Placebos and Nocebos
Our thoughts and beliefs influence our health in powerful ways. We've all heard of the placebo effect: the fact that treatment will work if the patient believes it will. What about the nocebo effect? This is the flip side: a patient will respond poorly to treatment if she thinks she should. For example, someone who is convinced she will die from a heart attack probably will. (Robison & Carrier, 2004, pp 91-94.) The mind and body are linked in ways we may not have realized.
Meaning and Healing
As health educators, we can ask clients (patients) to share their stories. It's important to listen to the meaning that a person dealing with illness shares. We are not telling them what to think or feel, but helping them to inquire and discover for themselves. It's up to them to determine their own meaning for suffering, pain, etc. We are there to support and acknowledge. If you've ever dealt with a serious illness, you know that a strong support system is an important part of the healing process.
My Story
On a Sunday evening in September 2008, I drove myself to the E.R.; I had a nagging pain (dull ache) in my abdomen that wouldn't go away. I had appendicitis but didn't realize it. By the time the surgeon removed my appendix (the next afternoon), it had burst. I spent the next 9 months in and out of hospitals. It seemed as though every time I went off antibiotics for a few weeks and was starting to feel better, the infection would come back. After a 2nd surgery in March 2009, my recovery took hold.
What is the lesson to be learned from my illness? It's not as if I purposely willed myself to be sick. (Who wants to be ill? Not me.) However, this period in my life was a time when I was grossly out of touch with my body. I spent most of my time "in my head," on the computer. I wasn't exercising much, and I missed any early warning signs of a physical problem. I was also "stuck" at work. My personal values of community, making a contribution and learning something new were not being met. I was in the wrong job and I wasn't willing to admit it. Nothing like a life-threatening illness to send a wake-up call: "Pay attention! Change your life or else!"
So what did I learn? Much as I love reading, learning, communicating, I am now aware, at a more visceral level, that I need to nurture all aspects of myself -- body, mind, spirit. Also, I learned that it's possible to reinvent myself at midlife. I am very excited about pursuing a new career in holistic health education.
Wednesday, November 11, 2009
Tuesday, November 10, 2009
What is Health? And why blog about it?
Background
In October 2009, I started the master's program in Holistic Health Education (HHE) at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California. I am committed to being proactive about my own health, and I would like to help others be proactive about theirs. The program will prepare me to teach people about wellness, disease prevention and so much more. I look forward to gaining knowledge of holistic health practices, including nutrition and stress management.
What is Health?
As I wrote in my application to JFKU, to me, health is well-being. It is a state when all systems – body, mind and spirit – are functioning fully and well.
Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Health promotion (aka HHE) is not about “pressuring people to change their lifestyle habits but helping them to explore the issues underlying their behavioral struggles.” As health educators, we will be engaged in “creating health... which comes from hope.” (Robison and Carrier, 2004, p. 69)
Why blog?
This blog is a place for me to journal about what I'm learning in class. I am excited to share some “pearls of wisdom” with you, and I look forward to your comments. How do you define health?
Want to learn more?
Visit the American Holistic Health Association, http://ahha.org. Check out the Principles of Holistic Medicine available at http://www.holisticmedicine.org.
References:
WHO (1948). Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June 1946, and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Available from WHO Web site: http://www.who.int/en/
Robison, J., & Carrier, K. (2004). The Spirit and Science of Holistic Health. Bloominton, IN: Authorhouse.
In October 2009, I started the master's program in Holistic Health Education (HHE) at John F. Kennedy University in Pleasant Hill, California. I am committed to being proactive about my own health, and I would like to help others be proactive about theirs. The program will prepare me to teach people about wellness, disease prevention and so much more. I look forward to gaining knowledge of holistic health practices, including nutrition and stress management.
What is Health?
As I wrote in my application to JFKU, to me, health is well-being. It is a state when all systems – body, mind and spirit – are functioning fully and well.
Similarly, the World Health Organization (WHO) defines health as “a complete state of physical, mental and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity.”
Health promotion (aka HHE) is not about “pressuring people to change their lifestyle habits but helping them to explore the issues underlying their behavioral struggles.” As health educators, we will be engaged in “creating health... which comes from hope.” (Robison and Carrier, 2004, p. 69)
Why blog?
This blog is a place for me to journal about what I'm learning in class. I am excited to share some “pearls of wisdom” with you, and I look forward to your comments. How do you define health?
Want to learn more?
Visit the American Holistic Health Association, http://ahha.org. Check out the Principles of Holistic Medicine available at http://www.holisticmedicine.org.
References:
WHO (1948). Preamble to the Constitution of the World Health Organization as adopted by the International Health Conference, New York, 19-22 June 1946, and entered into force on 7 April 1948. Available from WHO Web site: http://www.who.int/en/
Robison, J., & Carrier, K. (2004). The Spirit and Science of Holistic Health. Bloominton, IN: Authorhouse.
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