Among the ex-Christian Scientists I’ve encountered in an ex-Christian Scientist Facebook group I am a member of, I have heard more than a few express how they’re still slow to seek treatment for injuries, diseases, or other issues. It’s a legacy of Christian Science, and it holds tight. I am no exception.
Even though I know if cold symptoms crop up it’s perfectly OK to grab some cold medicine, I still wait, and suffer for a day or so. Well, it’s better than the multiple days of suffering I used to endure as a Christian Scientist trying to “know the Truth” and seeking the elusive healing. Still, why do I wait?
Another example happened just over a month ago. I injured my shoulder while skiing. Any regular person would have quickly sought treatment from a physiotherapist or doctor. Me? I waited and struggled for two weeks, making the condition worse, before I finally went to the physio to get it treated. Now, it’s pretty much better, but this would have been all taken care of a lot sooner, and with a lot less pain had I gotten on it earlier.
Just one of the legacies of a lifetime “in the faith”. Here’s hoping these little lessons will teach me to seek treatment sooner. There’s nothing wrong with doing that!
Emerging Gently 
On the other side of that is when you take a young child to the pediatrician and are told that they “have a virus” and there’s nothing they can give the kid. They then “find” an “ear infection” and prescribe a round of antibiotics which upsets the kids stomach so not only do you have a kid with a virus, but now you have a kid with a virus AND an upset stomach. Sometimes waiting it out is the best thing to do. The trick is to find a balance, still working on that.
Yes, unfortunately antibiotics (hence the name) only work on bacterial infections. Not much you can do about viruses except let them run their course unless you’re immunized and that’s not a guarantee. That’s why the flu is such a pleasurable experience. Yes, hard to find the balance. I still am. On one hand, I don’t want to be like the hypochondriac running to the doc at every whim, but, I don’t want to let something serious get out of hand. It’s all a learning experience. Got the medicine cabinet well stocked though!
I think the slowness to go to a doctor or take meds is a good legacy from CS. My experience and that of my hubby is that we tend to be extremely healthy and resilient. All those years of “knowing” we were GPC did have a tremendously positive effect on our health and our children’s. Don’t give that up, but get help as soon as you need it. It is just help; no matter what, only your body does the healing. Treat it as you would treat a good horse.
Some of my CS peeps tend to operate from outside their bodies. They are detached from them. Do you know what I mean? I think it is good for people to get back inside their bodies and operate them from there. That means it always tells us what it needs; so we need to listen.
You are an excellent writer. I can see why your teacher loved your stuff. CS lost a really good piece of its future when you quit. But what they lost it is another’s gain, so welcome to your future.
Thanks! Yes, sometimes I felt like I could sell furnaces in Arabia when I’d write my Association papers. I so desperately wanted to believe 100% what I was saying, what I was learning, but as I look back now, I have to be honest and say that I never really did. I’m no longer living a lie, and it feels so good. Thanks for stopping by, and I’m looking forward to reading your blog when I get back from my long weekend.