Physical Therapists' Use of Cognitive-Behavioral Therapy (CBT) for Older Adults with Chronic Pain: A Nationwide Survey

http://www.ptjournal.org/cgi/content/abstract/89/5/456

The above link is about a telephone survey of PTs from across the USA regarding their use of cognitive-behavioral therapy (CBT). This was in response to evidense in the pain management field that CBT can be effective. The PTs surveyed used CBT techniques minimally due to several factors such as lack of training and time and reimbursement issues.

My take on this: What the conventional medical model is calling CBT is simply another form of connecting the physical body to mental and emotional aspects, which when imbalanced can manifest as physical symptoms. Duh. You see, physical therapy in the USA is trying to find autonomy in the medical profession with advancements in PT education transitioning into a doctorate level and with the evidence-based mind-set (ie. "if it's not perceptible by my five senses, it doesn't exist"). With increasing "got you by the balls" tactics of health insurance companies with decreasing reimbursement for services rendered, the PT profession is being blinded by their own need for autonomy. In other words, the route they're heading for now is a route already tread by the chiropractic and medical professions where trying to establish their "worth" to insurers who care more about the bottom line rather than the actual health care of individuals is an uphill battle.

I've been using so-called CBT approaches for several years now but I never called it that. Back when I was a student right into my early years working as a PT, I had observed a direct relationship between a patient's emotional and mental status to their offending complaint. But whenever direct intervention into the mental and emotional aspects was brought up, it was deemed out of line for our profession and that area of expertise was to be referred to some kind of licensed psychiatric professional. I know what you're thinking: pretty idiotic, right? So you see why if the PT profession continues to neglect the interrelationships of the physical, emotional, mental, and dare I say the spiritual components of the human being, how limited the profession will and currently is?

I walked away from the PT profession in 2007 because I found it to be too restrictive of my nature as a healing professional. Rather than tread the same path as others before me and become frustrated, angry, depressed, and lost, I chose to create my own path in health care.

The good news from this survey is that the PT profession has an opportunity to step outside of what is traditional and explore new avenues.

Meditation & Movement

Many people think they know what meditation is and still have not devoted any effort toward a meditative practice and thus can not really understand it unless they've thoroughly experienced it with open receptiveness and a willingness to change, or explore, their current "thinking"; of which is not truly living thinking but more so "dead" thinking. Thinking, in the ordinary sense, is based upon thoughts which are completed, finished, and the result of as compared to thinking for the sake of thinking itself; the actual process of thinking where the subject, you the "thinker" becomes the object. "Dead" thinking separates the subject from the object disregarding the "process" for the "result" (ie. the actual thought). This leads one "stuck" in the pre-conditioned realm of the subconscious which is based upon past thoughts and previous conditioning. The ego, as a vehicle for one's sense of self attaches itself to the subconscious because it can easily control and manipulate preconceived concepts and contain one's reality. This is how our parents, religion, the government, the media, and multi-national corporations can easily control us.

With "living" thinking there is no separation between the subject and object and it provides a direct link to the superconscious through our intuitions. Our intuitions allow our Soul to be guided by our Spiritual-Divine nature (rather than just our Ego-material nature). With living thinking, or pure thinking, we tap into our essence and experience our eternal capacity. When we are able to bring this capacity back down to earth, we are considered "enlightened", or awakened to a whole new level of existence.

Meditation as a practice allows one to tap into living thinking. Could you imagine if Copernicus did not practice living thinking that he'd ever find the balls to disagree with the norm of his day that the Earth was the center of the Universe?

With meditation, after awhile you become aware of the ability to cultivate refined "energy", or "chi" in the Taoist sense which you can use to harmonize your subtle energy bodies. When movement is added to a practice of meditation it further intensifies the experience and "re-educates" the flow that has become accustomed to stagnation. Stagnation leads to disease. Various disciplines such as qigong, taichi, and yoga utilize meditation and movement which explains their effectiveness.

One does not have to learn the traditional disciplines if one is willing to explore their self. Traditional disciplines may fall into the trap of dogmatism which further tethers one's Soul to the demise of egotism. Meditation and movement can be a free expression of one's Soul individuality which keeps in line with how energy operates, which is constantly in motion in a moment-to-moment dynamic, where nothing is ever the same and is constantly changing. Imagine your life right now if you could experience such presentness.

Who are You?

Two souls, alas, dwell within my breast,
Each wants to separate from the other;
One, in hearty lovelust,
Clings to earth with clutching organs;
The other lifts itself mightily from the dust
To high ancestral regions.

Goethe, Faust I, 1112

Brain Parasites

http://abcnews.go.com/Health/PainManagement/story?id=6309464&page=1

Thanks to my friend Antonio for sharing this link. Parasites in the brain, one wouldn't normally think it's possible but it does make sense. The brain and the gut have many similarities. Just look at the way the structures look similar when you compare the convolutions of the intestines and of the cerebrum as well as the similar amount of neurological structures in both areas. Parasites flourish when the environment within allows for it. Think of them as squatters who take over when given the opportunity (that's why they're classified as "opportunistic organisms"). We normally are able to police parasites with a healthy functioning system. The brain is an organ for thinking and the gut is an organ(s) of metabolism. When the gut isn't functioning properly, other areas take up the slack such as in this case in the brain. The parasite travels to the brain through the circulation (blood).

From a spiritual perspective, the lady in the video may not be using her organ of thinking enough. The right side of the brain is more attuned for experiencing supersensible knowledge and this experience may be a way for her soul to get her attention towards some lacking aspect in her life.

When we do not fully utilize the potential of our organs, they can atrophy and become prey to microbes.

Something to think about.

New Type of Nutritionists?

With the Spring comes gardening time in my backyard and while I was reconditioning and tilling a new plot for planting I came up with the following thought. I know there are different types of "nutritionists" available to the public and it just made sense to me that if someone is going to help others understand about nutrition and food and health and the effects/benefits from what we eat, drink, and breathe, would'nt it be great if that person was also a gardener? There's something about the whole process: from preparing the soils, planting the seeds, watering, pulling out weeds, to full blossoming into ripened fruit onto your plate for a cosmic experience we call a meal.

How many nutritionists or health/wellness professionals that coach clients about food, diet, and nutrition have their own garden? I'm not saying that they should and if they don't they're any less of a professional but my point is the whole process of the experience of taking care of one's own garden connects them deeper with the very subject in which they make a living on.

Consuming organic and/or locally grown produce is great, but wait until you've tried something from your own garden.

I've been in the medical/health/wellness profession for over 13 years now and it wasn't until last year that my wife, son, and I started our own garden. Previous to that I thought I had a decent understanding of food but now I've evolved into a deeper understanding and relationship to the Earth, the Universe/Cosmos, and Man in between. When you eat or drink something, what's your experience? What's behind the initial "it tastes good or it tastes bad" reaction? What's the process all about for you? It might be easier for you to answer these questions after you've consumed something fresh from your garden.

Maybe I'm on to something here. What if in order for one to graduate with a degree in nutrition they had to grow their own garden as part of the curriculum? In fact, everyone of us could be "nutritionists" if we tended our own food. Why go to school when you can start today and plant some seeds.

Successful Liver & Gallbladder Flushes

With the Spring comes the sense that it's time to clean up and many choose to do so with some liver and gallbladder flushing. Here's the thing: a successful flush is not in how many stones you poop out but in what did you experience during the process. What did you learn and come to an understanding about yourself, your body, and life in general? Focus on how many stones expelled is a reflection of how one lives their life guided by the misguided ego where it's all about the "results" and not so much the process. Focusing on the results takes one out of the present by living on expectations. Expectations inevitably brings suffering.

You have the power to eliminate suffering from your life.

Live the moment. Be the moment.

Billions of Dollars and Still No Cures

Ever wonder where all the money that goes into finding cures goes after all these years? Have they been effective? Cancer is still significant. AIDS doesn't seem to be going anywhere. And now we're trying to find a "cure" for obesity. Maybe it's time to look outside the box?

Here's the thing: It's quite possible that the human physical body is not too concerned about being cured. It'd rather be stimulated to wake up its healing capabilities. It'd rather learn through the process of healing rather than be given the result of a cure. What happens when someone always gives you the answers without you trying to figure it out on your own? You get lazy and lose the ability to think for yourself. Just imagine if this possibility was understood by those seeking cures. What would life be like? I'd probably be a very rich (financially) man but being that ours is a society that contines to look for the easy way out or the quick-fix, I'm actually very poor, for now. Emphasis on results leads to chaos; emphasis on the process expands the possibilities and allows one to break free of the "box".