I could share with you the benefits of increasing zinc consumption to boost your immunity while ensuring you don’t consume too many phytate containing grains that may prevent it’s absorption, or to increase your exposure to sunlight in measured safe doses or take vitamin D supplements as small daily doses or weekly higher doses depending on your genetic profile. I could talk to you about what it is like to get tested for COVID-19 or share with you emerging research (very much in it’s infancy) on experiences for treating COVID-19.
But in all honesty, none of this is new and is easy and freely available to find on the internet. I have no need to reinvent the wheel, take credit for someone else’s work or write blogs on my website that cite other people’s work. As a doctor there are also many restrictions, rules and regulations on providing advice and using social media platforms to share information.
When I think what I have to share that will really make a difference - the information, the knowledge, the tools….. they are from my own healing journey.
But here is the paradox….. we don’t often think that doctors are real people. Real people who get sick, have problems, fears or even a real life. In small communities like Paekakariki where I practice, this is less the case, but in big fast paced cities like Berlin where I previously worked… this was very much the case.
This mindset is cultivated from the first day of medical school, becoming part of the medical faculty, with separate medical balls (well back in my day) and social gatherings, the Dr. title, the white coat, the doctor dominated tables in the canteens at lunch time, medical council rules and regulations that apply to our profession with codes of conduct we are to abide by and unwritten codes of conduct in society of how we behave when we go to visit a doctor.
The more I work on myself, the more I realise how showing my own vulnerability - being a real person - both personally and professionally, is what builds trust, gives hope, supports connection and encourages an openness that drops the veil of shame and most importantly, paves the way to healing.
