The Smart Surrender

Get Your Confidence Back!

Looking back on my journey, I've come to the conclusion that no one is interested in the mind/body connection.  Some of you may be the exception.  So, you may relate to my story.  This connection exists whether you acknowledge it or not.  Why live by default when you can make it remarkable? So, I say, give this connection your attention because it will save your life.

When I was a mental health therapist, I thought we were working with the mind.  Turns out not. We were working with manipulation.  That's why I didn't last there too long. The mental health profession actually ignores the mind and the body.  Funny I would say that after all these years.  The mental health field was very good at taking away your dignity. Most of us in the profession had no intention of doing that, but it is a system that belittles people and gives up on them. 

I see BOTH the mental health field and the rest of mainstream medicine letting us down. I went to school to learn about the mind.  I did that.  Then I went back to school to learn about the body.  Checked that off my list, too.  Our knowledge about the body isn't that impressive either. (Disappointing sigh.)

The link between the mind and body is still ignored.  I thought chiropractic college would honor that link and I would find fulfillment.  And there was failure again. Chiropractic college let me down. 

I've seen enough mainstream medicine, mental health care and even modern chiropractic to know we've always cut ourselves short.  We've dropped the ball. We've cheated ourselves. And my journey continued.

I eventually stumbled across the more organized ideas of neuroplasticity and psychoneuroimmunology.  And then I finally realized something.  I knew it instinctively all this time. I had the understanding a long time ago.  I was probably born with it. (You do, too. Reclaim it today.)  

Why did I think I needed some type of formal education to confirm this?  Early programming, of course.  That little birdie inside of you that says you need acceptance and approval from some kind of authority. 

I wanted acknowledgment of some sort.  There's a foolish idea that your "diamond in the rough" talent will be fostered and fulfilled through higher education.  (Sarcastic laugh.)

Many of my peers said to just get through it, get the degree and then go do what you want to do.  Shocked by their comments I wanted to believe I could glean great clinical pearls from my professors' experiences. 

You can't go out into the field without some kind of degree, and the certification that you jumped through the hoops.  And did these hoops help me find what I was searching for? Somewhat...and I've made my peace with it because I have a job to do.  People need their confidence back. 

I can only do what I know best, what resonates with my soul.  

You can partner with your mind and body or you can be one big cantankerous hindrance to your mind and body. 

Sad to say this, but most holistic healers have no idea what it means to partner with the mind and body. It took me a while to get out of that trance, too. 

So, how's your journey going?  I just laid it bare here with my confession. Are you ready to upgrade your journey?

Whatever you're dealing with, we can partner with your brain and body rather than feel like we're at battle.  Even if you are using "natural remedies" and it feels like a battle, I have an alternative for you. 

There is no battle that needs to be won.  You only need to be a partner. 

I teach that. 

Can't wait to hear from you. 

See you at the table....the chiropractic adjusting table.

--Dr. Lisa

How I Talked Myself Out of Headaches // Ed. Workshop

(limited time health workshop)

Read Here About the Doctors Who Jumped Ship

"I Slept Wrong" Is Code for I Am In Denial

(Image Courtesy: Keystone Chiropractic)

I've heard this at least once a month if not more often from practice members, "I slept wrong."

People say it so often it is taken for granted.  It is like the boy who cried wolf so many times that no one noticed him anymore.

Yes, I slept wrong last night, and it didn't happen by accident. I woke up today with a sharp ache in my my right shoulder blade.  It was a reminder that I did not follow my usual routine and now I am paying for it. 

I really didn't sleep wrong.  I did a lot of things wrong.  For starters, I stayed up until it was close to midnight.  I typically go to bed at 9:30.   

Also, I seemed to graze all day long, snacking on almond butter and coconut milk.  That doesn't sound too bad, but my intermittent fasting went out the window.  

I didn't eat dinner until after 8 PM.  So, the evening just keeps getting worse. I was in Ithaca and stopped at Green Star to grab something from the hot bar.  And grab, I sure did.  I got a small carton of turkey salad.  Then I noticed some nice samplings of Indian cuisine made with coconut sauce, and another dish with spinach and chick peas.  I couldn't resist a dark chocolate tart either. 

I also took a few bites of my son's chocolate whoopie cookie.  It told him it was made with healthy ingredients.  He was almost in a panic.  He said, "No way."  Well, it was till sweet and carby, but not artificial.  

When I get to bed late I can wake up with a mountainous head ache.  This morning I was lucky.  I felt very dehydrated and stiff.  I managed to escape the head pain.  I don't mean to joke about it, since I know so many people suffer with persistent headaches. I knew I was risking it because I want to stay up on weekends like everyone else.  However, it is just not a smart practice. 

I did not skip my usual bedtime supplements and I believe that helped me stave off the dreaded "I Slept Wrong," scenario.  I take Min-Tran, Min-Chex or Bio-Dent before bed. 

(If you want to know more about my health routine, just ask at your next appointment.)

When people come to me and say they slept wrong, it is usually the straw that broke the camel's back.  Alleviating the muscle tension with an adjustment is helpful, but they have to admit they are constantly feeding the fire of inflammation that gives them pain, brain fog, and low energy.  

There is never one cause.  It is a complex formula of stresses until the body finally throws in the towel and falls down on the job.  It is the perfect storm, as they say.  

The body's sensory system has a high tolerance level.  You can suffer incredible tissue damage in the organs and muscles before you are finally alerted with an uncomfortable and disruptive pain process. 

Mechanical stressors are easy to figure out.  It takes more honest introspection to admit you are exposing yourself to chemical and emotional stress, as well.  They all damage the body the same way.  

Most of the stress we ignore is the stress that requires us to seriously evaluate our lives.  Work demands, family squabbles, and financial difficulty are health wreckers.  If we don't have the courage to face them, our bodies break down.  

Denial is a disease. 

How did I go from a lousy pillow to a life crisis?  

The Perfect Storm......

Let's take care of it.  Take the negative and learn from it.  There so many ways we can incorporate the positive.  First, help your brain with a nice batch of chiropractic adjustments over the next month. 

See you at the table... the adjusting table. 
--Dr. Lisa
--Your Health Freedom Advocate

Mom, What Does a Migraine Feel Like?

Well, what do you say to that? Kids in school must be talking about migraines. Maybe a child or parent is suffering from migraines and it is a topic of conversation among them. The last thing I want my son to do is dwell on the negative aspect of disease names, symptoms and feelings of helplessness.

Rather than focus on types of migraine pain I said, “We need to look at what the body is needing and not getting. The body is asking for help.” I brought up examples he could relate to, such as, how bad he feels after eating too much sugar and flour, or with a poor night's sleep.

Many adults will just go go go and stay so busy they don't even notice the stress accumulation in their bodies. The number of people who ignore or get used to their pain is actually staggering. With a simple chiropractic exam people say to me, “I had no idea how bad I was.”

The biggest unmet need in health care is maintaining the nerves that connect to every organ of the body. Even when we adjust the spine, if other things are lacking such as nutrients, the adjustment is not as effective. That's why we need to explore the interferences that are stressing the body.

Are migraines a problem with just the head? With any pain or dysfunction, there is actually a multi-systemic problem with the nervous system, circulatory system, digestive system, and immune system just to name a few.

You are invited to learn how a chiropractic exam can help you replenish the body with what it hasn't been getting. Don't live in a state of “unaware deprivation.”

Expose * Challenge * Commit