One of the most terrifying things for me is communicating with doctors. Over the years, I’ve heard enough pushback, belittling, and general unhelpfulness that I now suffer from increased anxiety whenever I need to ask the doctor a question.

Today, I emailed two of my daughter’s doctors, and I’m still a mess.

I’ve been through a number of medical professionals over the last few years, for myself, my husband, and our daughter, and not every communication has been productive.

Sometimes, it’s a clear sign that the particular doctor isn’t a good fit for our needs. Sometimes it’s a sign that my medical PTSD is taking hold of how I communicate, and I need to take a step back.

For me, I find a lot of the anxiety comes out in the form of arguing and rapid speech. I’m getting better about clear and professional communication, even now when diagnoses hang…