An Update from Dr. Sharp
Michelangelo is famously quoted as saying at the age of eighty-seven, “I am still learning.” While I wouldn’t compare myself to him, I deeply resonate with that sentiment. This summer marked 50 years since I began practicing medicine, and my passion for this work has only grown stronger. Each day, I wake with a sense of optimism that feels far younger than my years. In this time of widespread stress and uncertainty, this milestone offers me a chance to reflect on my ever-evolving understanding of how we get sick and how we heal. Here’s an update on my journey, and how the Plum Spring Clinic path has led us to greater usefulness to our clients.
Formative years
As many of you know, the first half of my career was devoted to pediatrics, where I gained invaluable insights into what makes our early years safe—or not. I came to understand the vital importance of strong social networks, especially for families of children with chronic conditions. I also began to explore how institutions learn, as well as the forces that resist such growth.
About 25 years ago, my life reached a pivotal crossroads. I was diagnosed with cancer, my youngest child left for college, my father was dying of the same cancer I had just discovered I would face, and the office I had built at the Medical School was dissolved.
Thanks to the generosity of the Dean at the time, I was granted a sabbatical that opened the door to profound learning and transformation. During this period, I explored traditional Chinese medicine, shamanism, and eventually Functional Medicine, which allowed me to delve deeply into the origins of illness and how to guide our complex biological systems toward wellness. I immersed myself in understanding the microbiome, nutritional deficiencies, and fundamental physiology and biochemistry—subjects I hadn’t realized would prove so profoundly useful (they were—big time!).
Through this journey, I discovered that chronic illness could indeed bend toward chronic wellness. Along the way, I formed many meaningful and lasting connections—both with those seeking help and with those who helped me grow.
Trauma
There was a dark period when an encounter with the health insurance industry severely limited our ability to help our clients—a kind of trauma, to be frank.
In the aftermath, I began noticing signs of trauma in many of my clients. Around this same time, large epidemiological studies on the effects of early childhood adversity were gaining attention. These studies highlighted the profound impact of early adversity on lifelong health and well-being. A growing community of researchers and clinicians began delving into the mechanisms underlying these outcomes, exploring interventions to mitigate their effects, and developing ways to support individuals carrying the wounds of traumatic events or disrupted attachment ~~ disruptions which often leave people with deep-seated insecurity and anxiety, profoundly shaping their lives.
Biochemical Consequences of Anxiety
From my study of functional medicine, I acquired many skills to help repair the physiological consequences of chronic fear. What I was missing was how to help the chronic fear itself. A wise psychotherapist colleague pointed me in the direction of the Somatic Experiencing method. I will forever be grateful to Irene. I learned that trauma lives mostly in the body rather than the smart brain. This led me to Internal Family Systems which I now consider the most powerful method to help with lost, alone, frightened little ones that live untended inside each of us.
So my current understanding of the origins of all illness is that it is the outcome of a mind and body in a state of fear. Many things can counterbalance fear:
- warm relationships with others,
- time in nature,
- play,
- rest and meditation,
- gratitude lists,
- breathing exercises,
- love-making,
- singing, and
- dancing.
Many things can also repair the toxic cascade of physiological consequences of chronic stress hormones. Chronic stress hormones marinate in unhealthy ways our digestive, immune, myofascial/joint, and neurotransmitter systems. These biological changes cause chronic pain and fatigue. Some things that can help:
- diets that restore healthy microbiomes,
- nutrient replenishment,
- adaptogens to repair impaired adrenal function,
- restoration of normal methylation,
- probiotics,
- nutrients to restore integrity to the lining of the gut- repair of leaky gut,
- natural anti-inflammatories,
- botanical support of the parasympathetic nervous system and vagus nerve.
Healing Fear Itself
None of the balancing approaches alone can truly address the fear that drives the toxic cascade. However, my several years of experience with the Internal Family Systems (IFS) method have brought me to a time in my career where I regularly witness transformational healing. Oh my gosh — why did it take so long!
At Plum Spring Clinic 3.0, we are pleased to offer the services of three skilled and experienced practitioners trained in the IFS method. Together, we help clients heal themselves, guiding them toward the peace and safety that were missing when the seeds of fear were deeply planted in their past.
Of course, we continue to integrate functional medicine and mindfulness coaching to support this primary healing work. I wholeheartedly recommend our services to you—or anyone you know—who lives each day under the weight of worry, a heightened startle response, challenges with relationships, anxiety, poor sleep, or hypervigilance. These symptoms often point to a story of deep distress waiting to be met with attention and compassion.
We call this process “withing.” Come “with” with us.
