Millions of Americans suffer from painful medical disorders such as migraines, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and irritable bowel syndrome. While conventional treatment for these problems focuses on medication, researchers at University at Buffalo’s Behavioral Medicine Division argue that behavioral strategies such as diaphragmatic breathing and cognitive change skills are crucial aspects of mind-body health, and that their efficacy is, for many disorders, more powerful than medical therapies.
Many of us search for answers to symptoms by consulting with doctors, trying new diets, taking prescriptions, or relying on social media trends. However, if we look inside of ourselves, we have access to a healing resource that is free and in unlimited supply. We have our breath to get us back on track!
Written by Casey Hersch, MSW, LCSW October 18, 2022
After years of living with Crohn's disease (an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease), I am just starting to understanding the psychosocial influences that influence my symptoms, disease progression, and recovery. For years, I focused on merely physical symptoms and how to stop them. However, there are so many variables affecting my symptom presentation. Simply taking medications and having surgeries does not get to the root of the issue. Healing involves physical, emotional, and passion dimensions. Dr. Radziwon's work is crucial for understanding complex health conditions that don't respond well to conventional medical treatments. Not only is it important to feel in control of symptoms, but it is essential to recognize how our errors in thinking (not intentional) contribute to symptoms. Our mind is an integral part of our existence and Dr. Radziwon, along with a team at University at Buffalo, are changing the terrain for how we treat pain and other disorders such as functional gastrointestinal disorders. Please listen to this interview with an open mind and heart. Know your history and yourself.
Dr. Chris Radziwon is a health psychologist and director of the Pilot Studies Program in the Division of Behavioral Medicine at the University at Buffalo. His program develops and tests self-management programs for persistent pain disorders. Dr. Radziwon's practice provides behavioral treatments for medical patients with chronic illnesses including traumatic brain injury, migraines, low back pain, multiple sclerosis, and irritable bowel syndrome. At the core of his work, Dr. Radziwon strives to help his patients learn self-management strategies to improve their quality of lives. Every patient is unique, so the process is customized. However, the components often involve goal directed activities with family and friends, hobbies, and other outlets which increase joy, reduce stress . Ultimately this approach reduces dependence on medications through self-management skills.
Actor, Melora Hardin. Photo Credit: ABC/Maarten de Boer @iheartmaartenWritten by Casey Hersch, MSW, LCSW August 2022 issue Published at Taste for Life Magazine
The relationship you cultivate with your body is arguably the most important one in your life. Your body is the vehicle that allows you to live your human experience.
Yet, too many of us focus on perfecting our outsides with the hope of experiencing more peace, self-love, and belonging on the inside.
Negative Effects of Self-Judgment
Many people view and judge their bodies in terms of one dimension, their physical appearance.
Self-criticism, body shaming, exercising to the point of injury, dieting, cosmetic procedures, and surgery are a few behaviors people adopt to try and fit unrealistic beauty standards that reward outward appearances.
Overemphasis on the physical leads to defining beauty and self-worth based on size, weight, shape, color, tone, youthfulness, and mobility.
This myopic view ignores the crucial role our minds and environments have on our perceptions and how we can influence the way we feel about ourselves from the inside.
After all, even if we change our outward appearances to conform to a magazine cover or celebrity ideal, we can still feel deeply dissatisfied within ourselves until we learn how to love ourselves, honor our inherent value, accept our imperfections, and nourish our thoughts.
Fortunately, some thought leaders in the health and television industries strive to encourage body positivity narratives and practices that remind us that until we go inside our bodies, our quest for body positivity might still be in vain.
Photo Credit: Tony Nguyen Pictured: Season 29 ADC Graduating Seniors Left to right Top: Alicia Joo, Isabelle Messner, Anna Hoeft, Sarah Yeung Bottom: May Wang, Juliet GeeWritten by Casey Hersch July 11, 2022 This article originally appeared in the Davis Enterprise
Undoubtedly the past three years have been filled with various losses resulting from the pandemic. Whether it be socializing, live shows, or dining out, many of us lost connection to our invigorating sense of “aliveness.” We all felt shut-down to some degree on the inside as the world shut down on the outside.
Yet, despite these uncontrollable losses, an iconic Davis dance studio, Applegate Dance, still found ways to revitalize the community and redefine how to feel alive even when the world seems chaotic.
Applegate Dance Studio returned to the stage after a three-year pandemic performance break. “Alive In The Arts,” the meaningful title of their program, graced the Brunelle theater stage with dancers of all ages and abilities. The symbolism of this event shined greater than even the smiles and sparkles in the room. Simply put, no matter what life brings, you can find meaning and hope when you connect to music, movement, community and creativity.
If you live with a chronic illness or have landed in the Emergency Room, then you know imaging studies and diagnostics are expensive. As a patient who lives with Crohn’s disease — an autoimmune, inflammatory bowel disease — I am very familiar with medical debt. I am also familiar with other stresses associated with diagnostics: excessive testing, reactions to radiation and contrast agents, and generally feeling overwhelmed by my insurance and healthcare system.
Recently, I discovered that for people who rarely use medical services, navigating the system can still be daunting. As I watched my husband agonize in pain late one evening, I took immediate action. However, this one trip to the Emergency Room for kidney stones left our family with a $5,000 bill. Feeling vulnerable and scared, my husband and I understandably trusted and relied upon the on-call physicians to make decisions on his behalf.
While the medical staff compassionately tended to his needs, they also performed numerous scans, even repeating to confirm and then reconfirm what prior scans already showed. We left the Emergency Room exhausted, in debt and with merely an over-the-counter prescription in hand. I could have walked across the street to CVS, bought the same OTC pain medication and saved $4,995.
Inflation is affecting every industry; hospital costs are no exception. Now more than ever, all of us are vulnerable to medical debt and associated healthcare stress. When we are scared or desperate to find answers, we are naturally placed in a vulnerable position and at the mercy of our educated physicians.
However, all too often, we accept our doctor’s recommendations without question. This passive approach is loaded with consequences when patients accept procedures without knowing the financial, physical and emotional costs. Now is the time to educate ourselves and understand how to navigate the complicated healthcare options.
Many of us learn our lessons after the fact just like I learned from my husband’s unpredictable trip to the ER. Preventing unpleasant surprises always reduces stress. One of the best ways to cope with unpredictable healthcare stress is to practice your right to self-advocate. When we feel empowered over our health plan and choices, this eases the financial blows and also places power back in our control.
After years of living with Crohn's disease (an autoimmune inflammatory bowel disease), I am just starting to understanding the psychosocial influences that influence my symptoms, disease progression, and recovery. For years, I focused on merely physical symptoms and how to stop them. However, there are so many variables affecting my symptom presentation. Simply taking medications and having surgeries does not get to the root of the issue. Healing involves physical, emotional, and passion dimensions. Dr. Lackner's work is crucial for understanding complex health conditions that don't respond well to conventional medical treatments. Not only is it important to feel in control of symptoms, but it is essential to recognize how our errors in thinking (not intentional) contribute to symptoms. Our mind is an integral part of our existence and Dr. Lackner's work is changing the terrain for how we treat pain and other disorders such as functional gastrointestinal disorders. Please listen to this interview with an open mind and heart. Know your history and yourself.
Dr. Jeffrey Lackner from University at Buffalo speaks with Casey Hersch, LCSW (https://lightyoursparkle.life/) about the importance of behavioral treatment options for chronic pain disorders, in particular Irritable Bowel Syndrome and functional gastrointestinal disorders. This interview addresses techniques such as cognitive behavioral therapy, diaphragmatic breathing, hypnosis, emotional regulation, drug-free alternatives, rewiring erroneous patterns of thinking, and patient empowerment.
When I turned 40, my filters changed. Suddenly, I saw wrinkles on my forehead, lines around my eyes, and deep nasolabial folds. I thought I saw the wrinkles growing, deepening, appearing, multiplying before my very eyes! Then, I woke up to reality. Many of my peers, colleagues, role-models, icons were not aging naturally. In fact, I was comparing myself to others, believing I was aging poorly, when in fact, they were having cosmetic procedures, using botox, injecting fillers. I wasn't aging "worse," I was aging different---the natural way. I was allowing my aging to show itself on my face. I cannot say that I like the process of aging, but I do know that I am an all-natural person. Regardless of what people and even doctors say, I don't believe botox is natural and safe. I am going to ride this aging process naturally and allow my changes to be a testament to my life lived, my feelings expressed, and my body's service to me.
Recently, I stumbled upon this video which is one of the best videos I have ever heard! Dana Berkowitz really unpacks the larger, more deeply rooted issues our society faces with aging. She also talks about the hypocrisy and the lies we tell ourselves and others about aging. I highly recommend no matter where you stand on the aging line or how you feel about procedures or not, this video will give you a lot to think about. No matter what choice you make---own it, tell the truth.
Written by Casey Hersch, MSW, LCSW
Written by Casey Hersch, MSW, LCSW