Know Jesus, Know Peace

I wish I could say that accepting Jesus as your Savior automatically makes you feel overflowing peace and joy, but it doesn't necessarily. Lots of people remain anxious or distressed even after they accept Christ.

I believe that in some cases, the missing link is "truth." If the statement was, "Know Jesus, know TRUTH, know peace," I would like it even more.

"But Doc, I read the Bible. I already know truth and I still feel depressed." Some people can recite Scripture  verbatim but they still feel angry, anxious, or inadequate, deep down.

The reason for this discrepancy is what some people call "barriers." When people have these barriers, they may not be able to process the information in Scripture the way God intended, even after reading it a thousand times. It's like the truth is right in front of them but they don't see it and can't receive it.

In my book, Radical Well-being, I talk about the three most harmful barriers that i have identified among my pain management patients and in myself and my friends and family. I also talk about how to overcome those barriers that can block you from receiving the healing truth of Scripture.

In case you haven't already read mu book, I'll tell you those three categories of barriers right now. They are (1) lies (especially lies about your identity) that you internalized in the past; (2) sins that you haven't confessed or accepted forgives for; and (3) refusal to extend forgiveness to those who hurt you.

If you're wondering what's wrong with you---why you don't feel the way "a Christian should feel"--consider reading my book, Radical Well-being, to find your answers. In fact, if you're a book reviewer and want a FREE copy of it to review on your blog, I can help you get the book free. Just visit the website: http://www.thebooketeria.com/ and follow the prompts.

Blessings from Dr. Rita!

United Airlines Gives a Lame Response....

In case you missed my post about the United Airlines pilot last week, let me briefly review it before posting the RESPONSE I got from the airline today. Almost two weeks ago, I saw the UNTHINKABLE at the OKC airport. A United Airlines pilot accepted a gift of chocolate from a passenger he didn't know and ACTUALLY ATE IT, right before he was to fly a plane load of passengers from OKC to Chicago.

I reported it first to the airline via their online complaint form (I did this while still at the gate), but I also notified the FAA and US DOT.

After nearly two weeks, I finally got a response from the airline. I posted it below. The writer was wrong about one thing...it wasn't a box of chocolate. It was loose, foil-wrapped chocolates. Nonetheless, get a load of his response:
____________________

Dear Dr. Hancock:
I’m responding to your emails addressed to United’s Customer Care Department and The US Department of Transportation regarding your April 24, 2013 experience. I understand you expressed concern with your flight UA6231 operated by SkyWest Airlines doing business as United Express.
You reported Flight 6231’s co- pilot accepted a gift (box of chocolate) from a fellow passenger and consumed the chocolate. I regret any concern this caused you. I can assure you the safety of our passengers and crew is always are number one priority. Our employees are allowed to accept certain gifts of minimal value only. Please keep in mind, everything including food must pass through TSA screening including items sold at stores and restaurants located at the airport and gate areas. Nonetheless, your concern for safety is appreciated, and I have shared your comments in a report to the appropriate management at SkyWest for their information.
Your business is especially important to United and United Express, and it’s always a privilege to serve you.

Best regards,
Charles Johnson

DOT Specialist
Corporate Customer Care
Case ID 6442734 

_____________________

Well, I posted this on Facebook, and several suggestions came up that I should go to the media. Believe me. I've considered it. I actually used this threat to get the FAA and DOT to respond and it worked. But I didn't REALLY intend to go to the media. My concern was that it might give bad guys "ideas." 

This morning, I'm officially no longer worried about the consequences of going to the media. Last night, I saw a TV show "Body of Proof," where a flight attendant was secretly a drug smuggler. When the air marshal on board figured out who the "mule" was (the passenger who transported the drugs), the flight attendant (the accomplice) secretly drugged his meal so he wouldn't interfere with the drug shipment. The air marshal wigged out under the influence of the drugs, started hallucinating, believed he was seeing flying rats on board, pulled out his gun, started shooting at the "rats," accidentally shot out a window, and caused the plane to crash, killing over 50 innocent passengers. 

My cousin, the retired police officer, is right. Bad guys aren't dependent on me for ideas on how they can hurt others. They already have plenty on their own....aided and abetted by the scripts that come out of Hollywood. 

The conclusion: yes....if the FAA blows off my petition (last week, in light of these events, I petitioned them to institute a new policy preventing flight crews from accepting food from passengers), I'm going straight to the media. The stupidity of our governmental policies blows my mind. I'm going to give the FAA a reasonable amount of time to respond to my petition, first. 

The question is what's a "reasonable" amount of time when you're dealing with the government?

Follow-up to My Post about the United Airlines Safety Vulnerability Incident...

Praise God In Heaven! After making at least a dozen phone calls to the TSA, DOT, and FAA, and after being bounced around like a ping pong ball for an entire week, I persevered and finally got through to the right people. I reached the legal departments for the DOT and FAA and threatened to contact the media if they didn't help me reach the policy-makers within their organizations.

In case you don't know what I'm talking about, see my last post. In that post, I explain how I saw a United Airlines pilot accept [potentially drugged] chocolate from a passenger at the gate last week, while I was waiting to get on a flight from OKC to Chicago.

By the grace of God, either my perseverance or my threats to the FAA and DOT to not "blow me off" worked. I told them I'd contact the media if they didn't help me. I figured the threat alone would get the job done and it did! This morning, I got a phone call from the FAA and an email from the DOT, with both agencies directing me to a website where I could file a petition to for the FAA to pass a new policy.

That's all I wanted from the beginning..... information about how to initiate a policy that prevents the flight crew from accepting gifts (especially food or drinks) from passengers.

I just now clicked "submit" on my petition. If you want to follow the progress, go to www.regulations.gov and look for the submission with tracking number1jx-8539-h86f.

The take-home message: safety rules that apply to three-year-olds also apply to commercial airline flight crews. "Don't take candy from strangers!"

Can You Believe A United Airlines Pilot Ate Chocolate That A Passenger Gave Him?

I know this has nothing to do with my usual Christian health and weight loss content, but this incident was so mind-bending to me that I had to post, anyway.

As I stood in line at the United Airlines gate last Wednesday, waiting to board the flight from OKC to Chicago, a passenger ahead of me in line offered chocolates to the flight crew before we boarded. I thought, "That's weird. I know this passenger is probably just being nice, but does he really think the flight crew is foolish enough to accept [potentially drugged or poisoned] candy from strangers---before flying a plane load of people?"

Apparently, at least two members of that crew WERE foolish enough. One member, the younger co-pilot wasn't just foolish enough to accept the gift. He actually ATE the potentially tainted chocolate right in front of countless witnesses.

I so couldn't believe what I saw that I hesitated and watched as the co-pilot swallowed. But when the shock passed, I complained directly to the co-pilot from my position in line about ten feet away from him. It was loud enough so that at least ten people in the area heard it.  I don't remember my exact words, but I said something to the effect of "Do you really think that's a good idea?" to the co-pilot. He answered something the effect of, "Well, he's on the same plane as me..." I said something like, "After all the security measures I was just subjected to, I can't believe you think this is okay."

The other pilot, an older gentleman, was talking to the United ticket agent at the gate and seemed oblivious to what was going on behind him. But when he finally turned around and seemed to figure out what was going on, he took the pilot aside and said something to him that we passengers couldn't hear. In response, the young co-pilot looked at me, shook his head in defiance, and popped another chocolate into his mouth, as if he didn't think the threat was significant.

That's when I escalated my complaints. I asked the older pilot, "Are you the captain?" He replied, "Yes." I then asked if there was a policy preventing flight crews from accepting food gifts from passengers and he said, "No."

Does this outrage anyone besides me? I wonder.

Since two TSA employees were stationed at that gate for surprise carry-on inspections, I told them what happened. They blew it off.  So, while I was still at the gate, I completed an online complaint form with United. It's now nearly 72 hours later, and I've still heard no response.

Seeing that this is being blown off, I actually contacted a security person at the FAA today via an 877 hotline. He blew me off, too, transferring me to TSA "customer service," which then redirected me back to him. After spending hours on this, I got nowhere.

What do you think about this? Should pilots be allowed to accept gifts--especially FOOD gifts--from passengers?

I'm looking for help on this issue, if you'll offer it. Are you a pilot? Do you know who I should complain to so that a policy can be instituted, preventing flight crews from making these foolish choices? If so, please comment below!

Motivation for Good Health

Though fear can motivate people to get healthy (such as fear of failure, fear of illness and death, etc.), fear-based motivation doesn't work well in the long run. It takes too much mental energy to battle the negative thoughts and fears, and little energy is left over for you to deal with daily stresses. Thus, you tend to crack under the pressure and fall back into your old, unhealthy habits.

It's better to be motivated by positive rather than negative thoughts. The Bible even says that motives matter: "For it is commendable if someone bears up under the pain of unjust suffering because they are conscious of God" (1 Peter 2:19) emphasis mine. Col 3:23: “Whatever you do, work at it with all your heart, as working for the Lord, not for men…” And 1 Corinthians 10:31: “So whether you eat or drink or whatever you do, do it all for the glory of God.” You're supposed to keep your mind on God and devote your efforts to Him. 

Romans 8:5 says those who live according to the flesh have their minds set on what the flesh desires; but those who live in accordance with the Spirit have their minds set on what the Spirit desires. So, live according to the Spirit! Pray for God to change your heart and give you a heart for Him. Ask God to help you focus on Him and for help in getting healthy for the right reasons--not fear or shame--but because you love God.

1 Corinthians 6:19-20: “Do you not know that your bodies are temples of the Holy Spirit, who is in you, whom you have received from God? You are not your own; you were bought at a price. Therefore honor God with your bodies.”

Based on these Scriptures and others, e.g., “Let us fix our eyes on Jesus, the author and perfecter of our faith, who for the joy set before him endured the cross, scorning its shame, and sat down at the right hand of the throne of God” (Hebrews 12:22), do the right thing (positive health behaviors) for the right reasons. Having the right motives will take you further and keep you going longer. 

Doc, How Can I Detach From Toxic People?

People in toxic relationships typically suffer physical consequences of stress: muscle and joint pains, headaches, ulcers, rashes, gastrointestinal disturbance, and others. Hence, part of my patients' treatment is physical (i.e. directed to the symptoms), and part of the treatment is emotional/spiritual. Obviously, I go down the latter road only if the patients are willing.

One of the things I've emphasized to my Christian patients is that we are to be "in the world but not of the world." When toxic people add stress to our lives, we have to find ways to detach from them, mentally, even if we can't leave them, physically. Though I'm not perfect at practicing that habit, I'm much better at it than I used to be, and I find that it helps me feel and extend more compassion toward certain individuals (those with "challenging" personalities....[winking]).

The key is to stay focused on Christ. In the midst of tough times, or if other people push your buttons, reflexively shift your focus off of your trouble and onto God's goodness. 

Obviously, mentally detaching is harder in some situations than others, and it can even be unhealthy at times--or even pathologic. Psychotic breaks represent a form of detachment from reality, but those aren't what I'm advocating. I'm advocating ways of mentally forgiving people who bug you so you don't react negatively and hurt yourself and other people in response. 

I'm also obviously NOT telling you to stay in relationships that endanger you. I hope I don't have to explain that. God is merciful and cares for you and wouldn't want you to be seriously injured by other people's bad choices.

Other daily practices help you cope with difficult people, as well, such as prayerfully asking God, "What is the root cause of my buttons getting pushed in this situation? Do I believe a lie about myself? Do I need to forgive someone who hurt me? Do I need to repent from some sin?" Note: sometimes, hearing God's answers is a lot easier if you ask Him simple "yes or no" questions rather than essay questions!

In Radical Well-being, I discuss techniques that some of my patients use for mentally detaching from toxic people and situations. In general, different patients seem to resonate with different techniques. Some are visual, some are auditory (hearing-based), some are tactile (touch-based). Different people are different, and God meets all of them where they are and (if asked) gives them tools that work uniquely, for them.

Unexplained Gastrointestinal Symptoms? Read This Book Review.

Recently, during a reunion with an old friend from Cornell, my friend literally "forced" me to promise reading a book that she gave me as a gift. No kidding....there are only a few people in this world whose advice I take to heart in that way, and she is one of them. So, when she not only bought the book for me and then literally insisted that I read it, I figured I had better read it. There was probably something in there that I needed to know about.

As you might guess, I hated the title of the book, Wheat Belly, when I first heard it. I've seen many, many diet fads come and go over the years and I don't put stock in any of them. However, the author of this book was a cardiologist and supposedly backed his viewpoint up with solid research. So, being that I loved my friend and my reading this book was clearly important to her, I sucked it up and read it--for her.

I have to admit I was pleasantly surprised. I guess that's why my friend was so insistent. She knew I'd never read it unless she made me.

The cardiologist put forth some pretty compelling arguments in his book: (1) today's wheat has been genetically modified for crop production and isn't the wheat of yesteryear; (2) today's wheat may be four times more likely to give you celiac disease (that's a gastrointestinal inflammatory condition); (3) today's wheat causes a greater insulin release from your pancreas and actually stimulates appetite and therefore contributes to obesity; (4) the break-down-products of today's wheat are narcotic-like chemicals that lead to wheat addiction and obesity; (5) you should completely wipe wheat and other starches out of your diet to be healthy, regardless of whether you're gluten-intolerant or not; and (6) don't substitute commercially produced "gluten-free" products, as they're just as bad as products that contain gluten (gluten is wheat protein).

I can't say I agree with all of what the author says (I especially have a problem with #5), but he does make a compelling argument for why so many more people are diagnosed with celiac disease nowadays compared to years ago. Celiac disease is where your gut become "allergic" to wheat and gets all inflamed on the inside. Usually you have uncomfortable symptoms like diarrhea, bloating, etc., but sometimes you have none of the GI symptoms but get only the "other" problems, like neurological and autoimmune disease consequences.

Usually, I relegated the idea of giving up certain foods only to those who are sick, e.g. those who are lactose intolerant, gluten-intolerant, etc. Why would a "normal" person need to give up wheat? Again, the author puts forth a multitude of reasons and he does so in an intelligent way.

Thus, starting about a week ago, I drastically reduced my wheat consumption to see if I could feel the difference. I figured "Why not?" It's not like I'm emotionally "bound" to food like I once was. Now, I care much, much less about what I eat. I'm no longer in the mental place where I might "binge" on some "prohibited" food. Now, I can take it or leave it without stress, praise God. So, I cut down on my wheat consumption by at least 50-75%.

Will I stay on this lower-starch diet indefinitely? I'm not sure. It really narrows your diet in such a way that it could get boring pretty fast. However, Thanks to the information I told you about in The Eden Diet and Radical Well-being, I'm no longer emotionally "bound" to food like I once was, so I almost don't even care what I eat, anyway.

So far, nothing much has changed since I reduced my wheat consumption. In the first few days, I was hungrier than I had been in a long time, but that settled down once I just started eating bigger portions of meat, vegetables, nuts, etc. Overall, I haven't lost weight and I haven't gained. And I don't feel any obvious other health benefit, because, as I said, I'm not gluten intolerant.

Obviously, whether you feel the health benefits or not, they might still be there. And if you're gluten intolerant or have neurological or autoimmune diseases, eliminating wheat might be good for you, anyway, independent of weight loss issues. In those cases, you might feel the beneficial effects of this diet more than I do. So, talk with your personal physician to find out if the cardiologist's approach is right for you, or if you need to mix his ideas with my ideas in some way.