DR. KATHRYN TAKETA-WONG & ASSOCIATES

November 12th, 2025

11/12/2025

Video Transcript:

Aloha. Thank you for joining me today. I’m Doctor Kathryn Taketa-Wong. The topic today is The Very Concerning Side Effects of Commonly Used Drugs. This is important information that you and your loved ones really need to have. I also want you know that there are natural alternatives to most of the drugs that I’ll be discussing today.

As a doctor, I know how difficult it can be to find the time to explain medications to patients the same way that surgeries are covered. But that’s the way it’s supposed to work. The current system is not serving patients well and we need to seriously think about how to make it better.

Three 3 pillars form the foundation of my practice. They are: To heal. To educate. To empower. Today’s event is a perfect example of those pillars, as it is my intention to both educate and empower you, the viewer.

In medical school, doctors are taught an acronym, PARQ, like park your car but with a Q at the end.

“P” stands for procedure: Explaining it and getting informed consent from the patient. This is true for any treatment both surgery AND drugs.

“A” stands for alternatives: Explaining what other potential alternatives there might be, like doing a different surgical procedure or taking different drug, or doing nothing and watchfully waiting.

“R” stands for risks: What are the risks for that surgical procedure or that drug?

“Q” stands for questions: Asking the patient if they have any questions and then answering those questions completely.

This is the gold standard for what is supposed to happen whenever a doctor makes a recommendation. The patient is informed about the risks, the benefits, and the alternatives. Then they can say yes I agree or no I don’t agree. This typically happens with surgery, but it rarely, if ever, happens in conventional medicine when it comes to drugs.

That’s why I decided to do this Facebook Live: to educate the community about the risks so you can be an informed about your health care choices.

For those who are new to our events, I’m a naturopathic physician or ND. Like medical doctors, I attended a 4-year medical school. I was trained as a primary care physician, so I order lab tests, write prescriptions, and do school physicals the same as any other doctor.

But with naturopathic medicine there is much more, because we ND’s are trained to place nutrition at the forefront of diagnosis and treatment. This is especially true when it comes to medications.

It amazes me, but even today, fewer than 20% of our medical schools require ANY courses in nutrition. Of those, the offerings are usually fewer than 25 hours in 4 years. Naturopathic doctors typically receive 155 hours in order to be trained in the power of nutrition to build health from the INSIDE. Applying that knowledge to a patient’s condition – whether it’s autism or PMS – takes a lot more time than prescribing pills. My office visits are a full hour.

In addition, I am also a licensed acupuncturist, trained in Chinese medicine, which gives me another powerful natural medicine tool.

I can’t even count the times that a patient comes to me, they’re on a certain drug, and I talk about some of the potential side effects. I watch their eyes get wider, watch them frown as they say, “If someone had told me that was a risk of this drug, I wouldn’t have taken it. Nobody ever told me that.”

I know that when we get a drug, there are inserts that list potential side effects. But honestly, how many of us actually take the time to read the very small print with hard to pronounce words? And that’s not even the point. We’re supposed to be told all about the risks and potential side effects before we’re prescribed them in the first place.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them. It means we should be informed beforehand so we know about the risks and can make an informed choice.

A lot of this is really a product of our health care system. Conventional doctors typically are just not given enough time to talk about those things with their patients. A major principle of naturopathic medicine is education of the patient. That is one of its biggest strengths. Naturopathic doctors take the time to explain the medication or the procedure and ask if there are any questions.

That said, let’s get into the vitally important health information in today’s event. I’m going to be covering oral birth control pills, acid blocking drugs for acid reflux or heartburn, antibiotics, epidural during birth and Pitocin during birth, blood pressure drugs and cholesterol medication.

Oral birth control pills
Many of these drugs have the side effect of increasing the risk of blood clots, which can lead to increased risk for heart attack and stroke with prolonged use. Birth control pills also increase the risk of breast cancer. Studies have shown that while taking the pills and shortly thereafter, their risk increases by 20 to 30% over women over who have never taken them. The risk does decrease once women stop taking them. Also, there is one class of oral birth control pills that do not increase the risk of blood clots or breast cancer. These are called progestin only pills also sometimes called mini-pills. Basically, they don’t contain estrogen, just the synthetic form of progestin.

Acid blocking drugs for acid reflux
There is an increased risk of dementia with some of the drugs. Using them long term – 6 months or more – can increase the risk of becoming deficient in vitamin B-12 and iron because you need stomach acid to be able to absorb those nutrients. The most common symptom of iron deficiency is fatigue and being short of breath. I have also seen a decrease in attention and focus because iron carries oxygen.

As you’re viewing this and want to talk with me, just call or text our office to schedule a free phone consultation with me. There is no charge because I don’t take patients without talking with them first. I always want to make sure that what I do fits their needs. You’ll find all the contact information on our Facebook page and you can also click on the link in the post.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics increase the risk of genital yeast infections and skin infections as well. They also commonly cause diarrhea, upset stomach, even nausea and vomiting. They decrease the good bacteria along with the bad. Killing off the good guys can cause long term problems with your immune system. Also, Cipro and similar antibiotics increase the risk of tendon rupture. There is also a greater risk of resistance the more often you take antibiotics, which can make curing future infections more difficult. Antibiotics, as well as other types of drugs that affect the normal good bacteria in our gut, can change the neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals. A change in the brain chemicals can affect our mood, focus and attention, and many other things.

Epidurals during birth
Epidurals can increase the risk of seizures, infections and nerve damage in the mother. Also, I’ve seen a number of women who have chronic back pain for the rest of their lives. They say it’s in that one spot where they put the epidural. For the baby, the risk is decreased oxygen and heart rate during the birth process.

Pitocin during birth
Research has definitely found that using Pitocin to induce labor can increase the likelihood of needed a C-section. That’s because it can force the birth process where the baby may not be in the best position to deliver. It can also increase the pain for the mom because it’s forcing the uterus to contract in a much more intense way than it would naturally. There is also a possibility that the uterus could rupture, causing more blood loss.

As to risk to the baby, there is potential fetal distress, where the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen. It can also increase the risk of seizures in the infant after birth.

Blood pressure drugs
Beta blockers are a class drugs that frequently cause fatigue, asthma, and difficulty sleeping. Diuretic blood pressure drugs can cause fatigue, leg cramps, and more frequent urination. For some people that can disrupt their sleep. ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry cough and skin rash. Calcium channel blockers can cause constipation, dizziness, and headache.

Cholesterol medication
Statin drugs, which are the main class of drugs that are used for cholesterol deplete a substance called CoQ-10, which is a major antioxidant that’s important for your heart health. So using them puts people at risk for heart issues. Research has shown a link between statins and memory loss and difficulty with memory in general. Other side effects include nausea, gas, and constipation and an increased risk of diabetes. The most common side effects are muscle weakness and pain. Long term, they can cause muscle damage and harm to the liver as well.

CONCLUSION:
I trust our discussion about the very concerning side effects of commonly used drugs has been useful for you. With most of these medications, but with especially with blood pressure drugs, it can be dangerous to just stop and take yourself off of them. There are natural alternatives to many of these drugs that do not carry the side effects, and I’ve worked with many patients to wean them off of them. But again, you should avoid just stopping on your own.

I trust that our discussion about women’s health has been useful for you. If your doctor doesn’t have the time to educate you like we’re doing here today, you’re welcome to talk with me personally about any health concerns you may have so that you, too, can feel empowered with your health.

To do so, just call or text our office to schedule a free phone consultation with me. There is no charge because I don’t take patients without talking with them first. I always want to make sure that what I do fits their needs. You’ll find all the contact information on our Facebook page.

CHIROPRACTOR’S BRAIN-FOCUSED TREATMENT PROTOCOLS IMPROVE SYMPTOMS IN AUTISM, ADHD & MOOD DISORDERS

10/22/2025

The doctor is pleased to be joined by Dr. Cassandra Peterson. She specializes in children (and adults) with behavioral, learning, and socialization challenges. Dr. Taketa-Wong has autism and ADHD patients she has referred to her.

Many people think of chiropractors as doctors that “crack your back.” Dr. Peterson’s pediatric techniques are gentle and do not involve forceful twisting or compression of the vertebrae. Her purpose is to correct impaired joints or spinal dysfunction, which allows improved spinal cord signaling to the brain.

Prior to treatment, Dr. Peterson does thorough neurologic testing along with reflex and range-of-motion checks. Her whole-body approach includes gut health/nutrition, methylation, and home-based exercises. Find her at https://mamabearchiro.com/

THE VERY CONCERNING SIDE EFFECTS OF COMMONLY PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS

8/20/2025

Video Transcript:

Aloha. I’m Dr. Taketa-Wong. Thank you for joining me.

There are some very concerning side effects to many commonly prescribed pharmaceutical drugs that I want you to know about. I also want you know that there are natural alternatives that are just as effective. But before we begin, I want to emphasize that people should not take themselves off of any prescribed medication without first talking with their doctor.

I can’t even count the number of times that a patient has come to me, they’re on a certain drug, and I talk about some of the potential side effects. I watch their eyes get wider, watch them frown as they say, “If someone had told me about the risks of this drug, I wouldn’t have taken it. Nobody ever told me that.”

Yes, when we get a drug, there are inserts that list potential side effects. But honestly, how many of us actually take the time to read the very small print with hard-to-pronounce words? And that’s not even the point. We’re supposed to be told all about the risks and potential side effects before we’re prescribed the drug in the first place.

That doesn’t mean we shouldn’t take them. It means we should be informed beforehand so we know about the risks and can make an informed choice.

Most of this is really a product of our health care system. Regular doctors typically are just not given enough time to talk with their patients. But a major principle of naturopathic medicine is education. It’s one its biggest strengths. Naturopathic doctors take the time to explain the medication or the procedure and ask if there are any questions.

That said, let’s get into the vitally important health information in today’s event. And please be assured that there are natural medicines that don’t come with all the side effects.

Oral birth control pills
Many of these drugs have the side effect of increasing the risk of blood clots, which can lead to increased risk for heart attack and stroke with prolonged use. Birth control pills can increase the risk of breast cancer by 20 to 30% over women who have never taken them. The risk does decrease once women stop taking them. Also, there is one class of oral birth control pills that does not increase the risk of blood clots or breast cancer. These are called progestin only pills also sometimes called mini-pills. Basically, they don’t contain estrogen, just the synthetic form of progesterone.

Acid blocking drugs for acid reflux
There is an increased risk of dementia with some of the drugs. Using them long term – 6 months or more – can increase the risk of becoming deficient in vitamin B-12 and iron because you need stomach acid to be able to absorb those nutrients. The most common symptom of iron deficiency is fatigue and being short of breath. I have also seen a decrease in attention and focus because iron carries oxygen.

Antibiotics
Antibiotics increase the risk of genital yeast infections and skin infections. They also commonly cause diarrhea, upset stomach, even nausea and vomiting. They decrease the good bacteria along with the bad. Killing off the good guys can cause long term problems with your immune system. Also, Cipro and similar antibiotics increase the risk of tendon rupture. In fact, many doctors, including me, advise their patients not to exercise while on those drugs.

There is also a greater risk of antibiotic resistance the more often you take them, which can make curing future infections more difficult. Antibiotics, as well as other types of drugs that affect the normal good bacteria in our gut, can change the neurotransmitters, which are brain chemicals. Among other things, a change in the brain chemicals can affect our mood, focus and attention.

Epidurals during birth
Epidurals can increase the risk of seizures, infections and nerve damage in the mother. Also, I’ve seen a number of women who have chronic back pain for the rest of their lives. They say it’s in that one spot where they put the epidural. For the baby, the risk is decreased oxygen and heart rate during the birth process.

Pitocin during birth
Research has definitely found that using Pitocin to induce labor can increase the likelihood of needed a C-section. That’s because it can force the birth process where the baby may not be in the best position to deliver. It can also increase the pain for the mom because it’s forcing the uterus to contract in a much more intense way than it would naturally. There is also a possibility that the uterus could rupture, causing more blood loss.

As to risk to the baby, there is potential fetal distress, where the baby isn’t getting enough oxygen. It can also increase the risk of seizures in the infant after birth.

Blood pressure drugs
Beta blockers are a class drugs that frequently cause fatigue, asthma, and difficulty sleeping.

Diuretic blood pressure drugs can cause fatigue, leg cramps, and more frequent urination. For some people that can disrupt their sleep.

ACE inhibitors commonly cause a dry cough and skin rash.

Calcium channel blockers can cause constipation, dizziness, and headache.

Cholesterol medication
Statin drugs, which are the main class of drugs that are used for cholesterol deplete a substance called CoQ-10, which is a major antioxidant that’s important for your heart health. So using them puts people at risk for heart issues. Research has shown a link between statins and memory loss and difficulty with memory in general. Other side effects include nausea, gas, and constipation and an increased risk of diabetes. The most common side effects are muscle weakness and pain. Long term, they can cause muscle damage and harm to the liver as well.

I trust our discussion about the very concerning side effects of commonly used drugs has been useful for you. Please remember that with these medications – and especially with blood pressure drugs – it can be dangerous to just stop and take yourself off of them. Be sure to talk with your doctor before doing so.

There are natural alternatives to many of these drugs that do not carry the side effects, and I’ve worked with many patients to wean them off of their drugs. But again, you should avoid just stopping on your own.

With our no-charge consultation, you’re welcome to talk with me personally about the drugs you’re taking or any other health concerns you may have so that you, too, can be empowered with your health.

WHY IS CANCER SKYROCKETING IN YOUNGER ADULTS?

8/9/2025

1 Comment

Video Transcript:

Aloha. I’m Dr. Taketa-Wong. Thank you for joining me.

Up until recent times, if you were under the age of 50, you didn’t have to worry much about cancer. That’s no longer the case. Early onset colon cancer in that age group has skyrocketed by 63% since 1990.

Cancer is a serious diagnosis at any age, but when it strikes in younger adults, the tumors are typically more aggressive. They also go undetected longer, because routine cancer screening isn’t recommended for some of the most common cancer types, such as breast and prostate, until age 50.

Since cancer is typically set in motion 20 or 30 years before it’s diagnosed, researchers wanted to know what changes could have caused this dramatic increase. Medical researchers have determined that increases in early-onset cancer correlate with societal changes that started in the 1950s.

These include a huge increase in processed food and fast food, less physical activity, and environmental toxins like pesticides, plastics, and household chemicals. These changes, accounted for the startling increase in early-onset cancers that started in the 1990s. Their effects would have taken about that much time to accumulate.

Let’s begin with a few facts.

What is cancer? All of the cells in our body have a lifespan. They’re supposed to exist for a certain amount of time, die, and be replaced by new cells. Some cells live for 2 days and others for several years.

With cancer, the cells become mutated. The part that’s supposed to tell the cells to die gets turned off and they keep living and growing and while ceasing to perform their normal job.

For example, white blood cells are supposed to fight off infections and with leukemia, they keep multiplying, but they’re not fighting infections anymore. They just take up space. If they continue to grow, they can form into tumors.

As it stands now, 40% of Americans will be diagnosed with cancer in their lifetimes. That’s 136 million individuals – moms, dads, sisters, brothers, relatives. Each year, close to 2 million people are diagnosed with cancer and nearly 620,000 die from it. In fact, most of us know someone, perhaps in our own family, who has had cancer.

I’m going to read through the list of risks for early onset cancer, affecting people 50 years old and younger and then talk with you about some keys to prevention. The risks include:

    • Unhealthy foods and beverages
    • Less physical activity and a more sedentary lifestyle
     • Lower breastfeeding rates
     • Increased alcohol consumption
     • Reduced sleep among children due to bright lights during the night
     • Night shift work
     • Reproductive changes including reduced age of puberty, increased contraceptive use
     • Increased rates of type 2 diabetes
     • Higher antibiotic use

It’s clear that when it comes to cancer, we are our own worst enemy AND our own best friend. Most of the skyrocketing cancer numbers for younger adults can be traced back to preventable causes and can be addressed by changes in our own behavior.

So now let’s turn to preventing cancer. Because – with most diseases, but especially with cancer – prevention beats treatment every single time.

There are some accepted general guidelines for cancer prevention.

The general guidelines include eating anti-cancer foods, getting sufficient exercise, having good quality sleep, and managing stress.

Lots of the fruits and vegetables, especially vegetables, are high in antioxidants, carotenoids and polyphenols. These essentially compounds found in food that have tumor fighting properties.

For example, apples are high in polyphenols. Berries are high in antioxidants. Carrots are high in carotenoids.

There is also a compound called sulforaphane that decreases the growth of cancer cells, and that is found in the cruciferous vegetables like broccoli, cauliflower, kale, and so on. One of the best sources is broccoli sprouts, which are better than adult broccoli or other sprouts.

Sulforaphane also helps increase glutathione levels, and glutathione is one of the main antioxidants in our body. It helps decrease inflammation and binds with toxins so they can be removed through the waste.

Cancer risk is increased with higher levels of inflammation and toxicity.

Fatty fish, like salmon, mackerel, and anchovies can help to reduce the risk of colon and prostate cancer.

The American Institute for Cancer Research has found that all nuts have cancer preventing properties. Walnuts in particular were found to be helpful in reducing the risk of breast cancer.

Legumes such as beans, peas, lentils, and so on, help to reduce the risk of both colon and breast cancer.

How about exercise? There are 13 different types of cancer whose risk is lessened because of regular exercise. These include breast, prostate, colon, lung, uterine cancer and more. Also, if people have cancer, exercise assists in recovery and increases the likelihood of survival. It can also play an important part in improving overall physical and mental well being.

In addition, exercise very likely makes anticancer treatments more effective in destroying cancer cells. It can also improve sleep.

A vitamin D deficiency is a risk factor for cancer, so a really simple thing is to get your vitamin D levels tested. You can ask your doctor for a blood test, and I like to see the level at 50 to 80 nanograms per milliliter. If it’s lower than that, you should consider taking vitamin D supplements.

When it comes to alcohol, the American Cancer Society guidelines state that it’s best not to drink at all and definitely no more than 1 drink a day for women and 2 for men. By the way, if you’re looking for resveratrol, you don’t need wine. It’s in red grapes, grape juice, cocoa, and all kinds of berries.

Lastly, although I mentioned it in the list of risks, I want to emphasize how very important getting good, sound, sleep is. That means 7 to 8 hours every night. And trying to sleep more on weekends doesn’t make up for missing sleep during the week in terms of repairing the body, decreasing cancer risk, and other important functions.

What’s important to take away from our time together is that early onset cancer is serious and on the rise, but that it can be prevented by action that we can take for ourselves.

I’d certainly welcome the opportunity to discuss your specific health situation, so you, too, can feel empowered with your health.

1 Comment

EXHAUSTED? IRRITABLE? TIRED ALL THE TIME? FOR MANY WOMEN, LOW IRON (AND NOT ANEMIA) MAY BE WHY.

10/28/2024

26 Comments

     While regular medicine doesn’t routinely screen women for low iron – technically iron deficiency – our practice does. Our patients have told us that their regular doctors sometimes test for anemia, but not iron deficiency. However, one can have low iron without being anemic, which is the final manifestation of insufficiency, when the body has too few healthy red blood cells.

     As opposed to anemia, iron deficiency happens when the body's need for iron exceeds its absorption. Research shows that about a third of American women don’t have enough iron to support important functions in the body, including blood production, muscle function, the immune system, and hormone production. (No wonder these women are tired and irritable.)

     Iron deficiency can happen due to pregnancy, menstruation, gut disorders, intense exercise, or a diet that doesn’t provide enough iron. Being told to get more sleep is typical, but that won’t help restore iron to its proper level in the body.

     The way to get sufficient iron, as long as there are no gut disorders, is through food. Good sources include shellfish, spinach, beans, red meat, pumpkin seeds, quinoa, turkey, broccoli, tofu, and fish. There are also iron supplements.

     Our doctors strongly advise women who are exhausted, irritable, and tired all the time to get their iron levels checked, as there could be other causes. If it does turn out to be iron deficiency, it’s important to work with your doctor, because too much iron can lead to heart flutter, constipation, tarry stools, even liver damage.

26 Comments

Chemicals In Personal Care Products Lead To Early Puberty In More Girls

10/20/2024

6 Comments

     In a study released in September, 2024, the National Institute of Environmental Health Sciences (part of the National Institutes of Health) looked at chemicals commonly found in toothpaste, makeup, and other personal care products. The findings showed that daughters of mothers with higher levels endocrine disrupters faced a greater risk of entering puberty earlier.

     The chemicals that are known disrupters are often found in personal care products:

     • Phthalates are often found in scented products like perfumes, soaps, and shampoos
     • Parabens are used as preservatives in cosmetics
     • Phenols, such as triclosan, are added to some toothpastes

     We have included a link to the Environmental Working Group’s (EWG) guide to safer personal care products. It allows you to enter a product into a search bar and find out what’s in it! There are 114,847 products, 5730 brands, as well as 2,356 EWG verified products. These are safer items that you can search by category, such as, make up, oral care, babies and kids, and so on.

Click to view the guide

6 Comments

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream -- But Not With Insomnia

8/25/2024

1 Comment

The 10 Worst Household Chemicals And How To Keep Your Family Safe -- Part 2

7/25/2024

0 Comments

In this video, you will learn how to protect your family from the harms caused by phthalates, parabens, pesticides/herbicides, styrene, and volatile organic compounds .

Phthalates: Used to soften plastic and as solvents in personal care items. Phthalates are in hundreds of products – flooring to raincoats, children’s toys to medical tubing and cosmetics, etc. These chemicals get into our food from plastic or fiberboard packaging. They can mimic or block our hormones and can also be carcinogenic.

Parabens: A group of chemical preservatives found in cosmetics, pharmaceutical products, personal care products, etc. Also used as preservatives in baked goods and other foods and in beverages, as well as food packaging. Possible harms include hormonal problems, breast cancer and premature birth.

Pesticides/Herbicides: There are hundreds of different chemicals used in farming. The Doctor will review the “Clean 15 and Dirty Dozen,” which tells us which fruits and vegetables are most important to get organic. Household insecticides and insect repellant are also toxic. Potential harms include asthma, seizures, Parkinson’s, anxiety, depression, cancer, ADHD, birth defects, and hormonal problems.

Styrene: A chemical used to make latex, synthetic rubber, and Styrofoam. Found in plastic packaging, disposable plates, cups and containers, insulation, and other products. Also in cigarette smoke, copy machines and laser printers. Can cause headaches, depression, fatigue and weakness, hearing loss, and cancer.

Volatile organic compounds (VOCs): These vapors are emitted from furniture, carpeting, flooring, cosmetics, paints, dry cleaning, aerosol sprays, fuel, and glues. VOCs can cause irritation of the eyes, nose and throat, as well as headaches, chronic fatigue, dizziness, and damage to the liver, kidney, and brain.

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The 10 Worst Household Toxins And How To Keep Your Family Safe

7/25/2024

0 Comments

Dr. Taketa-Wong uses her unique medical and scientific expertise to educate the community about going beyond keeping our homes clean. In this event, learn how to protect your family from mercury, arsenic, lead, mold/mildew, and BPA. The next five is in the following blog post.

Mercury: This dangerous toxin is typically found in large fish, silver fillings, and fluorescent light bulbs, including compact ones. Mercury can cause harm to the nervous, digestive, and immune systems as well as the lungs and kidneys. It can be fatal.

Arsenic: Found in some shellfish, rice, some fruit juices, certain seaweeds, and drinking water. Here in Hawaii, there is still arsenic in the soil from the pesticides and herbicides in areas where sugar and pineapple were grown. Arsenic in the human body can cause joint pain, fatigue, hyperactivity, memory loss, and more.

Lead: Lead mostly comes from paint used prior to 1978, when the federal government banned it. Older dwellings often have lead paint. Lead is linked to fetal abnormalities in babies and developmental delays.

Mold and mildew: Both are types of fungi and both are toxins that are more widespread than most people realize. Symptoms include itchy, red watery eyes, sneezing, chronic headaches, memory loss, body aches and pains. Even changes in mood can be caused by mold and mildew.

BPA: This chemical is frequently found in can liners, plastic bottles and other plastics, and cash register receipts. Health effects: cancer, heart problems, and possible risks for obesity, diabetes, and ADHD.

0 Comments

How Emotions Can Make Life Feel Predictable And Secure

7/15/2024

1 Comment

     Dr. Taketa-Wong stresses (no pun intended) the importance of healthy emotions. Emotional well being is just as important as physical health and, in fact, emotions are woven into our body. When we feel safe and secure, our muscles are relaxed, our breathing is normal, our heart and digestion – in fact our entire body – operates normally. Regardless of outside circumstances, life seems good.

     When we’re nervous, anxious, worried, or afraid, the opposite occurs. Our muscles contract, our breathing becomes faster and shallower, our heart beats faster, digestion slows. Outside circumstances can feel ominous and life seems uncertain.

     Sandra Parker, a PhD psychologist, calls those kinds of emotions “unrest,” arising from feelings of vulnerability. You were hit with a surprise overdraft charge. Your partner, who always lets you know, is an hour late. The kids are at war with each other. You didn’t get the job. You’re waiting on medical test results.

     Even though we may “know” life is a roller coaster, we want our lives to be predictable, we want control. So what do we do when things aren’t going our way, and we experience unrest, being unsettled? How do we handle feeling vulnerable? Many of us turn to external activities to avoid dealing with our feelings: online shopping seems very important, the pet wants attention, we dive into our to-do list, those cat videos are just irresistible, we bury ourselves in work.

     According to Dr. Parker, what we’re doing in those moments is escaping from our inner lives. “We are triggered by uncomfortable sensations in our bodies heralding emotions stirring beneath, and we do anything rather than face them,” she says, adding that, “many kinds of suffering can arise from this. Indeed, research suggests that people who avoid emotions tend to have higher pain levels, increased cardiovascular risk, and higher cancer rates, as well as increased depression, anxiety, and problems in relationships.”

     This well-written and highly relatable article offers excellent insight into the ways we avoid our feelings and some excellent approaches to embracing them. Understanding what’s going on inside and how we deal with it can, ironically, bring us the control and predictability we desire.

Please click to view the article.

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The Doctor's Blog

November 12th, 2025

CHIROPRACTOR’S BRAIN-FOCUSED TREATMENT PROTOCOLS IMPROVE SYMPTOMS IN AUTISM, ADHD & MOOD DISORDERS

THE VERY CONCERNING SIDE EFFECTS OF COMMONLY PRESCRIBED MEDICATIONS

WHY IS CANCER SKYROCKETING IN YOUNGER ADULTS?

EXHAUSTED? IRRITABLE? TIRED ALL THE TIME? FOR MANY WOMEN, LOW IRON (AND NOT ANEMIA) MAY BE WHY.

Chemicals In Personal Care Products Lead To Early Puberty In More Girls

To Sleep, Perchance To Dream -- But Not With Insomnia

The 10 Worst Household Chemicals And How To Keep Your Family Safe -- Part 2

The 10 Worst Household Toxins And How To Keep Your Family Safe

How Emotions Can Make Life Feel Predictable And Secure

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