Does anyone else feel like its SO much easier to advocate for others than it is to advocate for yourself?
Here’s a little story about how I advocated for myself at my recent dental appointment.
🙌 It was hard, but I remembered “I can do hard things” and I did it anyway!
❤️🩹 Too many times in the past I’ve kept my mouth shut because I don’t want to inconvenience someone else, or because I want everyone to like me and I want to please everyone all the time.
🔥 Being a people pleaser actually does NOT help you in a lot of healthcare situations - I’ve learned this lesson very slowly and painfully over the last 20 years of being a chronic illness patient, and working in the healthcare system as an occupational therapist.
👏 In my Rheum to THRIVE framework, self advocacy falls under “relationships and social life” as well as “executive functions.” It takes planning and prioritizing to identify your self advocacy goals, and the requisite social and relational skills to communicate effectively in order to achieve those goals.
🌟I firmly believe everyone can learn self advocacy skills, it just takes time and support!
✅ Does this resonate with you? Do you also find it easier to advocate for others than yourself? Let me know!
#selfadvocacy #patientadvocacy #patientadvocate #advocacyismypassion #proudofmyself #anxiouspeopleproblems #peoplepleaserproblems
