The doctor-patient interaction is crucial for chronic disease patients. Irritable bowel syndrome is a great example because it is misdiagnosed in 10 percent of people with inflammatory bowel disease (IBD). Three percent wait five or more years for the right diagnosis.
It’s no surprise many IBD patients distrust doctors after being let down. After a misdiagnosis, you distrust doctors for years. But, even when it seems impossible, believe your physicians. How can you trust your medication?
You need a good connection with your doctors to discuss symptoms and treatment. It means you can advocate for yourself and your body and get support, which leads to feeling well. Let’s discuss how to overcome trust concerns following a misdiagnosis.
Therapy Can Help You Process Your Diagnosis
You may not have much time to digest the reality of living with a long-term ailment after receiving a diagnosis because of the first rush of visits and therapies that might occur.
Counseling helps ease the mental and emotional strain of dealing with a new medical condition. Some patients have a period of denial, rage, and “why me?” before they can begin to trust their physicians again.
It’s possible that you may waste a lot of time trying to solve a problem in which a lack of trust is the root cause. CBT may help you see how your actions have been motivated by an irrational fear of medical professionals.
Misguided beliefs, such as the idea that your physicians don’t get you, might be identified with cognitive behavioral therapy. It may help you replace them with more rational beliefs, including trusting that your physicians are doing what’s best for your health.
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Be Honest With Your Medical Team
Your medical staff doesn’t require your life story, but being honest about your sentiments might assist.
Talk about your mental health and how they can assist. That may include expressing, “my prior misdiagnosis means I sometimes find it incredibly hard to trust physicians at first, so it would help if you could take the time to explain my test findings and make me feel involved in my treatment plan.”
After learning how your misdiagnosis damaged your mental health, your doctor may try to help. Simple measures like