Here's an analogy that may help you see the difference. Ask yourself the following question.

a. To be able to function better and be more productive in your house and carry on your needed household activities.

b. To be able to move around in your house without tripping over anything and possibly injuring yourself.

c. You turn on the lights because your afraid of the dark.

It's probably obvious that answer "c" is an action taken out of fear. But what is probably not as obvious is that so is answer "b". If the answer "b" came into your decision making, then you were turning on the light for preventative reasons. In fact you were turning on the lights because you were affraid of being injured. Only choice "a" is the choice that was not motivated by fear.

Now I'm sure that you don't run around the house at night in deep thought as to why you turned on your lights. The decision to turn on the lights is at this point automatic. But the basic reasons why you turn on the lights are still present, even if you don't consciously think about it. The same is true with how most of society makes decisions on health care. In many cases the decision is not based on deep thought, but rather, automatic. But even if automatic, the underlying reasons for most of the decisions about health today are based on fear.

a. If you don't infection will set in and serious problems could occur.

b. Applying medicine kills bacteria and prevents infection.

c. The medicines help your child's body heal the cut faster.

If your answer was "a", your response was strictly out of fear. Fear that something serious would happen to your child if you didn't act to help. Whether or not something would happen doesn't matter, your not taking any chances. Making this decision out of fear doesn't make you a bad parent or anything, but fear does close your mind to other alternatives that may exist. If you say that there aren't any other alternatives that make sense, then it was fear that kept you from ever searching for them.

If your answer was "b" your still acting out of fear. By trying to prevent something your are in fear of it. Although this fear is not as great as answer "a", your decision in this matter is still clouded by fear of a consequence rather that an honest attempt for a positive effect.

a. Because fat can buildup in my arteries and can lead to heart disease, stroke, and other serious health problems.

b. Because I want to lose weight, and I want to prevent health problems in the future.

c. Because I want to eat food that is healthy and will keep my body functioning at its optimal potential.

a. Because vaccinations create a healthier immune system in my child and allow the defense systems to function at a high level of their innate abilities.

b. Because I'm a responsible parent and I don't want to expose my child to any unnecessary health risk.

c. Because if I don't I run the risk of having my child get some very serious and potentially life-threatening diseases.

d. Because it’s the law and I don't have a choice.

Probably no issue more than this one really tests your health decision making process. Among my patient's no issue has stronger feelings. Yet I can honestly say that none of my patient's actually have all the facts and information needed to make a decision on this topic. I've never met a single patient that has told me that they have done research, or even read much literature on this subject, yet most of them have strong opinions one way or the other. My responses to your answers on this subject are based upon the personal research I have done during my college years as well as the volume of literature I have read on the subject of immunizations.

If you answer was "a" you did not answer out of fear. Very few people actually use this answer and there's a good reason for this. Nothing in answer "a" is true. Immunizations do not create a healthier anything. Immunizations also do not allow your child's immune system to function at a higher level.

Answer "b" is probably the most common answer given for this question, but it is based on fear. If you don't really know how immunizations are suppose to work, and you don't know the reality about what protection you are, or are not getting, then your decision to immunize your children is based on the fear of the diseases you immunize them against. If this were not true, would you immunize your child against an illness that is never serious? Of course not. In fact immunizations are only available for conditions that most people consider serious or dangerous. This is because most people would not bother with a vaccination for something they didn't consider a threat.

If you answered "c" your answer was purely out of fear. Fear of a terrible disease or consequence to your child. This fear is so real that most people accept this fear as reality without ever seeing any evidence themselves. This fear is what drove millions of people to get the Swine Flu vaccine a few years ago. Even though there was never a problem from the Swine Flu, and the vaccination cause thousands of problems that we taxpayers had to pay for.

a. To get rid of my back or neck pain, or what ever else I have, so that I can feel better.

b. To prevent myself from having future pains or problems like the ones that brought me to the chiropractor in the first place.

c. To allow my nerve system to function free of interference, therefore allowing my body's own innate abilities to function and express themselves at their highest potential.

Although answers "a" and "b" are the most common reasons that people go to chiropractors, they are both based on fear. In these cases it is usually the fear of pain. Pain is a big motivation. It is what makes most people seek out some form of health care. Unfortunately, pain is a warning after a problem has shown up. If pain is your motivation for seeking chiropractic care, this is a response based on fear.

Answer "c" is the only answer here that is both true and not based on fear. Wanting your body to function on a better and healthier level is a good non-fear reason for seeking chiropractic care. This is commonly the reason that chiropractors themselves and their families receive chiropractic adjustments. And although this is not the reason that most patients come to the chiropractor, most chiropractors wish it were.