Kristen

#MentalHealth Advocate🧘🏻‍♀️ | #EDwarrior💚💙 l blogger | network manager @wegohealth

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

@IBSpatient @TrainWithBain Just taught my grandma how to use zoom the other day- love her to death but man was that a time 😂😂 a good reminder of what I take for granted! #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

@TrainWithBain Don’t feel bad, I regularly work from home and I’m still struggling to establish a routine right now! #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

I need to do some sort of breathe work everyday or else I will honesty lose my mind. As someone with anxiety, this situation is obviously making it skyrocket. Sometimes it’s an hour of yoga, sometimes it’s a 3 minute breathe exercise #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Let's jump to it!

Q1. Do you have any specific routines or practices you've established to keep sane during quarantine?

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Boundaries. And most likely will continue to be something I work on in 2020. Learning to say no to helping someone in order to help myself gives me so much anxiety (guilty people pleaser🙋🏽‍♀️) but you can’t get far living for others! #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Q4. What was your biggest challenge in 2019?

Whether it was your health, a new policy, learning new social algorithms, finding the courage to start your own Youtube channel or simply learning to not take what online trolls say seriously. #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Hard no. I didn’t even touch my blog. BUT I started more offline advocacy and I think that’s more my style. My #mentalhealth dwindles when I’m on my phone or social media and 2019 has been the year of accepting that and finding a new path #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Q2. Given the goals you all just shared, were you able to achieve them? #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

A year ago I said 2019 was the year of my advocacy. I told myself I’d blog more and get more content out there! A big goal, and one I’ve had for two years now tbh #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Q1. Looking back a year ago, did you set any specific advocacy goals to achieve in 2019? If so, what were they?

If you hadn't, are there any smaller goals you've set throughout the year? #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

@CathyChes Better rain than snow is what I’m feeling today!!

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Hey everyone! Kristen here for the last #WEGOHealthChat of 2019! Tuning in from Boston!

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

MYTH treatment means you’re cured. Especially in the mental health/eating disorder space, I’ve been through three rounds of treatment and see a team regularly- doesn’t mean I’m cured by any means! It’s still a daily battle #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T4. Let's talk about care, treatment, and/or medication.

Can you share a common myth (M) about this topic? Again, feel free to speak generally or condition-specific.

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

TRUTH if you don’t like your doctor or feel your needs aren’t being met, you can find a new one. It’s a hassle yes but overall I think patients forget the doctor is a service, if your plumber stinks you get a new one! Same with your medical team #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T3. For our next batch of myths & truths, we’ll turn it around and focus on doctors and healthcare professionals.

Ok, time for a truth (T) about doctors and healthcare professionals.

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

T3 TRUTH Doctors are people too. They’re tired, overworked and dealing with personal issues just like you. They are people trying to do their job the best they can. They got into the profession to help others. ***most of them at least, again always a bad apple #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T3. For our next batch of myths & truths, we’ll turn it around and focus on doctors and healthcare professionals.

Ok, time for a truth (T) about doctors and healthcare professionals.

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

@BillWongOT Right on, after over 10 years of running my own treatment show I deserve to be looked at as a credited source! #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Patients aren’t trying to show doctors up (well most of us). We just want answers and we want to be healthy. Coming in with notes or suggestions doesn’t mean we don’t trust you, it means we’re ready to work together to get the progress we’re striving for. #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T1. Our first topic will be myths & truths about: Patients

Now share a #truth (T) about patients. Again, feel free to speak condition-specific or generally.

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

T2 Myth: doctors don’t care. I hear this a lot, and although there are certainly some bad apples out there, I stand by my statement that this is a myth for many #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T2. Our second topic: Let’s share myths & truths industry professionals (doctors, the media, HC Cos, etc) have about empowered patients.

Up first, share a myth (M)!

#WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

As a mental health patient, my credibility is shot as soon as a doctor looks at my chart. Yes I’ve been in psychiatric treatment facilities, but no I’m not crazy and yes I know what I’m talking about. So many times I get brushed aside because of my diagnosis #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

T1. Our first topic will be myths & truths about: Patients

First up Myth #1:
Share a myth (M) people have about patients. Feel free to speak generally or condition-specific.

#WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Today let’s run the #WEGOHealthChat a bit different:
We'll discuss 5 different topics (T1, T2, T3 etc).

* Part 1 of each topic will be sharing a #myth (M) about the topic
* Part 2 will include following up with a #truth (T).

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Kristen here for the #WEGOHealthChat tuning in from Boston- @justagoodlife must have sent the snow because it just started snowing here 😩😩😩

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Patients are part of the healthcare ecosystem. To have them not included at industry conferences is just not efficient. They are key players in the system, they need to be involved #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

@matgutting @ePatientDave Well very honored with that, what can I say he’s the original! 🙌🏼😎

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

(2/2) My point is, you finally find the strength to tell your doctor and then their response can crush you. You have to find the strength to keep going and find someone to fight for you- but that requires you to fight for yourself #WEGOHealthChat

[Kristen @srvingofspprt]

Hating pharma and doctors won’t solve a thing. It’s going to take a conversation and understanding from all sides to actually create the shift in healthcare we all envision. Which means including patients voices at the table is vital #WEGOHealthChat

[Social Health Network @socialhealthnet]

Q4: What advice do you give patients when it comes to connecting and collaborating with their healthcare teams to improve health and treatment?

Question suggested by @LALupusLady #WEGOHealthChat #WEGOHealthAwards