Speaking with your doctor about your symptoms and treatment may demand that you speak up for yourself. If you are the kind of person who typically goes with the flow or you tend to be shy, this demand can easily result in a lot of extra stress, and can be very overwhelming.
Many patients who have chronic back and neck pain, or other chronic pain conditions believe they have to accept disrespectful, and even abusive treatment from their physicians. Butnderstanding what assertiveness is, and taking the challenge of practicing it may well prove useful to you when taking charge of your own chronic pain management.
Assertiveness is not the same as agressiveness. Assertivenss requires the courage to be yourself.
Here is a list of pages that may provide food for thought on the topic of assertiveness.
