Dealing With Guilt

I often feel so anxious and overwhelmed when talking with doctors. How can I feel more confident and knowledgeable?

Be honest with medical professionals about the limits of your understanding of a difficult diagnosis or treatment option.

• Take the time to do your homework (i.e. reflect on what you have been told).
• Summarise your concerns in a few phrases so who ever you are speaking with can focus discussion on those concerns.
• Be clear about what you do and don’t understand.
• Be clear about what you can and cannot do.
• If your GP/Consultant does not have the time or skill to communicate in detail with you, ask if support staff (i.e. an MS Nurse specialist, medical social worker or your local MS Regional Office) is available to you.
• Reach out to family and friends who have a medical background, discuss your knowledge gaps, and enlist their support for medical appointments when necessary.
• Write down a list of questions to bring in to meetings with medical professionals, as it can often be easy to forget important questions when you are feeling overwhelmed.