Impact.

Did I make an impact? We all ask ourselves this.

Today, I wondered if my attempt was successful.

Last week, a patient came to me overwhelmed by life: by school, a full-time job, balancing multiple therapies, and struggling with severe (undiagnosed) anxiety, along with the general trying-to-function-as-a-person thing. This is something I struggle with, so I feel for her in every way.

I could tell that she is strong and can overcome battles, but doesn’t have the coping strategies to do so.

Having to stay within my scope of practice and not being trained in counseling mental health limited my ability to assist. It’s hard to be effective when you're without the proper training. I’m not a psychologist, nor a psychiatrist, nor a neurologist.

That doesn't mean I can’t refer though. I referred her to a neuro-psychiatrist. I could tell just by talking with her about school that she was encumbered by severe anxiety. She was drowning in it. So I prepared her with study strategies, test-taking strategies, and general coping strategies for school-induced anxiety. But despite educating her, she still needed help. So like I said, I referred…but that only goes so far. After referring, the outcome is in the hands of the individual. Isn’t it?

I thought that my efforts were appropriate. I thought they would be beneficial. Today, I asked myself, “could I have done more?”

Hindsight is powerful. You realize what you could’ve done or should’ve done. At what point does someone recognize how helpful they can be? In hindsight I can say: I was not trained to handle the mental health of others. I made the right choices. I did the best that my human abilities would allow. 

As Simon Sinek says, “There are only two ways to influence human behavior: You can manipulate it or you can inspire it.” 

And so, my message: Do what you can. Be the best that you can be in order to help others. Be the person you want to be, and better. Inspire others, for it is the best that we can do.