Be Your Own Doctor.

Every obstacle in life prompts self-reflection and teaches us about society itself. Amidst a global pandemic, I was exposed first-hand to the warped reality of the American healthcare system. The Coronavirus, while ravaging our world with tragedy, has revealed and has fostered flaws in existing national institutions. Like Dr. Jauhar mentioned in his editorial, this chaotic period in history is a catalyst for change. Healthcare in this country certainly calls for reform. There is no excuse when doctors don’t follow up.

I am fortunate to have had amazing friends and family, especially those with medical expertise answering my questions and comforting me every step of the way. Honestly, without them, I would’ve been more lost, confused, and scared than I was. But how are people who live alone or lack a strong support system supposed to overcome these challenges?

I think most of us can admit that we trust our doctors among the experts we depend on for information and advice: I would like to believe that we should. However, this experience affirmed that I am the only person I can truly rely on. No matter how many times you explain your emotions or symptoms to somebody else, you are the only one experiencing and internalizing them. If we feel sick and uneasy but everything looks fine on the outside, we must persist for proper treatment. When you need professional help, and you feel failed by one doctor, call three more: not every medic with a Ph.D. or a title will have expertise in a certain field. Get second, third, and fourth opinions to broaden your scope. Get the help that YOU need. This is why, regardless of numbers and results, we must be honest with ourselves. You cannot expect anyone to respond nor to care. As individuals, we must take full responsibility for our actions, for our health, and our being. Be your own doctor: know your body, heal yourself.