Exactly how long was this man ill? Some people recover in the first two years, no matter how bad things are. Unfortunately a lot of them do have problems later, how does that fit into his model?
Personally, I'm a great believe in the mind-body connection, but it hasn't kept bad things from my doorstep....it has helped me cope and I've grateful for that much.
OK, to use an example, the Industrial Revolution left people wide open with the fear of losing their jobs thus and company housing, and having no way to provide for themselves or their families. That's still anxiety provoking....it just that the forms anxiety takes over the years has changed. It's a primal instinct that I believe we're still working through....will it ever end? I don't have an answer for that.
I can move pain around in my body, I can be a pleasant person to be around, but I'm still sick. I guess that in my case I'm just lucky enough to have had surgery for neurological problems, thus perhaps I'm believed more than others....I can't answer that question.
What I do know is this: Anxiety in the early years of this illness is something I actively worked to control. I did not want to be on meds, and was still able to travel distances for meetings and read books that helped considerably. The anxiety went away for many years.
The second time it arose, I couldn't control it, didn't have the time or energy to attend these classes & my neurologist put me on a mild drug that controlled the anxiety. I only took it when I was having problems.
Fast forward many years later....I'm a different person and at a different age. My mental resources are smaller; I'm tired and illness has chipped away at any semblance of normalcy. I had shingles, one round after the other, I was exhausted both physically and mentally and this time my neurologist insisted that I go on xanax. The anxiety/panic disorder stopped immediately. Bear in mind that he's a great believer in natural cures, if possible, but he felt I was way beyond that point. To this day, I take two small doses/day and I'm just fine, although I do have access to tablets if I feel the immediate need....I don't.
Do I have an overload of adrenaline?.....it helps get me through day to day needs, talk to people when I'm far too exhausted to, and I still actively try to talk myself out of getting worse. I have multiple things wrong and actually feel that I handle them quite well. Yes, I'd like to see my daughter in CA and her children more than I do, but it can't be helped. She comes this way when necessary.
Fortunately, my husband was present from the beginning and truly believes that I'm ill....he has been in on the experience and is a kind-hearted person so begin with. I wouldn't dream of telling someone else that "it's all in their head." How do I know what's in their head, what actually happened and what the future holds for them or myself, for that matter?
Human beings are not a "one size fits all" category. There are many divisions in us, Mother Nature plays a huge role, our early years, our jobs....so many, many things. I understand what he's trying to say, but to also say that you're a victim of the early years of mankind is taking things too far. Think more positive than negative thoughts, be a kind person, don't hurt others....but none of them are guarantees that you still won't be ill. Even at that, if it's a "mental" problem what is it and how do we go about it controlling/curing it? Until these answers come along, I really don't see his way of presenting matters. Our lives are different, we're not equal and all we can do is the very best that's possible. Including knowing when to listen to people like him and when to draw the line. For most of us there are reasons, for the others....I guess they have their reasons to. Whether or not there are answers remains to be seen.
Another thought here: What enabled them to turn their fear off and spend the winters hibernating? Or did a lot of them fail to hibernate and became chronically ill? The lifespan then wasn't long, anyway...perhaps that helped, in a way. It's all still as perplexing as ever. I would be interested in any worthwhile answers. In the meantime, I'm just glad that something to help is available. If I'm addicted, I'm addicted....I'm willing to take that chance. Yours, Lenora.
