The rollercoaster healthcare system: an alternative program that trades your chronic illness for wellness
Are you going to care about yourself or overlook yourself?”
For many people, the traditional healthcare experience goes like this:
A person feels ill and goes to the doctors office. If they are lucky, they have the right health insurance and get an appointment if the schedule permits before they end up in the hospital. At this point, the person is vulnerable and has diminished control over their body. The doctor promises to use their expertise to treat the person and, because of lack of knowledge about their own body and desperation for help, the person has to trust the doctor and medical staff and places their health in their hands. In the best of cases, the person, now a patient is returned to complete health. If the illness cannot be healed, the medical staff can attempt to manage it with medicine or alleviate as much suffering through symptom and pain control.
In this old fashion model of healthcare, the emphasis is on disease and medication and the focus on the success of the physicians treatment plan. Little to no priority in this outdated system is placed on prevention of disease and most importantly the persons involvement in their own wellbeing. Often times in this model, the patients input is dismissed or not even considered.
The demands of the physical symptoms and prescribed treatment create a remarkable impact on a persons happiness, finances, lifestyle and mental health and demand an incredible amount of mental and emotional resilience. The emotional toll of chronic disease, especially pain, is profound, with many experiencing PTSD, depression, and anxiety.
What is Wellness Medicine?
The Global Wellness Institute states wellness is “the active pursuits of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health”. Physical activities such as nutrition, weight management and exercise are the activities most people think of when they think of wellness, however other practices such as spiritual nurturing, mental health practices, mindfulness and lifestyle changes that incorporate social activities and fun are also critical components of being well.
Comprehensive wellness medical care should be centered around the following areas:
Exercise and physical activity
Meaning and connectedness
Nutrition
Sleep
Stress management techniques and mindfulness
Prevention is key
The most significant different between wellness care and traditional healthcare is that Wellness care seeks to promote optimal health and prevent disease before it happens.
Wellness prioritized lifestyle changes to reduces the need for invasive treatments and medication, which should be used when there are no other options available. While medications are important and necessary in some situations, it is not the only option and the wellness model embraces this reality.
“Wellness is the active pursuits of activities, choices and lifestyles that lead to a state of holistic health.”
Change your habits change your life
Wellness necessitates good self-stewardship, for ourselves and for those we care about. Inserting new routines is not easy. Despite knowing what’s good for us and best intentions, unhealthy habits tend to keep us doing what we always do and are difficult to change. Wellness medical care is a dynamic process of assisting patient to identify not only their unhealthy habits but works with them to employ strategies to replace those habits that align with better health outcomes and patients goals and values.
Wellness medicine providers understands that change is difficult and takes time. Patients are not expected to overhaul decades of culture, diet, practices and routines in the span between diagnosis to follow up visit. Wellness providers also don’t write patients off when they don’t make immediate changes because they understand that compliance is a continuum. It’s hard to quit smoking. Weight loss is challenging for many adults. Sometimes it requires repeated experiments and failures. Wellness care providers are with their patient throughout the process because they know the attempts are worthwhile and one success often leads to another.
Misinformation in the Information Age
Communication with healthcare providers is vital to understanding disease and medication. Unfortunately, the typical 15 minute doctors appointment most people experience does not leave much time for patient education and often leaves patients with unanswered questions and confusion.
Asking question to professionals using medical terminology can be intimidating. Many people resort to turning to internet searches and social media for answers, which can sometimes amplify negative aspects of disease and promote misinformation. Wellness medical care promotes patient education and assists patients to maintain a balanced perspective, focusing on their your own journey and the progress. Patients are provided validated information from trusted sources.
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The information in this post is for informational or educational purposes only and does not substitute professional medical advice or consultations with healthcare professionals. Always consult with healthcare professionals to create a personalized plan that aligns with both your health needs and weight goals.