Early on in practice, I began to notice that although each patient was different, they tended to fall into two broad categories: Those who were content just to survive, and those who thrived. The survivors tended to be passive in doctor patient relationships. They were willing to follow my recommendations to a point, but for the most part they just wanted me to “fix” them so life could go on as usual. Any interest in lifestyle changes only lasted until they were out of pain (or not). Then they tended to either go back to doing the same things they had always done or moved on to the next doctor. Now to their credit, being a survivor is a good thing. Many of these people tend to be very strong and have often overcome some very difficult circumstances when others have given up. Most lead pretty decent lives. It is just that once the crisis has passed, they are totally content to stay the way they are and to keep doing what they have always done to survive. They never leave the survival mode. Their philosophy tends to be “If it ain’t broke don’t fix it,” (even if it is broke). Change or stepping outside of the box is a scary thing for these folks
A former patient, I will call Alicia fit perfectly into this category. 35-year-old Alicia truly was a survivor. She had fought and won the battle over cancer several years before. She came to me with severe chronic pain which she blamed on past chemotherapy. No longer able to function with the pain she was out of work on disability and was applying for permanent disability. At first she responded very well. She was compliant with care and in just a few visits began to see remarkable reduction in pain. She was smiling more, taking fewer pain meds, pursuing her hobbies again. She even started a smoking cessation program, began exercising regularly, and was losing weight. Then came the day her short-term disability was about to run out and she presented me with a form to sign, certifying that she qualified to be placed on permanent disability. I could not in good conscience sign the form having seen all of the progress she had made. She said she understood but I could tell that it was not the answer she was hoping for. I saw her maybe 2-3 times after that day and suddenly the pain was back with a vengeance. And she was chain-smoking again. It seemed that she would rather live with the pain and just survive on disability than to get well and either go back to her job (which she hated) or take a chance and pursue something more fulfilling. Then one day she announced that I had not helped her at all and that she would instead be going to a pain specialist. That was the last time I saw her.
The “thrivers” on the other hand tended to believe that they were on this earth for a purpose that went beyond mere survival and just getting by. As such, they were not content to just go along with the status quo. They also tended to believe that their health and their life was their responsibility and so they were more proactive in the ways that they behaved and cared for their bodies. They were willing to follow their doctor’s recommendations; however, they were not afraid to challenge a doctor’s negative assessments when necessary or get a second opinion. These people tended not only to get better but to improve their overall quality of life.
Another patient I will call Mary fit the category of a “thriver”. Mary was a retired college professor in her late 70s who now ran a pet grooming business from her home. She came to me with severe back pain that began during one of her yoga classes. Now I will confess, at first I made the mistake so many health care providers make when treating older patients. I chalked her problems up as pretty much age related and did not expect too much of a recovery. I even suggested that she might want to slow down with the yoga and rethink continuing her grooming business due to all of the lifting. But Mary would have none of it. In fact she chided me rather severely for giving her the same old “frail granny” talk as she called it. She had always wanted to groom pets and now that she was retired she finally had the time to do it. Plus, she added, “I cannot stop taking care of the dogs. They really need me and appreciate the extra TLC.” She made it quite clear that this was her purpose in life and my job was not to discourage her but to help her get back to the place where she could give her best to the animals she loved. She was right… and so I gave her my best, and she responded wonderfully. Not only did she get better but she continued to groom the dogs and do yoga. She also started running again, added weight training to her regiment to help her in lifting the dogs, and completely gave up junk food. In the end it was she who inspired me to thrive and she became one of my best patients.
So, which category describes you? Are you truly thriving or merely surviving? Do you live life with purpose and nurture and care for your body, soul and spirit, accordingly? Or are you living life in the survival mode and just trying to get through the rat race of life. I believe that we are created not just to survive but to thrive even in less than ideal circumstances.
In the next few articles we will deal with lifestyle and health habits that can help us to thrive and fulfill the unique purpose for which we are created. So come back soon. You are always welcome. Be blessed and in good health.
Yours in Chiropractic,
Dr. Rochelle J. Delain, Chiropractor
Quality Care for the Entire Family
created2thrive 