Nowadays, you might learn of a test result before seeing or talking with your doctor. Seeing an “abnormal” result may understandably cause distress—from mild anxiety to outright terror. Here’s a tip that recently helped me rein in my imagination between the posting of the result and my scheduled visit with the doctor who had ordered the test.
Read moreA Productive Way to Think About Complaining
I don’t mean to complain, but complaining gets a bad rap. A huge compliment for patients is that they never complain. Might complaining be healthy sometimes?
Read moreA Primer on "Cure"
Newly diagnosed patients may ask, “Is it curable?” After completing treatment and achieving remission, they may ask, “Am I cured?” Patients think they are asking a simple question. They aren’t, which is why oncologists often avoid using this other C word in conversations with patients. But for patients, understanding what “cure” is—and isn’t—is key to tapping into its power in healthy ways. Here’s a primer:
Read moreDecreasing Stress by Decreasing Self-Interruptions
A common habit that feeds stress may sabotage efforts to achieve goals and find peace.
Read moreName It--Frame It--Game It
If stuck in uncomfortable thoughts or feelings, this approach may help:
Name It…Frame It…Game It
Keystone to Healing for Patients and Caregivers
As both a patient and caregiver, my stress decreases when I remind myself that I am always “me.” That doesn’t sound like much, let alone anything earth-shattering. But it has made a difference for me.
Read moreChatbots as Healthcare Consultants--Part II
The newest members of many medical teams are chatbots—computer programs designed to simulate human conversation. No matter how compassionate the answers may sound, chatbots do not care about you because they are incapable of caring about you! And, they have no responsibility for their impact on you.
With those two facts in mind, chatbots can be useful in optimizing your care. Three tips for using them to learn about your condition or make decisions about your care:
With those two facts in mind, they can be useful in optimizing your care when learning about your condition or making decisions about your care. Three tips:
Read moreChatbots as Healthcare Consultants
Approximately one in three adults consults artificial intelligence platforms for health information and advice, according to
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