We have to be our own healthcare experts for wellness sake!

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!

Welcome to the wellness blog!

Greetings and welcome to the wellness blog! First, to let you know about me, I am a licensed counselor who deals with chronic illness and accompanying emotions. Much of this writing comes out of my own personal experience with Interstitial Cystitis, (from here out called IC), as well as experience in working with clients with chronic conditions. I hope this will be beneficial for anyone with a chronic condition, and I welcome your input! There are so many overlapping variables in most, if not all chronic illnesses, and the thing that ties them all together is their CHRONICITY!

So, here are some facts about chronicity. The word chronic means “marked by long duration or frequent recurrence; always present or encountered; constantly vexing, weakening, or being such habitually.” Today it is estimated that 33% of Americans deal with chronic pain alone (Bay Area Pain and Wellness Center stats), not to mention other chronic conditions, such as diabetes that don’t necessarily cause pain. Over 50% of people deal with depression or anxiety as a result of their chronic pain. Most people don’t realize that researchers (ACE study) have found a strong correlation, a link between emotional health and physical health, and that this tendency is: 1) genetic, & 2) is dependent on our childhood. (So, I guess we really can blame our parents!) So you think, naturally someone with chronic health issues would be depressed or anxious, but here’s the progression: genetic predisposition, difficulties or trauma in childhood, chronic health issues, expressed emotional issues (appearing to be a result of our chronic health, but really many of them were there to begin with!).

So what can WE do about this epidemic problem?? Here’s my opinion, (although heavily based on fact): first, we must stop blaming someone else and take responsibility. It’s like this: you didn’t cause the problem, but now it’s yours and only you can take care of the problem. Why am I talking about this in relation to chronic illness? Well, as I said research shows that chronic illness comes out of childhood trauma or distress. It is the largest predictor of adult health. I don’t know about you, but that really gets my attention! The next question that came to mind was, so what can I do about it now? Fortunately, studies and experience show that integrative medicine (I will talk more about this next week), viewing the individual holistically--made up of body-mind-spirit, has been successful in managing chronic conditions. Through a variety of approaches in treating the individual, each part goes through a healing process, which then affects the overall health of the whole. Make sense? It did to me! I have a lot more information to share with you, so stay tuned!