Self-Care: Everyone Is Telling You to Do It, but Why?
Heidi Overman, LMT #MT-24997
Self-care: What do they mean, and why does everyone tell me I need it?
All I hear about is self-care and how important it is, but do you even know what they are talking about and why everyone is constantly talking about it?
I come from an age of hard work. A time when you didn’t stop and smell the roses, take a hike, meditate, or get a massage. Those things were luxuries. Taking care of myself meant that I would fall asleep reading a book or eat an orange if I felt a cold coming on. There was no scheduling of a yoga class or getting a facial or making sure my muscles were flexible and healthy. I had to take care of everyone else!
So why is everyone so fixated on self-care?
Deterioration. Deterioration of our minds, our bodies, our souls, and our energy.
We have learned through watching prior generations that aging is not nice, but we all have to go through it. At about 40, we really start feeling it and thinking about retirement. So, we plan. We find a financial advisor. Start really making sure our teeth are in good shape. We go to our regular doctor check-ups and think, “Hey, I’m doing pretty good!” Yes, I still have an insanely stressful job; I sit in traffic; I’m stressed about paying the bills, maybe family issues; but I just need to get to retirement, and I’ll be good!
However, we forgot one very important thing: wear and tear on our bodies, our minds, and our spirit. By the time we get to 65, our low backs are killing us; our knees are barely hanging on, and we can’t remember why we walked into a room. That world cruise is not looking as exciting because it’s painful to walk, and your retirement savings is going towards doctor bills and pain management. This is not how you envisioned retirement.
So, what can you do right now to improve your energy levels? Your stress levels? Your mind? Your concentration? Your body? Self-care. Even if you are 60, 70, 80, or 90. It’s never too late to start!
Regular meditation, acupuncture, tai chi, massage, and yoga can help calm your sympathetic nervous system. This is your fight or flight reaction. When your sympathetic nervous system is constantly on high, it affects your brain, your muscles, your digestive system, your immune system, your nervous system, and more, slowly making it harder and harder for them to work properly over time. Taking time to stop, reflect, and properly take yourself out of the grind is so important.
Regular bodywork, massage, exercise, hiking, walking, and movement can help break those muscle patterns that cause injury. Pulls, strains, and torn muscles all can be minimized and even prevented.
Self-care is about maximizing your best years. It’s about knowing that the aging process is not kind to us, but you can at least manage it by taking care of yourself. Make sure you can be active and enjoy your retirement years! Take care of yourself!
If you are interested in a therapeutic massage, call me for an appointment at 520-771-1514. My website is www.mymendingplace.com, and I’m located at MEND Therapeutic Massage and Restorative Skincare at 15920 N. Oracle Road, Suite 170, Tucson, AZ 85739 (next to the Golden Goose).
Chiropractic vs. Medical Care: Consumer Reports Rates Patient Satisfaction
Craig Brue, DC
It’s very unlikely that you will ever hear the good news about the effectiveness of chiropractic care on TV or radio. Instead, hour after hour, day after day, our airwaves are filled with drug ads that proclaim the wonders of their latest pill. The ads typically depict the healthiest and most productive actors that are energetic and full of life. The ads are filled with more hype than truth, and then the drug ad always finishes with a short, usually hidden, disclaimer about the diabolic side effects of the same drug, including allergic reactions, cancer, and death.
My advice: Let the buyer beware! In the elusive hope that this newly advertised drug might help the one problem you are experiencing, you have now introduced into your body a drug that has many more serious side effects than possible benefits. Even our over-the-counter drugs have significant long-term risks. With prolonged use, Tylenol can cause liver disease, and the overuse of NSAIDs may result in kidney and vascular disease.
Not long ago, Consumer Reports magazine did a study comparing patient satisfaction with chiropractic and medical treatment. The report was based on a study of 14,000 patients who were being treated for back pain. The response to chiropractic care topped the list of patient satisfaction. Fifty-eight percent of those who tried chiropractic adjustments said it helped a lot, and 59% were completely satisfied with their chiropractor.
By comparison, the percentage of people highly satisfied with a physician specialist (orthopedist) treating back pain was 44%, and satisfaction with a primary care physician was only 34%. The article also stated that patients should avoid narcotic drugs like oxycodone and Vicodin because about half of the people who take opioids suffer adverse effects, including addiction and death.
I have now been in practice for over 45 years, and every day I stand amazed at the body’s ability to heal and repair with simple spinal adjustments. This past month I treated an 86-year-old woman who came into my office with severe sciatica. She had been suffering with this condition for over a year. After only one spinal adjustment, this patient was 80% better. After three spinal adjustments, the sciatic problem had completely resolved. Can you imagine what this outcome meant to the patient? The relief was priceless.
Would you like to know the world’s best exercise for back and neck pain?
The Answer: Walk into an excellent chiropractor’s office for evaluation and treatment. You may have nothing to lose except the pain you are experiencing.
Dr. Brue is an author, lecturer, and chiropractic provider in SaddleBrooke. For more information on the benefits of chiropractic care, go to bruechiropractic.com.