Is It Your 'Fault' If You Get Sick? Part 2

While researching my book Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof You Can Heal Yourself, I noticed how much push-back you get when you start talking about the self-healing superpowers we all possess. After all, if, at least a percentage of the time, we can heal ourselves, what does it mean if we’re sick – that it’s our “fault,” that we’re not doing something “right,” that we’re slacking off on the self-healing process, that we’re being punished for bad deeds in a past life, that we’re somehow less than because our bodies are acting up?

In Part 1 of this blog series, I shared the reaction I got from people like you in my social media community. I also shared how authors and healers like Dr. Bernie Siegel answered when I asked them that question.

But I never got around to telling you what I think. So here goes.

Some Illnesses & Injuries Are Avoidable

There’s zero place for the idea of “fault” when you’re talking about the healing process. Whether you did anything to bring about your illness or not, blame, shame, guilt and other damaging emotions like that are poison to the body, mind and soul.

Yes, sometimes we make choices that result in largely preventable illnesses. If you’re a three-pack a day smoker and you get lung cancer, well… you knew that was a possibility, right? If you’re boozing it up from dawn to bedtime every day and wind up with cirrhosis of the liver, well… um… you knew that too. If you’re choosing to ride a motorcycle without a helmet, eating nothing but Big Macs 24/7 and packing on the pounds while never leaving the couch potato heaven of your living room, well… you’re probably hanging your head a little when you wind up in the hospital. If you never wear a seatbelt, carbo-load when you’re diabetic and snort cocaine, well… I won’t saddle you with a lecture because my guess is you’re already feeling pretty shitty about yourself if you wind up sick.

Please, love. Skip the guilt trip and the blame game. Just don’t. What’s done is done. Forgive yourself. Let your body’s wake up call spur you into action, but don’t beat yourself up for what’s in the past. All you can do is change what happens from here forth.

Some Illnesses & Injuries Are Plain Bad Luck

Some helpless babies are born without a gene. Some are born blind. Some pedestrians minding their own business are struck by drunk drivers. Some people working out at the gym while drinking their green juice are the victims of gym equipment malfunctions that leave them paralyzed. Some innocent bystanders are injured in random drive-by shootings.

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Disclaimer: The views expressed above are solely those of the author and may not reflect those of
Care2, Inc., its employees or advertisers.

Beverly G.

10:31PM PDT on Mar 15, 2013

its true whats written v good

March 15
send a green star

10:30PM PDT on Mar 15, 2013

very good

Sue H.

8:28AM PST on Feb 21, 2013

interesting

February 21
send a green star

Loo S.

4:32AM PST on Feb 6, 2013

thanks

February 6
send a green star

Michele W.

4:23AM PST on Jan 31, 2013

Thank you

January 31
send a green star

Ram R.

5:23PM PST on Jan 29, 2013

Thanks

January 29
send a green star

Dale O.

8:23AM PDT on Jul 31, 2012

It is true that for many people who have been abused, suffering with the ill effects for perhaps much of one's life time does change one's outlook on life as Heather G mentions.

Sadly many Victims take years to become Survivors and from there sometimes become Advocates and voices for those unable to speak or defend themselves. Abusers win when we fall into an abyss of depression even if we mask it with outer happiness. One way of fighting back is to work through trauma/s and become one who can strive in Life and Thrive within and with others. This can take years and some of us don't make it, yet the struggle ad often victory of escaping the abuser's bony and ruthless grip helps us to heal cutting down on other illnesses we may acquire be they emotional or physical as Mind, Body and Spirit are linked.

July 31
send a green star

Kathy P.

7:13PM PDT on Jun 26, 2012

well not exactly, but you can do a lot to prevent sickness! eat right, exercise, take your vitamins, stay up to date on your knowledge of vaccines, illnesses, prevention and treatments, dress appropriately for weather, avoid sick people ect