How do you talk about Dis-Ease

How Do You Talk About Dis-Ease?

By James Duncan, CHt © 2005

One of the most important factors in achieving wellness or creating and maintaining health is the way in which we think and talk about our health and the challenges we face in our health. Unfortunately so many people are completely unaware of how the words and concepts we choose to think and use to discuss our health have the potential to impact it to an amazing degree. This impact can very often have a negative effect over the long term if gentle and compassionate care is not given to the reframing of these concepts of health.

The first idea I like to share when I lecture to or work with those challenged by health issues, is that we humans are a very possessive group. It boils down to the ideas; what we have, we want to keep and what we lose we want to get back. I regularly teach those facing cancer or other so-called “catastrophic” dis-ease to strike the words, “I have ______” from their thoughts and vocabulary. In the same token, we should release the phrase “I had ______” as well. To repeatedly and habitually say one HAS something that erodes one’s health is a textbook example of positive reinforcement in a negative direction. The concept of a person who has recovered a health challenge and uses the phrase “I had _____” is less obvious in it’s negative reinforcement, but since we humans want back what we lose, our subconscious mind wants that dis-ease we HAD back. So, how do we reframe these ideas? It is easy enough if the care is taken to be consistent in the reframing process. For example, instead of saying “I have cancer” it becomes “I am dealing with cancer” or “I am facing cancer”. When we have dealt with something we are finished with it. When we face something we always have the choice to turn away from it. In the case of being healed of a health issue we change “I had cancer” to “I overcame cancer”. These first seeds of reframed thought are a very powerful beginning to positive reinforcement in a positive direction and can have tremendous effect on well-being.

A favorite suggestion I make to anyone facing health challenges is to buy a can of Static Guard and place it on the bathroom sink or kitchen counter where it is seen repeatedly throughout each day. Simply seeing that purple and orange spray can quite simply and effectively reminds us in a humorous sort of way to be on guard for remaining “static” in our health and our beliefs in our health. It is a reminder to constantly assess our thought process and keep negative programs in check.

James Duncan, CHt

Certified Hypnotherapist ~ IMDHA Fellow

108 E 5th St – Space F

Royal Oak, MI 48067 USA

248-635-2935

www.DuncanHypnotherapy.com