by Chris Vasiliadis
You’ve received a medical diagnosis. Maybe you felt it was coming, maybe you feel like someone punched you in the stomach. Start by taking a few deep breaths in and out. You do have the capacity to respond in a powerful way. Here’s how to move forward.
Get a second opinion. Not only do you want a second opinion on diagnosis, you also want another perspective on suggested treatment plan. Ask the doctor what changes they would suggest, if you wanted to live the most healthy and active life possible with your diagnosis.
See a specialist. Find a medical professional who specializes in working with patients with your condition. Specialists frequently stay on top of new advances in research and treatment of your condition, have seen different manifestations, and are typically aware of any related clinical trials.
Keep a journal. Date and track your symptoms, intensity, treatments and how you felt after each treatment. Document tests and results. Include questions you have for your physician for each appointment.
Be your own best advocate. Do research, in books and on the web, for your condition. Learn what approaches have worked for others who share your diagnosis. Find out not only how they manage the condition, but how they discuss their situation with family, friends and co-workers. Especially seek out those living well with your condition: use their stories and advice to inspire you.
Don’t let the label define you. While receiving a medical diagnosis can be shocking, it doesn’t need to take over your whole life. You and your essence are significantly larger than any condition. Just like your eye color doesn’t capture the whole of you, your diagnosis is not who you are. Let it be a trigger to uncover your humanness and greatness at your core.
Commit to taking care of your whole self. Yes, treat the condition, manage the symptoms. Don’t forget the person and spirit sustaining you. Listen to your body and let it be your guide. Discover ways of eating, moving and responding to stress that support your wellness. Keep breathing. Adopt ways of being that exude love and light.
Respect your emotions. You will likely go through a cycle of emotions after your diagnosis. Many experience the famous Elisabeth Kubler-Ross stages of grief: denial, anger, bargaining, depression and acceptance. Recognize that these phases are typical, exercise extreme compassion for yourself throughout, and if a particular stage is too challenging to bear, seek help.
Remember: it’s your body, your life. You will likely receive many suggestions from well-meaning folks on what has worked for others they know with your diagnosis. Find ways to graciously acknowledge their suggestion and try steps that resonate for you. Use their suggestions as teachable moments for your condition, and explain how it affects various people differently. Treat the one body you have the best that you can.
Copyright 2009. Priority Wellness. All rights reserved.
Chris Vasiliadis was diagnosed with Multiple Sclerosis, a chronic disease of the central nervous system, in late 2005. Learning of her diagnosis spawned several lifestyle changes, which ultimately led to her improved health and current career as a Certified Wellness Coach. Today, living well and flare-up free for over 2 years, Chris works with individuals over the phone, helping them make their wellness a priority and make habit changes to master their well-being. People come to her when they know they’re not eating right, exercising enough or consistently, and/or not managing stress well. Obtain monthly wellness tips from Chris’s newsletter by subscribing at
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