Chronic Illness Q&A with Dr. B.

This question & answer column is for people living with chronic health challenges and their family caregivers, who want to learn to increase the odds of improving their health by learning to live with mastery & wellbeing.

I invite you to post your questions in the comments box below. When I get a certain number of related questions, I pick one that covers them all and I answer that one.

I post to this blog three times per week. Monday posts are relevant published articles. Wednesday posts are interviews—mostly video. Friday posts consist of questions about living better with chronic health challenges, and my answers to them.

Here is today’s question:

QUESTION:  You advocate learning to treat yourself with the same compassion and forgiveness that you would extend to a small child.  Can that actually improve health?

ANSWER:   Health is the opposite of disease. Although disease is caused by pathogens, genetic factors, injury, exposure to toxins, unhealthy behavior and many other factors, an optimally functioning immune system improves your odds of staying well. Many studies have shown a positive correlation between emotional distress and disease. There are many ways to manage emotional distress; one of them is the cultivation of self-compassion and self-forgiveness. Notice how different you feel when you treat yourself with kindness instead of blame.

This website is offered as a free public service, supplying information that has been found helpful to certain people living with chronic health challenges. No treatment is offered on this website. The advice is general, and may or may not apply to your individual situation, and is not a substitute for psychotherapy or medical treatment.

What questions do you have about how to live better with chronic health challenges that are related to the relationship between states of mind and health? 

Just scroll down and type your question in the comment box. I will post a reply to your comment, but your question may not appear in this column.