Forgive me for being dramatic, but there has been a major oversight in Western Medicine. Isn't it interesting, that modern medicine, a system in which we have come to place so much of our trust, faith, and credence, still can't explain simple physical maladies, like the common cold, and headaches, and sleep problems, and back pains, and allergies, and.....and.....

The vast majority of individuals who have suffered some kind of psychological trauma will report increased symptoms of this nature. Your local friendly General Practitioner will report they "just happen". Am I the only one who thinks this is odd? I would offer that the real reason for your physical maladies since a traumatic experience, lies in the unresolved negative emotions within the trauma itself. Only in recent years have our friendly white-coats come to grudgingly accept the possibility of a mind-body connection of some kind. You see, bacteria, viruses, and the like, are all out there, in the world, freely roaming, all the time. But what is happening in your body on an emotional level, in order that you are suppressing your immune system enough, to host an infection? What else is happening in your life at that moment in time? This is a key question in trauma-related physical illness. Am I whistling in the wind here? Or could modern medicine have missed something of monolithic proportions?

I am reminded of a dear friend who recently went to his GP, complaining of depression following separation from his wife. Immediately the doctor raised her hand in the air, announcing - "Aha! You are serotonin-deficient! I will prescribe you anti-depressants to raise your serotonin levels. Problem solved," she stated, reaching for her prescription pad. "I agree that low serotonin may be making me depressed," said my friend, who was feeling brave that day, "but shouldn't we be treating the cause of that serotonin deficiency?"Grinning, as if enjoying the challenge, the GP looked over her glasses, "Like what?" "Well, - , Negative emotions?" my friend ventured, cautiously. "My dear friend, emotions do not cause chemical imbalances - Ha! Ah! - Oh dear - I've never heard anything so ridiculous!" Needless to say my friend was laughed out the clinic that day. This example perfectly illustrates a sad truth we must face.

Western medicine is little more than symptom management. Allow me to state the obvious; we have a long way to go to convince our good friends in modern medicine of the possibilities. And I'm well aware of how hard it is to teach an old dog new tricks. But for the health of future generations, it might just be our duty. www.traumatreatment.co.uk 0870 232 4568.