I bet those questions got your attention. They were meant to. Earlier this week, I told my spouse that I needed to schedule a session with my therapist. The first thing he said was, “is everything okay.” I responded, “yes, I’m good.” I went on to tell him that therapy isn’t only for when you’re stressed, overwhelmed, or at your breaking point (AKA crisis).
Therapy is health maintenance. Therapy is prevention. Therapy gives you/me/us an opportunity to share our thoughts, feelings, and experiences with an unbiased individual. Therapy as maintenance allows for ongoing reflection and introspection.
I don’t know about you, but I have family, friends, and associates who think that you only go to MDs/NPs/PAs, Dentists, Physical Therapists, Psychotherapists, etc when you’re having a problem. This thought process needs to change. If we want to “be well” and age gracefully we must take care of ourselves prophylactically.
Think about your car. Do you only go to the auto shop when your car starts smoking or making a funny noise? My hope is that your answer is no. You go to the auto shop for an oil change, tire rotation and balance, brake fluid flush, etc.
You want your car to be in excellent condition so that you can get to the places you need and want to go to. You know that car repairs can be expensive. Instead of waiting until an emergency occurs, you take small steps to maintain the “health” of your vehicle.
The same way you take care of your car, you must take care of yourself.
Go to the dentist every 6 months for a cleaning, X-rays/assessment, etc. Go to your healthcare provider annually for a physical/labs. If you have a medical diagnosis, follow your healthcare providers recommendations on the frequency of reassessments.
Friend don’t wait until you have mouth pain or you’re experiencing daily headaches/vomiting/numbness for months to be evaluated. The longer you wait, symptoms become more severe and treatment more expensive.
Go to the physical therapist for health maintenance, strengthening, and prevention. Mama’s go to PT for pelvic floor issues and diastasis recti concerns. Mama’s you can schedule PT during pregnancy not only after.
I digress. You get it. You understand.
Preventative care is wellness. Preventative care is health. Don’t worry what your co-workers, family, or friends might say. Prioritize your health and wellness. Prioritize you.
If you’re searching for medical providers and cost is a barrier, check out income based or sliding scaled clinics in your area.
Dental schools offer treatment at low cost where students provide supervised treatment. Better Help and Talkspace are some options for budget friendly mental healthcare. Some PTs also offer a sliding scale option to receive treatment.
Lastly some community healthcare clinics offer a variety of services in house based on income. This allows a “one stop shop” approach for overall health maintenance and prevention.
Don’t allow other people to be a barrier to you caring yourself. Educate yourself on resources and available options so you can live a long, happy, and healthy life.
Be Well.
