How many times has a patient come to see you about a problem they have been worried about for a long time? It might be a spot, a lump, or bleeding for instance.
Despite worrying about their symptoms, often they have not seen a doctor earlier because they are scared of what might be wrong with them. Not having a diagnosis leaves a range of possibilities open, only some of which are bad, so despite their worries they can rationalise that it might be nothing significant.
As a runner (and a bloke) I often fall into the other end of the spectrum where I just discount the possible severity of an issue, think of it as a niggle, and tell myself to ‘harden up’ and ignore it.
Both these behaviours persists despite the constant exhortations from doctors to get symptoms examined early, and the logic of doing so.
For some, the biggest cost of not being examined will be the unnecessary stress they have endured as a result of their uncertainty. For others though, such delays may result in a problem becoming more serious and harder to treat, with a worse prognosis.
I regularly see similar behaviour in my practice. Many people tell me they have been concerned about their finances for years before they finally speak to someone.
While logic might suggest that if you are doing well financially you should have no financial concerns (because you don’t have to worry about meeting your basic needs of food, clothing and shelter), this is rarely the case – we just worry about different things. That might be a vague concern that you are coasting and not taking advantage of the position you have already reached, to concerns about whether you can afford to maintain your lifestyle when you stop working.
While your financial issues may be far from life threatening, if you have concerns about them why not do something about them? I recently published a book written for medical professionals which explores the issues facing you and your colleagues, while offering some ideas on how you may choose to deal with them. It can be downloaded here
Alternatively, if you would like a Second Opinion from a real person, feel free to contact me on 02 9959 0550 to arrange a meeting.
