Tugboat vs Lighthouse: How to Stop Depending on Your Doctor (Chronic Disease)

Most chronic disease patients are taught to depend on their doctor—but that mindset can quietly keep you sick.In this episode I explain the Tugboat vs Lighthouse model: when medical care is meant to pull you along, and when it should simply guide you while you steer.We explore chronic illness, internal vs external locus of control, why symptom-focused care often creates long-term dependence, and how to work with doctors without outsourcing your health decisions.This is not about rejecting medical care—it’s about ending learned helplessness and reclaiming responsibility in chronic disease recovery.