The lies we tell ourselves when we get sick or injured.
Exploring two common misconceptions about health, recovery and better well-being.
Happy Tuesday, health heroes.
I’m Dr. Alice Burron from The Health Navigator Group. There have been a few new subscribers lately — welcome!
If you’re new here, hello. 👋🏼 I’m a physiologist, behavioral health specialist, and healthcare educator. I’m currently working on my third book, which will be on shelves early next year.
I’m here to assist people who are unsure of the next steps in their health journey by making sense of complex situations, creating effective healing strategies, and providing a fresh perspective on health, as managing it can be particularly challenging these days.
I’m glad you’re here!
🔍 The lies we tell ourselves
Today’s topic is another tricky facet of healing that often hides in plain sight: the lies we tell ourselves when we fall sick or get injured.
There are two major ones:
That we shouldn’t get sick or injured, and
We should be healing faster.
In our fast-paced world, there’s an unspoken expectation that our bodies should be impervious to injury and illness. When we do fall ill, we get mad about it. We think we should recover overnight. We forget our bodies' incredible complexity and resilience, which are designed to heal and regenerate.
We also forget that this process requires time, energy, and sometimes a significant amount of effort and patience.
Take, for example, my 75-year-old client. He’s in great shape for his age and trains weekly to stay active and healthy. Recently, he believed he could move his refrigerator by himself because he’s in such good shape! And although he did indeed move the refrigerator… he twisted his back and injured it.
He expected it to recover overnight, based on the fact he was in good physical shape, but woke up still in pain the following day.
His first thought was to visit the doctor and have it looked at immediately, but I recommended that he hold off. I knew he was in good health, and there was a good chance we could rehabilitate his back without having to get a doctor involved. However, injuries like lower back strains don’t recover overnight—they take time and TLC before they bounce back. This can take weeks, sometimes even months.
Behind the scenes, the body initiates a series of intricate physiological responses at the cellular level, including inflammation, tissue repair, and remodeling. Again, these processes are not instantaneous; they unfold over days, weeks, or even months. However, depending on the injury, a healing-focused movement and recovery regimen decreases the recovery time by a few days to weeks.
Similarly, recovering from illnesses like COVID-19 can be an extended journey. The immune system, our body’s defense mechanism, works tirelessly to combat the virus. Still, the recovery phase can include lingering symptoms and the need for gradual rebuilding of strength and function. Most of us will eventually wholly recover.
Despite this fantastic aspect of human resiliency, we still expect quick fixes. Our culture has conditioned us to seek immediate solutions, often in the form of medications or treatments that promise rapid recovery.
We overlook the fact that true healing involves not only physical recovery but also mental and emotional rehab.
We have to change our expectations around healing and not expect to keep on ‘doing what we always do’ with an injury. We have to moderate our lives for a while until the healing process is complete.
This is the notion of ‘healing intelligence,’ which refers to the body’s innate ability to repair and restore itself and our ability to be wise and support the healing process, which must include patience and self-care.
🌼 Mood and Healing
It’s also crucial to recognize the role of mood in the healing process.
Studies have shown that a positive outlook can significantly influence recovery rates. For instance, patients with a positive attitude often experience faster healing and less pain, highlighting the mind-body connection.
A meta-analysis published in Health Psychology found that optimistic individuals had better health outcomes than pessimistic ones, underscoring the importance of mental health in physical recovery.
🤕 Creating Space to Heal
Societal norms and culture don’t always support the time and space needed for healing. Unlike some cultures prioritizing rest and recovery, such as the practice of siestas in Latin countries, the U.S. work culture often prioritizes productivity over well-being.
We push through long days with minimal breaks, rarely allowing ourselves the time to rest, recharge, or even take a proper lunch break. This relentless pace can impede our body’s natural healing processes, making it even more essential to be mindful of our health needs.
As we navigate the challenges of recovery, whether from injury, illness, or mental strain, it is vital to practice gratitude for the remarkable capabilities of our bodies. The human body is an extraordinary creation, capable of withstanding and recovering from a multitude of threats.
We should honor this by giving ourselves the time and care to heal fully. Embracing a belief in our body’s ability to recover can enhance its potential. This applies to mental healing, too. We need time to process demanding and traumatic experiences. We do not bounce back overnight, but we can bounce back more quickly if we give ourselves the freedom and space to heal.
Ultimately, we must acknowledge and respect the healing process, understanding that proper recovery is a journey that cannot be rushed.
By cultivating patience and positivity, we can support our bodies in their remarkable ability to heal. We can remind ourselves that we are indeed amazing creatures, capable of overcoming incredible odds. Let’s give our bodies the care and respect they deserve, allowing them to do what they do best—heal.
See you next week,
Dr. Alice
*This is a friendly disclaimer that this newsletter is intended for educational purposes, not as any kind of diagnosis or replacement for seeking professional help.
A little more about Dr. Alice Burron and The Health Navigator Group:
You can find more about The Health Navigator Group at our website: www.thehealthnavigator.org
On Instagram: @the.health.navigator
Learn more about Dr. Alice Burron at her website: draliceburron.com
View her personal Instagram: @dr_burron
And connect on LinkedIn, if you want to be professional about it. 👓
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