We hope for a healthy mind and body. Many of us hope for meaningful relationships and the abundance to live, give and enjoy the good things in life. We hope these things for our loved ones, too.
What happens when something changes in our lives and hope is hard to muster? What can we do when we are faced with many challenges at the same time and we find ourselves feeling hopeless?
The Anatomy of Hope: How People Prevail in the Face of Illness by Jerome Groopman, MD discusses those living in “extreme circumstances” as having a hope that “assesses all of the obstacles, all of the problems, all the potential for failure” and still “sees a path to the future”.1 Research demonstrates the healing power of hope and how it can impact pain levels, respiratory problems, heart attack outcomes and Parkinson’s disease by stimulating neurochemical changes in the brain.2
Hoping is a healthy way to cope with daily stressors and the unexpected. Set your mind to believe that things will get better. Take action steps to do something different to make the rest of today and tomorrow better. Think positive thoughts. Consciously choose to spend your time, energy and resources in ways that agree with your goals. Take care for your body so you have the energy and attitude to be at your best. No matter your current situation, it is not too late to start.
Our Chiropractic patients present with a wide variety of conditions and goals for care. Some people come in seeking care for a crisis, seeking chiropractic care as a last resort. Children come in because their parents want them to have the advantage of growing up with an optimally functioning spine and nervous system. Athletes want to keep their body mechanics working at peak levels so that they can heal faster, avoid injuries and enjoy their sport for as long as possible. Some people are concerned about chronic conditions that are draining their bank accounts and causing them physical, mental and social suffering. They want a drug-free, non-surgical solution that will address the root cause of their health problems.
What should you do if you or a loved one has been hopeless about your health or potential to heal? As long as you are alive and breathing and there is life flowing over your nervous system be hopeful and consider giving chiropractic care a chance to work for you. A chiropractic examination will be able to identify whether or not there is interference to the function of your nervous system that may be affecting your health on many levels. Chiropractic care can help your body and mind to function better and you will learn to think differently about your health decisions. Your hope combined with the chiropractic techniques and lifestyle suggestions we offer can make the difference.
If you are suffering from acute or chronic pain, have been diagnosed with a severe condition, are feeling discouraged or stressed, there is hope. Make the health of your nervous system a priority. Your hope and personal commitment can make all the difference.
1. Daniel Cappello. (November 10, 2003). The New Yorker. In The Reeve Factor. Retrieved March 8, 2015, from http://www.newyorker.com/magazine/2003/11/10/the-reeve-factor.
2. Park, Kevin K, Liu, K, Hu, Y, Smith, P, Wang, C, Cai, B, Xu, B, Connolly, L, Kramvis, I, Sahin, M, and He, Z. Promoting Axon Regeneration in the Adult CNS by Modulation of the PTEN/mTOR Pathway. Science. 2008 Nov 7; 322(5903): 963-966.
Copyright 2016. The Family Practice, Inc., Dr. Eric Plasker and The 100 Year Lifestyle. All Rights Reserved.
