Be Your Own Advocate
Be Your Own Advocate:
Why Thinking Outside the Box Can Change Your Health Journey
There’s something powerful that happens when you stop waiting for someone else to hand you answers and instead, start asking the deeper questions yourself.
Recently, I had yet another experience that reminded me just how important it is to be your own advocate, especially when you live with complex or chronic health conditions.
The Value of Showing Up Prepared
I went to a new specialist for a consult seeking insight into a situation that had been affecting my quality of life for quite some time. I wasn’t walking in blindly. I came equipped with my full medical history, imaging and reports, personal notes, family history. These things matter. Your history matters. Your lived experience matters.
When a Doctor Actually Listens
To my relief, this doctor didn’t brush off my symptoms. She didn’t skim the files or jump to conclusions. She listened. She read. She asked questions.
And instead of handing me a quick solution based on a protocol or flowchart, she said:
“Let’s look deeper, let’s confirm this with an ultrasound before deciding next steps.”
That moment of pause? That curiosity? It changed everything.
When a Standard Approach Doesn’t Fit
After the ultrasound, it became clear: surgery might be the only effective path forward.
Then came the second moment that reminded me of the importance of advocating for myself.
She looked at me, concern in her eyes, and said in not so many words:
Based on your neurological history, I don’t feel comfortable performing this procedure in the new standard way, as it involves 3+ hours on an inverted table at a 30° angle. That could pose serious risks for your quality of life.
I asked a simple but powerful question, “What if you did the procedure the old-school way?” She paused. She thought. Lightbulb moment.
“You know what? You’re right. We can do this procedure the way I was taught in med school, with you lying flat. It will be a shorter procedure, less risk, yet your recovery may take a little longer, but it's safer for your body.”
This Is Why Advocacy Matters
If I hadn’t spoken up…
If I hadn’t asked that question…
If I had accepted the “standard” without remembering that I am not standard…
I could’ve ended up in a situation that had long-term consequences for my health and quality of life.
Your journey is uniquely yours. Your puzzle pieces don’t always fit into modern protocols and that’s okay.
Challenging the Status Quo Isn’t Disrespect, It’s Wisdom
It can feel intimidating to question a professional opinion, especially when you're in the thick of pain, confusion, or fear. Here’s the truth:
Just because something is common doesn't mean it's right for you.
Just because something is the norm doesn’t mean it’s the only way.
So often in our medical system, we’re conditioned to go with what’s offered in the moment, especially when it’s coming from someone in a white coat. When your gut says “pause,” or “ask another question,” or “what are the risks for my body” you need to honor that.
You are not being difficult. You are being discerning.
Professionals are trained in protocols. You are living in your body.
When you bring your lived experience, your intuition, and your voice into the room, it can change everything. It can open doors that would have remained closed. It can shift outcomes in ways you never thought possible.
You’re not meant to blindly accept, you’re meant to collaborate in your care.
You are allowed to ask for a second option.
You are allowed to propose a different way.
You are allowed to challenge the assumption that "newest" means "best."
For you, the best might be something more thoughtful. More aligned. More respectful of your whole history.
Encourage Your Care Team to Think Outside the Box
This isn’t about rejecting modern medicine, it’s about collaborating with it.
Whether your team includes MDs, specialists, chiropractors, or holistic practitioners, they should be open to you. To your instincts. To your experiences. To what your body is saying.
Don’t be afraid to ask questions. Don’t be afraid to challenge a process. Don’t be afraid to ask, “Is there another way?”
You Know Your Body Best
You are allowed to think differently. You are allowed to speak up. You are allowed to request a different approach. You are the expert on your body.
When you trust your gut, amazing things can unfold, safer procedures, more personalized care, and healing that honors who you are.
Empowering Journeys. Illuminating Lives.
You are not alone on this path and your voice matters more than you know.
