Characteristics of Successful Patients

Paul A. Goldberg MPH, DC, DACBN, DCBCN
Founder and Consultant to The Goldberg Tener Clinic
Chronic Disease Reversal

Fifty years of assisting chronically ill patients to reverse their chronic diseases has demonstrated specific characteristics possessed by successful patients.

Looking through the over two hundred video and written patient testimonials on the Goldberg Tener Clinic Website representing patients with diverse medical diagnoses, a common question arises: Which patients are most triumphant in recovering their health? What attributes are most important to successfully overcome chronic disease?

Reversing Chronic Disease is not a matter of luck or having good genes. It involves understanding the causes of our health problems and directly addressing them.

In a prior article I listed some of the reasons people fail to recover from Chronic Disease. Here are attributes involved in successfully reversing it.

#1: Successful patients understand that being medically labeled with a “chronic disease” does not mean they can’t get well but rather that medical treatments will not restore their health.

When a medical physician talks about “Managing” your chronic disease it is equivalent to saying…” you will be sick your entire life, but we’ll provide “treatments” to manage your symptoms as the disease progresses.

The successful patient rejects this failure mindset. They understand that simply because the Medical Profession has no answers to reversing their disease it does not mean they cannot get well. Chronic Disease Reversal occurs by identifying causes and providing the right conditions to restore health.

The successful patient identifies and addresses the causal factors behind their disease. We refer to this as “Clinical Epidemiology,” an integral part of the Goldberg Bio-Hygienic Approach^TM and an area I focused on during my professional graduate training in Chronic Disease Epidemiology.

The Successful Patient understands that medicine, by its very admission in labeling multitudes of people with “chronic disease”, fails to address causal factors. This same failure is seen with practitioners referring to themselves as practicing “Functional” or “Alternative” Medicine.

In these practices “diagnoses” are bandied about such as SIBO, Candida, Hypoglycemia, Leaky Gut Syndrome and Adrenal Fatigue. These titles might apply to symptoms the patient has but they fail to address why those symptoms are occurring. Treatments are therefore non-specific to the patient and fail to bring about lasting results.

#2: The Successful Patient is Actively Engaged in Their Care.

The passive role that patients take in most offices is counterproductive to overcoming chronic illness. Successful patients welcome being actively involved in their health care. They understand that while Dr. Tener and I identify causes and develop programs specific to our patient’s needs to address those causes, the patient must engage in implementing the program without excuses or delay.

#3: The Successful Patient focuses on the present.

The past failures of successful patients, whether financial, health, marriage, or other decisions go by the wayside. They do not waste time feeling sorry for themselves. They move forward knowing that getting well takes focus and the successful patient focuses on the present.

#4: The successful patient accepts there will be bumps on the journey to getting well.

Uncomfortable symptoms can be part of the recovery process. Successful Patients take the good days and bad days in stride knowing that both are part of returning to health. When symptoms arise, the patient does not run for drugs to suppress them but rather supports their body with the right practices we instruct them to implement.

#5: The Successful Patient uses “supplements” conservatively.

The Successful Patient uses “supplements” conservatively understanding they are just that…supplements to their program and should not constitute the foundation of any health program. They have overcome the pill mentality whether in the form of drugs, herbs or other supplements.

#6: The Successful Patient understands they need guidance and works hand in hand with us.

The successful patient knows he or she must take responsibility for their health but that we are able to view them from the outside, be objective and guide them through the good times and the uncomfortable ones as they follow the path back to good health.

#7: The Successful Patient gives priority to their health building program.

They do not make excuses for failing to stick to their program because of holidays, special occasions or other reasons. They do not find excuses to delay care, to miss appointments or otherwise not fully apply themselves to the work of getting well. They live by the slogan “if it is going to be it is up to me.”

#8: Successful Patients do not allow mistakes to deter them.

When the Successful Patient makes a mistake in following their program e.g. dietary factors, getting emotionally upset, or failing to follow any other element of their program they don’t beat themselves up. They admit they slipped and get back on track. They know no one is a failure until they give up.

#9: The Successful Patient devotes themselves to their entire health program.

They are careful to avoid putting excessive emphasis on a single part of their health program e.g. diet, supplements, exercise, etc. They implement all aspects of their program fully.

#10: The Successful Patient is PATIENT.

They do not seek quick fixes or fads… they go for the real. They understand that just as it took time to evolve into chronic illness it takes time to restore health. They know that health cannot be recovered by ignoring causal factors or by plying themselves with pharmaceuticals, pills, hormones, fad diets from the internet and therapies unrelated to why they became ill. The successful patient values their health, takes the right path under supervision and makes the needed effort to become victorious.

Shown below are some of the many examples of successful patients that regained their health under our care.  

The Goldberg Bio-Hygienic Approach™, focuses on identifying and addressing causes and creating the right conditions for health to evolve. It requires hard work and the will to get well. The reward? A reliable pathway to good health, a high state of vitality and enjoyment of life.