Speaking Up Is Good Medicine
In her women's health blog, Dr. Christiane Northrup focuses on some women's hesitancy to speak up for themselves. She calls this a "silent disease," because it can have serious consequences—intensifying symptoms or manifesting new ones. As she notes, "If you don’t speak up for yourself, your body needs to speak louder to you so that you will!"[1]Reasons Why Women Keep Quiet about Health Concerns
- being shamed by doctors who don’t want to hear how the standard protocols don’t help them
- being referred to a psychiatrist instead of having their physical symptoms validated
- being labeled "difficult" because they spoke up to their doctor
- having a lack of role models to demonstrate healthy communication
- being raised to keep silent, never voicing opinions or feelings
- being told to stay quiet because of a family secret, such as alcoholism or sexual abuse [2]
As Dr. Northrup explains, “There may be many reasons that contribute to your code of silence. An important step in relieving any symptoms in your body is to shift the pattern of being a silent victim and speak your truth.”[3] She goes on to suggest 8 tips for learning to speak your truth and I urge you to read them in further detail on her blog:8 Tips for How YOU Can Learn to Speak Up
- Find a doctor you can partner with.
- Surround yourself with friends who want you to be healthy.
- Speak kindly about your body.
- Know that the act of speaking up is enough.
- Practice having your say.
- Know that the act of speaking up is enough.
- Write a truth letter.
- Re-establish the link between your head and your heart.[4]
Wishing You Peace and Good Health, Dr. Pamm
[1] Dr. Christiane Northrup, 8 Tips for How YOU Can Learn to Speak Up[2] Ibid.[3] Ibid.[4] Ibid.