Prepare yourself to feel bad medicals. Doctors enter medicine with the hope of making patients feel better. However, when delivering bad news, that's not what happens. No matter how people feel before I give them bad news, afterward they always feel worse. If I don't recognize this as normal, that working hard to make people feel good about bad news is not only counterproductive to the grieving process but potentially deleterious for our doctor-patient relationship, in the long run I'll add to my patients' pain rather than diminish it.
Now for the medicals fake carrot aspect of giving up smoking more kisses and hugs when you no longer smell and taste like a dirty ashtray. Your home, car and office will no longer be coated in a yellow oily film that is the residue of the smoke you exhale. Your appearance will improve as the dryness of your face and the ensuing wrinkles gradually disappear. That puckered upper lip will gradually smooth out, making you seem years younger.
I've written this article about my mental health well over a year ago. At the time I felt medicals bad and fake like Depakote was the answer to my prayers. Sadly, it wasn't. Neither was Lithium.
In the case of my colleague, her problem was foot odor, which often occurs when when you don't wear socks. Our solution: she'd bring in her socks and I'd put them on her feet. Case solved.
Bill put together a credit card repayment plan. He started living a bit more frugally, making some extra money by moonlighting, and paying more on his credit cards than the minimum. He was diligent, but not always perfect. Although it took him several years, he finally did get out of debt. He also kept his house and even created a little nest egg. Bill did it, and you can too.
It would be nice to believe that nothing will happen to you, but the reality of it is that an ounce of protection could be worth more than a pound of cure. What is Worth Protection to you? Your belongings? Your family? Your personal well-being?