So far, this series has been looking at pain through the lens of the western medical model. Today the lens is being widened to let more light in on the subject. Notwithstanding its contributions, the drawbacks of the traditional medical model are significant: side effects, potential drug dependency and lethal interactions, not to mention the risks associated with surgery. In the western model, the body is seen as something to fix. Pain is something to manage, and imbalance or disease something to conquer through external means. Pain has... Read More

In my view, the opioid addiction epidemic is evidence of how deeply steeped our nation is in the conventional medical model (drugs/surgery) of treating imbalances of body or mind. Certainly, sales messaging touting pharmaceuticals as the "best" means to "treat" the body or mind perpetuates that conditioning and belief system. The indoctrination is pervasive and commonplace. It has simply become ACCEPTED that when one takes prescription meds or over-the-counter drugs to EXPECT side effects. My question is: WHY is that acceptable? ... Read More

Last week we talked about the first two myths of pain. Today I'm going to speak to three more. Myth 3 - If Pain Lasts for a While, It Means It Will be Here Forever It's ironic, but the mind has a short memory. You can be healthy for forty or fifty years, have one physical challenge that lasts a few weeks, months, or maybe even several years, and the mind concedes that it will be like this for the rest of your life. That is not necessarily true but the mind which magnifies your experiences can make it feel like that. Having pain over... Read More