Autism and health anxiety as I get older

A healthcare notebook (the combined physical health, mental health and neurodivergent health) via a physical ring bound A5 lined notebook - which I update and take to appointments is helpful to me, where I can note and track e.g.:

• what are my concerns,
• what do I know,
• what do I want to know,
• what did a clinician explain (please use a diagram to aid my recall),
• what do I want to find out more about by myself,
• what can I do if I need a second opinion,
• what essential things do I need to ensure that a clinician knows about my healthcare history,
• what reasonable adjustments do I need to communicate to healthcare providers,
• what is happening next,
• what has been ruled out as a concern,
• what is the priority order of a current set of competing issues to be resolved,
• what are the management strategies for chronic conditions,
• what are the respective review cycles,
• what upcoming healthcare appointments do I have scheduled,
• what would it take for me to feel prepared for my participation,
• what essentials do loved ones / clinicians / trusted adults need to know if I am unable to advocate for myself,
• what techniques can I deploy to aid my regulation / conserve my energy / avoid frustration or fear or freeze as I navigate my healthcare,
• what process can I operate if something has gone wrong with my healthcare,
• what options are available if I would prefer to arrange for someone to accompany me to an appointment or procedure / act as my advocate when I attend a healthcare setting,
• what strategies can I (and healthcare service providers) use to reduce the executive function burden upon me in support of my successfully navigating my healthcare needs,
• what are my healthcare "red lines" (e.g. minimum required behaviour standard around me, respectful style of language used towards me, prior stated preferences / options decided in my treatment, unreasonably crass assumptions about me not to be tolerated, my trauma triggers to be mitigated).

A healthcare notebook (the combined physical health, mental health and neurodivergent health) via a physical ring bound A5 lined notebook - which I update and take to appointments is helpful to me, where I can note and track e.g.:

• what are my concerns,
• what do I know,
• what do I want to know,
• what did a clinician explain (please use a diagram to aid my recall),
• what do I want to find out more about by myself,
• what can I do if I need a second opinion,
• what essential things do I need to ensure that a clinician knows about my healthcare history,
• what reasonable adjustments do I need to communicate to healthcare providers,
• what is happening next,
• what has been ruled out as a concern,
• what is the priority order of a current set of competing issues to be resolved,
• what are the management strategies for chronic conditions,
• what are the respective review cycles,
• what upcoming healthcare appointments do I have scheduled,
• what would it take for me to feel prepared for my participation,
• what essentials do loved ones / clinicians / trusted adults need to know if I am unable to advocate for myself,
• what techniques can I deploy to aid my regulation / conserve my energy / avoid frustration or fear or freeze as I navigate my healthcare,
• what process can I operate if something has gone wrong with my healthcare,
• what options are available if I would prefer to arrange for someone to accompany me to an appointment or procedure / act as my advocate when I attend a healthcare setting,
• what strategies can I (and healthcare service providers) use to reduce the executive function burden upon me in support of my successfully navigating my healthcare needs,
• what are my healthcare "red lines" (e.g. minimum required behaviour standard around me, respectful style of language used towards me, prior stated preferences / options decided in my treatment, unreasonably crass assumptions about me not to be tolerated, my trauma triggers to be mitigated).