A guided practice to help patients advocate for pain medication at doctor visits. It teaches breathing, visualization, and specific phrases like stating your pain is a 10, plus body cues like eye contact and gut focus to build courage when doctors push back.
So just starting by taking a breath with awareness and recognize that you're going to go and be with a doctor. And there's a sense of fear or intimidation that you're afraid to really convey what it is that you need. And recognize that you're looking for the source of strength and courage and intelligence to recognize what is it that you really need when you're with the doctor. And perhaps you need to ask for medication, visualize or just hear in your inner sound the quality of yourself saying, I really need the medication because I'm in pain. And imagine that the doctor says, you know, I think that maybe you should use this lighter weight pain medication, so I'm not going to give it to you. And pause for a moment, recognizing this is what you've prepared for. Exactly. And you want to stay connected to the doctor. You recognize they don't mean harm, even if they aren't particularly skilled in their bedside manner. And so you say, I hear what you're saying, I really hear what you're saying. But I want you to understand my pain is a 10 and the medication that I've been using isn't working. And I want you to hear, I need to have this particular medication because the other one isn't working. As you're hearing this, look at your guts, look at your belly. Recognize that you need to find a focal point of conviction, clarity, that your doctor is not a God. Your doctor doesn't know your body as well as you do when it comes to pain. And so allow yourself to really access the courage, the self, love the self. Trust that no matter what he or she says, that you're going to continue to say, I hear what you're saying, but I really want you to know that this is my experience. I've tried it exactly as you've said and it's still not working for me. And no matter what the response is, know that you're going to be in that musical sound of strength and add the element of precise intelligence and making contact to really be there in that moment. You're making eye contact with the doctor, your present. And as you really contemplate this, see if you can find just a trust. I'm going to take care of myself. I am going to care for my body. I'm going to allow myself to be the ally that I wish the doctor could be. I'm going to let him know what I really need. Just see where you are. If you're at that point where you know you're going to be strong, just appreciate it. And if you're not at that point, continue over and over again until you hear a sound that resonates in your guts. It's like a primal scream. Except what it is, is a passion for the love of your body. It's a passion to protect your body. It's a recognition that the essential you is a force that's going to stand behind yourself and really be there when you need it.
