‘TAKE CONTROL OF YOUR HEALTH’
We’ve all have times in our lives
when life just seems to flow, our body feels good, we sleep well, we take on
healthy challenges at work and home, the stress of a busy demanding life is
there but we’re not overwhelmed by it. Of course there are still the minor
symptoms of aches and pains, tension, indigestion, colds and flu. That is life
in balance.
Unfortunately many of just keep pushing, ignoring an
ever-growing list of complaints, refusing to accept the fact that our balance
point is being challenged. Years may go by before we are forced to confront the
fact that we have done a poor job of taking care of ourselves and, many times
only when we are faced with the more dire circumstances of chronic illness such
diabetes, cancer, heart disease and obesity.
It’s never too late to start back
on the path of health and healing. Consider the following steps
1. Accept your situation for what
it is- recognize that symptoms don’t just happen to us, we create them by the
choices we have made.
2. Set Goals- writing will
crystallize your thoughts and feelings. Be sure to write short, medium and
long-range goals. Set goals that are attainable, especially the short-term
goals. Nothing will add up to failure more quickly than unrealistic goals that
you cannot achieve. Long-range goals can be loftier as they can always be
scaled down.
4/9/09
3. Use as many safe and proven
alternative healing modalities that you are comfortable using. It will be important that you keep your
focus here. It ‘s all too easy to buy into programs that are unproven, helpful
yes, but not the complete answer.
4. Spend your alternative care
dollars wisely. Most insurance providers will not cover the cost of nutritional
counseling, massage therapy, acupuncture and other proven useful therapies. Try
one therapy at a time. If you are feeling better continue with that therapy
until you have achieved its full benefits, then move on to the next. A trial of
4-6 weeks is long enough for you to figure out if it’s working. If you find it
is not working, cut your losses and move onto the next.
5. Choose a physician that you can
work with. Don’t hide the fact that you are using alternative therapies that
compliment your traditional health care. If they are not your partner in this
venture maybe its time you found another physician.
6. Educate yourself about your
illness, traditional therapies and alternatives. Make sure that your sources
are reliable and up to date.
Treatment modalities are changing more rapidly that ever.
7. Take into consideration what
your friends and family have to say- whether you know it or not your illness
impacts them as well. Let them know that you appreciate their input but the
ultimate decision is in your hands not theirs.
Given the current state of the
economy and our broken health care system it’s never been more important than
now that we learn to manage our health. Especially when faced with an illness.
Till next time, Rebecca