Dr Brandy McCans, Peak to Peak.  “Sandy” showed up a few months ago exhibiting extreme fear and anxiety. She’d been having chest pain and diagnosed with carotid stenosis, meaning her carotid arteries were severely blocked, increasing her risk of stroke significantly. She’s just releasing her kids to college, has a new life ahead, but had to come to terms that her time may be near. Imagine how scared she was, not knowing if she could even drive. I saw her yesterday and she’s feeling much better! Her cholesterol is down, the anxiety is gone, she’s no longer living in fear, and she got business cards for her new business. She has a new lease on life.

You may be wondering, how can she find wellbeing so quickly? Sandy’s problem wasn’t just a physical cardiovascular problem. Arguably, no “dis-ease” is merely a physical problem. We have been programmed to believe that health should be broken down into parts and we go to varying doctors to have them treat the mechanics of the body, but many still remain ignorant to the most fundamental mysteries of life, like how this machine of ours miraculously heals itself.

Sandy, over the last 18 years, has dealt with a narcissistic husband who’s very charming, yet made her life a living prison. Her kids were taken from her and she missed mothering them through their teenage years. She eventually got them back and divorced, but then proceeded to go into a profession to help put people like this behind bars. Every day she went to work she continued to “fight the battle” even though hers was over. And everyday her heart broke again. Can you see how this may have effected her physically?

Everything we think about changes the way the body functions, and either our thoughts are taking us towards wellness or away from it. I believe the constant mental assault she put on herself played a role in her illness. Healing doesn’t just happen on a physical level. My teacher would actually say that healing begins in consciousness. So in order for true healing to occur, we must address the physical - nutrition, exercise, etc. AND we must address the traumatic emotional patterns that keep us stuck. She’s currently on supplements to help her physically, and we’ve been diligently working on re-patterning her nervous system in relationship to the trauma she’s experienced. The trauma therapy we’ve been doing taps into the mind-body connection and releases the long-held negative patterns that were leading her down a path of illness. Now she can think of those events and not have the “charge” she once felt, reducing her anxiety. As a result, she’s quit her job and began a business that suits her soul.

I am curious, is there something going on in your body that feels unhealthy? Could it be related to an emotional trauma or experience that may have impacted you? Are you ready to release it?

There’s a wonderful book I recommend for my patients that serves as a guidepost when looking at wellbeing through this lens. It’s called “You Can Heal Your Life” by Louise Hay. It’s not always easy to look at things from this aspect, since traumatic experiences are not all that fun to remember, however, if your goal is to truly heal and take charge of your own wellbeing, it is vital to recognize everything that’s happened has brought you here. Once you get that, you have the ability to change it. There are all kinds of healers that can help you if you get stuck. I personally will always have people on my side that can help me move past my blocks when I need it. I’m no longer in the throws of Bi-Polar Manic Depression and have been off medication for 18 years, but now I have a bigger vision for my life and do everything possible to create a new reality for myself. It takes dedication and willingness, but life is so much better living from this place, having released the subconscious emotional trauma that led me to that incredible imbalance. What is it that you want to shift in your life?

Consultations are complimentary. You can meet me at the August Nederland Farmer’s Market for a sample session to help expedite your journey towards wellness.

May You Be Well On All Levels, Dr. Brandy McCans 303-619-7766 peak2peakwellness@gmail.com DrBrandyMcCans.com

“All columns are the opinion of the author and should not be used as medical advice.”

(Originally published in the June 28, 2018, print edition of The Mountain-Ear.)