Reverse Hypochondria

Most medical doctors in the west are acutely aware of the medical condition hypochondria and its impact on certain patients.  Many consider it to be a manifestation of psychosomatic conditioning.  Regardless, the affect on the patient is the same: if he thinks he's sick, he will be sick.  Most of us know at least one such person.  They always complain about their health, and they always seem to be down with something or other.   Some folks deride the whole mind-over-body notion, holding onto western medicine's hyper-focused technological physical diagnosis, and ultimately its prognosis as well.  And it seems that western medicine's prognosis is always drug related.  I'm not slamming drugs, but Americans sure do take a boat load of them.  Is it really necessary?

A few doctors I know and some others I've read are beginning to put more credence into what is called holistic medicine.  Holistic medicine is defined as the applied consideration of the complete person, physically, psychologically, socially, and spiritually, in the management and prevention of disease.  Wellness maintenance, as it were.  A practitioner in this discipline would need to be well versed in medicine, psychology and metaphysics, and would treat a patient giving equal consideration to body, mind and spirit.  Sounds very much like another Trilogy we've heard of, doesn't it?  And as many western doctors are becoming more aware of the genesis of dis-ease, they have to make their diagnoses on more than just the physical body.  Just one hypothetical example would be a heart patient who is otherwise healthy and active.  But in further examination, the doctor finds the patient's home life is chaotic and stressful.  How would he treat this patient when he knows the patient will return to the very environment that is making him sick?  If the patient were a smoker, the doctor would strongly advise against smoking.  But what can he do in this case?  He would advise the patient of his condition, of course, but moreover would also advise the patient to treat the cause of the situation, as he would treat the affect of the condition.  Simple in concept, yet challenging in solution.

Let's take it a step further.  Suppose said heart patient were advised that he could think - or imagine -  himself well. Most doctors I know, when presented with this as a solution, will take a deep breath and allow that, well, it can't hurt.  But the same doctor will acknowledge hypochondria as having a legitimate impact on health and well being.  Why acknowledge one, but not the other?  Both are the result of the impact the mind can have over the body.  One of many treatments within holistic health is creative visualization.  Creative visualization has been used effectively for millennia.  It just takes application, and oh, yeah, a firm belief that it works.  The patient simply imagines his condition, and then imagines a solution.  The images he creates in his mind don't have to be accurate - they can even be cartoonish - but they have to be done within a relaxed, comfortable and calm state of mind.

In my experience I have seen a marvelous turn around in more than a few serious medical conditions in others to whom I have applied this method.  I know absolutely that this method of healing works, when done properly.   There are several disciplines out there that can be applied, but the path to wellness is not as important as achieving it.  If this interests you, search for a solution that fits your needs and belief system.  It's certainly worth it. 

So if hypochondria is a real self-imposed sickness, wouldn't  the reverse of hypochondria be real self-imposed wellness?   Never doubt the power of your own mind, but be aware as to how you use it.