Just because a health issue is common, it doesn’t make it normal.
I think we shouldn’t use “common” and “normal” interchangeably as if they are the same, especially when it comes to health.
It’s gotten to the point where people assume symptoms like chronic pain, headaches, brain fog, lack of energy, anxiety or IBS are things that are normal and almost expected for us to experience regularly. These issues are common, but when it comes to health, I don’t think we should be normalizing them. It’s 2020, we don’t need to pretend like everything is normal, because it’s not.
I think we just need to normalize having open conversations about our issues, reducing stigma, creating safe spaces, and working towards helping each other find their healthy balance by addressing their pillars of wellness in whatever way is best for them.
When something is normalized, I think we stop seeing it as an issue. I care about all of you and your health, and I’ll always be in your best interest. I can’t pretend there isn’t a problem or act like chronically feeling unwell is normal (although common), because it’s not.
While genetics will always play a role, it is so important to be aware of epigenetics (this refers to your gene expression being determined on the environment you put them in). Some of the most common health problems are caused by stress. Read that again.
When our body is overloaded with stress (whether it be physical or emotional), it can result in our immune system becoming weakened, our adrenals and thyroid becoming suppressed, our digestive system being thrown off and increased overall inflammation.
Although I don’t have all of the answers, I think more of us need to start addressing the root cause of why so many people today are feeling unwell and work harder to find solutions, instead of pretending like it’s normal and living with it.
