How Emotions Can Shape Medical Decisions

Greater Awareness Can Lead To More Thoughtful Choices If We Become A Patient

I have no reason to go to the doctor or to the hospital right now, and I’m doing my best to keep it that way. My concerns are that they won’t know me well enough to make the correct diagnosis in a short appointment, or that I’ll get trapped in the medical system, referred from doctor to doctor, and required to take unnecessary tests. All of which has occurred in the past, so even the possibility causes anxiety.

However, there might be a time when I need medical care, and I’m finding that taking care of my emotions is a must if or when it happens.

People rarely think about their feelings when they give up control to a system, wait weeks for appointments, are defined by a chart or diagnosis, and subtly shift from being a person to being a patient. So maybe now’s a good time to begin.

Key emotional drivers and impacts include:

• Fear and anxiety tend to play a role in serious medical issues. Those emotions can lead us to choose options that provide immediate emotional relief or cause us to refuse necessary tests.

• Feelings of helplessness can create a desire to regain control and impact treatment decisions.

• Negative emotions often lead to a focus on negative outcomes and may make it harder to understand medical information, potentially leading to poorer decisions.

• Healthcare providers have emotions, too—biases, sympathy, or negative reactions to patients —that may influence their clinical judgment and decision-making.

• Second opinions can be important for reducing emotional strain and helping people move from anxiety to feeling informed and confident in their choices.

Recognizing emotional factors is crucial for effective care; decisions without reference to them can be seen as “mechanistic and inferior.” Furthermore, when we need medical assistance, we’re better served by acknowledging and accepting our feelings rather than suppressing them.

So, the question becomes, how can we support ourselves emotionally if we find ourselves in that situation?

Experts say that the emotional toll of being a patient can be traumatic, characterized by a mix of anxiety, depression, fear, frustration, and isolation. They often endure significant, long-term stress, which may lead to post-traumatic stress or feelings of helplessness.

What I’m Finding:

• Just the idea of going to the doctor causes concern. I look for every home and over-the-counter remedy first. However, if need be, I would.

Experts claim that managing emotions while in the hospital or under a doctor’s care involves deep breathing and mindfulness, maintaining routines, journaling, and engaging in light, distracting activities.

What I’m Finding:

• I’m not good at deep breathing, but I practice Qigong, which includes exercise, breathing, and mindfulness. I also maintain routines, journal daily, and have hobbies.

• Honoring my feelings is one of my strategies, but it’s often easier said than done.

Experts note that emotions are typically involved with medical care and that fear, sadness, and anxiety can affect patient decision-making and outcomes. Empathetic communication and “emotional fit” between providers and patients improve treatment adherence, while failure to address emotions often leads to patient distrust and higher stress.

What I’m Finding:

• I’ve rarely found an emotional fit in a doctor’s office or in a hospital setting. Appointments were short, the doctor knew best, and my emotions were never considered either as a patient or a caregiver.

• Past experience has led me to distrust the medical system in general.

Experts advise that we should accept it’s normal to feel overwhelmed, sad, or scared, and avoid judging our reactions.

What I’m Finding:

• I don’t judge my reactions or feelings, but I certainly know they exist, and they definitely play a role in my decisions.

Experts warn that we should be mindful of our feelings and how they might affect our decision-making. The goal is to balance rational information with emotional needs.

What I’m finding:

• Medical personnel have emotions that affect their decisions. That’s why I’d want to know their beliefs regarding certain key issues. Do they agree with the mind-body connection? Are they willing to listen to my thoughts and ideas?

Experts suggest we focus on what we can control, such as learning about the condition and engaging in the decision-making process.

What I’m Finding:

• Today, I’d do much more of that as needed.

Experts note that we can manage our emotions as patients by practicing deep breathing, mindfulness, and grounding techniques to stay present. They suggest we stay connected with loved ones for support, maintain a sense of control by asking questions, and use distractions like reading or music.

What I’m finding:

We can also do the following:

• Work on healing our bodies through visualizations and other practical interventions as we prepare for doctor visits, surgery, or hospital stays.

• Know and understand the reasons for being a patient so we can ask relevant questions and not take what they say at face value.

• Join a support group and listen for fresh ideas.

• Focus on what we can do to support our health.

Being a patient can subtly reshape how we see ourselves. Appointments, diagnoses, and treatments begin to define our days and, at times, our identity. Yet beneath the medical chart, the self remains — the thinking, feeling person who is still making choices about how to live.

You can read Part 2 of this series, “How To Advocate for Yourself as You Age Well,” next week.

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Dr. Janice Walton is a psychologist, a widow, a mother, a grandmother, a great-grandmother, and a writer. She’s been writing a newsletter on Substack for five years and is currently publishing a book based on the articles.

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