LinkedIn Article | The Courage to Seek Help

I walked into the psychiatrist’s office for the third and final appointment of my assessment. I was anxious, as usual, but held out some hope that I could be helped. It took a lot of courage to get where I was at that point in time – requesting a psychiatry referral from a colleague “for a friend” struggling with anxiety, overcoming the fear of someone finding out it was really me seeking help, and the cost of paying out-of-pocket for treatment so it wouldn’t appear anywhere on my insurance record.

At my initial appointment, my psychiatrist told me he would interview me over 3 appointments to arrive at an assessment and plan for treatment. It all came down to this moment.

“Joe, I’ve heard your story and have a pretty good idea of what’s going on. However, I don’t think I can help you.”

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Joe Sherman, MD is a pediatrician, professional development coach, and consultant to individuals and healthcare organizations in the areas of cross-cultural medicine, leadership, and provider well-being. His mission is to help health professionals rediscover the joy of practicing medicine. Reach him at joe@joeshermanmd.com