To lead a full life of wisdom, free of agonizing fears and insecurities, people need the following ingredients: love, hope, courage, faith, humor and knowledge.
Wisdom is an attitude, a combination of the above. At its basic level, it can be defined as an accumulation of philosophic or scientific learning; but, in reality, wisdom is much more than basic knowledge. Basic knowledge alone can never bring us the happiness that true wisdom can. Wisdom gives us the power to change and grow.
It is wise to choose love over hate and bitterness, hope over gloom and despair, courage over fears and disabling phobias, faith over disbelief and self-doubt, humor over anger and frustration. Without making these important choices, a knowledgeable person cannot be a wise person.
We must be able to take knowledge and apply it with love, hope, courage, faith and humor is order to bear the fruit of true wisdom. Otherwise, we might lead a shallow existence of dissatisfaction, despite all of the book knowledge we may possess.
When patients come to see me, I often explain to them the principles of how their brain reacts in an anxious way, causing them fears and phobias as well as depression. Serotonin levels and other chemicals in the brain rise and fall causing various changes in behavior and mood. This education I give my patients is knowledge. This knowledge provides patients with a sense of relief because they finally come to understand that their symptoms are not "all in their head". There is a legitimate reason they feel the way they do.
My patients enjoy their visits with me because, in addition to providing them with this biochemical knowledge, I offer them hope. I let them know that other people have been cured from anxiety disorders, phobias, and depression, and that they too can be cured and eventually lead normal lives.
Many of them have lost hope after going from doctor to doctor. They have often been misdiagnosed and been given only pharmaceuticals without any consideration for the beneficial effects of many natural remedies that are available on the market today. There are many natural products that can be very beneficial in the treatment of anxiety disorders. In addition, there are many dietary factors that play a role in stress and phobia.
While providing patients with hope and comprehensive treatment, I also provide them with humor. Most of my patients leave my office laughing because I make them laugh. Humor is a key ingredient in the wisdom required to live a satisfying life and I share that humor with many of my patients. I also give them a sense of love and encourage them to seek love from those around them. Our staff is caring and tries to give a little bit of love to each and every one of our patients.
We also have a spiritual educator and a cognitive behavioral therapist who provide patients with teaching in faith. Our patients come to believe that they will get better. They learn that they can overcome symptoms and lead a life based on wisdom and filled with happiness. Faith in oneself and faith in a higher power are vital to personal growth. A spiritual faith helps them restore faith in themselves by improving self esteem.
It takes a certain amount of courage to seek help. According to recent statistics from the National Anxiety Disorders Association, approximately 24.9% of the population suffer at some point in their lives from anxiety disorders, and yet only 30% of these people will seek treatment. It takes wisdom to be courageous and get help for yourself. Many of the patients who call us have gone to their regular physician with multiple complaints, but have not sought proper mental health treatment due to the stigma associated with mental illness. Having a mental, biochemical imbalance is no different from having a physical ailment such as heart disease or diabetes. The courageous are wise to seek treatment.
It also takes courage to change by taking the steps necessary to attend meetings to learn and apply new ways of thinking. Each week members of our support group courageously come to meetings in order to focus on changing thoughts and developing a healthier belief system. Students are able to quickly put the key techniques of stress management into practice as they apply additional wisdom to their lives.
In conclusion, wisdom is the combining of love, hope, courage, faith, humor and knowledge in a blend that leads to a healthy prescription for life.
M. J. Gimeno, MD (neurobehavioral medicine), specializes in the diagnosis and treatment of anxiety and panic disorders. To receive additional information call the Stress & Phobia Center in Clearwater,Florida(813) 799-3350.