How’s your relationship with your doctor? You might not see your doctor as often as your significant other, but the doctor-patient relationship is important, so make sure it’s a good fit. Does your visit to the doctor stress you out or make you more confident in your health journey? Your doctor is your partner in health, so it should make you more confident.
It’s imperative that you have a doctor who will work for you and help you ensure your body is functioning at its best. Let’s talk about some signs it’s time to break up with your doctor. We’ll also share some tips for finding a good one.
1 – Their Practice Doesn’t Align with Your Family’s Health
This is one of the most important things to look for and is a big sign that it’s time to find a new doctor. A doctor is a partner in your healthcare, but they aren’t in the driver’s seat. You don’t want them taking over control of your health. But you do want a relationship in which you respect your doctor and follow their coaching. Otherwise, why bother going to one? When it comes down to it, you’re in charge of finding a doctor aligned with your family’s health and breaking up with one who’s not.
When choosing a doctor, take time for an interview or phone consult to get to know them. During the interview, ask them questions that are important to you and your family’s health. Be prepared with questions to determine whether the doctor is a good fit for you.
For example, ask if they are open to alternative therapies. Perhaps ask if they accept patients who don’t vaccinate. How do they feel nutrition contributes to health? Pay attention to whether they are a good fit for your family and whether they have the same views or are at least open to different perspectives.
2 – They Don’t Answer Your Health Questions
When you ask a question, are you given a thorough answer, or are you expected to accept what they say as gospel? Do they take the time to explain their response in an understandable way, or do they use lots of medical speak that leaves you even more confused? A doctor should give you their expertise and information to help you make the best decision for your health.
When choosing a doctor, take time in the interview to ask questions about your health concerns and conditions your family has dealt with. How does the doctor respond to those questions, and do they answer your questions clearly? If you understand your healthcare, you are more likely to get the most out of it.
3 – You Don’t Know the Plan
Have you been prescribed a medication or treatment without a plan to get you off them? If the doctor doesn’t have a plan, you will be on that drug for the rest of your life. This doctor isn’t helping you get better; they are managing your illness. You should know the plan and be given steps for improving your health. These may include a nutrition plan, recommended exercises, stress-management tools, and guidance for improving your sleep.
When looking for a doctor, ask for help. Ask your friends if they’ve had success with a doctor who gave them a plan with action steps for improving their health. Word of mouth can be one of the best ways to find a healthcare practitioner in your community.
4 – They Don’t Care for Their Own Health
Doctors are people, too! They can succumb to the stresses of modern-day life and develop bad habits and unhealthy bodies. Let’s be honest; are you taking your car to a mechanic who drives a rust bucket with the tailpipe dragging behind it? No! The same goes for your doctor. If you see them in the hospital cafeteria scarfing down a Super Value meal, it might be time to break up with your doctor.
When you interview your doctor, ask them what they do to take care of their health. What types of exercise do they do? Do they think nutrition is essential for health? How do they reduce stress? They should be experts in the body and know how to best take care of theirs. It’s easier to take health advice from someone who also cares for their own body.
Sometimes You Have to Break Up with Your Doctor and Get Help Choosing a New Doctor
Breaking up with your doctor and choosing a new one could be one of the most important things you do for your health. You are in charge of your health and have to live with your healthcare choices. If you aren’t getting the results you deserve, it’s time to look for a doctor who thinks differently. You deserve a great doctor-patient relationship with a doctor who works with your best interests in mind. You’re the patient, so you’re the boss. You hired them. So, you can fire them at any time.
If you have had a bad experience with one doctor, that doesn’t mean the right one isn’t out there for you. You just have to find the right doctor! Put some time in. You don’t pick a spouse overnight; finding a doctor can take time, too. Social media makes it easy to ask for recommendations and look at reviews. In fact, there are websites dedicated to reviews, so you can see what other people have experienced. Remember, it’s ultimately your responsibility to make the right choices for your health, including choosing a doctor.
Are You Looking for a New Doctor and a New Approach?
If you want to know more about doctors who think differently and believe in supporting your best health, please check out Dr. Patrick Flynn’s book, “I Disagree: How These Two Words Are the Secret to Thinking Differently and Taking Control of Your Health.”
