And the tricky art of advice-giving
Today, I would like to ponder the topic of non-attachment. It started with a bad cut on my sister’s partners' shin. His bike ride ended with ten stitches 🚲🤕, and while the doctor did a great job with the sutures, the wound care instructions were unclear, and I felt compelled to offer help.
However, when someone from my circle of family and friends has a medical issue, it is important to pitch advice gently and leave the decision in their court. In other words, other peoples' actions are not my responsibility; all I can do is to make a suggestion. This is also important because if a complication happens, we are not blamed for the results. Everyone needs to make their own call.
And while my sister's boyfriend was interested in my advice, he belongs to a small percentage of people who take advice from others in general. The reason may be that we are exposed to a constant barrage of claims and suggestions, which makes us numb and less likely to accept even solid advice.
To make things worse, there are companies who blatantly make claims that are untrue, such as "The #1 one product to solve your problems" or "The best company on Earth and in the Universe" 🤣. Such claims make me shake my head because they are a form of deceptive, misleading advertising. Sadly there are many people out there who fall for it.
Back to wound healing
Most people have been taught to treat wounds with antibiotics and chemicals right from the get-go. They are worried about severe infections or even a flesh-eating disease. Based on my clinical experience, fear plays a huge role in healing, and when I see someone really worry, I know that complications are much more likely to arise. From studies on placebo, we know that the mind is very powerful, and fear is too.
When it comes to wounds, antibiotic creams kill most but not all bacteria, giving superbugs paradoxically more “space” to grow. This is one of the reasons why you are more likely to get a superbug infection in a hospital than on a farm.
I am taking this opportunity to “re-share” my video and article on wound healing because summer is here, and it is the season of scrapes, cuts and wounds. This approach is proven by 20 years of clinical use, and I am confident that it will reduce the rate of wound healing complications and speed up healing. Remember, if you are unsure about your choice of treatment and worry too much, the risk of complications is more likely, which brings us back to the beginning.
Offer advice but don't be too pushy 😉 because when "it" hits the fan, you may be blamed.
© Dr. Peter Dobias, DVM
