptoms and feelings. Hear what your body is telling you, create some time and space to listen. Every so often—a few times a day if you can—take time to get away from distractions like your phone, TV, and other people, and breathe deeply and purposefully. Keeping a log or health journal can be very supportive when sorting through all the noise of health issues.
Educate yourself on body systems. Now that you’re listening to your body more intentionally, you’re bound to have questions about what’s going on. Do some initial research. Once you know what your symptoms might mean, you can narrow down the area of concern. Word of caution, sometimes standard internet searches can lead to more stress about our health condition. Working with a qualified health advocate/coach can help guide and support your health journey.
Seek support. When approaching your doctor it helps that you have clearly defined where your concern lies. Bring notes, be educated and ask for their support in exploring what may be going on. You deserve to be listened too. Bring a friend or family member if you need emotional support.
Don't be afraid to ask for a second opinion. I always recommend getting a second opinion for chronic illnesses, especially if the treatments outlined by your conventional medicine doctor are not getting to the root cause of your condition. Know that it is ok to question if things don't feel right.
Supportive Self Advocacy Tool
LetsGetChecked is a tool I use for my advocacy. LetsGetChecked offers 34 different tests, which are broken down into five main categories: sexual health, women’s health, men’s health, wellness, and coronavirus.
Who is LetsGetChecked Good For?
LetsGetChecked is a good option to consider if you prefer to do a test in the privacy of your home or are unable to visit a healthcare professional. You may wish to use LetsGetChecked tests to screen for health concerns, learn more about your overall health, or do routine testing for a specific condition.
I enjoy being able to spot check my vitamin d levels, and check my thyroid antibodies to see if a particular lifestyle change is supportive. These tests do not replace your doctor visit and they aren't meant to be diagnostic, but they can help guide your health journey, so that you can be your own health advocate.
I have been so impressed with their services that I have partnered with them to offer you a great discount to try at 25% off. Ordering is extremely easy and you get results in 3-5 business days.
To learn more, visit our LetsGetChecked page.
Nourish Functional Health is an individualized, client-centered, science-based approach that empowers patients and practitioners to work together as a team to address the underlying root causes of health imbalances and promotes optimal wellness.
Have a Nourishing Day!