Iatrogenic illness

Iatrogenic illnesses are illnesses unwittingly generated by the treatment system. We diagnose problems and tell patients they are sick- and lo! They become sick!
Discuss.

 

So true Riv…what the mind believes when its at it weakest

 

Andrea (@amarie133 ) had an example in her recent Success Story post (95%!) - from her practice as a massage therapist:
This last week I saw a patient who went to a chiro, he told her that her back pain levels should be worse after a series of bike accidents the last few years. Within a week her pain levels went from manageable to 8/10. She told me "wow, he was really correct with his diagnostic skills." Ahhhhhhh! Lesson learned, be mindful what you tell your patient.

 

I was referred to an orthotics specialist at one point quite a number of years ago. Over the years, he prescribed more and more radical adjustments to my orthotics to the point of absurdity, trying to make my gait "perfect".

Several months before I discovered Dr. Sarno, I was seeing a cranio-sacral M.D. who told me I didn't need the orthotics, and to replace all the original liners in my shoes. I had such faith in him, that I did what he said, and that was it for the orthotics, I never felt the need to go back to them. And of course I never went back to the orthotics specialist.

None of this made sense until I read The Divided Mind several months later. At which point I also said bye-bye to the M.D, but I did thank him for starting me on the path to recovery. He had the concept, he just didn't give me all of the information!

 

If all you have is a hammer, everything looks like a nail.

 

Yeah Riv44, my dr. and pt diagnosed me with forearm and thumb tendonitis/osis. So I had this picture in my head that my tendons were frayed, aged and degenerated. The affirmations and visualizations were a crucial part in erasing this from my mind. "My tendons are healthy and strong, my arms are healthy and strong..."
In my acupuncture and massage practice, I am now taking a strong direction not to give my patients any sort of negative feedback, long time frames for healing, etc. and instead affirm and encourage them that they will find their way to better health and feeling well.
Many of us through our culture and various life circumstances have such a disconnect from our bodies/minds/spirit that we look to others to fix us. This is helpful to a certain point (thank you immensely Dr. Sarno), but when we begin to heal, we recognize that WE ARE OUR OWN HEALER the entire time.