Becoming a Partner with Your Doctor - Gives You the Initiative To Succeed
Every person has the ability and the right to live a healthy life. Every day, I listen to the stories of my patients about their health concerns, goals and the journey that their health has taken them on. The story is never the same --because even two people dealing with extreme fatigue, achy muscles, and depression will never have the same story. It is because of this strong distinction between individuals, that their stories must be told before I can begin to address their concerns as a naturopathic physician.
Much of doctor - patient interaction today lacks the emphasis on the story. Most physicians are just too rushed to listen to the whole story. People need to express themselves, and need to be able to talk about how they got sick, how they feel now and how all of these things have impacted their lives. The doctor needs to listen carefully because in the details of what happened, two years ago or last week, are great amounts of information about why a person is not feeling well today. Instead of looking at a patient and seeing a headache, high blood pressure, smoking addiction, obesity, and/or cancer, we need to re-frame the images and start by seeing each person with a unique story.
As we do this, patients feel that they are able to connect with their doctor; and thus the relationship takes on meaning. When that meaning exists, there is a greater ability to facilitate change because of a sense of partnership between the doctor/partner and the patient.
Our experience of medicine should be one where we feel inspired to care for ourselves more, and to set goals in place. Each person needs to feel like taking personal responsibility for their health. When I work with patients, I place great emphasis on what they need to do -- not just what I am going to give them or what I am going to do. I have found that even under difficult conditions, people want to be given some responsibility for their improved health.
Effective doctors have the job of providing the knowledge, inspiration and guidance to propel people forward.
Every person I treat becomes their own best advocate; they become the most knowledgeable person about their best health. It is essential that each person has access to the information that will help them determine what steps they need to take to maximize their health.
I am reminded of this every time I visit the grocery store. As a person who has spent years studying nutrition, I am an avid label reader. I cannot buy a new product without reading every ingredient. This means that I am often surprised by what is in something. The newest marketing ploy that should be well noted by anyone with the slightest concern about their own health is the use of hydrogenated oils in products that are labeled low calorie. People think this means it’s good for you. People assume that what is on the label always means full of health-promoting ingredients. However, for a person trying to lose weight to control diabetes, high cholesterol and heart disease, consuming hydrogenated oils will only make the problem worse.
Becoming your own advocate does not have to be hard. In fact, with the right guidance you become more and more curious about the things you eat or do or wear. And little by little, you become your own expert. The most important thing to remember is that great journeys start with a single step. Everyone has hurdles to overcome and everyone stumbles once in a while. The effort will always be worth it -- as long as you just keep going. Becoming a partner with your doctor gives you the initiative to succeed.
By: Dr. Julie TwoMoon
Dr. Julie TwoMoon is a Naturopathic Medical Doctor educated at the National College of Naturopathic Medicine. Focused strongly on prevention of disease, she advocates nutrition, exercise, and lifestyle change to return to
health. Contact her at: 734-414-7669 | 
