and How many alcoholic drinks do you have per week?
Whether you answer these honestly or gloss over the details, theyre everyday conversations for your provider.
But what about other substances?
His areas of clinical expertise include addiction medicine and internal medicine.
Psychotherapist based in Georgia.
Unfortunately, theres no guarantee that your healthcare provider wont judge you for drug or supplement use.
Dr. Michael Fingerhood is an associate professor of medicine and public health at the Johns Hopkins University. His areas of clinical expertise include addiction medicine and internal medicine.
Doctors are people, too, and they have biases.
Our job isnt to police clients, but to help them.
The question what do you do to unwind?
Other questions like how do you deal with stress?
or tell me about a typical day for you help patients feel more comfortable, Dr. Fingerhood says.
Or, if they ask whether or not you smoke, you might go beyond a one-word answer.
Sharing that you dont smoke but enjoy an edible gives your doctor a more complete picture.
More information is always better.
Sharing that you dont smoke but enjoy an edible gives your doctor a clearer picture.
Dr. Michael Fingerhood is an associate professor of medicine and public health at the Johns Hopkins University. His areas of clinical expertise include addiction medicine and internal medicine.
Its Amazing How Its All Connected.
He was actually having withdrawal, he says.
Talking about recreational and psychoactive drug usemay be even more critical if youre on mental health medications.
Many antidepressants and psychoactive drugs work by increasing serotonin levels, so they can have dangerous complications when combined.
Our job isnt to police clients, but to help them.
Remember that you have doctor-patient confidentiality on your side.
TheAmerican Psychological Associationlists privacy and confidentiality in its code of ethics, as doesHIPAA.
There should be a comfort zone, Dr. Fingerhood says.
At the moment, these conversations arent happening enough.
Much of our healthcare in the U.S. is driven by quick conversations and quick answers, Dr. Fingerhood says.
Its worth taking the time to really talk to your doctor.
About everything that goes into your body.
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