From Illness to Empowerment: Embrace the Wisdom of Your Body.

I've been dealing with two chronic illnesses called eczema and asthma for most of my life.

Even if I tried different medical treatments like creams and vaccines, my condition has been getting worse over time.

The doctors have always told me that the root causes were "unknown" and that I would have to manage the rushes and flare-ups for the rest of my life.

I don't know about you but I've always thought that the medical system has not been taken into account:

1. The fact that we're holistic beings.

2. Every part of it is interrelated and co-dependent on a context or environment.

When I talk about this with people, they seem uncomfortable sharing their thoughts on the subject.

It's as if they find it hard to understand the complexities of the human body, or there's no middle line between science and mambo jumbo esoteric nonsense.

These are some common beliefs I've heard:

• Illnesses are problems in our bodies that show up as symptoms.

• These problems can happen for random reasons or because of our genes.

• The body's defense system can attack itself, causing problems.

• Sometimes people mistake symptoms for illnesses themselves.

In a world where people want to avoid physical discomforts, such as my personal experience with eczema and asthma, it makes sense that the main goal of our medical system is to make the symptoms go away.

However, I have discovered that while cortisone treatments may have temporarily silenced the rashes, they failed to address the underlying cause of my condition.

Just because the symptoms disappear does not mean that our bodies are recovering.

It means that the alarms telling us something is wrong are being muted with artificial treatments.

WHY IS THIS A PROBLEM?

• This way of thinking doesn't consider that our bodies have the ability to heal themselves if we give them the right conditions.

• It encourages a mindset of "fighting against" and neglects self-reflection and individual empowerment.

WHAT IF WE CHANGED HOW WE THINK ABOUT IT?

FUN FACT: In French, when you say the word "maladie," it sounds like "mal a dit," which means that the pain we feel is trying to say something, to communicate.

Illnesses could be seen as signals that our bodies use to tell us something is wrong through symptoms.

Symptoms are not random and they can be caused by our genes or how our genes are affected by the environment.

For example, some individuals may have a genetic predisposition to allergies, which can manifest as symptoms like sneezing, itching, and watery eyes when they are in contact with specific allergens such as pollen or pet dander.

Symptoms are not something bad. They are actually a way our body adapts and responds to things that happen to us physically, emotionally, or in our surroundings.

Have you ever touched something really hot by mistake?

Well, our bodies are pretty smart! When that happens, our body automatically pulls our hand away without us even thinking about it.

The pain we feel is like a signal that tells us something is wrong, like a warning sign. It helps our body react and keeps us safe.

Symptoms are not the same as illnesses, but they show that our body is alive and working.

When we have a fever, it is a symptom that our body is fighting off an infection.

The elevated temperature is a natural response as our immune system works to combat the invading pathogens and restore health.

Instead of trying to fight against symptoms, we should focus on understanding them.

Let's say someone keeps having headaches that won't go away.

Instead of just taking medicine to make the pain stop for a little while, it would be better to figure out what's causing the headaches in the first place.

It could be things like feeling stressed, not drinking enough water, or not getting enough sleep.

Let us shift our mindset from a war-like mentality to one of curiosity and growth.

Instead of thinking of it as a battle, we should see it as a chance to learn and find solutions.

Our body is like a teacher, guiding us and showing us how to live.

In the end, being truly healthy means more than just not being sick. It's about living a full and vibrant life and being able to adapt to whatever comes our way.

When we work together, we can discover the amazing things we're capable of and create a future where we are strong, happy, and empowered.

Katja Zandecki.