TO YOUR HEALTH
Maybe your next therapist shouldn’t be a therapist
In 2023, both the Centers for Disease Control (CDC) and NIH released studies revealing the high rates of persistent chronic pain among U.S. adults. The CDC report showed that during 2021, an esti - mated 20.9% of U.S. adults (51.6 million persons) experienced chron - ic pain — i.e., pain that lasts more than 3 months — and 6.9% (17.1 million persons) experienced high-impact chronic pain — chronic pain that results in substantial restriction to daily activities. The NIH study findings widened the scope of the issue from another perspec - tive, reporting that over the course of one year (2019-2020), the num - ber of new cases among U.S. adults of chronic pain grew more than new cases of several other common conditions, including diabetes, depression, and high blood pressure. These studies are just two among many that underscore the ter- rible burden of pain in this country. The ripple effects of living with chronic pain include devastating consequences on daily functioning, economic productivity, mental health, and overall quality of life. An extensive survey report about America’s chronic pain crisis published by the U.S. Pain Foundation in 2022 is a comprehensive overview of just how pervasive and damaging living with chronic pain can be. It notes that “pain is the number one reason that Americans access the health care system, and is the leading cause of long-term disability in the United States”, costing the nation an estimated “$560-635 billion a year in direct medical costs and lost productivity”. With pain sufferers desperate for relief, understanding and hope, it’s a public health imperative to find effective interventions in pain management, both for early onset and tools for long-term care and ul- timate recovery. This NCCIH study highlights the fact that Americans are increasingly turning to alternative and complementary healthcare approaches as part of their treatment plans. And they are reported- ly doing so due to a number of contributing factors, such as higher quality research supporting their effectiveness, the inclusion of these approaches in clinical practice guidelines for pain, and the expanded insurance coverage for approaches such as acupuncture. Pain is experienced globally and felt indiscriminately. Having ac- cess to research-backed, effective, non-pharmaceutical treatment op - tions for preventing, managing and ultimately eliminating pain is crit- ical for individuals looking for natural, multidisciplinary alternatives when making choices about wellness and healthcare. Mindfulness Training Can Promote Healthy Choices More recent developments about the effectiveness of CAM, this time for high blood pressure, came out in February from NIH News in Health. An eating plan called the DASH (Dietary Approaches to Stop Hy - pertension) diet can lead to heart-healthy changes, like lower blood pressure. The diet encourages eating fruits, vegetables, and whole grains, and avoiding saturated fats. But despite its known benefits, many people have trouble sticking to this eating plan. A new study tested whether mindfulness training might help people follow the DASH diet. Mindfulness is a focus on the present moment. It makes you more aware of what’s going on inside and around you. The training program taught people mindfulness skills. These include Yoga, meditation, and self-awareness. It also stressed taking other steps to lower blood pres - sure. Such steps include increasing physical activity and taking blood pressure medicines. The study enrolled about 200 volunteers with high blood pressure. Half received usual medical care. The rest received mindfulness train- ing. They were asked to perform mindfulness practices at home for at least 45 minutes a day, six days a week. They also attended weekly classes and other group training. continued on page 60
Eric Weinstein It’s Not Therapy (It’s Problem Solving)
Did you know that: • Licensed therapists are limited to certain approaches by “standards of care” that leave out a number of highly effective healing and personal growth modalities? • Even if you’re paying out-of-pocket for your sessions, your therapist might be unable to use anything “different” because of insurance company requirements and state regulations? I’m not a therapist, but I always have a therapist or two among my clients. They come to me for: • the most ancient healing modality (shamanic healing) • proven, but less conventional modalities (hypnosis/ NLP [Neurolinguistic Programming] and Eye Movement Integration [similar to EMDR, but gentler]) • the most exciting new energy modalities (Energy Psychology, such as EFT or “tapping” on meridian points, biofield work, and chakra manipulation) • Voice dialogue (which one therapist referred to as “Internal Family Systems on steroids”) • intriguing coaching modalities (including True Purpose coaching and Archetypal coaching) And they come for all the same problems they might see a conventional therapist for – as well as problems and questions of a spiritual/energetic nature. So, whether you’ve gotten what you can from talk therapy, want action-oriented approaches, or want a holistic body/ mind/spirit approach, why wait to find out how your life can be better?
Have questions or want to set a video appointment? Call 703-288-0400 or email eric@its-not-therapy.com Serving local and long-distance clients from Annapolis MD
Read more about how I can help you at www.Its-Not-Therapy.com
PATHWAYS—Spring 24—35
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