Medical advancements are in a constant state of acceleration, with streams of breakthroughs leading to answers and solutions of many global health concerns. New cancer treatments, heart disease medications, more efficient surgical procedures overwhelm medical media, but this progression is limited to the major epidemics and diseases that receive enough funding to investigate.

There are hundreds of identified conditions that do not receive adequate research due to various limitations, such as incidence or appropriated funds. Even beyond these, there are an immeasurable amount of diseases the medical field as a whole is currently unable to identify.

While science continues to unravel the intricate processes that underly our being, the truth is we understand very little of the whole picture. Therefore, it's not uncommon, in fact it's extremely likely, that at some point throughout your life you will encounter a set of symptoms that the Doctors will have no clear and complete answer for you. They may attribute indigestion and nausea to a "stomach bug" even if you test negative for all the notable and commonly circulated pathogens, they may rule out the major causes of fatigue and diagnose Chronic Fatigue Syndrome. But simply because you didn't test positive for the current strain of flu, or you tested negative for mainstream diagnostics, does NOT mean you definitely don't have the flu or simply tire easily. It just means the contemporary research and understanding of medicine has limitations, and you seem to have met them.

Whether it's a brief illness or a chronic struggle with undiagnosed symptoms, it can be extremely discouraging to not have answers. Even if the symptoms are more irritants than utterly debilitating, not being able to label and therefore grasp what is occurring within your body adds another element to an already difficult situation.

The first step in coping with such circumstances is to recognize that your pain and your symptoms are REAL even if the doctor fails to find anything. Unless previously diagnosed with some form of mentally-induced somatization, your body is reacting in defense to an unwelcome invader or malfunctioning system when it produces symptoms, it's either fighting or warning. The point is, your body has its reasons for the autonomic reactions whether we understand them or not. It's important to not get defeated or think you're crazy for being sick with no answers, there are simply too many diseases we don't yet understand.

The second step is to realize that YOU ARE NOT ALONE. Hundreds of thousands of people throughout the country are told the same thing; that "all the tests came back negative. Make sure to rest and hydrate and you'll be back in no time". It can be very alienating to think you are suffering through an ailment that no one else has, but I guarantee you out of the 7 billion humans on this planet many of them have.

The third step is to LISTEN TO YOUR BODY. If you're body is exhausted, get plenty of rest. If you're extra hungry, make sure you're getting enough nutrients and calories. Sometimes your body requires extra energy to fight off pathogens, so don't be alarmed if you're craving food more than usual.

If the problem and symptoms persist for long periods of time, don't be afraid to go back in, or see a specialist. Often internists are more limited than a doctor that specializes in similar symptoms, it may be beneficial to seek one out.

The final step is to PERSEVERE. You may not have answers, you may not have a treatment plan but the mind itself can accomplish incredible feats and the body has an uncanny ability to self-heal. Don't lose faith or resign to your lack of diagnosis; let it help you build relationships with those that are there for you and let it propel your desire and work ethic. An answer from a medical breakthrough is always just around the corner- who knows, the next one might be yours.