Medicine can get lazy, that's a fact. While research and
technological advances in medicine are happening everyday, the nuts and
bolts of a doctor's appointment don't always reflect the benefits of
this work. Yet, the doctor's appointment is where healing should start
taking place. Too often, patients are given the run around through
differing diagnoses, put through batteries of tests, given discouraging
messages about their health, and sparked with fear toward their own
bodies. What can we do when medicine gets lazy and fearful?
Health is not meant to be built around fear, so the first step toward supporting your body and well-being is to question and debunk the fear tactics used toward you in a doctor's office,
if you do encounter them. It's not a common topic of conversation, but
medicine is both a business and an institution in many cases, and
therefore will have its own agenda that doesn't always take into account
how you're feeling. At the same time, we're told to see medical
establishments and the providers working there as an authority over our
health.
You can see the conflict of interest that can arise in
this setup. If you are told that you are helpless without a specific
pharmaceutical drug, that lab results define everything about your
health, or that your health is somehow a burden and nuisance, it's time
to take a step back from the medical system and get back in touch with
your body and how you want to feel in it. You can still seek advice and
second opinions from trusted health professionals, but recognize
yourself as an authority on your health too. After all, you're the only
one living your life and in touch with your body on a daily basis.
Next, don't wait until a doctor's appointment to pay attention to your health, daily habits, and how you're feeling.
Your body gives you signals and clues on a daily basis as to where you
can show more care to yourself and how you're feeling. How you're
feeling means not only physically, but also mentally and emotionally.
Suppressed experiences, emotions, and thoughts are a leading source of
chronic symptoms and fatigue, and often apathy about life in general.
Today's
medical system often does not get at the underlying roots of how you're
feeling on a mind-body level. However, you can do this type of
investigation of your health on your own. When you try this approach,
you'll be employing preventive health measures that can help you feel
better, avoid excessive symptoms, and make your health visits more
effective when you do have them.
Third, stay informed. Try
not to lose curiosity and the desire to learn about yourself and your
health just because modern medicine doesn't always feel like a caring or
healing environment. There are resources and services out
there in the medical field that will work with you and use a more
educational and preventive style toward health care. However, there are
also less healthy influences in medicine which can be discouraging and
make you want to give up at times. Listen to yourself when these
unhelpful voices enter the picture, and that way you can stay informed
and educated about your options when it comes to supporting your body's
health, vitality, and longevity.
Your health is not a burden,
chore, or hopeless situation and if you allow the space in your own life
to acknowledge this, you will be prepared if you happen to encounter
negativity and discouraging messages out in the world of medicine. You
and your body possess an innate intelligence and healing potential, so
communicate with it and you will find that it will respond back to you
too.