4 Reasons it’s Hard to be Alternative in a Mainstream Society

If you are an alternative parent, living an alternative lifestyle can have it’s challenges.

Thankfully, we all have the freedom to choose our own options for our family – though our choices can lead to a lack of understanding from friends and family, or even more, doctors, or dentists.

What are Alternative Parents After?

Those of us who classify ourselves as crunchy, or.. alternative parents, are looking for ways to care for our family through an alternative approach to problems other than what has been proven through research.

Alternative parents try not to be locked into what mainstream society does, no matter how popular – instead, they see out answers through self study, research and by talking with other like minded parents.

So why is it so hard to be alternative in a society that’s so mainstream?

Finding Like Minded People is a Challenge

When you don’t participate in the very same things that the mainstream public participates in, then the general population tends to pass judgement into thinking that you are crazy – or, that you are just uninformed.

If you read labels, opt to cosleep, use Essential Oils, avoid regular trips to the doctor, and find yourself using breast milk to cure common health ailments, you are looked upon as being uninformed.

Cost is More

Right now, we live in a country where the cost of healthier products is undoubtedly more. From natural products to food.  

When you work hard to try to be healthier, and buy things that are better for your family, you really DO have to work hard to crunch that paycheck when raising a family of kids.  You also have to be willing to put on blinders and look beyond cheap alternatives there aren’t as healthy.

But is it really more costly to take a healthier route? 

In some cases… but not in all. Eating organic can be affordable – it requires more effort to think outside the box in terms of shopping for your food and making creative meals.

Alternative Health Care is Not Covered by Insurance

Holistic doctors are rarely covered by insurance – ironically, insurance companies will pay millions dollars for prescriptions and pharmaceutical items. 

The United States spends about $1.5 trillion on health care each year. About one-fifth of Americans believe the health system could be improved and almost everyone in the remaining four-fifths feels it should be revamped altogether. As a result of this dissatisfaction, four out of ten U.S. adults go outside the health system to use complementary, natural or alternative therapies. Some 600 million visits to these practitioners are made each year (which surpasses that made to conventional medical practitioners), and patients pay an estimated $30 billion out of their own pockets for such non-traditional care per year. (Source)

In the end, they mention that their unwillingness to pay is because their (holistic) practices and theories haven’t been proven.

But I’d like to think that much of it is because the government knows they can’t make as much money on holistic medicine — in comparison to Pharmaceuticals and Treatments.

There is a Stigma

When you try to use natural remedies for ailments (including everything from supplements, to Coconut Oil, Essential Oils and incorporating a better diet and exercise), you don’t fit the stereotypical American.

Alternative medicine has been around for a long time. While modern medicine is great it’s not always necessary.  Though it has been pushed down in favor of traditional medicine – which equates to pharmacy prescriptions in lieu of a diet/lifestyle change.  It’s always about a quick fix instead of a committed lifestyle change.

It’s incredibly hard to go against mainstream society – when mainstream society relies on their doctor for every sniffle or cough, and tosses aside suggestions that diet and lifestyle can profoundly affect your health.

Is traditional medicine bad? By no means are we saying that it’s horrible – as long as you are making an informed choice.

Through in today’s society, it’s not always easy to make informed choices as a consumer – in a time when care is driven by profits and relationships.  Consumers ultimately have the power to make educated and informed decisions when it comes to their health, and the health of their family.  

You have the ability to do your own research when it comes to your health – and if anything, you should be empowered to want to make the right decisions for your family – not based on what someone else says, but on the self research that you have done on your own.