HALT help before your office visit
When I was seeing patients in the office it was a struggle when they presented agitated. Like just pissed off, stressed out, bummed, burnt out or just over it all. We would spend most of the visit reviewing drama and then have to rush through the healthcare portion of their visit. If you are in that place,
stuck in “not OK”……………. pause……… before acting and ask yourself this. Are you
Hungry
Angry
Lonley
Tired
or
Sad
?
H Have you eaten in the last 3 hours? If not, get some food-something with protien. Carbs will send you on a sugar high. Go for the slow burn fuel or protien, nuts? Bee like a snickers commercial.
A Consider placing your anger in a burden basket. Figuratively, put in any container, a box, a drawer, a car trunk, really anywhere but your head. Leave it there for a week. You can pick it up and get furious again any time. But, if you can wait the week, things will change. Bee free of that anger.
L Have you said something nice to someone in the last day? If not, do it now. Online, by text or in person. Get out of yourself. We feel lonely when we isolate. Bee with others.
T You can not make sense, when you are exhausted, no wonder you don’t feel ok. I know, taking 24 hour call at least once a week for 20 years. Snuggle into pjs and get eight hours. Can’t do that ‘cause its the middle of the day…give yourself permission, set the alarm for 30 minutes and close your eyes. Surrendering to a feeling allows you to work with it rather than against it. Bee in the flow rather than fighting it.
S Sad happens. Remember this will pass. If it’s too much place it in the burden basket for a while. That which we resist persists, let sadness bee.
Once you have paused and checked in with these emotions you are ready to hear what your healthcare provider is saying. Having a medical companion at your visit can help with HALT. Illnessdoula can be with you in person or virtually.