In the world of today, there is a buffet of conflicting ideas when it comes to what brings good health and what beckons illness. Different philosophies and modalities scream for our attention with all sorts of flattery, and even condemnation. Professing in the name of science that they have it right and that the others are wrong.
It is all so confusing…
But, I want to help you out. I don’t want you to be confused about what it is that I believe. Therefore, I am writing up this brief description of what I know brings great health.
To start off, I believe that the standard American healthcare model is a great foundation for health. It is based upon science, it is technologically advanced, and I believe it to be the best model for the average disorder.
However, the system is not perfect, and I had to learn this the hard way…
I was struck with despair when the standard healthcare model—which I dedicated my life to—became insufficient to treat my disorders of chronic pain, addiction and underlying depression. But, today I know it wasn’t because there was anything wrong with the foundation. It was just that I hadn’t taken the next steps. My health needed more than just the basics.
Because no matter how great our system is, the truth is that great health cannot come from a person in a white coat. For we know that a good foundation by itself cannot create a Sistine Chapel. We have to build up our health ourselves.
Optimum health, comes to those who not only use the resources of the best medical practices of today, but who also do the work that no healthcare practitioner can do—the work of deep self-exploration.
We must understand that health is so much more than just taking drugs, or having surgical procedures. It is creating a balanced life within the guidelines of a sturdy foundation.
To better illustrate my point, let’s imagine you come to me with a chronic disorder and ask for my advice on the best ways to treat it. Well, I would say this:
Basically, we have 4 choices—which are highly supported by science—in our pursuit of health and happiness. Each choice has its pros and cons, but each one will give back, what we put in.
Choice #1: (Blame/Denial)
First choice is that we could do nothing but be in denial that we have a disorder, or we could just play the victim card and do nothing but blame it on genetics or on childhood difficulties. (Too many in our society take this choice)
Pros: Doesn’t demand we change a thing in our life. It is the easiest and simplest choice up front.
Cons: The disorder will almost indefinitely worsen and at a quick accelerating pace.
Choice #2: (The Medical Bare Minimum)
Professional Diagnosis + Professional Guidance with Medicine/Surgery
Secondly, we could accept that we have a problem, then go to a trusted medical professional to get a diagnosis. Then after we are diagnosed we could mainly JUST focus on taking medicine and using surgical procedures to cope with the disorder. (MOST of our population makes this choice)
Pros: Not much change is needed. Just need to accept that we have a disorder, and then need to remember to take a pill or have surgery to deal with the symptoms. In most cases the medicine and surgery SLOW down the progression of the disorder but they DO NOT heal it.
Cons: The disorder will almost indefinitely worsen, albeit at a slower pace than if not treated at all. It is important to note, that in general, medicine/surgery does NOT cure disorders. Medicine/surgery helps to manage symptoms, and to improve chemical equilibrium in the body, but one sneaky consequence of these treatments is that they cover up and compensate for the disorder. Hiding the fact that the disorder is still progressing, even if we do not realize it.
Choice #3: The Medical Gold Standard
Professional Diagnosis + Lifestyle Modifications +Professional Guidance with Medicine/Surgery
In the third scenario we could go to a trusted physician, get diagnosed, and then FOCUS on the best lifestyle modifications that help with the disorder. Such as exercise, nutritional, and stress reduction regimens. Afterwards we could then ask the physician about meds/surgery that can help to magnify the results of the lifestyle changes. BUT, LIFESTYLE MODIFICATIONS HAS to be THE PRIORITY of the treatment NOT THE MEDICINE/SURGERY. This is the “Gold Standard” of medical treatment, it is what virtually ALL medical guidelines promote. (Most of us aspire to this choice, but almost all of us fall short in the long run)
Pros: Often when treated this way the disorder can be put into remission. However, the disorder is not cured this way, but this at least manages the disorder, and stops its progression.
Cons: It is very challenging to incorporate lifestyle changes long-enough and to the correct degree, in order to create the necessary health benefits desired.
It’s a well-known fact, that healthy habits such as: consistent moderate physical exercise, healthy eating, and good stress management can do great things for health, and just about everyone will agree that this Gold Standard is the best way to treat disorders for the majority of the population. It just makes sense; however, in the real world the ones who are able to accomplish this standard is rare.
VERY FEW PEOPLE succeed. At least to the extent that will help them heal and/or put their disorders into remission, and this saddens me and most other medical professionals because we went to school, thinking that we were going to change the world, and create great health, and not just be drug pushers.
Many of us in the medical profession have now become so cynical that we could ever create the change we want to see in the patients we serve, because the majority of the time when we engage in talking with our patients about these lifestyle changes, it feels like it is a waste of time.
I for example can’t even count how many times that I have personally counseled patients at my pharmacy about the importance of lifestyle modifications just to hear a bunch of excuses and sarcastic remarks about why they can’t do it. After a while I get tired of the sarcasm and the excuses and the lack of progress, and then I start to feel less like a professional and more like a drug dealer on my street corner…
But why? Why is it is so challenging to create the healthcare standard which we know would best serve our public? A system that excels in promoting lifestyle changes vs a system that mainly promotes a chemically induced change?
Why does this goal seem to be just beyond our reach?
Moreover, when I look at the data, I have often wondered why people who give it their all to follow this “Gold Standard” generally fall victim to one of two polar extremes—
On one side I find great people who try and try to force themselves into making these lifestyle modifications permanent by will power and pure grit. They may go the gym 5 days a week as a resolution, but within 6 months they just can’t hack it anymore and then go back to their old ways. They can’t create the healthy habits they want, even though do their very best. They then blame themselves for their own lack.
But on the other side of the scale I find many who take these lifestyle changes and go to unhealthy extremes. Creating exercise addiction, obsessive eating/dieting regimens, and obsessive stress reduction activities such as hours of yoga each day, or like in my case, needing hours and hours every week of fishing.
Now, we all know that exercising, eating healthy, yoga, and even outdoor activities such as fishing can be very healthy, but when people take these habits to the extreme, they become obsessions. And obsessions are often just as unhealthy in the long run as no habit at all.
So why in the real world is it so hard to find that healthy balance? Between medication and lifestyle change? Between no change vs obsession? Between logic and emotion?
These are questions that have to be addressed, because as of now the “Gold Standard” is the great Unicorn of healthcare. It is the goal, but it seems to always elude us. So, there must be a better way…
Choice #4: Integrated Approach
Professional Diagnosis + Lifestyle Modifications + Medication/Surgery + EMOTIONAL RECONDITIONING.
The last choice that we could choose is that we do everything recommended in the “Gold Standard Treatment” but as a cherry on top, we also include the process of emotional reconditioning. Emotional reconditioning is the practice of changing our emotional habits to be different than that of our genetic and environmental predispositions. Emotional reconditioning is exactly the process needed to tame the mysterious Unicorn of health.
Pros: In my research, when done correctly, a high percentage of chronic disorders, especially depression, addiction, and chronic pain disorders, can be reversed until cured by using this method, and it is one of the only ways to truly incorporate the healthy lifestyle modifications needed for great health on a permanent basis.
Cons: Emotional Reconditioning is not well understood. It is often mocked by many in mainstream society, and even mocked in mainstream healthcare science. Also, it takes quite a bit of work, and can be uncomfortable to incorporate these new emotional habits. However, it is MUCH EASIER to do in the long run than the “Gold Standard”.
The reason it is less work to use the “Integrated Approach”, even though it requires one extra step than the “Gold Standard” by itself, is because the human brain, which processes and stores our habits, uses two different processors that must be in harmony in order to have permanent change. One processor is for physical (logical) habits, and the other processor is for emotional habits.
Therefore, if we want to incorporate a permanent positive change in our physical habits then we MUST also create an equal positive change in emotions. You can’t have one without the other…
Trying to change our physical habits without changing our emotional habits is a lot like trying to ride a bicycle that ONLY has a back wheel. Yes, we can teach ourselves to hold a wheelie for a short period of time, but eventually we will get off balance and crash.
Great health requires both tires on the ground or we will fall victim to one of the two extremes.
Either not being able to change, or change that is obsessive…
But luckily the “Integrated Approach” prevents both extremes, because it creates healthy motivation to change, but on the other hand it prevents obsessions to any activity.
And as for built up stress, you will not have to do anything after you get both physical and emotional habits in sync, because throughout this process we reprogram the stress response, to the point that stress will not build up and become chronic.
Lastly, this integrated approach is the only way that I know of that will allow the complete reversal of a disorder for the long-run. Yes, I have seen and researched many others who have conquered their disorders of addiction, depression, and chronic pain disorders by using this approach. Plus, I was blown away with how well it worked for me.
Now you may ask, can the “Integrated Approach” reverse all chronic disorders of addiction, depression, and chronic pain?
Unfortunately, the answer is no. There are definitely factors outside of our control that deal with genetics or acts of God that may prevent the healing of many disorders, no matter what we do.
BUT, I know that this situation is the exception, NOT the rule. I believe with all my heart that the vast majority of people can conquer theses chronic disorders, for the rest of their lives, by following the integrated approach if they will just persevere.
Key Points:
- I NEVER suggest that my information is a substitute for professional guidance in healthcare. It is only supplementary. My information will be most beneficial, when it is based upon a solid foundation within the guidance of a trusted healthcare professional. The foundation needs to be built first. Then we can build from there.
- Medicine/Surgery doesn’t cure any disorder. Medicine/Surgery just helps to manage symptoms and keep the body from extreme disequilibrium (chemical imbalances). They are great tools to allow healing, but they do not do the healing themselves. Moreover, because medicines/surgery are often so effective at “covering up” our symptoms, we have the tendency to be in denial of the fact that our disorders are still progressing.
- The “Gold Standard” of healthcare is basically an unattainable goal. It is the mysterious Unicorn in the dark because the lifestyle changes needed to alter the progression of a disorder for the long-run, necessitates an equally significant positive change in emotions.
- The Integrated approach, gives us the best probability that not only can we incorporate the “Gold Standard” lifestyle changes into our lives that will stop the progression of our disorders but that we can also uncover the emotional roots of our disorders which will then allow us to reverse the entire process, leading us to freedom.
Please, join me and the entire community here at Worthy of the Ride to learn about the process of emotional reconditioning and find YOUR freedom. I want YOU to be able to have the same great change in health that I have had. Because I KNOW we ARE sufficient enough, We ARE wonderful enough, We ARE Worthy of the Ride.
If you are interested in learning more about where Bret got his scientific info about the Integrated Approach--Click Here
