Do We Cause Our Own Diseases?

The idea that we cause our own diseases comes from ancient societies that didn’t have any knowledge of bacteria, viruses, and genetics or of the dangerous effects of chemical and radiation pollution and poor diet. In ancient times, people thought that repressed or negative feelings could cause diseases. Or somehow it was punishment from God. You will come across this idea in New Age books that litter the bookshelves.

Louise Hay, who has written many self-help books over the years, claims she had cervical cancer and cured herself with forgiveness. From what I understand, no medical professional could confirm that she ever had cancer in the first place. I guess we have to take her at her word. The Chinese have a saying that fits: Believe half of what you see and nothing that you hear.

Bernie Siegel, a Yale general surgeon who wrote a series of books in the eighties (Peace, Love, and Healing) espoused this idea that repressed feelings or depression cause cancer. One of his chapter titles in that book read “Why Do You Need This Disease?” Rubbish. Siegel had no training in oncology or psychiatry and was admittedly burned out and in despair over the deaths he had witnessed in the operating room. He projected his own despair onto cancer victims.

Think about it: Every person on earth represses feelings against family members and friends. If we expressed them, no one would ever get along—we’d be at each other’s throats. Everyone has negative feelings, and many have depression. If these feelings caused cancer, we would have no need of psychiatrists and psychologists. We’d need thousands of more cancer clinics.

The idea that we cause our own diseases leads to one long guilt trip—and guilt is one of the most destructive of emotions, and gets in the way of healing once we are diagnosed. It’s also a twisted notion that somehow we are in total control of our fate—that forces greater than ourselves don’t influence our lives, only we do. We can all control our lives to a point: through positive thinking, and positive actions. I believe strongly in the power of positive thinking. But we are all subject to the weather, foreign aggression, and of course the economy. Face it: a lot of life is out of our control.

And honestly, do you think the tens of millions of people who died of bubonic plague in the 14th century or of influenza at the turn of the twentieth century were negative thinkers? It’s absurd. Some researchers today believe that 80% of all cancers are caused by chemical or radiation exposure or poor diet—and the remainder is genetic.

Every day we are subjected to chemical contamination far greater than in the past 8,000 years of human civilization: household cleaners, deodorants (read the label), hair gel, plastic containers—both for water and soda and used to cook in microwaves—and no one knows the impact of absorbing plastic molecules--artificial colors, sweeteners, and preservatives—and many more. People living near industrial chemical spills have a much higher incidence of cancer than the general population. Remember the Love Canal years ago? Those people contracted cancer due to chemical exposure—not because they didn’t have enough forgiveness in their hearts.

Radiation exposure is at an all-time high. Microwaves, televisions, and even the electrical wiring in our homes and offices give off electromagnetic radiation—and no one knows the impact on the human immune system. And no one wants to know, because we are not going to turn back the clock: we need our modern conveniences, like electricity. People living near power lines have a much higher incidence of brain tumors—not because of repressed feelings, but because of the electromagnetic radiation.

People living near nuclear reactors, such as Millstone in Connecticut, have a much higher incidence of thyroid cancers than the general population. Radiation exposure. I challenge any New Age master who claims enlightenment to pitch a tent in the ruins of the Chernobyl reactor in Russia and camp out for a couple of weeks. What do you think will happen?

I am a long-term cancer survivor (13 years). In 1991 I was diagnosed with Stage Four lymphoma of the bone and given six months to live. At the time I had a weakened immune system from months of sleeping only a couple hours a night due to back pain and sciatica—a disk had exploded in my spine and pieces were pushing on my sciatic nerve. Every day I worked through tremendous pain, drove an hour to my job in the corporate world, worked for nine hours and returned home to a night of agony and almost no sleep. A lot of healing occurs during sleep—it’s one of the keys to good health.

Years before I had worked in a pharmaceutical factory and, due to faulty safety equipment, was exposed to some dangerous chemicals. Those chemicals were lurking in my body, waiting for a chance to explode. And it happened. I went through cancer four times, including two bone marrow transplants. I didn’t feel guilty—it wasn’t my fault.

Instead I worked with a kung fu master, using internal energy exercises to boost my immune system. Thousands of hours of holding difficult postures designed to energize my body’s healing systems. And it worked. You can change destiny—but it takes nerve and discipline. The Taoists have a saying: My life is in my hands, not in Heaven’s.”

If you have cancer or any other profound disease—don’t feel guilty. You didn’t cause your disease. Get past that notion, and get on with the most important work of your life—fighting for your health.