Getting to the Root Cause: Why True Healing Starts Beneath the Surface

As a physician and coach, I’ve spent thousands of hours listening to patients and clients tell their stories. Some come with test results in hand, others arrive with a diagnosis already, and many sit down with nothing more than fatigue, pain, or the haunting words: “I don’t feel like myself anymore.”

Our healthcare system conditions us to treat symptoms rather than address the root cause. Do you have high blood pressure? Here’s a pill. Trouble sleeping? Try this. Feeling down? Let’s adjust your medication. And yes, sometimes these interventions are necessary, even lifesaving. But if we stop there, we’ve missed the deeper question that has fueled my life’s work:

Why do these problems exist in the first place?

This is what I call root-cause thinking. It’s more than a medical method—it’s a bridge between medicine and coaching, between illness and wellness, between merely surviving and truly thriving.

Medicine 101: The Differential Diagnosis

When I trained as a family physician, one of the most essential concepts drilled into us was the differential diagnosis. It’s the mental list of possibilities we create when someone comes in with a problem. For example:

• A patient has kidney disease. Possible causes? Diabetes. Hypertension. Chronic alcohol use. Long-term acetaminophen use. Autoimmune conditions.

• A patient has chronic pain. Possible causes? Fibromyalgia. Osteoarthritis. Old injuries. Obesity. Depression. Trauma.

But here’s the truth: even when we circle one of those causes, there’s still often another why underneath it.

• Why did they develop diabetes?

• Why is their blood pressure uncontrolled?

• Why are they using alcohol as a crutch?

• Why are they unable to access healthier coping strategies?

That “why beneath the why” is where the root cause often hides. And that’s where true healing begins.

Beyond Biology: The Power of Social Determinants

We now know, from decades of research, that social determinants of health—such as income, education, housing, employment, and relationships—can be more potent than prescriptions.

According to the World Health Organization, up to 55% of health outcomes are shaped by social determinants, while direct medical care contributes only 10–20%. That means a person’s zip code can matter more than their genetic code.

• A patient with diabetes who can’t afford insulin doesn’t just have a “medical problem”—they have a systemic access problem.

• A single mother working two jobs who grabs fast food for dinner isn’t “noncompliant”—she’s in survival mode.

• A grieving spouse who stops taking their medication isn’t “non-adherent”—they’re heartbroken and overwhelmed.

Health doesn’t happen in a vacuum. It occurs in kitchens, workplaces, playgrounds, and communities.

The Psychology of Health: Grief, Trauma, and Self-Worth

So often, I’ve met patients whose physical illnesses were only the surface story. Beneath them lived unprocessed grief, childhood trauma, or a deep-seated belief that they didn’t deserve care in the first place.

The Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACE) Study, conducted by the CDC and Kaiser Permanente, revealed that individuals with high ACE scores are far more likely to develop chronic disease, mental health struggles, and engage in risky behaviours (Felitti et al., 1998).

In other words, what happens in childhood doesn’t just stay in childhood. It resurfaces decades later—in the heart, the brain, the gut, and the immune system.

When we peel back the layers, so many illnesses are rooted in relationships:

• Relationship with self: Do I believe I deserve health?

• Relationship with others: Am I supported or abandoned?

• Relationship with society: Do I belong, or do I carry the burden of being “less than”?

Complexity vs. Simplicity: Walking the Tightrope

Now, let me be clear: I am not here to minimize the complexity of human suffering. Poverty, systemic racism, trauma, and grief—these are not problems with quick fixes.

But here’s the paradox I live with daily: while the causes are complex, the solutions must be simple. Otherwise, they aren’t sustainable or accessible.

That’s where both my physician lens and my coaching lens converge.

• As a doctor, I might prescribe medication for high blood pressure.

• As a coach, I might ask: What’s happening in your life that makes it so hard to take care of yourself?

As a doctor, I review lab results. As a coach, I check beliefs. Healing requires both perspectives.

The Dual Hats: Physician and Coach

Yes, I am a licensed physician. And yes, I am also a certified transformational coach. But when you come to me through Holistic Wellness Strategies, you are hiring me as your coach, not your doctor.

Why? Because legally and ethically, those roles must remain distinct.

That said, the two hats inform each other.

• As a coach, I bring deep listening, reframing, and reflection skills. But my medical training influences how I recognize patterns and connect the dots.

• As a physician, I bring science, clinical judgment, and diagnostic reasoning. But my coaching hat ensures I see you as more than your lab results—it helps me see your story.

I’ve tried to keep these worlds separate, but the truth is, they’re woven together. Two hats. Two lenses. One mission: helping people uncover the root cause and live fully.

Case Studies: When Root-Cause Thinking Transforms Lives

Case One: The Patient With “Stubborn” Diabetes

I once had a patient who seemed to “fail” every diabetes plan. New medications, stricter diets, more appointments—nothing worked. Their sugars remained high.

When we dug deeper, I discovered they had recently lost a spouse. Their eating wasn’t “lazy.” It was an attempt to soothe a grief so sharp it bled into every corner of their life.

Until we acknowledged that grief, no amount of medication adjustments could change the numbers; once we addressed the grief, support groups, gentle routines, and compassion, their sugars improved.

Case Two: The Professional on the Brink of Burnout

Another client came to me through my coaching practice. On paper, she was “successful.” In reality, she was unravelling.

We didn’t work on “time management hacks.” Instead, we dug into the root causes: her perfectionism, her inability to set boundaries, and her belief that her worth was tied to productivity.

As she reframed those beliefs, her calendar didn’t just become manageable—her life did. She slept. She smiled. She reconnected with joy.

Research Corner: Why Root-Cause Thinking Works

Science backs up what I’ve seen in practice. Here’s why addressing the roots—not just the branches—matters:

1. Stress and Disease

Chronic stress keeps the body in a state of fight-or-flight, flooding it with cortisol. Over time, this hormonal surge raises blood pressure, disrupts blood sugar regulation, and weakens the immune system. Research by Salleh(2008) shows that prolonged stress accelerates wear and tear on the body, contributing to hypertension, heart disease, diabetes, and immune dysfunction.

In other words, when someone says, “Stress is killing me,” it’s not a metaphor. It’s biology.

2. Loneliness

Human beings are wired for connection. Studies from Brigham Young University found that loneliness increases the risk of early death by 26%, comparable to the risks of obesity or smoking (Holt-Lunstad et al., 2015).

I’ve seen this in practice: widows who become frailer after losing a spouse, professionals who seem to wither under the weight of isolation. Connection is not optional—it’s medicinal.

3. Grief

Grief is not just an emotion; it’s a whole-body experience. Research by Schoo et al. (2025) shows that prolonged grief disorder impairs immune function and even raises mortality rates.

I’ve witnessed this in patients who, after a profound loss, develop new or worsening health conditions. Their bodies carried the weight of their broken hearts. Healing required more than prescriptions—it required compassion, community, and time.

4. Adverse Childhood Experiences (ACEs)

The ACE Study revealed a striking dose-response relationship: the higher a person’s ACE score, the greater their risk of chronic disease, depression, substance use, and early death (Felitti et al., 1998).

It’s one of the clearest demonstrations that emotional wounds can turn into physical scars. Addressing root causes here means not only supporting individuals but also building healthier families and communities to break the cycle.

Together, these findings remind us: this isn’t “soft science.” It’s the undeniable intersection of biology and sociology.

From the Exam Room to Everyday Life

When I consider root causes, I often see a recurring theme: disconnection.

• Disconnection from the body.

• Disconnection from community.

• Disconnection from purpose.

That’s why both medicine and coaching must evolve beyond symptom management. In a world facing rising rates of anxiety, depression, obesity, diabetes, and burnout, we cannot afford to ignore the roots anymore.

Call to Action: What About You?

I want to leave you with a few reflection questions:

1. Where in your life have you been treating the symptom but ignoring the root?

2. What relationships—starting with the one with yourself—need repair or attention?

3. If you asked yourself “why” not just once, but five times in a row, what more profound truths might emerge?

Healing starts with curiosity, not judgment. With connection, not isolation. And with the courage to look at the roots, not just the branches.

Final Thoughts

At the end of the day, whether I am in the clinic or working with someone through Holistic Wellness Strategies, my work comes back to one simple but profound belief:

You are more than your symptoms.

You are a whole story worth understanding. And when we dare to get to the root cause, healing is not only possible—it becomes inevitable.

Disclaimer

This article is for informational purposes only and does not constitute medical advice. It is not intended to diagnose, treat, or cure any condition. Always seek guidance from a qualified healthcare provider about your health.

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