How to Deal with Your Fear of Discharge from Medical Care

What do you mean I can leave now?!

“Eek! My doctor said I don’t need to come back. Like, forever!”

 ”Well, isn’t that why you went through all of this in the first place? To get to the point where you didn’t need to go for any more treatments?”

 “Yes, but…eek! That day is here. Today!

So, what happens now?

What if my symptoms come back?

What if I get a different illness?

What if I have a disease I don’t even know about?”

I hear what you are saying. You have many concerns about being discharged from medical care. After all, these are the people who saw you through your illness and led you down the path of healing. You have relied on their expertise, voiced your every concern to them, and trusted their judgment to give you the very best care.

But now you have been discharged from their service because you no longer need medical care.

You feel abandoned.

    Set adrift.

       Scared.

Feeling this way is understandable. But the good news is that you don’t have to feel this way.

So, what do you do with these feelings? Should you just suffer in silence?

No, not at all.

Let me give you some suggestions to help you as you transition out of medical care.

Having a fear of medical discharge can be healthy… to some extent. Remembering your previous medical condition can inspire you to make the necessary changes to prevent your illness from returning. But you need to have a healthy fear that inspires you to engage in a healthy lifestyle and does not overtake you with anxiety, depression, or cause you physical symptoms.

So, how can you keep your anxiety about medical discharge in check?

Here are seven ways to deal with your fear of discharge from medical care.

Face your fear of medical discharge by establishing medical care.

Establish care with your PCP. Let them know that you have recently been discharged from the care of a medical professional.

Your doctor may have received periodic updates from your medical specialist, but not necessarily. Update them on your diagnosis and any treatments, surgeries, and therapies you have undergone. Also, provide them with an accurate and updated list of all medications and supplements that you take.

Your PCP will monitor your general health. Be sure to continue to get preventative screenings.

Use a symptom tracker to help you face your fear of discharge from medical care.

Using a symptom tracker can be a great way to keep track of your health and detect any potential issues early. By tracking your symptoms, you can start to see patterns and notice when your symptoms change. This can help you recognize when it is time to see your doctor or take other action.                                                                      

Use this free symptom tracker.

First, make a list of any symptoms you experienced during your illness.

Next, make note of any symptoms you are experiencing now.

Take your symptom tracker with you to any follow-up appointments and discuss them with your medical provider. Let your doctor know if any of your symptoms increase or change in character or if you develop any new issues.

Another way to face your fear of discharge from medical care is by journaling.

Your journal can be one that you purchase, one you use online, or even just a blank notebook. The document is not as important as what you write in your journal.

Jot down any symptoms you may be feeling. How does that symptom make you feel? Ill? Anxious? Afraid?

What can you do about these symptoms on your own?

Do you simply need to acknowledge that these symptoms exist?

Do you need to seek medical care?

Do you need to talk to a professional counselor?

Journal your gratitude. What are you thankful for?

Not sure how to get started? Take your journal and go outside. Write down what you see. Bird, tree, sky, grass, people, etc. Now write what you are thankful for related to that item.

For instance, I see a tree. The tree represents strength. The tree started as a small seed but has now grown into a large, sturdy tree. It reminds me that as I take small steps toward my recovery, in time, I will stand tall with strong confidence like this tree.

Become a volunteer to help you manage your fears of medical care discharge.

Volunteering helps you focus on the needs of others. By directing your attention outward, you are less likely to focus inward on your fear.

Here are three reasons why volunteering can lessen your fear:

1.        Volunteering can help boost your self-esteem: When you volunteer, you’re making a difference and that can give you a great sense of accomplishment. This can lead to increased self-esteem and confidence.

2.      Secondly, volunteering allows you to meet new people, gain knowledge and develop new skills. Perhaps you could volunteer to work with people who are going through the same medical issue you did. Since you have recovered from what they are just now facing, you can be a beacon of hope and inspiration to these patients. 

3.      Thirdly, volunteering gives you a way to help others: By volunteering, you can assist those in need and make a difference in their lives.

 Face your fear of being discharged from medical care by doing acts of self-care.

Self-care is just what it sounds like, taking care of yourself. Here are six things you can do to start a self-care routine:

Take a warm shower or bubble bath.

Do dry brushing on yourself.

Get a massage.

Listen to music.

Go for a walk in nature.

Take a nap.

You can decrease your fears by connecting with others.

Your friends and family helped you get through your medical situation. Don’t let those relationships go by the wayside now. Keeping in touch with your support team is very important for several reasons:

It satisfies your need for human connection.

Human connection helps keep your thoughts from spiraling out of control.

Interacting with others lowers the stress hormone cortisol and also lowers your blood pressure.

Keep in contact with your social supporters such as family, friends, co-workers, church group, etcetera.

 

 Seek counseling to help you overcome your fear of being discharged from medical care.

There are many valid reasons why you may fear being discharged from medical care. Just because you no longer need to go for frequent treatments doesn’t necessarily mean that you are well. If you have a chronic condition or have been through a lengthy illness, you most likely will need follow-up care periodically once the acute phase of your illness is over.

If you, or your loved ones, notice that you are not adjusting to being discharged from medical care, perhaps you need to see a professional counselor. You may need to take medication for previously undiagnosed depression, for instance. If this is your diagnosis, it may not go away without help from professionals.

This does not mean that you are exchanging one problem for another. The two conditions may have existed side by side, but your physical illness overshadowed your mental health issues. Now that your physical ailment has resolved it is time to make sure that you are mentally healthy as well.

Don’t let this statement make you think that you must wait until your physical illness has resolved before you can seek mental health treatment. We are discussing why you may feel fearful due to being discharged from medical care. Mental health is equally as important as physical health, yet sometimes mental health issues go unnoticed until there is a physical health crisis.

Something to consider regarding your fear of discharge from medical care is that you may have illness-induced PTSD. You may think of PTSD as an adjustment crisis after a traumatic event such as war or a terrible accident or maybe even an act of violence.

Illness-induced PTSD can occur due to constant assaults of medical testing, surgeries, frequent needle pokes, and more.

Read this story of a young girl who suffered from a common illness that, years later, she realized had triggered illness-induced PTSD.

In conclusion,

Fear of being discharged from medical care should not be ignored because it is your fear. It is real to you.

Some ways you can deal with your fear are to:

Establish care with your PCP who can monitor any ongoing symptoms you have and treat new symptoms that may arise.

Use a symptom tracker and take it with you to your appointments. Share with your PCP the progress you are making on the symptoms that brought you to them in the first place and inform them of any new symptoms that may arise.

Begin journaling to deal with your fear of discharge from medical care. You can journal about your gratitude, write letters of encouragement to yourself, or write out inspirational quotes and affirmations.

Volunteering is a way to give back and keep your mind focused on things other than your fears.

Do self-care activities to increase your sense of well-being.

Connect with friends and family. Maybe even consider joining a support group or an exercise class to increase your opportunity for human interaction.

Don’t hesitate to seek counseling as a way of dealing with your fear of discharge from medical care.

Comment below about some ways you have overcome fears in your life.

Wishing you all the best,

Kelly

 Are your cancer screenings up to date?

Yes, I am a nurse. No, I am not your nurse. The medical topics discussed in this, or any article on this site, are intended to be issues for you to discuss with your medical team if you feel they apply to you. None of the information you are about to read in this article is treatment advice for you from me. I do not have that authority.