The Stress, Possibilities, and Necessity of Change
(Part 1 in a Series)
“Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.” – Unknown
Change is a necessity in part because it’s woven into the very fabric of life and occurs with each passing moment whether we like it or not. It will be much easier if you don’t demand that every twist and turn be pleasant. Some life-change events are intrinsically painful.
Less than three years into my first marriage (now over 21 years ago) and within two months of finalizing my adoption of Peggy’s twin 5-year-old daughters, I was suddenly a single dad. A massive heart attack, due to a previously undetected congenital anomaly, had ended my wife’s life at 34.
Dreadful, nearly unbearable pain…and then I had to decide how I would respond to this sudden drastic change that I didn’t choose. That responsibility fell squarely on my shoulders. My health and future quality of life depended on my choice of perspective and subsequent actions. Those were the elements I could choose.
It’s critically important for healing that you gain a sense of sufficient ability to control something. Your choice of mental/emotional state may be the only something at first.
“God grant me the serenity to accept the things I cannot change, the courage to change the things I can, and the wisdom to know the difference.” – Reinhold Niebuhr, American Theologian
“In acceptance lieth peace.” – Amy Carmichael, Christian Missionary in India
Health, looked at holistically, requires an understanding of the interconnectedness of body, mind, and spirit. Emotional turmoil left unresolved, especially repressed anger, leads to chronically disturbed physiology and can eventually manifest in any number of disease states. Check out Dr. Gabor Mate’s excellent book When the Body Says No to further explore this important insight.
“The body expresses what words cannot.” – Martha Graham, Modern Dance Choreographer
You may currently be in the midst of a difficult life change, possibly involving loss. It may have been completely through no fault of your own. You may feel like you’re drowning. Your world may seem dark, the bright colors of vitality replaced only by shades of grey. You might be wondering if you can even make it, if you’ll ever know enthusiasm again. Simple survival is the best you seem able to summon right now.
I’m able to tell you now that my choices in the weeks and months that followed my crisis disaster led to amazing healing. I had to choose life again after part of me had died. I had to be willing to release Peggy and accept that I may never understand why she had to go. Then I needed to find a bigger purpose that could encompass my loss. I asked God to help me get whole again in body, mind, and spirit and I made a commitment to use what I’d been through to make a difference in the lives of others for as long as I remained on Earth.
I’m now more joyful and enthusiastic about my life than I’ve ever been. Most of my wonderful moments have occurred since that most difficult day. I know that life will hold more pain ahead, but in spite of that, I’m excited about continuing to create and contribute as I look to the future. I’m certain that I’m a much more understanding and loving person (husband, father, doctor, and friend) as a direct result of having gone through this tragedy combined with my commitment to grow and then help others with all I’ve learned.
I challenge you to believe that you can summon the strength to make the necessary choices to become whole and healthy again, more likely at a deeper level than you’ve ever experienced before.
Join me in the next issue for part two of this series as we explore the Stockdale Paradox, the skill sets necessary to thrive during difficult times and the incredible opportunities presented by our current economy for those who are prepared.
Are you prepared? If not, then let’s get going. See you next time.
Latest Research
Case Study:
“Chiropractic Care for a Patient with Subluxation & Unsuccessful Surgery of the Lumbar Spine” www.jvsr.com
Patrick D. Layton BS, BC
[January 10, 2009 pp 1-5]
Objective: The objective of this paper is to report on improved function and quality of life in a patient under chiropractic care who previously had unsuccessful surgery of the low back.
Clinical Features: The patient was a 58 year old male who entered the clinic with a primary complaint of low back pain and left lateral leg pain. He suffered an acute injury to the low back upon performing job duties and elected to have surgery on the lumbar spine. Afterwards, the condition had worsened.
General Comments: Approximately 80% of adults will have low back pain at some time in their lives. The literature has shown that many low back surgeries are not successful. Wadell states that for people who have simple low back pain, the rate of failure can be as high as 99% and the condition is often made worse. The condition is then referred to as failed back surgery syndrome. It’s defined as “the post surgical patient’s experiencing considerable pain, having compromised neurological status, requiring the same dosage of pain medication, being unable to return to work, and reporting an unimproved activity level.”
Discussion: This particular patient probably had sustained a prolapsed disc as a result of the original injury, which is often very difficult to treat. The patient was seen for 32 total visits over a 4 month period. The patient’s low back pain was diminished from severe to slight/mild, his leg pain was eliminated, and he showed expanded ranges of lumbar spine motion, measurably improved posture, increased mental function, and an overall enhanced quality of life.
Conclusion: This single case study demonstrates improved function and quality of life in a failed back surgery case believed to be attributable to reduction of his vertebral (spinal) subluxations, which restored proper nerve function and motion.
Health News & Insights
Medscape Daily News
February 24, 2009
Four health behaviors combined predict more than a two-fold difference in stroke incidence in men and women, according to the results of a population-based prospective study reported in the February 20 Online First issue of the British Medical Journal.
The four lifestyle behaviors are not smoking, physical activity, moderate alcohol consumption (less than 14 servings per week), and eating at least five servings of fruits and vegetables daily. Adherence to all four is associated with a 2.3 times lower risk for stroke vs. adherence to none of these behaviors.
"These results provide further incentive and support for the notion that small differences in lifestyle can have a substantial potential impact on risk. This conclusion should help to inform individuals' choices and policy makers' decisions.”
“However, what is also consistent but less encouraging is the small proportion of participants with a lifestyle that protects against stroke — although lifestyle interventions could be of great benefit, a huge shift in behavior will be needed to achieve this."
Dr. Norton Comment: Forget about your genetic inheritance. Excessive focus there leads to passivity in the areas in which you can absolutely make a difference. Lifestyle behavior choices are the key to which genetic elements get expressed anyway. Get your diet together, take pharmaceutical-grade supplements, get consistent exercise, get your spine/nervous system adjusted frequently, and find/create joy every day. Then you’ll live longer and better.
During last night’s speech, President Obama stated the obvious: Many of us are stressed out about the economy.
“You don’t need to hear another list of statistics to know that our economy is in crisis, because you live it every day,” he told us. “It’s the worry you wake up with and the source of sleepless nights.”
Last month, The Boston Globe reported that doctors see growing evidence that the weak economy is taking a psychological toll, “spawning headaches and churning stomachs, and even causing bouts of anxiety and depression among people who never before sought psychiatric help.”
What do you think? Has the recession taken a toll on your mental health?
Dr. Norton Comment: First, stress that overwhelms your body, mind, or spirit skill levels will absolutely lead to spinal segments shifting out of alignment just like a breaker switch flipping off due to system overload. This will alter your critical nervous system communication resulting in disturbances in your body’s ability to regulate and heal itself. Symptoms will eventually surface as pain, altered physiology, and various disease states. The catch is that you’ll probably never make the connection to the earlier stress triggers.
Second, you can upgrade your body, mind, and spirit skills to diminish the negative influences of anything and everything in your constantly changing and frequently stressful external environment.
Many of the answers you need can be found in “The Releasing Pain/Restoring Health Action Plan Audio Program available for no-cost download in the left column of my www.AmericasHolisticDoctor.com website. It’s about 40 minutes and just might change your life. Go check it out and then encourage others to do the same.
Featured Product
Where Does It Hurt? Bronze Package
Do you have friends or family members who are suffering from chronic pain or other ailments? If so, why not give them a copy of Where Does It Hurt? on special occassions or "just because."
Dr. Norton has arranged a variety of package deals to help you give the gift of health and pain relief to your loved ones. This month, Dr. Norton is featuring his Bronze Package as the "product of the month."
Buy 1 book, get 2nd at 50% off.
Value $60 | Cost $45 | Savings $15
News and Upcoming Events
News
Dr. Michael Davis has now joined Dr. Norton at Norton Chiropractic Wellness Center in Fresno, CA. He brings 27 years of experience and now collectively your health care is supported through 53 years of experience. You will receive two doctor’s knowledge and skill for the price of one. Service is being expanded as a result. We are now open to serve you full days on Monday through Friday with Saturday morning hours to follow in the near future. We look forward to serving you toward greater health soon.
Events
Dr. Norton will be interviewed on:
The PoppOff Radio Show
Your Lifestyle, Health, Beauty and Entertainment Show
Wednesday, March 25th, 11:00 AM PST
Hosted by Mary Jane Popp
You can listen live by going to www.poppoff.com
Part 1 Class: "Is Your Pain Stopping You From Fully Living?"
Wednesday, March 4th, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Tuesday, March 17th, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 1st, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. - Taught by Dr. Davis
Tuesday, April 14th, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Wednesday, April 29th, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m. – Taught by Dr. Davis
Tuesday, May 12th, 6:30 to 7:45 p.m.
Drs. Norton and Davis teach an in-office program entitled “Is Your Pain Stopping You From Fully Living?” based upon the releasing pain principles from Dr. Norton’s book Where Does It Hurt? You may attend for free and then receive a complimentary consultation and computerized assessment of your nervous system.
Call 559-490-9550 for more details and to reserve your seat.
Part 2 Class: "Revealing the Secret to Restoring Whole Body Health"
Wednesday, March 11th, 6:45 to 8:15 p.m.
Tuesday, April 21st, 6:45 to 8:15 p.m.
Dr. Norton also teaches another in-office program entitled “Revealing the Secret to Restoring Whole Body Health” based upon those advanced health concepts and research discussed in his book. This is truly health- and life-transforming information that you’ve probably never heard. Food and refreshments are provided. Call 559-490-9550 for reservations please.
“Food Matters” Movie Showings at Norton Chiropractic
Tuesday, March 10th, 7:00 to 8:45 PM
Wednesday, April 8th, 7:00 to 8:45 PM
‘Food Matters' is a hard hitting, fast paced look at our current state of health. Despite the billions of dollars of funding and research into new so-called cures we continue to suffer from a raft of chronic ills and every day maladies. Patching up an over-toxic and over-indulgent population with a host of toxic therapies and nutrient-sparse foods is definitely not helping the situation.
The filmmakers have interviewed several world leaders in nutrition and natural healing who claim that not only are we harming our bodies with improper nutrition, but that the right kind of foods, supplements and detoxification can be used to treat chronic illnesses as fatal as terminally diagnosed cancer.
‘Food Matters' seeks to uncover the business of disease and at the same time explore the safe, cheap and effective use of nutrition and supplementation for preventing and often reversing the underlying causative aspects of the illness. With the premise of the film being: access to solid information helps people invariably make better choices for their health.
Food Matters.
Dr. Norton will be interviewed on:
The ‘For the People’ Show with Chuck Harder
Wednesday, March 18th, 11:00 to 11:30 AM PST
No radio program in the history of broadcasting has ever done more to help people and strengthen the fiber of this Country then has Chuck's. The story is just beginning to be told ... and this is where the whole story will unfold.
We will be hosting a welcome reception on the Friday afternoon/evening of March 20th from 4-7 PM. We’ll have appetizers and refreshments and you’ll have the chance to meet and get to know Dr. Davis better. He will be available to adjust you also during this time frame if you desire.
