By using this site, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms of Use.
Accept
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
  • Health
    • Mental Health
    Health
    Healthcare organizations are operating on slimmer profit margins than ever. One report in August showed that they are even lower than the beginning of the…
    Show More
    Top News
    benefits of using protein powder to build muscles
    Protein Powder for Muscle Mass: Everything You Need to Know
    December 12, 2021
    changes brought on by blockchain in healthcare
    Technology In The Healthcare Industry
    March 28, 2022
    What Does Core Body Temperature Say About Health?
    August 17, 2022
    Latest News
    Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
    May 16, 2025
    Learn how to Renew your Medical Card in West Virginia
    May 16, 2025
    Choosing the Right Supplement Manufacturer for Your Brand
    May 1, 2025
    Engineering Temporary Hospitals for Extreme Weather
    April 24, 2025
  • Policy and Law
    • Global Healthcare
    • Medical Ethics
    Policy and Law
    Get the latest updates about Insurance policies and Laws in the Healthcare industry for different geographical locations.
    Show More
    Top News
    FDA Approves Diabetes Pill
    May 2, 2011
    Patient Gets Drunk on Hand Sanitizer
    June 20, 2011
    Cultivating Health Improvement
    July 20, 2011
    Latest News
    Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
    May 18, 2025
    The Critical Role of Healthcare in Personal Injury Recovery: A Comprehensive Guide for Victims
    May 14, 2025
    The Backbone of Successful Trials: Clinical Data Management
    April 28, 2025
    Advancing Your Healthcare Career through Education and Specialization
    April 16, 2025
  • Medical Innovations
  • News
  • Wellness
  • Tech
Search
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Reading: How Doctors Can Help Patients Stay Positive Amidst Pain and Suffering
Share
Notification Show More
Font ResizerAa
Health Works CollectiveHealth Works Collective
Font ResizerAa
Search
Follow US
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
© 2023 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
Health Works Collective > Wellness > How Doctors Can Help Patients Stay Positive Amidst Pain and Suffering
Wellness

How Doctors Can Help Patients Stay Positive Amidst Pain and Suffering

jennacyprus
Last updated: October 28, 2017 3:44 pm
jennacyprus
Share
6 Min Read
SHARE

Doctors and healthcare workers – especially those in hospitals and emergency care settings – have a number of responsibilities. And while caring for the physical well-being of patients is obviously the number one priority, many feel the burden of helping patients maintain a positive outlook amidst serious pain and suffering. 5 Tips for Helping Patients Stay Positive As a doctor or healthcare worker, your job is to help patients overcome illnesses or manage symptoms. In other words, your primary obligation is their health. Unfortunately, many healthcare workers only focus on physical health, when in fact, mental well-being is also a very big responsibility. In order to adequately help patients through difficult situations, it’s imperative that you care for their mental health as well. This requires you to assist them in their pursuit of a positive outlook while suffering through trying circumstances. Here are some tips you should find useful: 1. Notice the Little Things It’s important that patients take note of the little things. In doing so, they’re able to stop focusing on the looming big things, i.e. cancer, surgery, chemotherapy, death, etc. The problem is that it’s difficult for patients to actively notice the little things on their own. They need people who will point these things out, and you can help. While it’s a cliché, taking one step at a time is often the best thing a patient can do. 2. Point Patients in the Right Direction When patients are dealing with a particular issue, you can point them in the right direction. Avoid ever offering specific financial or legal advice, but don’t hesitate to provide general suggestions so that patients can sort through their options. One of the most pressing issues for people with chronic health issues or imminent procedures is finances. In fact, the financial side of things can sometimes be more stressful for a patient than the actual health issue. Encourage patients to pursue as many options as possible, including medical crowdfunding, charity care, or even borrowing from retirement. 3. Control What You Can Control Here’s a very simple, yet incredibly difficult concept to convey to patients: only try to control what you can actually control. In other words, the patient cannot control the disease that’s ravishing their body. However, they can control their response to the disease. Sometimes it takes months or years to realize this, but once a patient is able to grasp this concept, it will fundamentally transform their entire view on life. As a healthcare worker, the best way to help patients adopt this perspective is to lead by example. Make a point of never trying to control anything that’s outside of your grasp. Instead, hone in on the things you can control and maximize these opportunities. 4. Repeat Daily Affirmations While some people believe it’s an oversimplified way of looking at healing, there’s ample evidence to suggest repetitive positive affirmations promote physical healing. While not every patient will be inclined to rely on positive affirmations, some will be. If you believe you have a patient that will respond well, consider writing down some statements for them to review on a daily basis. These include things like:

  • My body is actively reorganizing cells and attempting to fight off this disease.
  • Everyone has cancer cells in their body. My body is simply relearning how to identify and remove them.
  • Of the trillions of cells in my body, only a very small percentage are cancerous.
  • Miracles happen every single day. My diagnosis may be 1 in 100 – why can’t I be that one?

Simple affirmations like these can have a recognizable mental, and even physical impact on your patients. 5. Celebrate Everything “Finally, celebrate everything – birthdays, anniversaries, the end of chemo,” says Gloria Nelson, a senior oncology social worker who facilitates support groups for those dealing with life threatening medical conditions. “Nothing’s too small to celebrate. None of us ever knows how much time we have left, and this is a great way to make the most of what we have.” By celebrating everything, you put your patients in a mindset where they seek out reasons to be thankful. Having this mindset – as opposed to one that’s constantly trying to find situations that back up the “woe is me” theory – is both powerful and healthy. Putting it All Together While helping patients stay positive amidst pain and suffering may come more natural to some, it’s important that each and every healthcare worker hones this skillset. By combining emotional support with physical care, you can help patients maintain a much better outlook.

Share This Article
Facebook Copy Link Print
Share

Stay Connected

1.5kFollowersLike
4.5kFollowersFollow
2.8kFollowersPin
136kSubscribersSubscribe

Latest News

Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Do You Grind Your Teeth at Night? Here’s How Night Guards and TMJ Treatments Can Help
Dental health
May 21, 2025
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
The Secret To A Confident Smile: Top Tips For Better Teeth
Dental health
May 21, 2025
Clinical Expertise
Building Smarter Care Teams: Aligning Roles, Structure, and Clinical Expertise
Health care
May 18, 2025
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Grounded Healing: A Natural Ally for Sustainable Healthcare Systems
Health
May 15, 2025

You Might also Like

brain stroke
Wellness

Stroke Before 50 Not Good for Long Term Health

May 2, 2013
healthcare mobile app
eHealthMedical InnovationsMobile HealthWellness

Would You Use Your Smartphone as a Therapy Tool?

July 8, 2013
AdherenceFactors
Wellness

Factors Related to Adherence [INFOGRAPHIC]

January 15, 2014
eHealthWellness

Anxious? Try These Healthcare Gadgets That Relieve Anxiety

June 19, 2019
Subscribe
Subscribe to our newsletter to get our newest articles instantly!
Follow US
© 2008-2025 HealthWorks Collective. All Rights Reserved.
  • About
  • Contact
  • Privacy
Welcome Back!

Sign in to your account

Username or Email Address
Password

Lost your password?