Navigating Healthcare System Traumatized Me

I struggle with making phonecalls for booking appointments, so using online booking (I use zocdoc) has been lifechanging and helps ease the stress of trying to make appointments and keep track of them

I make my boyfriend call in pizza orders. I just can't with the phone. I trip over my words and never stop apologizing. A normal 3 minute pizza order phone call turns in to a 20 minute ordeal with me

I'd say to them I have social anxiety and have a hard time making phone calls. I want the help just my anxiety is that bad. Be honest and see what they can do to help . Also anyone in your family can help us all good too ❤️

I feel this. It's such a hassle here in the US. I lived in Norway for a few years and oh boy, let me tell ya, Universal Healthcare is AMAZING.

Wish you I loss the use a limb for over 10 years still no has cared to try to help or fix the situation only give me minimal pain killers and they don't even work so am just stuck like this I feel for you any situation with health care should be taken seriously but over here it just flat out SUCKS most of these doctors might as well have Xerox they're f&@king degree on paper plate because it's pretty much just as good as their knowledge

I have a higher than normal knowledge of the American healthcare system. And I have been crying all day because it's so hard. It's nonsensical.

Well that's very unlucky. That's how I've always done it. I guess things does are alot from state to state or areas. I'm very sorry. Wishing you the best but it's still a shot right? Things do change. Don't know how much time passed though.

Just curious have you called the phone number on your insurance card or go to the website to look it up yourself? It's actually pretty easy and depending on the insurance they might even make the calls for you and transfer you. It's very easy and quite stress free.

I live in a very small town. There is one PCP office with one nurse practitioner. I went for mental health issues in 2020. The NP left the practice a couple months later. The whole building shut down while searching for a new doctor. It re opened in 2021, just to have that new NP (that I had just established care with) leave. It is RIDICULOUS.

I'm the same way. I hate phone calls. I hate paperwork because I don't understand it usually. Especially with mental health stuff. And I am in the middle of finding a new endocrinologist. And in my area there are only like 2 so I'm stuck. I'm hoping the other one will take me. I can't drive yet. So its harder. And making phone calls is harder because they don't always understand that I have so bad anxiety that I get my heart rate up to a unhealthy level. So I understand it completely. After I get it done I do something I love doing because I don't have money to buy me things. So I usually read a book. I borrow a book from the library and read a few chapters or ill do a diamond painting that I already have. My friends have been helping me get things so I don't get depressed. Having a support system really helps too. Sometimes they can help out. Maybe they have suggestions on where to find one.

I definitely am terrible with making appts and calls. I get blinding anxiety. One thing that has helped me make appts is to do so online. It has alleviated a lot of anxiety for me. The way I can look at a number of times available and choose what day as time I want as well as there is a box that asks what the appt is for. It gives you a lot of options to do it online. And you don't have to talk to anyone, just show up! I hope things get easier for you.

Yes!! It seems silly to other people when I’m in need and they wonder why I haven’t called a doctor. But it definitely can worsen with the call or the unknown of the appointment! I try to think of how frustrated with myself I’ll be if I put it off, and like someone else said, it can help to schedule it. If I don’t schedule it and even remotely feel up to it at some point I try to do it right then. So sorry you’re dealing with this!

I struggle horribly with phone calls. The best way I've found to deal with them is plan them in advance, and I get myself a present afterwards. (Usually candy or something small I've been wanting on Amazon). It takes a lot out of me, so I only ever make one or two a day. And even though it sucks that the phone calls are what's hurting you, it's really good you are taking steps to find easier ways to cope and push on, and you should be proud! Best of luck!

(I'm also in the US.) This spring, I had to look for a new psychiatrist because mine retired quite suddenly. I really liked the facility I was at but they wouldn't return my phone calls about seeing a new doctor. I gave myself a couple of weeks to rest, then I tried to just make 1-2 calls a day (on the days I felt well enough to do so) until I found someone who was accepting new patients and took my insurance. So my advice would be to do a little at a time. I actually look forward to my appointments so staying on top of them has not been a problem for me. I wish I could be more helpful in that area.