You can learn to be your own advocate by;

• knowing and understanding your illness - take a trusted person with you to appointments to listen with you and to take notes.
• know your rights and responsibilities
• learn to be assertive - not aggressive or passive. Hostility and suspicion make it difficult to establish positive relationships. An attitude of cooperation and trust is more likely to elicit the same from your caregivers. It is also a mistake to remain passive as studies have shown that patients fare better if they are involved in their care.
• take responsibility for managing your illness. If you don’t agree with something to do with your healthcare bring that issue into the open.
• plan ahead.
• keep an organised system for filing important information.
• never assume anything.