Tensing up during an "Adjustment"

When I was first adjusted shortly after my birth, I probably didn't resist much. It was, after all, my first adjustment. And, as I recently witnessed with my newborn son's first adjustment, an infant probably senses that something is happening, but doesn't understand exactly what.

And so it was with me in those early years with my dad adjusting me on a regular basis. At about the age of two, so I'm told, I became more aware when it came time for my adjustment. I could feel what was happening and recognized that I could resist my father's efforts.

I can still hear him telling me, as he did from time to time throughout my childhood, "Don't tense up, it only makes it harder on you." But for a while that's all I did. I would anticipate the adjustment and tense up. When I did, it wasn't the usual smooth, pleasant sensation I was used to.

So what did I do the next time I was adjusted? You guessed it, I tensed up again.

This vicious cycle continued until I stopped tensing up. I finally made a deliberate effort to not anticipate the adjustment. It was much better.

As I interact with more and more DCs on line, I get a better sense of the overall emotions expressed by the profession. To put it in context with this report, many of us are "tensing up."

You can hear it in the voices and sense it in the e-mails. There is a feeling of frustration that sometimes boils over into anger.

Many DCs have much to be frustrated about: managed care; increased use of drugs; competition/imitation from MDs and PTs who think they can "manipulate"; the list goes on. But this frustration or "tensing up" only hurts us. It disturbs our dreams, makes us doubt our plans and causes us to overlook the good things that are happening in our lives.

To suggest we need an "attitude adjustment" would be trite. Suffice to say the challenges we face are real and can seem overwhelming.

But just like the patient who tenses up, we restrict our own ability to achieve what we could. We restrict the "flow" of positive, life-affirming energy and communication from ourselves to the people we are trying to help. Instead of sending our patients off with a feeling of wellness and vitality, we silently pass on our frustrations.

We all have bad days, but when we walk into the office, it's time to prepare ourselves mentally, emotionally and spiritually to be healers. Before you put a hand on the first patient of the day, you must take the necessary time to prepare yourself to be their doctor of chiropractic. It will take longer on some days to prepare yourself.

This is not meant to be a pep talk as much as it is a gentle reminder. You are a healer. This is one of the highest callings to which a person can aspire. You have chosen a profession that demands more of you.

This is not the same as building cars or writing articles. Spend 10 minutes by yourself each morning to prepare yourself. Pray, meditate, read something inspirational, or do whatever helps prepare you to meet your patients.

Your patients are coming to you with numerous needs. Be their healer.