I think there are only two reasons people come to see a doctor.

The first is discomfort.
The second is uncertainty.

Everything else is a variation on these two themes.

We don’t usually articulate it this way, but if you listen carefully in a consultation — beneath the symptoms, the timelines, the test results — you will almost always find one or both of these at work.

Understanding this distinction can make medical consultations more productive, more human, and ultimately more helpful.

Discomfort

Discomfort is the obvious reason. Pain. Breathlessness. Fatigue. Palpitations. Nausea. Poor sleep. Dizziness. Symptoms that intrude on daily life and reduce our ability to function.

Some discomfort is dramatic and acute. Some is quieter but relentless. Some comes and goes, eroding confidence over time rather than causing alarm in a single moment.

Importantly, discomfort does not need to be extreme to be valid. It does not need to be measurable, visible on a scan, or captured neatly in blood tests. What matters is not just the symptom itself, but the way it affects your life — your work, your relationships, your sense of ease in your own body.

Patients often feel the need to justify their discomfort. They apologise for “wasting time.” They minimise what they are experiencing. But discomfort, in all its forms, is a legitimate reason to seek medical help.

Uncertainty

The second reason people come to see a doctor is less obvious, but just as important.

Uncertainty.

Uncertainty sounds like:

  • Is this something serious?
  • Am I missing something dangerous?
  • Is this normal?
  • Is this going to get worse?
  • What does this mean for my future?

Often, patients do not explicitly say this. Instead, uncertainty hides behind repeated appointments, requests for reassurance, or a lingering dissatisfaction even after “normal” test results.

And here is something crucial that is often overlooked:

Uncertainty itself can cause discomfort.

When the mind does not understand what is happening in the body, the body often becomes more symptomatic. Anxiety amplifies sensations. Hypervigilance creates new ones. Lack of explanation undermines trust in one’s own physical experience.

For many people, what hurts most is not the symptom itself, but not knowing what the symptom means.

Why This Matters Before You See a Doctor

Before an appointment, it can be surprisingly helpful to pause and ask yourself a simple question:

Am I here mainly because something hurts or limits me?
Or am I here mainly because I’m worried about what it might mean?
Or is it a mixture — and if so, which feels louder right now?

This is not about diagnosing yourself. It is about understanding your own motivation.

When this is clear, consultations tend to work better. Conversations become more focused. Expectations become more realistic. Both patient and doctor are less likely to leave feeling frustrated or unheard.

How This Changes the Consultation

Doctors are always trying to do two things at once: relieve suffering and reduce risk.

If discomfort is the dominant issue, the focus may be on symptom relief, function, treatment trials, and quality of life.

If uncertainty is the dominant issue, the focus may be on explanation, reassurance, context, and boundaries — helping someone understand what is happening and, just as importantly, what is not happening.

Sometimes the most therapeutic thing a doctor can offer is not a prescription, but clarity.

Reassurance, when it is thoughtful and well-explained, is not dismissal. It is a form of treatment.

A Final Thought

If you understand whether you are seeking relief from discomfort or relief from uncertainty, you help your doctor help you.

And perhaps more importantly, you help yourself feel heard.

Medicine works best not when every symptom is eliminated, but when uncertainty is reduced, suffering is acknowledged, and decisions are made together — with honesty, clarity, and compassion.

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