story #02 Harder Than It Seems

Sticking to the Plan Is Harder Than It Seems

I never realized how tough it is for people to stick to their treatment plans until I came across this wild statistic—around 50% of people who walk out with a prescription or a list of “doctor’s orders” don’t actually follow through. Fifty percent! Half of everyone who’s told to take a certain medicine, stick to a specific diet, or make lifestyle changes just can’t keep up with it. And you know what? It’s not because they don’t want to feel better. Turns out, the reasons are a lot more complex and personal than you might think.

Here’s what tends to get in the way:

Common Roadblocks to Following Through with Treatment

1. Not Fully Understanding the “Why”

Sometimes people don’t have a clear grasp of how a treatment will actually help them. Without a solid understanding of why a medication or lifestyle change is important, it’s easy to lose motivation or even forget about it altogether.

2. Fear, Denial, and Shock

Getting a serious diagnosis can feel like a punch to the gut. The fear, the shock—it’s overwhelming. And honestly, that can make it hard to take action right away. Sometimes ignoring it or putting it off feels like the only way to cope.

3. Thinking “It Won’t Happen to Me”

There’s this thing called “optimistic bias” where people think, “I’ll be fine; serious health issues happen to other people, not me.” This mindset makes it hard to take treatment seriously or feel the urgency of sticking to the plan.

4. Everyday Life Getting in the Way

Money, access to healthcare, or even just finding healthy food nearby can be a struggle. For many, the intention to follow through is there, but practical barriers make it feel almost impossible.

5. Going It Alone

Let’s face it: it’s hard to make big changes on your own. If you don’t have friends or family encouraging you or holding you accountable, sticking with a treatment plan—especially if it means big lifestyle adjustments—can feel like a losing battle.

6. Coping with Stress in Other Ways

When life is stressful, it’s natural to turn to familiar habits, even if they aren’t the healthiest. Smoking, eating comfort food, skipping exercise—these can feel like quick ways to relieve stress, but they don’t exactly help with following a treatment plan.

“Realistic” Health Education Isn’t Actually Helpful

Another big factor? The way health information is often presented. Traditional patient education materials are so focused on being detailed and realistic that they sometimes forget the person reading them. In fact, some of these materials go overboard, especially with things like realistic images of surgeries or extreme medical conditions. Sure, they’re factual, but let’s be real—they can be pretty disturbing. It’s like if someone were to defend being brutally honest by saying, “Hey, it’s true!”

This approach isn’t always the best when it comes to helping people stay engaged with their health. Sometimes, a little less intensity goes a long way. Health education that focuses on calm, clear explanations—maybe with illustrations or animations instead of harsh, clinical visuals—can make the information easier to absorb without adding extra anxiety.

How Stories Can Make a Difference

One approach that’s showing promise is storytelling. When health advice is wrapped in a relatable story, it doesn’t just inform—it connects. It’s easier to understand, remember, and, more importantly, see yourself in. Storytelling has even been shown to boost adherence by up to 40%. If you’re curious about how creative storytelling can make a difference, there’s an interesting report that goes deeper into how storytelling can bridge the gap and make sticking to a plan feel a lot more achievable.

Sometimes, it’s all about finding the right tools and support to turn medical advice into real-life action.