2010 Changes Military and Benefits - Chiropractic Services

The 2010 Defense Authorization Act is now law. The act includes many changes in how the military is funded and operates in 2010.
Section 725 of the act requires the Secretary of Defense to provide chiropractic services and benefits as a permanent part of the Defense Health Program, including the Tricare program, for all active-duty service members.

IF THIS AFFECT YOU AND YOU HAVE CONCERNS OR QUESTIONS LET ME KNOW.

DR. R. BARRY SAMS

(208) 888-7242

HAVE A HAPPY SAFE HOLIDAY SEASON!

To All My Patients and their Family and Friends:

I want to express a wonderful holiday season and that everyone enjoy their holiday with being safe and the best for the New Year!

CHIROPRACTIC CARE - GET THE FACTS?

As we approach the end of the year many people make new year's resolutions and I want to mention a few facts about Chiropractic Care and the benefits. Perhaps in 2010 you experience the need to see a Chiropractor these facts can make you feel good about your first visit.

American Chiropractic Association presents this general information:
As evidence supporting the effectiveness of chiropractic continues to emerge, consumers are turning in large numbers to chiropractic care — a non-surgical, drug-free treatment option.

A few interesting facts on this increasingly popular form of health care:

• Chiropractic is the largest, most regulated, and best recognized of the complementary and alternative medicine (CAM) professions. It is the third largest doctoral-level health care profession after medicine and dentistry.

• There are more than 60,000 active chiropractic licenses in the United States. All 50 states, the District of Columbia, Puerto Rico, and the U.S. Virgin Islands officially recognize chiropractic as a health care profession.

• In 2002, approximately 7.4 percent of the population used chiropractic care – a higher percentage than yoga, massage, acupuncture or other diet-based therapies.

• Doctors of Chiropractic undergo at least four years of professional study. The Council on Chiropractic Education, an agency certified by the Department of Education, currently recognizes 15 chiropractic programs at 18 different locations. In addition, Doctors of Chiropractic must pass national board examinations and become state-licensed prior to practicing.

• Doctors of Chiropractic provide care in hospitals and other multidisciplinary health care facilities. A few notable examples of chiropractic integration into today’s health care system include the chiropractic department at the National Naval Medical Center in Bethesda, Md., and the care provided to veterans, active-duty military personnel, and Medicare patients.

Who is the typical Doctor of Chiropractic?

Nearly 82 percent of all doctors of chiropractic are in full-time practice, with the average chiropractor working between 40 to 45 hours per week.

The majority (61 percent) of chiropractors work in an office in which they are the only doctor. Nearly one-third (31 percent) share an office with one or more chiropractors. The remaining doctors work in a multi-disciplinary setting, work in academia, or conduct research.

According to data from 2003, 82 percent of chiropractic practitioners are male.

Who is the typical chiropractic patient?

More than 35 percent of patients receiving chiropractic care were being treated for midor low-back pain, and almost 20 percent were being treated for neck pain. More than half of those surveyed said that their symptoms were chronic.

Approximately 60 percent of all chiropractic patients are female.

Conditions commonly treated by chiropractors include, but are not limited to, back pain, neck pain, headaches, sports injuries, motor vehicle accident injuries, and repetitive strains. Patients also seek treatment of pain associated with other conditions, such as arthritis.

So, perhaps in 2010 you will think of calling me so I can mentor you with your healthcare issues.

CALL AND SCHEDULE AN APPOINTMENT TODAY!

(208) 888-7242

IT'S NEVER TOO EARLY BUT COULD BE TOO LATE!

Pillow Support and Comfort

It is a very comforting feeling to have just the right pillow to rest an achy, tired body on. In addition to providing comfort, the right pillows can also provide the necessary support for the neck and spine—alleviating or preventing many common forms of back pain and neck pain.


Main benefits of Pillows:
Use of a pillow while sleeping has two main functions:
• Support: From a physical perspective, pillows prop up the head, neck and shoulders - keeping them in alignment, relieving pressure and counterbalancing the points in the body.
• Comfort: From a more subjective perspective, pillows create a feeling of comfort, which aids in getting a good night’s sleep and feeling well rested.

Mattress top pillow:
The traditional pillow is the mattress top pillow - used to provide support for the head, neck, and upper spine while the body is lying in bed in a resting position. For optimum support, it is best to select a pillow that has the following characteristics:
Pillow is designed to keep the spine in natural alignment
The human neck curves slightly forward (to sustain the weight of the head when upright), and it’s important to maintain this curve when in a resting position. If the height of the pillow is too high when sleeping sideways or on the back, the neck is bent abnormally forward or to the side, causing muscle strain on the back of the neck and shoulders. This type of position may also cause narrowing of the air pipe, resulting in obstructed breathing, and sometimes snoring, which can hinder sleep. Conversely, if the height of the pillow is too low, the neck muscles can also be strained.
Based on the body’s measurements and personal preference, the pillow should maintain a height of 4 to 6 inches, properly supporting the head and neck (and shoulders when lying on back).

Pillow feels comfortable:
A large part of what makes a good pillow is personal preference. If the pillow feels comfortable, it’s likely to help one relax, get a good night’s sleep, and feel well rested in the morning. The pillow's surface can also be a source of comfort - some people prefer a pillowcase with a cool, smooth feeling (such as cotton), some prefer warmth (such as flannel), etc.

Pillow is adjustable:
To help the pillow conform to various sleep positions, it is best if the pillow can be adjusted to fit the unique shape and curves and sleeping position of the user. A pillow should mold to one’s individual shape and alleviate any pressure points.

ASK ME ABOUT DETAILS ABOUT MY RECOMMENDATION FOR THE "RIGHT PILLOW".

IT CAN MAKE A WORLD OF DIFFERENCE IN A RESTING SLEEP!

(208) 888-7242

Causes and Treatment Options for Muscle Cramps

A muscle cramp can bring a jogger to his knees or elicit the fear of drowning in a swimmer; however, athletes are not the only individuals to experience a muscle cramp or spasm. According to one estimate, approximately 95 percent of people will at some time in life experience the sudden, sharp pain associated with a muscle cramp. A muscle spasm is an involuntary contraction of a muscle, part of a muscle, or several muscles that usually act together. If the spasm is forceful and sustained, it becomes a cramp. Most people describe a muscle cramp as a feeling of tightness in the muscle; it’s not unusual to feel a lump of hard muscle tissue underneath the skin in the vicinity of the cramp. During a spasm or cramp, it may be painful, or even difficult, to use the affected muscle or muscle group.
Cramps and spasms can affect any muscle, even those affiliated with the body’s various organs; however, they are most common in the calves, hamstrings, and quadriceps. Cramps in the feet, hands, arms, and lower back occur frequently, as well.
Many possible causes
Common as they are and painful as they can be, a shroud of mystery surrounds the cause of muscle spasms and cramps. Some researchers believe that inadequate stretching and muscle fatigue lead to cramps. According to the University of Michigan, other possible factors include a low level of fitness, overexertion (especially in intense heat), stress, and depletion of electrolytes through excess sweating or dehydration. Certain diuretic medications can also cause cramping due to a loss of sodium, potassium, and magnesium.
Treatment of muscle spasms
Typically, muscle cramps require no treatment other than patience and stretching; medicines are not generally needed to treat an ordinary muscle cramp. Gentle and gradual stretching, along with massage, may ease the pain and hasten recovery.
When a muscle spasm or cramp is the result of an injury, applying ice packs for the first two to three days may help alleviate the pain. Spasms that last a long time may be treated with moist heat for 20 minutes several times a day.
If you tend to get muscle cramps during exercise, make sure you drink enough fluids, and, after your workout, consider a warm Epsom salt bath followed by stretching of the affected muscles. Generally speaking, water is sufficient for rehydration; however, some may find a sports drink or juice beneficial as a means to restore their body’s electrolyte balance.
If your muscle cramps are associated with a specific medical condition, keep in mind that you need to address the underlying health problem for the cramps to subside.
Tips for Prevention
As with any health condition, it is always best to prevent muscle cramps or spasms—especially if you tend to develop them. Consider altering your diet and lifestyle by incorporating the following suggestions:
Take steps to improve your diet. Eliminate sugar and caffeine from the diet, and increase consumption of fiber and protein. In addition, remember to eat plenty of calcium- and magnesium- rich foods, such as green leafy vegetables, yogurt, legumes, whole grains, tofu, and Brazil nuts. High-potassium foods, including bananas, avocados, lima beans, and fish, may also be helpful.
Before and after you exercise, stretch muscle groups that tend to cramp.
Incorporate strengthening exercises into your fitness routine.
Avoid dehydration. To prevent dehydration, consume plenty of fluids and foods high in water such as fruits and vegetables.
Avoid excess sodium and soda (high in phosphoric acid), as they can leach calcium.
Avoid chocolate, caffeine, and alcohol, which can interfere with magnesium absorption.
Improve your posture. For example, you may have mid-back spasms after sitting at a computer desk for too long in an awkward position.
Vitamin E has been said to help minimize cramp occurrence. Although scientific studies documenting this effect are lacking, anecdotal reports are common and fairly enthusiastic. Since vitamin E is thought to have other beneficial health effects and is not toxic in usual doses, taking 400 units of vitamin E daily could be considered.
Discuss with me today if your cramps are severe, happen frequently, respond poorly to simple treatments, or are not related to obvious causes like strenuous exercise. These could indicate a possible problem with circulation, nerves, metabolism, hormones, medications, and/or nutrition.

CALL TODAY: (208) 888-7242

FOR HEALTH AWARENESS ON THIS SUBJECT.

Chiropractic Approach to Ear Infections

Ear problems can be excruciatingly painful, especially in children. With 10 million new cases every year, ear infections (otitis media) are the most common illness affecting babies and young children and the number one reason for visits to the pediatrician—accounting for more than 35 percent of all pediatric visits.
Almost half of all children will have at least one middle ear infection before they're a year old, and two-thirds of them will have had at least one such infection by age 3. The symptoms can include ear pain, fever, and irritability. Otitis media can be either bacterial or viral in origin, and frequently results from another illness such as a cold. For many children, it can become a chronic problem, requiring treatment year after year, and putting the child at risk of permanent hearing damage and associated speech and developmental problems.
Standard treatment for most cases of otitis media is with antibiotics, which can be effective if the culprit is bacterial (antibiotics, of course, do nothing to fight off viruses). But, according to many research studies, antibiotics are often not much more effective than the body's own immune system. And repeated doses of antibiotics can lead to drug-resistant bacteria that scoff at the drugs, while leaving the child screaming in pain.
Frequent ear infections are also the second most common reason for surgery in children under 2 (with circumcision being the first). In severe cases—for example, when fluids from an ear infection haven't cleared from the ear after several months, and hearing is affected—specialists sometimes prescribe myringotomy and tympanostomy, more commonly known as "ear tubes." During the surgical procedure, a small opening is made in the eardrum to place a tube inside. The tube relieves pressure in the ear and prevents repeated fluid buildup with the continuous venting of fresh air. In most cases, the membrane pushes the tube out after a couple of months and the hole in the eardrum closes. Although the treatment is effective, it has to be repeated in some 20 to 30 percent of cases. And this kind of surgery requires general anesthesia, never a minor thing in a small child. If the infection persists even after tube placement and removal, children sometimes undergo adenoidectomy (surgical removal of the adenoids)—an option that is effective mostly through the first year after surgery.
Before yet another round of "maybe-they'll-work-and-maybe-they-won't" antibiotics or the drastic step of surgery, more parents are considering chiropractic to help children with chronic ear infections. Dr. Joan Fallon, a chiropractor who practices in Yonkers, New York, has published research showing that, after receiving a series of chiropractic adjustments, nearly 80 percent of the children treated were free of ear infections for at least the six-month period following their initial visits (a period that also included maintenance treatments every four to six weeks).
"Chiropractic mobilizes drainage of the ear in children, and if they can continue to drain without a buildup of fluid and subsequent infection, they build up their own antibodies and recover more quickly," explains Dr. Fallon. She'd like to see her pilot study used as a basis for larger-scale trials of chiropractic as a therapeutic modality for otitis media.
Dr. Fallon uses primarily upper-cervical manipulation on children with otitis media, focusing particularly on the occiput, or back of the skull, and atlas, or the first vertebra in the neck. "Adjusting the occiput, in particular, will get the middle ear to drain. Depending on how chronic it's been and on where they are in their cycle of antibiotics, children generally need to get through one bout of fluid and fight it off themselves." That means, for the average child, between six and eight treatments. If a child's case is acute, Dr. Fallon will check the ear every day, using a tympanogram to measure the ear and track the movement of the eardrum to make sure that it's draining. "I'll do adjustments every day or every other day for a couple of days if they're acute, and then decrease frequency over time."
Dr. Fallon, whose research garnered her the acclaim of childrearing magazines like Parenting and Baby Talk, often sees great success when she treats a child for otitis media. "Once they fight it themselves, my kids tend to do very well and stay away from ear infections completely. Unless there are environmental factors like smoking in the house, an abnormally shaped Eustachian tube, or something like that, they do very well," she says.
"I have two large pediatric groups that refer to me on a regular basis. In the winter, when otitis is most prevalent, I see five or six new children each week from each group," says Dr. Fallon. "It's safe and effective and something that parents should try, certainly before inserting tubes in their children's ears."

Chiropractic Care Can Help...
Talk to me about your ear infections or your child's ear infections and let's work together to make certain we have a clear understanding about chiropractic care approach on ear infections.

CALL TODAY....(208) 888-7242

Former House Majority Leader Gephardt Joins Chiropractic Cause

The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) has retained Gephardt Government Affairs, headed by former U.S. House Majority Leader Dick Gephardt, to reinforce its efforts to ensure that any national health care reform legislation passed by Congress includes the services of doctors of chiropractic on par with other physician services in respect to access, reimbursement and scope of practice.
ACA hired Gephardt Government Affairs to enhance its current lobbying efforts and to underscore the necessity of including chiropractic care without limitations and on an equal level to other health care providers. Gephardt, one of Washington’s most respected and well-known political figures, has been a strong proponent of the chiropractic profession. His company is one of Washington’s top public affairs groups.
“The American Chiropractic Association continues to work to achieve professional and patient-focused goals in the health care reform debate,” said ACA President Rick McMichael, DC. “We are maximizing our effectiveness by having Dick Gephardt and his team on the side of doctors of chiropractic. This is a critical time in the ongoing health care reform debate, and ACA is taking this significant step forward to ensure chiropractic is rightfully included.”
“Chiropractic care is a valuable and cost-effective service,” said Dick Gephardt. “I am pleased to be working with the American Chiropractic Association to ensure that doctors of chiropractic and chiropractic services are treated equitably in the reformed health care system.”
ACA, based in Arlington, Va., is the largest chiropractic organization in the United States. The association provides lobbying, public relations, professional and educational opportunities for doctors of chiropractic, funds research, and offers leadership for the advancement of the profession. ACA promotes the highest standards of ethics and patient care, contributing to the health and well-being of millions of chiropractic patients.

HAPPY THANKSGIVING!

TO ALL MY PATIENTS I WISH YOU A WONDERFUL AND HAPPY THANKSGIVING.

Snow-Shoveling Safety Tips - Watch Your Back

As we enter winter we have to deal with some of the unpleasures that come with it such as shoveling snow. Anyone who has shoveled snow before knows how good a workout it can be. When you consider that the average shovel-full of snow weighs 5-10 pounds, the average drive or walkway may hold hundreds of pounds of snow. Typically, the arms, shoulders and back get sore and may occasionally feel pain. The cold air invigorates most people into action; however, the same cold air can numb the sensations of pain and fatigue. Unfortunately, pain is a sign that an injury has already occurred or that mechanically you are doing something incorrect in shoveling the snow.
I share the following information with my patients every year. I will often format it into a handout for patients to take home or to give out to others. You may want to edit it or add a few more points depending on your practice style, but it's important information to share if you practice in an area of the country that gets snow.
There is a right way and a wrong way to shovel snow - paying attention to your technique can make a big difference in how you feel the next day. As with any project, the prep work is the most important. The following are some tips on how to shovel snow smarter:
 Be prepared. Spray your shovel with Teflon so the snow will not stick to it. The more snow that stays on the shovel, the heavier it gets and the more chance for injury - and frustration.
 Do a warm-up first. A tight, stiff body is asking for injury. A few minutes of stretching can save you a lot of pain later. When you are shoveling, don't forget to breathe. Holding your breath makes you tight and stiff.
 Layer your clothing. Layered clothing will keep your muscles warm and flexible. You can shed a layer if you get too hot. Make sure you wear gloves that cover your wrists; if your wrists get cold, your fingers, hands and arms will be cold, too.
 Wear the right shoes. Choose shoes with plenty of cushioning in the soles to absorb the impact of walking on hard, frozen ground.
 Use the right size shovel. Your shovel should be about chest high on you, allowing you to keep your back straight when lifting. A shovel with a short staff forces you to bend more to lift the load. A too-tall shovel makes the weight heavier at the end. (Note: Save your money - don't buy a fancy ergonomic shovel; studies have shown that in some models, the hook end is too deep. Twisting to unload a shovelful of snow with this tool may hurt your wrists.) Also keep one hand close to the base of the shovel to balance weight and lessen the strain on your back.
 Timing is everything. Listen to weather forecasts so you can shovel in ideal conditions. If possible, wait until the afternoon to shovel. Many disc injuries occur in the morning when there is increased fluid pressure in the disc because your body has been at rest all night.
 Drink lots of water. Drinking water frequently throughout the day helps to keep muscles and body hydrated. Be careful with hot drinks like coffee or hot chocolate. Coffee contains caffeine, which has a dehydrating effect and adds even more stress to the body.
 Use proper posture. When you do shovel, bend your knees and keep your back straight while lifting with your legs. Push the snow straight ahead; don't try to throw it. Walk it to the snow bank. Try to shovel forward to avoid sudden twists of the torso and reduce strain on the back. The American Chiropractic Association recommends using the "scissors stance," in which you work with your right foot forward for a few minutes and then shift to the front foot.
 Take your time. Working too hard, too fast is an easy way to strain muscles. Take frequent breaks. Shovel for about five minutes at a time and then rest for two minutes.
 Come see us: Gentle spinal manipulation will help keep your back flexible and minimize the chance for injury. If you do overdo it, we can help you feel better and prevent more injury.

Communicate with Your Chiropractor

Over thirty years of practicing I have found that I am often asked "What makes a Perfect Patient"? My answer is simple. I build a partnership with trust and mostly communication. It is very important that you communicate with your chiropractor and work together in making yourself healthy and ensuring that you stay healthy. I am encouraging my patients to take advantage of the added benefit of "health awareness mentoring" they receive as a chiropractic patient in my office. Since at the present time the insurance industry does not reward us for being proactive in taking care of ourselves, the journey to health is truly about shouldering the responsiblity ourselves. Learning about self awareness and taking responsiblity for our own health and health issues empowers us to have much more control over our lives. The issues to be discussed and the opportunity to learn about ourselves is endless. Whether you're fighting through traffic, paying the monthly bills, dealing with the noisy next-door neighbor or struggling with illness or disease, it can all add up to a considerable amount of stress. Stress is basically what we feel whenever we are faced with a difficult, unpleasant or challenging situation, and the way we deal with all this stress can substantially influence our overall health and well-being. If stress is affecting your life, it's time to make an appointment with a doctor of chiropractic. Here's why: A study in the Journal of Manipulative and Physiological Therapeutics (JMPT) examined the contribution of stress as a potential disease trigger among 138 chiropractic patients attending one of 10 chiropractic clinics. Patients completed two questionnaires that asked about how their current stress affected their ability to function emotionally, mentally and physically.
Results showed that nearly one in three patients viewed their lives as moderately to severely stressful, and more than 50% felt that stress had a moderate or severe impact on their current health problem. Nearly three-quarters (71%) of the patients said that it would be helpful if their chiropractic care included strategies to help them cope with stress.
Chiropractic care might be just what you need to help relieve some of that stress in your life. And remember, evidence suggests that low back pain, a condition that chiropractors are experts at managing, may be caused or worsened by stress. So talk to your chiropractor about stress and about all of your health care needs. Trust and communication are important in any relationship, but perhaps no more so than in the relationship between patient and doctor. After all, you're placing your health and wellness in their hands.

"GET YOUR ADJUSTMENT TODAY"

3 WAYS TO CURB YOUR HUNGER

Drink Water

Simply put, drinking water makes you feel full, which makes you less likely to overeat or "cheat" between meals. In addition to the many health benefits of drinking 6-8 glasses of water a day, water is recommended as a weight-loss aid - experts suggest drinking a full glass of water before eating a meal if you're trying to drop pounds. Fill up with water and there won't be room to gorge.




Control Stress
Stress is a major contributor to binge eating; think about the last time you were in a stressful situation; was food one of the things you relied on to relax? Comfort eating is prevalent in our stressful society, and it's a dangerous thing; in fact, it may be one of the major reasons the majority of Americans are overweight and suffering from weight-related health problems.

Eat Regularly
It may sound counterintuitive, but it's true: The more frequently you eat small, well rounded meals, the less prone you are to hunger pangs. Eating 4-6 meals and snacks throughout the day keeps your blood glucose levels stabilized and continually feeds the body with fuel, which can help you avoid those sudden urges to down an entire container of ice cream or bag of chips.

Know Your Back Quiz - Do You Know How To Take Care Of Your Back?

You've probably heard numerous recommendations about how best to take care of your back. But do you really know, for example, if you should use ice or heat on your back? Or if a back belt helps you lift more weight?

Take this quiz to find out what's fact and what's fiction. Scroll to the bottom for correct answers.

1. How should you protect your back when lifting?
               a. keep your back straight
               b. stand with your feet parallel
               c. hold your load close to your body

2. True or False? Back belts allow you to lift more weight.
               a. true
               b. false

3. Which is better for your back: pushing or pulling?
               a. pushing
               b. pulling

4. True or False? Prolonged bed rest will cure back pain.
               a. true
               b. false

5. True or False? Heat is best for acute (severe) back pain.
               a. true
               b. false

6. True of False? Being overweight can contribute to back pain.
               a. true
               b. false

7. True or False? If you have back pain, you should not do weight-bearing exercises.
               a. true
               b. false

8. True or False? Strengthening abdominal muscles may prevent back pain and provide some relief if you already have back pain.
               a. true
               b. false

9. The best time to stretch is:
               a. in the morning
               b. throughout the day
               c. after work

GET READY FOR THE ANSWERS

1. The correct answer is: c. Hold your load close to your body to avoid straining your back when lifting (especially heavy objects.)

2. False. Back belts do not make you stronger!

3. The correct answer is: a. Pushing. It is better than pulling because your body weight provides the thrust.

4. False. While a brief period of rest may help, staying in bed too long will weaken muscles.

5. False. Anti-inflammatories and gentle stretching are best, followed by an ice pack.

6. True. Excess weight, especially in the stomach, shifts your center of gravity forward and puts additional strain on your back muscles.

7. False. Strength training can help alleviate back pain and prevent further injury, but ask your doctor for guidance.

8. True. Abdominal muscles help support the back, so strong "abs" can take some of the strain off your back muscles.

9. The correct answer is: b. Throughout the day. Stretching keeps your muscles flexible and helps avoid injury.

How well did you do?

The more you know, the better chance you have of avoiding back pain - which affects 80% of the adult population and is the second most common reason people visit their doctors. To find out more ways to improve your back and learn about Chiropractic Care contact me today and we can evaluate you and your health and make sure we place you on a track to stay healthy.

THINK POSITIVE - IT CAN MAKE A DIFFERENCE

As I move foward in the development of my new venture "Life To Your Years" I look forward to all my patients and new patients inquiring about this journey and always must remember to enroll them in my concept that "Positive Thinking" can make a big difference. So wake up each day and say to yourself "What am I doing to make myself more aware about my health and staying healthy. For years, we've heard that psychological factors may profoundly affect the results of treatment for an illness. Consider the stories of "miracle cures" by terminal cancer patients who kept their spirits up and maintained that "never say die" attitude throughout treatment.A recent study in the journal Spine suggests that pessimistic thinkers may have trouble recovering from low back pain. The authors examined the relationship between patient expectations of treatment benefits and treatment outcomes. One hundred thirty-five patients with chronic LBP were divided into either a massage or an acupuncture treatment group. Prior to the study, patients rated how helpful they expected their treatment to be on a scale from 0-10 (10 being extremely helpful). Following 10 weeks of treatment, the functional ability of each patient was determined using a disability scale.
Participants with higher expectations for their treatment experienced less pain in 86 % of cases, while patients with low expectations only improved in 68 % of cases. Odds of improvement were five times greater for the high-expectation group than the low-expectation group after adjusting for other factors, such as physical health, age, education, etc. Patients who expected benefit from one treatment, as opposed to the other, improved more from that particular treatment.
Don't let an illness or health concern get you down! As this evidence suggests, attitude may influence your recovery as much as the actual treatment you receive. Try to be optimistic the next time you receive treatment for any illness, and talk to your doctor about the best way to stay healthy and happy for a lifetime. Call me and ask me about "Health Awareness Mentoring" and the "Self Assessment" that we can provide in getting you to understand your health and making sure you stay healthy.
All my best.

That was It? - The Price of Fame - Michael Jackson - "King of Pop"

I know I won’t be able to sleep until I get put on paper what I feel. I went to see Michael Jackson’s “This is it”, the documentary of his final days as he was creating his last world concert tour. I surprise myself in wanting to talk about him because I was never a “fan” even though I liked much of his music. I occasionally paid attention to the sensationalism of his life and career, but did not follow his life in detail.
I went to see the documentary to see what I would experience emotionally reflecting again on my experience of him as a teenager briefly in a clinical environment. As I have observed the rave reviews calling him the “King of Pop” I have also heard many of his critics malign his character and lifestyle. I decided once and for all I wanted to formulate my own opinion.
Without preconceived expectations I found myself mesmerized by this man’s talent and humility. I also acquired a renewed and intensified esteem for the influence this man had literally over innumerable adults and teenagers as I witnessed their genuine respect for his gifts and his character. It took me back more than thirty years when I spend but a few moments with the boy. Other than being transfixed by his technical creativity and discipline I experienced the identical feelings watching him on film that I did in his presence many years ago. I experienced the sensitivity, vulnerability, and innocence of a little boy.
“That was it” is my way of saying there should and could have been much more of Michael Jackson for us. I believe “This Is It” is as much of a sad commentary on a talented man and an extraordinary life extinguished too soon as it is a tribute to his musical legacy. His talent was paralleled with tremendous anxiety and drive for perfection. Although he originally paid attention to his health, he eventually compromised his health to satisfy the demands of his intense lifestyle. Perhaps the attraction of fame and fortune is more appealing to many than the less glamorous and marketable aspect of health, but in Michael Jackson’s case the loss of his health not only terminated his career but more importantly his life.
Had there been a reasoning voice among those people who most influenced his life to pay attention to balance he would probably still be with us. A healthy life (which requires balance) cannot be purchased or negotiated, it must be earned! The medications to make him sleep, wake him up and give him energy to keep him producing cost him proper rest and essential nutrition which ultimately helped generate the imbalance in his life that literally destroyed his heart.
I admire what I believe was a very sensitive and powerfully creative individual who brought joy and vision to many of his fans. What I fear however is a deadly influence upon many who do not understand the price he paid for disrespecting the laws of good health. His death is even more of a tragedy when it is not acknowledged that it could have been prevented...that is the message that needs to parallel his contribution to the music world as “King of Pop”.

A HAPPY GHOULISH SAFE HALLOWEEN - TRICK OR TREAT

A Halloween tale from my spooky vault.

Most of my life I had a love affair with Halloween because I found it as an opportunity to unleash my playful and creative dimensions of my personality. I started as a teenager creating exotic and unusual haunted houses and it continued well into my professional years. I even went so far as to install a revolving bookcase (revolving from my consultation room to the reception room in my office on cherry Lane in Meridian to entertain my patients. It continued year around as a vehicle for surprising my patients and making them laugh when it was least anticipated. For many years my staff and I prepared for weeks prior to Halloween, trained numerous volunteers, put thousands of people through a black light, music and special effect filled maze from one end of the office to the other. We donated the profits to local school organizations and were fortunate to have local television station and front page coverage on “The Idaho Statesman” newspaper. I ended my yearly intense Halloween projects with the production of “Goose Bumps and Beads of Sweat”, a Horror musical theatrical production complete with maniacal witches, large slithering snakes and singing blood sucking zombies throughout the audience...it was a riot...and a huge success. Halloween has always been for me a fun adventure filled with bounteous memories of great volunteers, outrageous laughter and miles of smiles. So to all my patients today I wish you a HAPPY SAFE HALLOWEEN.

Dottie's Bash - Successful and Memorable - THANKS EVERYONE!

Last Friday October 23rd we had our Party Bash for Dottie. It was a great success and very intimate with our patients who could be with us and those who were thinking of us. Dottie has been an inspiration to me and I want to thank her for all the wonderdul years we have endured successfully.

I want to also thank all the individuals that helped me organize our event and appreciate your time and efforts as I know Dottie does as well.

Well, to another 26 years with Life To Your Years and may all the new experiences we have be as good as those from our fondest memories. Here are some pics of our gathering.

Understanding My Fear - A Breakthrough

It was screaming in my head..get up! Get up and write. I didn’t want to.... or so I thought! I’m tired, I didn’t sleep well...I’m comfortable in bed...It’s cold out there...I don’t really know how to write...I’m not any good...no one is really interested in what I have to say...on and on and on and on.

But it wouldn’t go away...face your FEAR..say what you have to say...at least get it out there..put it on paper...put it on the radio...put it on film...just put it somewhere until someone, somewhere sees it the same way I do.
Of course I am not the only one with this vision but it is so big and so important and so needed that no matter how small or seemingly insignificant my voice may be it still can make a sound that can be heard.
There are many things in life that are important to me God, family, friends, patients, and my health. I don’t believe that I am any different than any one of you and in different stages and times in my life I have become confused of how to arrange my priorities. My health is important because it is the means by which I can move forward with the speed and mental clarity and energy I need to accomplish what I believe is my purpose in life. Perhaps we are similar in that many times in my life I have made poor choices for a thousand different reasons and abused my health. I didn’t respect myself and my health, didn’t feel good about myself, or believed that no one else cared so why should I. Even as starters those and many other reasons somehow often justify my decision to not value my health and to even abuse it. The difference is however, I know better.
There is a knowledge and experience within my being that tells me I am not being honest with myself and that I am afraid. Fearful of what it is going to take to make my voice heard, fearful of the rejection, fearful of the slow progress that I’ve already experienced putting my little toe in the cold water, fearful of my inadequacies getting in the way, fearful of the lack of finances, fearful that I am on the wrong track, fearful that I can’t be the total example that I need to be to be understood and fearful that this journey will end like other times as a disaster in my life.
Well my conclusion through all the rubble of previous earthquakes in my life is that I can’t run away from what I now I must do. Each day brings a new understanding, and a new challenge with another door opened and a consistently renewed vision to get back on track. Whatever it takes the break through my fear is what I must do. See the fear for what it is...rooted in self doubt...and a distortion of the truth. If you believe that you have been created for a reason and you are not an accident...then you may believe as I do there must be reason for all of this chaos, suffering, and even injustice. It is my reason and my passion to press on and encourage you to do the same.

OCTOBER IS NATIONAL CHIROPRACTIC MONTH

National Chiropractic Month is a nationwide campaign held each October. This year’s activities will focus on headache treatment. Nine out of ten Americans suffer from headaches. Some are occasional, some frequent, some are dull and throbbing and some cause debilitating pain and nausea. Chiropractic has been proven to be an effective treatment for several types of headaches including tension headaches and headaches that originate in the neck.

While many people associate chiropractic care as a treatment for bad backs, there is growing documentation that chiropractic is also effective in the treatment of cervicogenic headaches, migraines and cluster headaches. "Research shows that spinal manipulation is an effective treatment option for headaches,".

"Not only does drug-free, conservative chiropractic care provide almost immediate relief from pain, but it has significantly fewer side effects and longer-lasting relief than many commonly prescribed medications."

Additionally, doctors of chiropractic are trained to recommend therapeutic and rehabilitative exercises, as well as to provide nutritional, dietary and lifestyle counseling-all of which are important components in the management of chronic headache pain. If you frequently suffer from headaches, I and ACA recommend the following tips.
• If you spend a large amount of time in one fixed position, such as in front of a computer, take a break and stretch every 30 minutes to one hour.
• Low-impact exercise may help relieve the pain associated with primary headaches.
• Drink at least eight eight-ounce glasses of water a day to help avoid dehydration, which can lead to headaches.
• Avoid slouching.
• Try a low-fat, high-complex carbohydrate diet. A recent study demonstrated that such a diet can dramatically lower the frequency, intensity, and duration of migraine headaches.
• Reduce stress at home and work by planning ahead and engaging in relaxation and breathing exercises.
• Get plenty of sleep and maintain a regular sleep schedule.
This October, during National Chiropractic Month, give me a call and talk with me about how I can review the options of better health awareness mentoring in headache relief through spinal manipulation and chiropractic care.
When it comes to managing headache pain, there's no magic solution that works for everyone, but chiropractic care is certainly an effective treatment option every patient should keep in mind.

HAPPY DAY TO DOTTIE! LET'S PARTY

THE DAY IS HERE! HAPPY DAY TO DOTTIE!

It is with great pleasure that I invite you to join in a celebration with Food and Drink for Dottie Hines. Dottie as most of my patients know has been with me for 26 years and she is also going to be having a birthday. We are having an open house today Friday, October 23, 2009 during 12:00pm-6:0pm at our offices at 1500 W. Barrett Drive in Meridian. Please offer your congrats to Dottie and we look forward to seeing you at our celebration. If you join us you will also be learning about our new journey in Health Awareness Mentoring with "Life To Your Years". I look forward to seeing you and please respond to the invite you received in the mail.

Health Care Reform - Chiropractic Care Update

HEALTCARE REFORM - WEEKLY UPDATE FROM ACA

WATCH MY BACK! - Health Care Reform - GIVE YOUR VOICE!

As the health care reform moves forward we must stand up for our rights and lower health care costs by voting to include chiropractic care as a guaranteed benefit in any health care reform bill approved by congress.
The health care reform debate will mostly impact those unfortunates (of which there are many, regrettably) who have yet to understand and appreciate the wellness that chiropractic care can provide. Their health tends to come in spurts, interrupted by doctor visits, prescription drugs and over-the-counter self-infliction. If you haven't already joined the battle, now is the time. As you may expect, and as has been suggested in several articles in this publication, there are two primary avenues that will allow you and your patients to get involved in the decisions being made for health care reform: ChiroVoice.org and AdjustTheVote.org, the advocacy Web sites of the ACA and the ICA, respectively.
Please don't let your organizational preference shape your participation; their efforts are united and their goal is the same: to increase the odds that more people will have more access to chiropractic care, now and in the future. And isn't that what we all want?
CLICK ON THIS LINK: American Chiropractic Association - Legislative Action Center and make your voice heard on this important matter.

Health Fair Exhibit - Results are Here

This past weekend we participated at the Idaho Business League Health Fair and it was a pleasure seeing all the exhibitors there focused on health issues. The turnout was not was not what we expected but still it gave us good insight as to what people are talking about with their concerns, opinions and overall health care issues.
We will be moving forward and preparing for our seminar early next year and we appreciate all the feedback we have received.
Our website is getting closer to launch and I look forward to meeting new patients as well as taking my existing patients along on my journey with Health Awareness Mentoring.

Health Awareness Fair - Idaho Business League

I am pleased to announce that "Life To Your Years" will be having an exhibit at the 17th Annual Idaho Business League Health, Beauty & Fitness Fair on Saturday October 17th from 10am-5:00pm and Sunday October 18th from 10am-4:00pm. A fun Wellness Event for All Ages and held at the Idaho Expo on 5610 Glenwood, Boise, Idaho 83714.
Many people have questions about their health and all they want are clear and simple answers. Where do they turn for answers? The annual Idaho Health, Beauty and Fitness Fair.
Health Fair targets individuals, families and seniors with this free, fun-filled, educational, general public event emphasizing information, vaccinations, testing, screenings and samples.
I look forward to seeing you there and reviewing all the wonders of Health Awareness Mentoring.

HAPPY COLUMBUS DAY

What is Columbus Day?
Columbus Day is a holiday celebrating the anniversary of the October 12, 1492 arrival of Europeans to the Americas. Christopher Columbus was a was a navigator, colonizer and explorer whose voyages across the Atlantic Ocean led to general European awareness of the American continents in the Western Hemisphere.
What a perfect example of being your own explorer and advocate for Health Awareness Mentorning. To learn and explore all you can about your health and staying healthy.
May everyone enjoy this holiday and learn about Christopher Columbus.

"The Health Care Revolution" - The Dream and the Vehicle

The Health care system in this country should be devoted to support each one of us through our life journey.

“We need the Inspiration to take care of ourselves, to get healthy, maximize our health and live productive lives”

Health care begins and ends with a decision of whether or not our health is important to us. If we value health recognizing it is one of the most important aspects of our lives that accompanies us from birth to death, we begin to understand the importance of protecting, nurturing and improving it.

Health care reform will only truly mature toward a health care system for the people, by the people and of the people when we recognize it must be repaired from the ground-up not from the top- down. Administrators, legislators, CEOs, and even teachers or philosophers are confused and even lost in understanding the essence of health, and what it takes to get healthy and stay healthy. This is why it is so important that you value your health as a precious and unique asset. It is your privilege and responsibility to recognize that no one should ever understand it better than you. It lives inside of you and runs like an incredibly sophisticated and intuitive computer. Health care reform in its journey to restructure health care delivery should acknowledge and demand respect for that truth to be able to create a health care system that is truly dedicated to taking care of its people. This is how to develop a system from the bottom- up, from the individual upward towards bureaucracy and management, rather than the other way around.
To create a health care system that truly understands who you are, what you are about and how to take care of you is about a system that is interested in supporting you in getting healthy and staying healthy. The current health care system is more preoccupied with how to get you out of illness rather than to keep you out of illness. When we view health as an investment rather than a lottery we will not have to worry about it being inappropriately legislated, exploited by entrepreneurs or the media, or viewed as a vehicle to fame or fortune. We don’t want a health care system that benefits at someone else’s expense. Health is not a commodity, it is a gift, and like everything else in life it can be appreciated, honored and protected or it can be exploited. Health care should support a personalized lifestyle of continued understanding and practice of understanding and reaching for optimal health.
The development of such an idea, a process, a dream, and a system starts within the dormant brilliance of the heart, mind and soul. As you begin to recognize your capacity, your abilities, and your talents, a vision of possibilities will unfold. Acknowledging your health as a vehicle and an asset of incomprehensible value that accompanies you from birth to death is an awakening of a wisdom that will ignite and fuel change in your life. As your awareness expands and your eyes are fully able to comprehend your own health, you begin to understand the importance of protecting, nurturing, and improving it throughout life. The objective of health awareness mentoring is to stimulate that awakening as soon in life as possible and then nurture it throughout your life.
White House Reform Status

Something Wonderful in Technology is Coming Our Way

In my practice I get many questions and one that has been resurfacing over and over again is "Dr. Sams, why don't you have a website to share all your vast health knowledge"? Well, it's with great pleasure that I announce the development of our website "Life To Your Years" (lifetoyouryears.com).
My team and I have been working very hard to produce a great website that will ensure the best information possible for all of our patients. In the coming weeks we will have great website to have the all the resources dedicated in keeping it up to date and provide a one source information highway to guide you in all aspects of "great health".
Our site will expose you to Chiropractic care as well as Health Awareness Mentoring which I have been promoting my whole career. I'm passionate to share my vision and dedicated that everyone has the opportunity to share in this wonderful new endeavor.
The benefits of having this new form of communication will be informative health related topics, customized newsletters, a patient center for forms, the ability to request an appointment, a health and wellness library of content and articles of interest. As we move forward with this new tool we will be developing an online store, a payment center for treatments and presenting other new feature enhancements specially designed for you.
I know you will embrace this site and my team and I are happy to have this new form of technology and communication to better serve you.
I thank you for your support and I look forward to hearing your comments and please don't hesitate to make suggestions on issues you think are important.
I will keep you informed as we approach the launch of "Life To Your Years".

It Happend Again! - Has it Happend To You?

It happened again, this time over great food with a friend. During a lunch buffet at the Mai Thai restaurant in Eagle, modern Thai and Japanese Cusine, with one of the most flavorful, healthy and best priced experiences for me in the treasure valley. Lunch was with Farzine, a realtor who I consider to be a wise, gentle, kind, generous, and honest businessman.
During the course of our conversation he mentioned he didn’t eat chicken which of course caught my attention. I asked why and he said “I’m type B blood type”. Because of my interest in “Eating right 4 your blood type” I was immediately on to specific questioning. I discovered again, yet another person who read, understood, and was practicing some of the health principles found in this book. I as particularly impressed because he believed in the same approach to the philosophy that I did. It’s not about making your whole life and food experience evolve around how and what kinds of food you eat, but to certainly pay attention to how they affect your health and then make better food choices. Another one of those delicious and enlightening lunch time experiences with a friend.

How Does It Feel To Be Loved?

In those hours of self pity, self doubt and discouragement I would probably say “I don’t know” how it feels to be loved. There aren’t too many subjects, that have been written about more than this subject. I’ve heard it been said that love is more a decision than a feeling and I am beginning to believe that is true.
I had a phone discussion with a friend last night that reminded of the power of that decision...I’ll call it my “decision to love.” In reflection of memories of past feelings and my interpretation of them I believe I know what it is like to not feel loved. If you are a human being and you live on this planet you probably have “experienced or felt” similar feelings at one time another in your lifetime. It does not feel good. As a matter of fact I would call it some of the darkest hours of my existence when the loneliness and despair seem like (although I acknowledge truly brief) painfully endless periods of time.
Then somehow or other (many discussions in the future on how that is) I pull out of it, the sun shines, the emptiness disappears, and life feels full and incredibly satisfying again. Why? I believe this is a natural cycle that most of us experience and must learn to manage to truly be healthy. The absence of understanding and even appreciating the value of these kind of experiences in our lives frequently leads to the abuse of antidepressants, misguided counseling, and self perpetuated and unnecessary depression. Please do not misunderstand. I am very empathetic to those who experience legitimate (particularly chemically/physiologically induced depression. I refer now to those of us in the majority who do not fit in that category. Those of us who in the realm of living and life’s experiences must learn to accept, understand and develop healthy coping mechanisms (attitudes) about how to handle this kind of stress. Yes, I said it. I refer to yet another kind of stress (depression that comes from not feeling loved) that can destroy our health if we don’t learn to manage it well.
So what does this have to do with the decision to love? When these occasions (dark hours) show up in our lives it then becomes the time to employ some of our stress and emotional management tools. Finding the courage to open our eyes to acknowledge those in our lives who do love us is the process of making love a decision. Our struggle during those times is lightened when we chose to abandon self absorption and what feels to be missing in our lives...and consciously replace them with the positive emotions of appreciation and gratitude. I have learned to be grateful and to savor the subtleties in gestures that say I love you, appreciate you, and thank you. It brings tears to my eyes, a palpable warmth to my heart, and a renewal of the feeling that I know what it is like to feel loved.

How To Reduce the Need for Chiropractic Adjustments

I am frequently asked by my patients and others why it is that my patients seem to need more chiropractic adjustments than I do (the doctor). It is a very legitimate question and one in my opinion that deserves a response. The answer is simple and at the heart of health awareness mentoring....do it for yourself!

No, I am not being sarcastic. The essence (at the core) of physical health is movement. I am sure you all get endlessly fatigued, even annoyed at times by me asking what kind of exercise are you doing. The bad news is that this kind of questioning is not going to go away. The good news is that is worth repeating endlessly because it is a universal principle that health, energy, alertness, and a positive attitude are directly linked to the quality and consistency of movement in our life.

When you add in movement (i.e a regime of walking) into your daily routine, you are doing yourself a huge favor. You will discover that the additional tissue circulation and oxygenation will brighten your outlook on life, reduce your stress (actually give you alone time and an opportunity to decide how to better manage your stress), improve digestion and elimination and stimulate breathing capacity (just to name a few of the health benefits you’ll receive).

Now for how that applies to reducing the need for chiropractic adjustments. That is accomplished by taking the exercise commitment to the next level. The Chiropractic adjustment again is about movement of the individual segments (vertebrae) of the spine and the associated soft tissues (muscles, tendons and ligaments). On a weekly basis I participate in a variety of physical activities that may surprise you. I understand the necessity of a varied exercise particularly as we age to accommodate our bodies’ need to maintain strength, flexibility and stamina to be able to do all that we have to do individually in a day. Other than walk, I bicycle, occasionally swim, take an energetic step aerobics class, lift weights, do resistance band exercises, take yoga and pilates, and participate in high energy dance exercise classes such as Zumba and Nia to strengthen ligaments and maintain musculoskeletal and neurological balance. These types of exercising and fitness dramatically reduce my need for chiropractic adjustments because they bring mobility to every aspect of my being. Try it yourself...I guarantee as you become familar with the concept it will not only add a wonderful new dimension to your health, but it will also reduce the frequency you will need to visit any health care practitioner.

HEALTH CARE REFORM - Continues

The battle on health care reform wages on. I believe it is not a matter of if but only a matter of when we will see congress present us with the bill. And by the bill I mean the particulars of the new system which they will begin to put into effect and the cost that inevitably will have to be absorbed by the taxpayer.

On Friday, 9/4/09 Baucus ( the Senate’s chief democratic negotiator on a health care bill) said the members of his group agree on several big-picture items, including the need to control costs, provide access to affordable coverage for all Americans and ensure that health care fixes don't add to the deficit. The negotiators have been working on a pared-back bill that would cost under $1 trillion over 10 years and drop contentious components, such as the government-sponsored insurance plan that liberals insist must be in the legislation. Since the Republican leaders are solidly opposed to Obama's approach to the health care reform, the GOP negotiators are under tremendous pressure not to cooperate.

Unfortunately I have not seen any concrete evidence that the plan will make health care more cost effective and quality conscious. The emphasis continues to be making it more universally available. This issue is not only going to get politically much bigger and increasingly more contentious but significantly more important to every American who will be accessing the health care system. Stay tuned , you are going to want to know how this will affect you!

Acetaminophen can be Poison

Acetaminophen overdoes is the leading cause of liver failure in both the United States and Great Britain. Fifty percent of all acute liver failure in the United States is attributed to acetaminophen consumption. While many of these cases result from an overdose, either intentional or unintentional, even “correct dosage” has been cited as causing liver damage, liver failure and death. In the United States, approximately 56,000 liver injuries requiring emergency treatment, 26,000 hospitalizations and 458 deaths per year are attributed to acetaminophen consumption.

One of the main problems with this drug is how easy it is to overdoes unintentionally. As most of us know, acetaminophen is the primary ingredient in medications like Tylenol. But acetaminophen is also in almost 200 brand name and generic products, most of which are available over the counter. These products are as varied as headache and backache pills, cold, flu and sore throat medications. It is not hard to imagine a patient taking acetaminophen for pain and fever and then taking other medications for sore throat, cough, congestion, and cold symptoms. Without a thought, the patient is overdosing. Compound that with the risk of fasting, alcohol consumption or genetic predisposition to liver disease and the patient is destroying his or her liver. We know that fasting is as dangerous as alcohol consumption when taking acetaminophen.

In cost-analysis studies, chiropractic care is often seen as more costly than simply taking acetaminophen for pain. However, if this medication’s long term effects are factored into the equation including liver injuries, liver transplants and death, then chiropractic care looks much more attractive than using this popular drug.

References: William Morgan, D.C., Larson AM, et al. Acetominophen Induced Acute Liver Failure, Nourijah P. Ahmad SR Karwoski C Willy M. Estimates of acetominophen associated overdoes in the United States, Pharmacopidemiol Drug Saf. 2006 June 15; (6): 398-405

Article from the FDA on Liver Injury.

http://www.fda.gov/downloads/ForConsumers/ConsumerUpdates/UCM172664.pdf

Video on the FDA tackles Acetominophen:
http://www.metacafe.com/watch/cb-tvIPZCZcb2Ll5K9bwCQhfIfoqPIixKZN/fda_tackles_acetaminophen/

Laughter Yoga

Laughter is the best Medicine. Check this video out and share some of your Laughter with Someone Today.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0eB3ISAYE-I

Feeling Inadequate - Try a Hair Piece

Have you ever felt that you just weren’t good enough?
Years ago struggling with my identity and losing my hair quickly I did I believe what many of us do when we struggle with issues in our lives like when we feel inadequate, unloved, or somehow lost in the vastness of life...I over compensated!
Looking back I probably see it better now than I did then but is always helpful to examine the process. I call it “crisis plus time equals humor”. Not feeling good enough is a universal feeling and hits most of us sooner or later but what matters most is not that it shows up but what we do with the feeling when it does. Without recognizing it for what it is at the time we may make some poor choices to compensate for the feeling in our effort to make it go away. In my effort to make the feeling go away I looked for a quick solution. Trust me there is no quick solution that removes the feeling, but there is a process that does work. I somehow started equating my feelings of inadequacy with the ongoing loss of my hair. I made the decision to get more hair which would obviously make me feel more competent and whole, right? What was I thinking?
When we are feeling lousy about ourselves we have a tendency to be incredibly vulnerable in our judgment and decision making process. The choices we make at such times can be disastrous or they can be very healthy. I will tell you about my disaster (not an emotionally healthy choice) so that hopefully you will avoid such a mistake in your life. I came across an advertisement (the ultimate temptation when not feeling good about yourself) to have more hair and roll back the aging process (whatever that means). With an impulsive decision to solve my feeling of inadequacy I flew to Philadelphia, Pennsylvania and had a hair piece sewn into my head. I call it my hysterical nightmare! So far away from home I found myself trapped by my own decision. I had not carefully thought through the consequences of my choice. The company which had all the appearances of being successful and legitimate existed as do many other companies to help us temporarily feel better about ourselves had me where they wanted me. I decided I had not gone all that distance not to follow through with my decision and that having more hair would make me feel better about myself. I knew even then that something inside of me was screaming ‘this is not a good decision”. My need to compensate for my feelings of inadequacy were far greater at that moment than my need to understand my feelings and make a better choice.
I completed the procedure. During the surgery I was fully awake with just an anesthetized skull. Their intentions were to not let me see myself until the entire procedure was completed but when I had a brief moment to myself I ran out of the room to find a mirror. The shock of my life ensured. I was living my own horror movie with blood running everywhere down my face and neck and now with a head of spiked hair looking shocking similar to the bride of Frankenstein. It was too late I couldn’t go back I knew at that moment I would have to live with my decision. Before I left Philadelphia I had two major hair cuts and still looked like Liberace on a bad hair day. The nightmare continued having to return to Philadelphia at a moments notice to repair the hair piece. On two occasions I accidentally cut a suture when trimming my hair and the hair piece started unraveling; I had to immediately return to Philadelphia to prevent the hair piece from slipping off on my head. That decision cost me a lot of money and followed me for twelve years until I finally realized it did absolutely nothing to help me resolve my feelings of inadequacy. That whole process from a singular decision ended up being only a bandaid placed over a wound that was having a difficult time healing.
Feelings of inadequacy exist for a reason. Like many other things in our lives they exist to teach us about ourselves. They are valuable moments in time that offer us the opportunity to look inside to see what is really happening and to make necessary changes to make our lives better. From there the fact remains that the only way to resolve the feelings is to face them honestly. Denying their existence or attempting to go around them only delays resolve and inner peace.
When feelings of inadequacy show up first of all allow yourself time to reflect on what is happening to you. If ever there is a time in your life to slow down and pay attention, this is it! You are here for a reason. One of the major reasons feelings of inadequacy show up is because we temporarily cannot see or do not acknowledge that our life has significance and that our journey has purpose. I believe in God and I know with certainty my life matters to Him like I know he watches over you as well. I know that because every time I take the time to slow down and be grateful for the blessings, talents, gifts, and relationships in my life I truly begin to understand that I am not inadequate. Brief periods of loneliness, anxiety, or incompetence are simply momentary blind spots when we are unwilling to acknowledge the goodness, “the silver linings”, or “the pots of gold at the end of our rainbows”. To be thankful for what we already have is the first step in allowing our hearts and minds to find the way out of our feelings of inadequacy. The process is real ...it is universal