Good Medical Memories

Good memories escape us. As a general rule of thumb, we humans remember the bad times more vividly than the good times. Evolutionary psychologists explain it handily: the bad memory will keep you alive. The good one? It doesn't carry the same protective power. Might make you feel good. Probably isn't essential to survival.

And most medical memories fall into the bad category. Our conversations with physicians, nurses, and technicians are typically either mundane and forgettable or... upsetting. Even the occasional good news, "The results are negative," pales in comparison to the first warning, "We need to check out...." It's no wonder that so many people put off trips to doctors.

But I have a Good Medical Memory: It emerged during a season of tests and treatments and eventual surgery. Amid many visits, my family physician once said, "Are you taking vitamins?" I groaned and said, "No, I quit taking everything." And she replied, "I don't blame you."

That's all she said. No lecture, no prescription. She left me alone. It was certainly the response I needed at the time.

What event reminded me of this Good Medical Memory? That would be the insurance notification that the physician is no longer in-network.

© 2008 Mary Bold, PhD, CFLE. The content of this blog or related web sites created by Mary Bold (www.marybold.com, www.boldproductions.com, College Intern Blog) is not under any circumstances to be regarded as professional, legal, financial, or medical advice. Or education advice. Or marital advice. Or even a tip.