Cha-Cha-Cha-Changes
Hello and welcome to my blog!
As fall is approaching, I can’t help but reflect on change as a concept; responses to change, motivation for change, and how to predict, prepare for, and even welcome change. We look at change as being “good” or “bad” and welcome or resist it as we see fit. However, resisting change and labeling it as “good or bad” may be a flawed concept. What if instead we recognized change as growth and learned to accept “growing pains” as a positive? Would we be more adaptable? Would we become brave and face change with excitement instead of dread? Could we facilitate healthier minds, bodies, and spirits? Healthier environments at home and at work by promoting change as a positive thing?
I witness my patients struggle with changes everyday. These changes may be related to a growing belly, shifting center of gravity, and increased hip discomfort for a pregnant person. They may be related to aging and a patient may have to give their body some grace while accepting that they are not as strong or flexible as they used to be. Some of my patients may be faced with scary health decisions that are related to their diet or lifestyle, and change may seem impossible. As a doctor it is important to know how to facilitate and foster change within my patients. It can be hard for someone to stop smoking cigarettes, improve their posture by sitting up straight, improve their self-talk, or trust their own body again. I have had to learn to meet people where they are at and to encourage them to choose what changes they are willing to make. When a patient finally starts drinking more water instead of soda, they might be grouchy and tired at first, but then they see weight fall off, feel more energized, and have less pain due to inflammation. Once a patient can accept and overcome the discomfort associated with change, their potential for healing is boundless. If we can stop standing in the way of our own growth, I believe we can overcome anything. My goal as a physician is to get my patients to see that they are in charge of their own health and every choice they make affects their ability to change and grow.
A concept in chiropractic known as “The Three T’s” identifies how our body is affected by thoughts, traumas, and toxins. It also discusses the idea of a “threshold” or a tolerance our body has. Through regular chiropractic adjustments, our body has an increased threshold for how much stress it can handle- how much change can it tolerate. My patients under wellness care experience these positive changes and report being sick less often, having better sleep, having less muscle and joint pain, and emotional stress taking less of a toll on their body. By introducing changes to the body’s structure over a period of time, the body can make these changes permanent which results in better overall health. To get to these benefits, patients often have to experience their own “growing pains” first. Most medical doctors work by allowing their patient to passively take part in their own health through the use of prescriptions. Chiropractic is different because it forces a patient to participate in their own healing process, which involves making and experiencing change first hand. Changes they might notice after starting care may include muscle discomfort due to new and proper motor recruitment, pain moving or changing locations, or experience changes in proprioception (where is my body in space) and the brain has to adapt to new movement patterns.
When I began chiropractic care, I was more frustrated with the changes my body was having than I was with the daily discomfort I experienced before starting care. A lot of this was due to the fact that I had no idea how bad my health really was. It was a rude wake up call. I was upset about how long it took my body to heal, how much tissue work I needed, and how much PT I needed before finally starting to feel “like myself again”. My pain moved and changed constantly and sometimes it made me feel insane. The end result though, was worth the months of work and now I am healthier than I have ever been. I am different than I once was, I have changed and come to accept my body as it is post injury. I am now more open to changes and I am better at listening to what my body needs as a result.
Along with being a business, I like to think of Dr. Super’s House of Health as a community. Communities rely on each other to work through the hard aspects of change. Through the past year of changes in my personal and business life I have been able to find support within this community, and I am here to support you through yours. With our location change I have to rely on knowing that I am valued by this community that I have fostered. The move will allow me to offer a higher quality experience, and better overall care to all. I just need to trudge through the growing pains, just as I ask my patients to. Change is hard, but we are here to help you through it. As my business grows and changes, my level of dedication to patient care never will. I look forward to seeing you all at my new office, and to continue to add to this community!
Feel well and do good,
ADIO
Dr. Tabetha Super