5 tips for talking about stress
April 17, 2013 8:24 PM
1. Think like a doctor thinks.
Physicians are trained to think in terms of symptoms, says Citrin. When youre dealing with an issue like stress, an individual may experience [physical] symptoms, he says. Symptoms such as trouble sleeping or more frequent headaches may be related to stress, for example.
2. Make a list.
Be prepared and make a list of symptoms and concerns for your doctor. Be specific, says Citrin. Dont just say Im stressed at work, he advises. Be specific and say, Weve picked up a lot of new clients at work, or My husband is travelling a lot, or My wife is finishing her internship at medical school, so the provider can factor that in to what the concern is youre having.
3. Reframe your symptoms.
Sometimes a helpful technique is to describe how other people in your life might talk about whats going on, says Ballard. So, rather than say, Heres whats going on with me, say My partner or spouse would say this is happening, or, My boss and co-workers have been telling me X.
4. Exhibit honest emotion.
People may view it as a sign of weakness, and some doctors may find discussions of stress represent some kind of mental health issue that they cant easily fix, says Citrin. Sharing your concern openly with the doctor will very often elicit the physicians empathy.
5. Dont rely solely on physicians.
Because stress is such a generic term, physicians arent necessarily geared to coming up with a solution. Theyre thinking about diagnosis, the treatment or a referral, says Citrin. Psychologists, social workers, ministers or rabbis are probably better suited to listen to your concerns
if the situation is serious enough to warrant medication or other medical options, those professionals are going to be able to get you to the right medical person or suggest you see your own physician.
