This is Where I'll Post about Mental and Physical Topics that Need to be Updated!
Addiction Treatment
We've known that the disease model of addiction has been full of holes and obsolete since the early 70's
We've known that it is not alcohol that creates the 'loss of control' in drinking since the late 70's
We've known that 75% of those with addiction issues recover without any professional help since the late 80's
We've known that 85-90% of people can use any drug, to include that of cocaine or heroin, without any addiction issues since the 80's
We know that the 12-step program is only a peer-support program, it is an ancillary service to help support a real treatment program and is NOT a stand alone treatment program in and of itself.
We know that detoxification is NOT recovery it is only a beginning component of the overall recovery process.
We know that you do NOT have to totally abstain from your drug of choice in order to recover.
We know that recovery does NOT have to be full of relapses.
We know that the MAJORITY of people CAN fully recover from addiction and then return to a moderated use or use other substances without issues.
We know that "denial" is much more about the current state of the therapeutic relationship and not simply resistance in the person.
We know that confrontation is NOT therapy but rather an ego driven argument about who's right.
Mental Health Therapy
Did you know that there is a KNOWN treatment gap between what RESEARCH shows is best practice and what professionals are actually doing in the field?
Did you know that even in large cities and within large organizations only about 65-70% of the clinical staff, even those that are licensed, use current evidence-based practices in treating their patients?
Did you know that the professional biases of the clinical manager or director of a facility are the main driving factor in the known evidence-based treatment gap issue?
Did you know that it is the legal system mandates and requirements that drive much of the treatment gap issues?
Did you know that it is the insurance system that creates major gaps in the use of needed patient treatment and perpetuates the treatment gap issues?
Did you know it is the educational system and its lack of use of interdisciplinary knowledge that contributes to the perpetuation of many treatment gap issues?
Did you know that it is the ignorance, arrogance, and biases of clinical professionals that is causing a major part of the known evidence-based treatment gap issues?
Holistic Treatments
We've known since 1999 that power walking 3 days a week for 30 min is better than taking Zoloft
Mindfulness practices such as mindfulness, meditation and yoga treat: depression, anxiety, anger, pain, PTSD, compulsive issues, and all have a multitude of compounding and beneficial impacts on your physical health and wellbeing.
Meditation helps the practitioner get into the subconscious programming of the mind to help facilitate changes in automatic thoughts and behavior.
Psychology and Development
It's called epigenetics ... your thoughts impact your body's genetic expression and can have measurable positive impacts on your health and wellbeing in just a weekend!
"Your genetics load the gun, but your environment is what pulls the trigger" ~ Dr. Chatterjee.
It is NOT the age old argument of nature vs nurture ... it is actual BOTH and MORE!
The impact of your environment, your own thinking and your social groups play a more vital role on your health and wellbeing than your genetics.
Medical and Physical Health Care
Fifty years ago the World Health Organization defined health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity."
Its called nutrigenomics ... the food you eat not only directly and immediately impacts your health and mental wellbeing but it also impacts the genetic expressions of multiple systems within your body.
The American Medical Association classified obesity as a 'disease' in 2013 ... this is the same organization that classified addiction a disease.
The functional medicine movement calls 'normal medicine' horse and buggy medicine as its so outdated in its overall approach.
Our medical model is designed to cure symptoms not heal the real issue ... name it, blame it, and tame it, as those in functional medicine say.
Your thoughts and environment play a MAJOR role in your health.
Sleep is more important to your physical health and mental wellbeing than both fitness and nutrition combined.
Your Brain is Not a Fixed Organ as Once Though
It's called neuroplasticity ... your brain is constantly changing, rewiring, and even repairing itself all the time!
Meditation and mindfulness practices actually increase your brains gray matter and shrink your amygdala (the area of your brain responsible for emotional reactions).
Your brain is constantly repairing it self through the use of its own stem cells!
Your Thoughts are not Just Smoke
It's called psychoneuroimmunology ... your thoughts play a vital and direct role on EVERYTHING related to your mental and physical wellbeing!
Over 40 years of clinical research show the very real power of the placebo effect and the real impact that your thoughts can have on your mental health, physical health, and even pain issues.