​Ensuring Your Health Through Self-Advocacy

Ensuring Your Health Through Self-Advocacy

Nobody knows what you're going through as well as you do. While we're encouraged to listen to data and professionals, and often rightfully so, there are many situations in which you'll need to stand up for your own needs. Whether it's in the context of dealing with doctors, friends and family, or insurance companies, learning how to advocate for your personal well-being is an essential skill to develop when beginning to navigate the world independently. Today, Moss Addict shares some tips and resources to help you take charge.

Understanding Self-Advocacy

Modern society has unfortunately engendered a culture of "dealing with it." We're often encouraged by our peers and authority figures to handle whatever life throws at us without complaint, positioning failure to be synonymous with weakness. In such an environment, it's difficult to speak up and advocate for our own needs when they're not being met, but this isn't a beneficial way to live. "The grind" is not worth sacrificing your physical and mental health, as unchecked stress, injury, or illness can lead to burnout or worse.

Also consider advocacy through knowing, understanding, and making use of your healthcare benefits. You should expand your coverage and get secondary coverage if necessary. Even if you’re not signed up for insurance through a traditional employer, there are options available, such as plans through the ACA Marketplace and Freelancers Union.

Everyday Health notes that self-care is the most basic form of self-advocacy. It's easy to put our health on the back burner while dealing with the other stresses and obligations of modern life, so make time for personal maintenance whenever possible. People at sedentary jobs with long hours of inactivity might consider walking short distances rather than driving, taking the stairs rather than the elevator, and bringing a healthy lunch from home instead of buying anything you can conveniently acquire and eat in the span of a short break.

This all starts at home, so be sure your living and working area support your health goals. Purchasing a high-quality indoor air monitor can be a good place to start. Refer to sites online for in-depth product reviews and expert home and family care advice.

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Standing Up for Yourself

One of the most important rules to follow with healthcare concerns is "listen to your body." While it's not advisable to self-diagnose major illnesses and prescribe your own care, researching possible causes of symptoms you experience can give you a better idea of how severe your situation is.

While hospital staff is typically trained to assess whether a patient is in need of legitimate care, that often manifests as turning people away if their symptoms are invisible or they're suspected of being drug-seeking. Standing your ground and insisting on being examined can be life-saving in these instances.

Verywell Health points out that everyone has the right to seek a second opinion. If you feel a medical professional truly does not have your best interests in mind or is not giving you the level of care that you deserve, finding a doctor more suited to your needs is advisable and often necessary.

Staying Fit

Self-advocacy as a self-care action empowers individuals to recognize their own needs and make informed decisions, particularly regarding their health and well-being. Incorporating exercise or walking into one's routine is a form of self-advocacy, as it demonstrates a commitment to maintaining physical health, improving mood, and reducing stress through proactive behavior.

This is made all the more convenient when you seek out areas that are very walkable, as measured by a high Walk Score of 70 and above. By prioritizing these activities, individuals assert control over their personal well-being, advocating for their own health and setting a foundation for a balanced lifestyle.

Staying Organized and Educated

Being aware of your specific medical needs and how to justify them is vital to receiving proper care with limited difficulty. Saving documents as PDFs is a great way to stay organized and keep your medical information accessible while you're out in the world. Having the files themselves backed up on your device rather than in the cloud can prevent any problem when you don't have Wi-Fi access.

While family, friends, and medical professionals usually have your best interests in mind, nobody can express and elaborate on your problems and needs as well as you can. Speaking up is the only way to ensure you're taken care of when your needs aren't being met. Also, make an effort to keep your medical records organized for easy access.