There is a common misconception about health and healing in our society. Neither has a “destination,” and healing in particular isn’t linear. In a society that often expects immediate results, it’s easy to dismiss anything that doesn’t deliver a quick fix. Healing is a process, and consistency is important. Here are four tips for navigating the healing and health process.
UNDERSTAND THE TIMELINE
If health is a journey, healing is the path we take on that journey. But it’s not a constant march on a straight road. Sometimes, we take two steps forward and one step back. It can be a disheartening experience in which we question whether our treatments are even doing anything. Chiropractic care can be a great example. It’s a branch of wellness that focuses on optimal nervous system function for optimal health and well being. Managing pain and improving function for daily tasks is part of it. But it’s normal to have ups and downs during treatment. There is very rarely a “one and done” treatment, because we’re constantly stressing the body just from living. By recognizing that healing is ongoing and not a linear process, we aren’t setting ourselves up for concern down the road.
START SLOWLY
No one likes feeling sore or injured. But we have a tendency to leap too quickly into remedies. Trying different modalities or treatments to address a specific condition, like the combination of medications, acupuncture, massage, chiropractic and others, can be too much. Plus, in the event you get the results you want, it’s hard to identify which treatment worked best.
TRACK PROGRESS
Since healing isn’t necessarily methodical, it’s helpful to track progress. Keep notes about how you feel day to day. It’s the best way to get a real sense of what’s helping you and what isn’t.
BE PATIENT
This can be the hardest step of all, and it’s the most often overlooked. Give yourself time not only to change, but for your body to adjust to that change. Be consistent, expect ups and downs, and understand that while you may not understand the process, that doesn’t mean it’s not working.