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I would like to address an issue that often stands in the way of progress towards healing. I want to say something in regards to the whole “medical expert” thing. I have noticed that many people tend to underestimate their knowledge of their own bodies, and overestimate the knowledge a healthcare provider might have. Having faith in knowing your own body, being active in searching for answers, reading, and talking to others who experience the same, counts for A LOT of expertise. We should not discount that. Once gaining that kind of confidence, you can assist your healthcare provider by sharing what you’ve learned, and what you and other trusted individuals have experienced and do so with conviction! Then add their medical knowledge (which is by far incomplete as it’s impossible to know everything and be aware of every theory, thought, or study done) and you will have much more success in achieving YOUR wellness (which by the way is not your healthcare provider’s wellness). Please don’t think that by making these statements I don’t value our healthcare providers, but they are only a PART of the solution and the healing process--YOUR healing process. An ideal situation would be a partnership between you and them, and that your opinion, thoughts, knowledge, and presentation of valid research counts as much as theirs does. Does their knowledge in the medical field amount to more than yours? Absolutely! BUT with a chronic illness, your daily experiences and what you learn prompted by your own motivation to be well, counts just as much in this endeavor.
Frankly, for some people their level of dependence on their healthcare provider is unhealthy. As a therapist, I recognize a level of dependency that puts the patient in a position that is very unempowering (ok, my dictionary says there is no such word, but let me explain!). By this I mean, by allowing another individual, no matter who he/she is, to have so much power and control over your life, it takes away your ability to be empowered. Psychologically this is very important—to stay empowered in our wellness! We agree that most chronic illnesses do not have a cure, correct? That’s often what makes them chronic. With IC specifically, the actual etiology (how it begins) is not known either. Therefore, without completely understanding what it is, without knowing exactly how it starts, and what are the best treatment methods, we can’t technically say there is no cure. It’s just unknown. This is a very important distinction to make! It also allows for more hope.
The reality is there is more than one road to wellness. We live in America where we have adopted a Western style of medicine. This system has worked well for many, many illnesses and diseases. Lives depend on it. HOWEVER, it’s lopsided. We have introduced synthetic chemicals into our world in order to save countless lives and “treat the symptoms,” but at what cost? I believe chronic illness is one of the costs. We then treat that with more synthetic powerful chemicals, not as a cure, but as a symptom management strategy. In studying other cultures’ methods of healing, I wonder why we are so resistant to listen to other methods that have been used for years and have known curative effects? And here’s a reality, in most other systems of healing, the idea is to "eliminate the cause” versus “suppress the symptoms.” The good news is that once you study other ways to achieve wellness, you learn that the information provided by a variety of other sources says remarkably the same things! So, it’s unlikely to be “hocus pocus” and “quackery!” It’s documented, in many cases studied, and used by thousands of people across the world. To think that Western medicine is the only answer because we live in America, is to take a very limited approach to wellness, and potentially set you up for years of pain and suffering.
So I encourage and challenge you to take charge of your own health! Be open to new ways of healing. I wish you wellness!
Okay, so as promised, here's some info about integrative medicine (IM). The philosophy of IM is absolutely wonderful! (That's opinion and fact!) It is a practice of viewing and treating patients with a holistic approach. Holistic means looking at the whole person--mind, body and spirit, not just one part. So for example, an individual goes to see their doctor with a specific symptom like pain, which is part of their chronic illness. At the same time they are experiencing fatigue and depression. A physician practicing integrative medicine would propose treatment for all the symptoms, not just the pain and may refer the person to a dietician, physical therapist, counselor, pastor, or yoga instructor for management of these additional symptoms. Research has found, and many medical professionals are taking notice of this, that a combination of traditional and non-traditional treatments work in providing relief for many chronic conditions. Here's some stats: According to the American Hospital Association, the percentage of U.S. hospitals that offer complementary therapies has more than doubled in less than a decade, from 8.6 percent in 1998 to almost 20 percent in 2004. Another 24 percent of hospitals said they planned to add complementary therapies in the future.
Marcelle Pick, OB/GYN NP at Women to Women says this: "Western medicine insists on dealing with each disease or condition as a separate and distinct issue. But that is just not how the body works. Western medicine used to emphasize the full history. But specialization has pushed us to dissociate each aspect of the body from the whole, and managed care has pushed the average appointment time down toward six minutes — and too many people don’t get even that. Like conventional doctors, many of my patients are so conditioned to think of health as a purely physical issue that they are floored when I suggest their symptoms may have an emotional component."
What is also unique to integrative medicine is that the physician partners with the patient in discovering what is the underlying causes of the reported symptoms. The goal is not only to just treat the symptoms but treat the root cause if possible. Western medicine was originally developed for acute care, it was excellent for managing symptoms while the body would soon repair itself. However, we know that chronic conditions are defined as being "marked by long duration, always present." Often times the actual biological root cause isn't known in these types of conditions. Thus comes the question, how long can we use acute care meds for the treatment of chronic conditions and are there other therapies that can do more? There are hundreds of stories of patients with chronic conditions who have used multi-system therapies, and through this approach have significantly reduced their problematic symptoms. If one can only treat the symptoms, then even in symptom management, there is much that can be learned, such as what causes triggers, and what foods, meds, supplements, or other therapies have been found to be helpful?
Thinking outside of the box is the key to managing chronic illness and pain! At the very least, it's worth a try. As a psychotherapist, I have witnessed many people find varying amounts of relief in their chronic conditions through releasing long overdue, pent up emotions and releasing the guilt, shame, or anger they were feeling. Additionally, I was personally very skeptical of "natural remedies," but finding no other answers, in desperation I turned to some well researched remedies and at last found the relief I had been searching for! Some of these were as simple as diet and increasing natural substances already found in my body.
Today, decide that you want to achieve holistic health, study your illness, study your alternatives, and then partner with your doctor in making this happen!
