don's report archive

by Donald B. Ardell, Ph. D.

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

Many Americans are overweight, overstressed and under exercised. They take too many pills and accept too little responsibility for their own health and well-being. Most Americans, as you might realize, are sicker than they would be if they took better care of themselves. Yet, in part because they are not trained as lifestyle promoters, in part because they are too busy to be lifestyle promoters, and in part because there is little or no profit in being lifestyle promoters, medical doctors do not emphasize the importance of self-managing or wellness lifestyles.

What will it take to change this situation?

There is no single answer to this question. Many strategies could be employed by doctors, if they wanted to do this kind of work and if there were more incentives to reward them for doing so. However, since the earliest days of the modern wellness movement in this country, which dates to the late 1970’s, some doctors have found ways to make wellness education a part of their mission, with or without government, insurance or other incentives.

At the present time, I am working with a physician who gives a copy of my book, 14 Days to Wellness, to every patient. She still practices medicine in the usual fashion, diagnosing illness conditions, providing medical counsel, performing various procedures and all the rest. However, she also gives a copy of my book to each patient whom she decides needs to learn and do more for him or herself. At the end of a two-week period, which is the recommended time it takes to read the book, she provides the patient with a special treat - an introduction to the author, yours truly! Well, I hope most patients view this as a treat, rather than a painful treatment!

It's probably not appropriate to reveal the good doctor’s name in this essay, but I thought you might enjoy reading the one-page handout given to patients whom the doctor believes need to devote more attention to lifestyle matters. I’ll change the name of the physician on the one page prescription to Dr. X. Not a single word other than the doctor’s last name has been changed. Enjoy.

DR. X’S WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION

INTRODUCTION - Dr. X provides quality medical assessments, advice and care; Dr. X also encourages patients to take full responsibility for the quality of their lives by adopting healthy lifestyles. DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION is designed to assist patients to learn about healthy lifestyles. DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION to be “filled” not at a pharmacy by a druggist, but at home and work, everyday, by the patient! DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION is based upon her belief that what you are willing to do for yourself will have more impact upon your well-being than could all the ministrations of all the doctors, all the drugs and all the medical procedures known to modern science!

DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION is neither a panacea not a placebo. It is not even medical treatment, in the usual sense of what most people obtain from a doctor. It is simply an invitation to and support for a healthier lifestyle. It is an introduction to the wellness concept. It is a chance to read an interesting and enjoyable book about wellness and, at the end of the last chapter, exchange greetings with the author!

THE WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION

DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION involves reading the book 14 Days To Wellness by Donald B. Ardell. This book will be provided by Dr. X. It is to be read “as directed.” “As directed” means reading only one day at a time over a two-week period. It is estimated that each day’s reading will require approximately 15 to 20 minutes.

THE GOAL

The goal of DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION is to introduce you to the wellness concept. Reading this book in the prescribed manner, and discussing it with Dr. X, is intended to give you an added appreciation of the value of a significant lifestyle issues and perhaps to spark a process that will lead to beneficial changes that can dramatically improve your health and life quality.

By taking DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION, you will have an opportunity to interact with the author of the book! After you have completed the last day’s reading of 14 Days To Wellness, Dr. X will give you an e-mail introduction to the author.

Of course, it is your choice to send a message to Dr. Ardell -- or not. The important aspect of DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION is gaining the knowledge conveyed in this interesting and valuable book, and acting upon the ideas that occur to you about lifestyle choices. You may choose to send Dr. Ardell a brief comment about the book or, if you prefer, you can go much farther, perhaps asking him for lifestyle advice. If you do that, Dr. Ardell will offer his own suggestions of a wellness nature, which will be shared with Dr. X in order to facilitate additional doctor/patient follow-up discussions.

So, what is your choice? Would you like to try DR. X’s WELLNESS PRESCRIPTION? If so, sign below and give this form to Dr. X.

(Note: This essay will be filed in the archives in the PHYSICAL DOMAIN under the skill area of appearance and aging. 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