Is Chronic Disease the New Normal?

Chronic disease is any disease or condition that lasts for a prolonged period of time that is characterized by not improving and typically becoming worse over time. This can be used to describe many of the most ubiquitous afflictions of modern civilization today. Think diabetes, obesity, autoimmunity, heart disease, alzheimer's, multiple sclerosis, etc. These conditions are so common today that most people know of at least one person close to them, if not themselves, that is suffering or has suffered from one or more forms of chronic disease. While some may be genetically more prone to developing chronic disease, no one is doomed to a life of chronic illness. Chronic disease is entirely preventable and, in many cases, reversible. How has something preventable and reversible become such a prevailing problem?

We don't have to look back very far to see how quickly this has become such a big issue. I'm in my mid-thirties and I can remember chronic disease being far less prevalent when I was young, although it was already on the rise. Look back 3-4 decades further and chronic disease was almost nonexistent, many of the conditions of today were not even known. So, what happened in the span of a single generation? This is far too fast of a change to be attributed to genetics. Look at the changes in what we eat and how we live our daily lives, this is where the answer lies.

Living today amidst the onslaught of poor-quality food conveniently available around every corner, ever more sedentary lives, never-ending stress, and social isolation makes it difficult to consistently make healthy choices. The path of least resistance leads straight to chronic disease and a greatly reduced quality of life. For the first time in a long time today's generations may have a shorter average life span than previous generations.

Break Free from Chronic Disease

One of the most frustrating things I witness with chronic disease is that many people suffering do not get real help where they expect to get it most, from their doctors. Conventional medicine has failed to rise to the challenge of chronic disease. Typically only addressing symptoms by prescribing drugs to minimize or manage symptoms, very often causing other side-effects that diminish quality of life. Problems are rarely solved without addressing the root cause of the problem. The sad reality is that conventional medicine of today does not have the means to address the root cause of chronic disease. To address the root cause requires significant changes in daily life. No prescription or treatment can provide this nor can a doctor facilitate change in only 10 minutes once every 3-6 months.

What is the secret to changing your life to address the root causes of chronic disease? This "secret" is changing what you do, behaving in a different way, and thinking and feeling differently. Change is hard, there's just no getting around this, especially at the onset. It requires breaking existing habits and creating new ones, literally reconfiguring neurons in the brain, weakening existing neural circuits and strengthening new ones.

How can working with a mind-body coach help you? As a mind-body coach I can help you to thoroughly understand the process of change in the brain and why it is hard. With this understanding I can help you to develop a plan of action that accounts for and works with how your brain functions. I can teach you tools and techniques to help you make change easier to achieve and make it last. By putting emphasis on the power of the mind to help heal and repair the body I can help to make the process of change easier. Most chronic disease is much more complex than a poor diet or lack of exercise. Most of the time our mental health has a large role to play, sometimes being the sole cause. If chronic stress is a big part of your problem, for example, a radical diet and exercise plan surely isn't going to help your stress! The sure way to reverse chronic disease is by addressing all potential causes, both physical and mental. Practices such as deep relaxation, self-compassion, and emotional work are potent medicine with no co-pay or side-effects!

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"Wellness, I came to realize, will not happen by accident. It must be a daily practice, especially for those of us who are more susceptible to the oppressiveness of the world."

- Jenna Wortham