don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

Wellness in the Headlines
(Don's Report to the World)

Yesterday, I suggested that health is too often “medicalized,” a condition wherein health is made to seem a doctor -- dependent state measured by the absence of illnesses and maladies rather than the presence of positive indicators of optimal functioning. I gave the example of excess attention (in my view) being given to disease and sickness at the National Wellness Conference and elsewhere, and promised to offer a personal example of the problem today.

The personal experience I had is what set me off on this quixotic crusade. Because of it, I want to encourage everyone to receive more attention for positive states of well-being while encouraging people to focus less on the dark side of health, or sickness. While my tale requires incredible personal revelations, I'm going to tell you about it anyway, in the interests of science, world peace and ultimate truths. (Peace prize scouts and Kennedy Center “Profiles In Courage” judges, take note.)

Not so long ago, I submitted my body to a battery of tests, including one for the presence of HIV antibodies and other STD's. The results were negative, which I assume means that I am, shall we say, pure as driven snow. However, this is not an approved medical description, so maybe I should find another expression. Yet, the tests led to an insight about the medicalization hazard I’ve been going on about.

You can probably imagine that waiting for the results of a test like this is, for most folks, not a positive situation, to put it mildly. Personally, I assumed there was little cause for concern, given that I'm not in any obvious risk group. What's more, I drink plenty of carrot juice and always keep my fingers crossed in hazardous situations but, just the same, I knew that heterosexual transmissions were on the rise. Furthermore, one can never be sure where and with whom his friends have been, even if one asks. After all, I wasn't always clear where I had been, particularly during my California heydays some years back.

Anyway, my test results were described as “negative.” Not having a dread disease sounded pretty positive to me! I was reassured, if not delighted. After all, suppose the results had been otherwise?

Suppose the doctor, being somewhat blunt or insensitive, had said, Sorry to tell you this but you've got it and won't be with us much longer, could you pay on the way out! Despite a tendency to stay cheerful and look on the bright side, I'm sure I would have been on my way through the denial, anger, negotiation and resignation process. Thus, the opposite finding, namely, "No problem, you tested negative" ought to have been a signal for more than relief. This was a joyous moment, was it not? I didn't expect bad news and I did not get any. So, nothing special happened. In my eyes, this is all wrong -- we need to change the norms at work here.

The norm "disaster is awful, but the absence of disaster is just no big deal and can be taken for granted" is a form of medicalization of life and, it's not just something affecting tests for HIV. There is a serious wellness shortfall in this norm.

I propose we develop a daily ritual that provides for celebrating the amazingly wonderful absence of disasters! Why take non-disasters for granted? Think of the possibilities. You open the daily paper and learn that NO thermonuclear warheads went off yesterday anywhere near your neighborhood. You get in your car to drive to work and suddenly Godzilla DOES NOT appear! You arrive at the office and learn that the company HAS NOT gone out of business! You come from work and discover the kids DID NOT eat mutant toxins. And so on. Folks, we're missing a chance to brighten our days with this ritual presumption of good fortune. We can experience positive emotions, a deep sense of thankfulness and a few laughs, to boot, if we go out of our way to whoop it up when nothing really bad happens. We can have little celebrations privately, with a few friends and co-workers and even grand public ceremonies, on the hour! What do you think?

I think the need for this kind of mindshift and ritual of “positivity” is great. One reason there is so much medicalization of health, of wellness, of the National Wellness Conference and of life generally is that people worry too much. At last count, the medical establishment claims that five percent of the population suffers from one "anxiety disorder" or another. Let's see, there's panic disorder, social phobia, simple phobia, obsessive-compulsive disorder, posttraumatic stress disorder and generalized anxiety disorder.

These people will be special beneficiaries of public celebrations of the fact that "nothing awful happened!" Such rituals should be staged on the hour, 24 hours a day, seven days a week. Well...at least once a month.

Attendance by certain people should be required. Sessions for such wellness celebrations should be staged at the National Wellness Conference, and workplaces across the land.

Don't wait for others to change the norm. Go out right now and celebrate the absence of something awful and promise yourself to always look on the bright side of life.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the MENTAL DOMAIN under the skill area of stress management. Additional articles related to this theme may be found there.)

(Ed. Note: Views expressed in this and other columns are those of the author and not necessarily those of the SeekWellness Editorial Board.)

 Send e-mail to Don Ardell