(Auburn, NY) I Won't Change If I Actually Have to Do Something

I will only change if it doesn't disrupt my life too much. Who hasn't said this? We're all guilty of feeling this way. I hear paraphrased versions of this all the time from folks in my office. Along with negative body language they display facial expressions of pure panic.

I suppose if change was easy we'd try a new adventure everyday. Somehow regular life gets in the way.

From the viewpoint of health care, positive health changes can open the door to bigger and better things but there's that resistance to the unknown that overwhelms logic.

Generally when someone needs to make a health change it involves giving up an unhealthy habit and taking on a better habit. It requires a change in time management. It can certainly be risky to relationships when family members are not supportive.

Why bother disrupting your life when there could be negative side effects? Change will always disrupt life as you currently know it. There is the irony.

The statistics confirm the difficulty. At John Hopkins, Dr. Edward Miller reported a decade ago that heart patients who are told they need to change their lifestyle simply do not do it. Ninety percent fail to make the recommended health changes. It was concluded death is too scary to think about so patients preferred denial.

Enter Dr. Dean Ornish in the equation. He tirelessly rolled up his sleeves showing heart patients how to make change enjoyable rather than drudgery. He achieved a 77% success rate utilizing a support system with activities that worked on both the body and the mind.

His program is a serious immersion. It runs close to ten weeks, two to three times a week for four hours a day. It is major change. Do you need to pack your bags for boot camp and say good bye to loved ones? Maybe not.

We can get right down to the biggest reason change is difficult. Our neurology. We can feel trapped by patterns entrenched in the nervous system. New patterns are rejected by the brain's comfort zone unless they are immersed.

Now let's get to that chiropractic thing. We use the chiropractic adjustment to extinguish old patterns and reinforce productive patterns. The improved patterns promote healing and homeostasis by increasing oxygen, reducing inflammation, balancing blood pressure, normalizing brain waves and calming the fight or flight response.

When your body feels energized and strong, you can work on the other desired changes you want to make in your life. Your personal immersion plan should include activities that nurture physical and mental health. Interestingly, chiropractic helps both.

Change is often seen as a losing battle. Rather than figuratively dipping a toe in the water, Dr. Ornish believes diving in is what brings success. If you're ready for the dive, get the supports lined up that will help you stay immersed.

Let chiropractic help unravel the negatives that hold you back. This kind of nervous system support will help the body and mind welcome your new changes.