Is Your Body Trying to Tell You Something? Signs of Stress and Holistic Solutions
Written By Danielle Bararuk | February 21, 2023
We all want to be healthy. But how, exactly, does one define health? That depends on who you ask.
If you ask Pfizer, “Wellness is the act of practicing healthy habits on a daily basis to attain better physical and mental health outcomes, so that instead of just surviving, you're thriving. To understand the significance of wellness, it's important to understand how it's linked to health.”
The World Health Organization (WHO) offers a simple definition of health as “a state of complete physical, mental, and social well-being, and not merely the absence of disease or infirmity”. “Social well-being” is an important aspect of this definition that may not always occur to us in thinking about our health.
The Ottawa Charter for Health Promotion affirms social, economic, and environmental aspects of health. This important Canadian document states that, in order to be healthy, “an individual or group must be able to identify and to realize aspirations, to satisfy needs, and to change or cope with the environment.” In this way, health is seen as a resource or an asset that helps us lead our everyday lives. Health is seen as a positive concept that emphasizes social and personal resources, as well as physical capacities.
And if you ask me, I would tell you that Community + Connection Matters.
Those of us who’ve chosen to practice out of Holistic Physiotherapy & Wellness believe that health and wellness need to be addressed in a person-centered and whole-person approach.
To us, this means that we value listening to a person's whole story as it relates to their symptoms and life experiences. We believe that health and wellness should be focused on a whole-person approach that connects the individual to a circle of care. Community and collaboration is important to us, and we work as a team – your team - to provide the health and wellness experience that you deserve.
If you experience pain or discomfort, your body is trying to tell you something. And if you don’t listen to it – and if your doctors don’t listen to you – the symptoms will only increase in severity.
The modern medical model is useful for acute infections and emergencies, but it has been proven to fail patients with chronic concerns over and over again. Those who are interested in a more proactive approach to their health and wellness struggle to find the support they are looking for in a traditional medical setting.
More and more, patients are starting to wake up to their individual needs. They are looking to their providers to find the source of a chronic condition, or they want guidance on lifestyle changes that will prevent them from 'ending up like their parents.' These patients often find themselves frustrated because they don’t feel seen or heard.
It is long past time that we change the treatment paradigm to help our patients heal. It’s time that we listen – really listen – to their concerns and teach them how to listen to what their bodies are telling them
When patients talk to me, there are two things I consistently find. The first is that the source of most health concerns is a lack of knowledge. They simply don’t know what their body is trying to tell them. The second is that stress is the true basis of disease. The lack of understanding combined with stress leads to disembodiment, confusion, fear, pain, and suffering. Left untreated, these can lead to chronic illnesses like fatigue, anxiety, depression, digestive upset, skin issues, chronic pain, and more. Unfortunately, when these symptoms are still not addressed properly, more severe outcomes, like arthritis, diabetes, fibromyalgia, heart disease, and cancer, lie ahead.
I cannot emphasize enough how important it is to pay attention to your body. Our holistic health team can help you interpret what it’s trying to say.
We follow the Pentagon of Wellness, a holistic framework for patient care. This biospychosocialspiritual model of care is designed to assess and treat the whole person. We don’t just teach our patients how to manage the symptoms of disease; instead, we teach them how to reclaim and heal their own bodies. Through education, we guide patients through the exploration of their physical body, thoughts, behaviors, experiences, and beliefs. It’s a process of partnership where we empower them to be curious and knowledgeable about what their bodies need and to recognize their immense capacity for healing.
Your body has so much to tell you. We’ll be right here waiting for you when you’re ready to listen.
Book a Free Discovery Call with me and let’s start the conversation on what your body is trying to tell you.
Chat soon,
Danielle Bararuk
Danielle Bararuk
BScPT