The No Action Problem

This is a question that I ask throughout my blog. Often the solution is simple: Change your food. Suffer from diabetes, out of whack cholesterol, obesity, fibromyalgia and on and on? Change your food. Eat nutrient dense, delicious, non-inflammatory healing food that tastes great. Simple, right?

Not really. So many people are told about this solution and choose not to act. Some of them are even told by the medical doctor – change your food, eat a Weston A. Price (WAP) diet, a Gut and Psychology Syndrome diet, eat a paleo diet (there are lots of links for these). One physician repeatedly refers patients to me (the same patients that he encourages over and over) and tells them to learn how to cook like I do so he doesn’t have to perform surgery or medicate them. How many of them actually decide to try to heal with food? One.

I know someone who had a chance to save his legs from diabetes. An MD I know with tremendous knowledge and credentials (because credentials are important for the completely mainstream segment of the population) was willing to talk with him about eating a no glycemic diet so that he MIGHT have a chance to keep his legs (this person's MDs were clueless). Just change his food and maybe save his legs. He lost one leg and will lose another eventually, along with having a heart attack and losing kidney function. It might have been too late to turn his condition around, but maybe not. We will never know.

The other day I was speaking with someone suffering from depression. I am amazed by the number of people I know who suffer with it. That person said to me that you have to have a certain amount of energy to give toward even making healing foods and it would be hard to find it. I can see how that would be a problem. I have been fortunate in that I have never suffered from depression, so I can’t really understand that, but I can see it. I think this person is motivated, has some support and will be able to dig deep and cure themselves.

Perhaps the people that I come into contact with are often too ill that they can’t even make good decisions. My contacts in the medical community continue to grow, and an MD that I know turned me on to this Evolutionary Psychiatry blog, suggesting that Emily Deans, the author, will help me understand the No Action problem that people face. Emily Deans is an MD who digs deep and thinks big. If you are someone who is facing what seems to be an unconquerable difficulty and are having a hard time taking action, maybe Emily Deans can help you understand why and make the solution more attainable. The list of conditions she addresses impressive. Perhaps you will find yourself there and learn that the actions you need to take are doable.

Finally, I mention throughout my blog that community is critical. If you know what to do and aren’t able to take action, ask for help. Tell your friends what you need – a broth maker once a week, a shopper, a salad dressing maker, whatever it is. Once you begin to get well you will be able to take over, and the journey is shockingly fun! I know it because I am living it, and you can too.

And so many thanks to all you docs who are leading the charge to bigger and better solutions!

Comments

[Maria Droujkova]

I have this problem with physical movement. Over the years, it gradually disappeared from my life. I would be happy not to move much other than walking from room to room or occasionally a stroll, but my body of course isn't happy... So I am trying to find meaningful movement and place for it in my life. It's very hard. For example, I like parkour, but driving half an hour to a meeting, then being outdoors in the heat is quite tiresome...