Scheduled appointments

[lastgal01]

part of creating and maintaining stability is making appointments for things. Medical, dental, car maintenance etc. i make appts and usually confirm w the office when they call the day before. Many times i will be unable to leave the house on the day of. Sometimes i will call and make up some lie. Which creates shame and guilt.
This also happens with activities that i really want to do and sometimes have even paid for in advance.
I cant NOT make appts or plans but when im a no-show for medical appts i get charged. When i cancel or no-show for anything i miss out on life. I can no longer make up excuses but cant tell everyone and their brother that i cant make it because i have PTSD and im in avoidance mode.
How do others handle this?

 

[EveHarrington]

I try to cancel as little as possible. Sometimes I force myself to go to appointments as I know I can only say I’m sick the day of every once in a blue moon. Yes, sometimes I call and say I’m sick. It’s a lie but nobody cares if I have a PTSD day.

 

[Fadeaway]

This is actually one of my fears if I were to ever go back to work. I think that symptom management would help me reduce the number of cancelationsp. That is where I am going to start anyways.

 

[Teasel]

How do others handle this?

Really badly. It's a massive problem for me. Really crippling.

 

[Suzetig]

It’s hard going - I’ve lost count of the number of times I’ve not gone to something I’ve paid ahead for because I’m having a bad day and just can’t face whatever. I’m also not great at phoning to cancel, which ends up in me feeling shameful and embarrassed.

My job means I work to appointments that I really can’t cancel or mess about with, which has helped in other areas in my life - I’m used to needing to keep a clear schedule. A form of exposure therapy I guess.

 

[lastgal01]

I try to cancel as little as possible. Sometimes I force myself to go to appointments as I know I...

Thanks Eve. I think its the forcing myself part that has me hung up. Have any tips?

 

[LilyRose]

I am not very good at admitting when i have a bad day. So usually i force myself to go.

 

[EveHarrington]

Have any tips?

Part is knowing I don’t have the $$$ for last minute cancellations. Another part is knowing that I’ll be cut loose if I cancel too many times, and I don’t want to have to find new providers.

 

[TruthSeeker]

This is actually one of my fears if I were to ever go back to work. I think that symptom management wo...

I finally gave them my phone number to my cell and told them to text. That has helped.