Beware of Labels
Anytime we put a name to something we label it, this may be temporary but it may also become permanent. This can happen with people who gossip about another, causing the recipient to suffer greatly their entire life because they believe this opinion-driven name is true. It may also occur within our medical system.
This week I spoke with the parents of a young girl labeled as having ADHD. My initial consult was to learn about her symptoms and discover the causes of this condition. As we spoke, I realized that the ADHD medication was wrong for their daughter and the diagnosis was inaccurate. This girl did not have ADHD at all. The medication she was given created unbearable symptoms and she refused to take it. The parents speculated that she didn’t use her meds during this last year. What I discovered was that she was living her life a certain way because of some previous emotional traumas, one being the COVID-19 shut down. Fortunately, this child listened to her intuition and didn’t fall prey to believing the medication was her only solution. For others the commitment to improving overrides their negative internal responses.
One of my concerns is the possibility that a temporary diagnosis may become a permanent label in someone’s medical history. Referring back to the pandemic for a moment, I keep seeing kids what are now between the ages of 10 through 19 who are suffering from depression, anxiety and panic attacks. The social separation made kids feel isolated at a time when they should be learning how to ‘fit in’ with their peer groups. Fortunately we learned how not to react during difficult times, but for those who suffered during some of their formative years, there is still work to be done to clean up the psychological results. My hope is that kids do not identify with a temporary opinion and believe it is permanent. Labels can be damaging for a child’s self-esteem.
On a greater scale, even adults can be impacted by a label. I often see people that exhibit some symptoms of a condition but not completely, then they start calling the condition ‘mine’. They will say, “my arthritis” or “my migraines”. For many it can be difficult letting go of a car or piece of clothing. When we own our diagnosis the subconscious mind will have a hard time letting go of that too. Our medical system and insurance network require a diagnosis code for payment, referrals and prescriptions to feel better, and the result is permanent attachment to the diagnosis. Once a label is applied, patients may unconsciously own that diagnosis for the rest of their lives.
Most people reading this newsletter are likely looking to prevent, understand or resolve a condition for good so they are not dependent on a medication. If they find the causes and get rid of their condition does the diagnosis go away? I think the answer in most cases is “no”. For years a diagnosis could have prevented insurance coverage or translated to much higher insurance rates. Why? Because our system does not expect patients to recover from issues such as autoimmune, cancer, autism and even ADHD. People have recovered from all of these conditions. For example, we know people that have gotten rid of cancer, but we say they are in “remission”, as if they are expected to get it back. A diagnosis becomes a ‘tag’ that stays with them for good. If a diagnosis is wrong or resolved, that label is carried with that person as an identification of who they are medically. A patient may always fear that the condition might be festering inside while hoping those symptoms never resurface.
What if we looked at each diagnosis as temporary? If I were given a heavy diagnosis I would do everything to make sure I eliminated it from my life. Nearly every patient I see is on that same path or trajectory. They want to eat better, sleep better, exercise or eliminate stressors that may contribute to their current state. This week I also did a magnetic treatment for a patient. He said to me (I’m paraphrasing here), “if I buy magnets, will you teach me how I can use them to eliminate simple problems and pain?” I immediately replied, “yes!” If I can empower someone to do some of the work at home, my results skyrocket. A partner in healing will get quicker, deeper and more longer-lasting results, than someone that wants me to fix them. This is a mindset. This man I mentioned is someone who believes he can heal naturally and will not be swayed by a label put on him. He knows he can reverse ailments. Luckily for me, I get the “sky-is-the-limit” results because of this. That’s the type of practice I’m committed to and these are the type of patients I get to see.
Our current medical and insurance complex needs to change very soon. People don’t want to get trapped in the system, they want freedom and great health. They don’t want to sit in an Emergency Room for 6 hours. They don’t want to develop side-effects from some of the treatment protocols that are recommended. We can’t make everything go away naturally, but my job is to figure out what I can do and what I can teach others to help them attain their health goals permanently. The days are disappearing quickly where people want a temporary fix or to be stuck with a label that doesn’t give them a positive outlook for the future. Instead, they want a partner to help them solve their situation and to know what they can do for a full recovery.
I have to say thank you to the parents I had the opportunity to speak with this week for the first time which prompted this newsletter topic. Thank you D and B.
Dr. Julie Wilson 6009 N Milwaukee Ave. Chicago, IL. 60646 773-481-9988
http://drjuliewilson.com