Moving Forward

Happy Birthday Daddy

I’m reposting for Mental Health Awareness Month. I made peace with my father’s suicide years ago. I also understand the challenge and suffering mental illness can bring. I also have Bipolar Disorder and have been suicidal many times. I’m thankful for a great healthcare team, most importantly a doctor who listens to my concerns, and when a medicine isn’t working he is quick to make changes and continues until I’m stable again.

Melinda

Today would be your 76 birthday, there are a few things to say. I don’t know if you were with God in your final hours. I can’t assume you asked for forgiveness, I can’t assume you’re in Heaven.

Granny and Gramps went to their graves not knowing the pain you inflicted on me. Granny would breakdown, I would not cause her such pain.

You told me several times you were going to kill yourself, I didn’t doubt. I chose to keep the information to myself.

Granny was never the same after taking your life.

You called delusional, hallucinationing your phone was tapped. I found the cassettes, listened to every one, it’s sad where the mind can take us.

I have an idea how difficult it must have been living with a delusional mind.

Years soften the memories and pain, time doesn’t mean forgiveness. I choose to move forward building a healthy life. I’ve forgotten those times, their packed away, never to share.

Your son doesn’t have recollections of the worst times, he hardly knew you, you two didn’t spend much time. He knows nothing of my pain, like granny, he will go to his grave knowing none.

I talked with your half-brother Michael last year, he had photos and fond memories of you, the times you shared. Thru him I learned your side of the family suffered from depression for generations back.

Until next year

Melinda

Moving Forward

Happy Birthday Daddy 1940-1992

I’m reposting for Mental Health Awareness Month. If you know someone who is suicidal or you think will harm themselves please encourage them to go to the nearest hospital.

Melinda

The morning after you killed yourself we went to secure the house. I knew immediately you suffered slowly. Among the papers, trash, and clothes I found your lockbox. The divorce paperwork to my mother, every card I gave you as a child. I found the pad you were writing on. Your Bible on the coffee table, dried tears as you read Job.

The note had 11:30 a.m. written in the corner. I could see you called your best friend and the phone number to a suicide line. There were words and a drawing that made no sense. Granny paralyzed, crying, asking why. The house ransacked, not sure anything made sense to her.

Dirty dishes piled high, nothing in the refrigerator, how did you live like this, how long? You phoned me several times in the months before your death. Delusional and highly paranoid each time. Someone was tapping your phone, they were trying to get you and the rest I could not understand, you were already gone. As much as I hated you, I cried, begged you not to kill yourself, trying to reason Granny would never be the same. I paid your bills for months. You weren’t in touch with reality.

The outcome will not change if determined. I knew you would take your life and told no-one. I’ve wondered what went through your mind in the hours doodling to writing the note, then killing yourself. I received the call at 10:00 p.m. Gramps said your dad has done away with himself. I called right back to see if you were dead or going to the hospital.

The boxes of cassettes were next to your bed, taking months to listen to. You were mentally ill, not under the care, no medications. Your temper went 1-10 in seconds, obnoxious, loud, racist, screaming, out of control.

I think of you one day a year.

Melinda

 

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

9 things you can do to make working from home more joyful

IDEAS.TED.COM

Apr 15, 2020 / Ingrid Fetell Lee


Some people love working from home, and they can’t imagine anything better than a day with their laptop clad in pajama pants. Others miss the structure and the casual chats with coworkers that happen at their offices. Whether you love it or hate it, working remote — for those who can do it; not every job lends itself to this kind flexibility — is going to be common for many of us in the near future due to the pandemic.

For those of you new to working from home, there’s lots of advice out there about how to deal with the pitfalls and stay productive and sane (“Take a shower!” “Don’t spend too much time on social media!”). But from my own experience, working from home can be a real delight if you let it. So I’d like to share a few ideas for creating a workspace and routines that will make working from home a joyful, sustainable experience. And who knows? You might not even want to go back to the office!

1. Take care of your body 

In her book Proposals for the Feminine Economy, Jenn Armbrust offers a series of principles, the first one being: “You have a body.” Sounds simple, but working from home can make it easy to forget about your body’s basic needs. At your office, you probably had an ergonomic desk chair or an adjustable workstation. However, unless you work from home regularly, your workspace may consist of a kitchen table and basic chair.

You don’t need to invest in a whole home-office setup, but rather pay attention to how your body feels as you work from home. One advantage to working from home — as opposed to being in an office — is that you can change positions frequently. Try out lots of postures, whether that’s sitting in a chair, standing at your kitchen counter, relaxing on the sofa, or sitting on a yoga block on the floor with your coffee table as a desk. It took me a long time (and some serious shoulder pain) to realize that the best position for long writing stretches for me is sitting on a backless bench at my dining table. Testing different positions can help you find physical ease faster.

Another thing to pay attention to is movement. You likely do some walking in the course of an office workday — to the office from the train or bus or parking lot, between meetings, to the café for more coffee — and these movement breaks disappear when everything you need is within a couple of rooms in your home. When I first started working from home, I was surprised to find that I sometimes got in fewer than 1,000 steps in a day!

The flexibility of home work means, though, that you can largely move when you want to. Try setting a timer for a yoga or workout to break up a long email session. While writing my book Joyful, I took impromptu dance breaks whenever I was stuck on a section, which cleared my head but would’ve been hard to do in the office. I also started to take a long walk in the park at the end of every day. In the summer, I’d print out the latest draft and take it with me and sit in the shade while marking it up. In the winter, I’d do this at the kitchen island after coming home.

2. Use your commute

How long was your pre-pandemic daily commute? For many people, it can range between 30 minutes to 2 hours (or more), round trip every day. It also really adds up. Even at the short end, that 30 minutes per day adds up to two and a half hours that you’ve now gained per week!

The key is being intentional about how you use that time. Schedule it in your calendar — it doesn’t have to be at the same time as your commute — just as you would a meeting.

You can also block that time out for free, unstructured time, something most adults don’t get enough of. But then make sure to put tools down when the calendar alert goes off and give yourself space to enjoy it.

3. Create a sensory landscape 

With their dull color palettes, synthetic carpets and humming HVAC systems, most workplaces have a joyless sensory landscape. Add in the noise from open-plan seating, and the fact that many spaces are often too cold or hot, and the typical office can be deeply unpleasant to spend time in, much less get focused work done.

While many of us often see the problem as overstimulation, in fact offices are just as likely to be understimulating. Workspaces have traditionally been designed based on the belief that to maximize productivity you need to minimize distraction, leading to bland, featureless spaces. But research shows that when people in these “lean” workspaces are compared to people working in “enriched” spaces that have art, plants, and more sensorial stimulation, the workers in the enriched spaces are 15 percent more productive. And if the workers have control over the placement of things in their workspace? They’re 32 percent more productive.

When you work from home, you can be like those workers in the study who controlled their own workspace — and create a sensory landscape that works for you. Part of this may mean eliminating unpleasant sensations, by getting noise-cancelling headphones to tune out distracting noises or adjusting the temperature so that it’s comfortable for you.

Also, look for ways to add pleasant sensations into your workspace. Hang up an image that gives your gaze something to rest on while you glance away from your screen. Play nature sounds. Choose a brightly colored mug for your morning coffee.

The senses of touch and smell are particularly understimulated during the hours we’re tapping away at a keyboard, so look for ways to appeal to them. For example, I cover the bench I sit on when writing with a sheepskin, which has a decidedly unofficelike soft texture. I keep a bottle of essential oils on my desk, and sometimes use a diffuser to scent the air.

4. Get some sunshine

One poorly designed aspect of many traditional offices is how little daylight exposure is available in workspaces. For most workers, the only light during the day comes from the dull fluorescents overhead. Yet research shows that workers who get more exposure to daylight sleep better (up to 46 minutes more per night), are less stressed, and are more active during the day. Light regulates key hormones and neurotransmitters, influencing everything from our alertness to stress levels, our immune system to our moods.

In your home, you have more control over where you choose to work, so if possible, choose a space near a window. And if you don’t have much natural light in your space, use lamps to boost the brightness. Just as too much blue light from our screens can keep us up at night, a healthy dose of bright artificial light during the day can also help keep our 24-hour internal clock in sync.

Also, when you used to commute to work, you likely got at least a little sunlight on the way, which you lose if now you jump straight into work first thing. Light has the greatest impact on our circadian rhythms in the morning, so try to go outside for a brief walk before you sit down.

5. Green your workspace

One simple thing to do to make your workspace more joyful is to add greenery. Plants that might struggle in the dim light of an office can thrive in your home, and you gain the extra benefit of getting to enjoy them when you’re not working as well. You don’t have to have as many plants as Summer Rayne Oakes does in her home workspace, but even just adding a few has been shown to reduce stress and restore your ability to concentrate.

6. Make a “get to work” playlist 

One challenge I’ve found in working from home is transitions. It can be hard to stop doing all those home things (emptying the dishwasher, folding laundry, etc.) and get down to work, especially if there’s work you’re avoiding. In fact, many writers joke that their home is never tidier than when they’re working on a book.

One thing that helps is having some sort of ritual that marks a transition into a work session. I have a couple of “Get to Work” playlists that help with this: one for writing, one for email. The playlists always start with the same song, so it becomes like a sonic trigger that primes me to focus.

Other transition ideas might be pouring a fresh cup of tea or coffee, doing a quick stretch, or setting a focus timer (I use the Tide app on my phone).

7. Make snack time special 

A lot of work-from-home guides advise you to take a real lunch, but I confess that when I’m in flow, I much prefer to eat at my desk. This doesn’t mean that I don’t believe in taking breaks, though. As I mentioned above, the most important features of breaks for me are to get outside and to incorporate movement into my day.

I also love a good snack break. We often think of snacks as fuel, but for me, they’re more of a treat. And, as writer Gretchen Rubin has pointed out, treats can help make us feel cared for, energized and motivated. Having access to your own kitchen means that you don’t have to rely on the processed foods that constitute a snack in most offices, nor do you have to eat it out of a bag.

I’m a big fan of cutting up fruit and arranging it in a wheel around my plate, or making little sampler plates from the fridge of pickles, olives and other nibbles. I also make energy balls or banana bread and freeze some so I can have it for a mid-week treat. You’re your own office manager now, so think about what would make you feel cared for and create space for it in your daily routine.

8. Be playful 

Offices have been designed with work in mind, and the prevailing view is that work is somehow the opposite of play. But, as play researcher Brian Sutton-Smith says, “The opposite of play is not work. It’s depression.” Bringing your work home gives you a chance to invite more play into your workflow. And this can start with your workspace.

A playful workspace creates more opportunities for play in your day. These can be small, like the miniature spinning tops I keep on my desk to spin when I get stuck on an idea, or they can be larger, like having a trampoline to bounce on or a hula hoop to play with. Changing out a desk chair for an exercise ball can also bring a sense of play. A giant bowl of Legos or a big puzzle can keep hands busy while your mind is working through ideas.

You can also experiment with adding playful forms of decor, like children’s drawings on the wall, or cute objects for your desk. I put googly eyes on my stapler, for instance. Cute things may even benefit our productivity, according to research out of Japan, by enhancing our ability to focus.

Imagine: If you’d never been to an office before, what would you want it to look like? When you work from home, there’s no reason not to create a space that lets your imagination run free.

9. Pack it up and put it away 

Perhaps the worst thing about working from home is that it’s hard to know when the workday ends. Writer Kevin Roose has found, for example, that remote workers take shorter breaks and fewer sick days, suggesting that boundaries can be an issue. This is even more challenging if you don’t have a dedicated home office space. When your laptop sits on the dining table or your coffee table is covered in stacks of folders, it’s hard to fully feel like you’ve turned off.

This is one reason why I insisted on building in two tiny home offices in our current renovation. I still will probably spend time working at the dining table, but I wanted a place to put everything at night so that I can close the door on it and not be distracted by the things I didn’t get done.

You don’t need a spare room to do this, though. Simply having a basket or closet to tuck your laptop and papers into at night will do the trick. Creating a physical boundary will help you reset your mind and reclaim your home as your home.

This post was originally published on The Aesthetics of Joy site.

Watch her TED Talk now:https://embed.ted.com/talks/ingrid_fetell_lee_where_joy_hides_and_how_to_find_it

ABOUT THE AUTHOR

Ingrid Fetell Lee is the founder of the blog The Aesthetics of Joy and was formerly design director at the global innovation firm IDEO. 

Celebrate Life

Happy Memorial Day God Bless The USA

Sending a special thank you from my heart to all the veterans who have served and lost there lives serving our country fighting for my freedom. Without you, America would not be a free country. I don’t want to live anywhere else.

Thank you

Melinda

Men & Womens Health

Lyme Disease *Don’t Inspect-What To Expect!

For many people around the world, it’s still hot outside and you’re enjoying outdoor activities. I am reposting this as a reminder of how serious Lyme Disease is, it will change your life forever if not diagnosed in the first 2-4 weeks. Around 30% of people do not get the bullseye rash and you have no way to know you have been bitten by a tick. We are talking about ticks smaller than a grain of rice! Think about how hard they are to find in your hair. I’ve been ill since 2012 and was diagnosed shortly after as having Lyme disease, it’s been a long hard road. 

I’ve recently been diagnosed with Hypogammaglobulinemia which is an autoimmune disorder of the blood. If severe enough Plasma Infusion Therapy is required.

Here’s what Wiki had to say:

Hypogammaglobulinemia is a problem with the immune system in which not enough gamma globulins are produced in the blood (thus hypo- + gamma + globulin + -emia). This results in a lower antibody count, which impairs the immune system, increasing risk of infection.

I’ve never wanted a blood transfusion in the past and lucky one was never required. I don’t know how I feel about plasma, there isn’t really an option. Your body must have white blood cells to fight off every type of infection including the common cold.

I saw a Hematologist who thankfully told me I don’t have bone marrow cancer and referred me to an Immunologist. I had a Telehealth appointment with the Immunologist only to find out he no longer does Infusion Therapy and has to refer me to another Immunologist. Be sure you ask if the Immunologist you’re referred to does the Infusion Therapy before your appointment in case it’s needed. 

He went ahead and ordered blood work for which I had to go to the lab during this crazy time. A lab with sick people is the last place I wanted to be. They were working by appointment and only allowing four people in the waiting room which made me feel better.

The feeling of comfort went away when the person in front of me didn’t have on a mask and was not offered one, worst the lady behind the desk was wearing her mask on her chin and coughed. What the Hell! Now two weeks later I find out my lab work is lost.

Next week I start over. It’s calling the doctor’s office, asking for the referral, and letting them know there isn’t a need for blood work since he doesn’t provide the needed therapy.

Can I say for sure this new autoimmune disorder is tied to Lyme? No, but I can’t forget the words of my doctor when I was first diagnosed, Lyme will cause other autoimmune disorders and illnesses. My change is health is proof of what he said is true.

PLEASE take Lyme Diseases serious. I can’t stress enough how important prevention is, use 20% DEET in your spray or sunscreen, and checking for ticks is a critical part of prevention.

Melinda

Update February 27, 2020

Warm weather is right around the corner, I know some of us are experiencing freezing weather but Spring is around the corner. The south will start to feel great outdoor weather in a matter of weeks. Lyme has left made my life hell, I don’t want you or anyone you love to go thru the same painful illness.

Please remember!!!!! There is no cure for Lyme and the diseases you get from your immune system being compromised can be life-threatening. As you go for the first hike, long walk with the dog, picnic with the kids, make sure you prepare for ticks. You don’t have to see cows or be anywhere near cows. A silly notion. The only sure way to prevent the ticks don’t stick to you is 20% DEET.

I didn’t want to use DEET in the past, and that was just to ward off flying bugs. DEET is the only recommenced prevention for tick-borne illnesses. Please educate yourself before blowing off the idea. The option is not worth the small risk of using DEET.

I will continue to send out a reminder as we move into warmer weather. I also plan to post an update on my health progress from living with Lyme.

Melinda

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

As the temperatures warm the chances of encountering ticks increase. I had a PA recently say we don’t have Lyme in Texas, what? Yes, Lyme or tick boring illnesses are in every state. Some states have a higher percentage of cases but dot fool yourself, tick-borne illnesses are in every state in the United States. There are now 30 strains of tick-borne illnesses and more are discovered each year. This year a more deadly tick-borne illness, Powassan Disease was discovered and it’s the most deadly. Please take notice and protect yourself and your children.

This post is a combination of photos, snippets from the previous posts, and new information. If you have questions visit ILADS website for the most accurate information on tick-borne illnesses. This association is for doctors who treat Lyme, educators of Lyme, and the medical community who are there to increase knowledge.


I am walking after four years spent in bed, how could anything be worse than Lyme Disease? The illnesses Lyme leaves behind are debilitating and worst. I’ve lost four years of my life, screaming in pain, narcotics, nine months of twice a day IV Antibiotic Infusion Treatments. I can not stress enough how dangerous Tick-Borne illnesses are, they can kill you and your children. If you already have a compromised immune system, your starting behind the curve. I’ve talked to many at WordPress with Chronic Lyme, many of them spent 10-15 years before diagnosis. Think of the pain and isolation of our fellow Bloggers went thru.

People have said we don’t have ticks, for one Lyme and Powassan Disease is transmitted by many sources other than ticks, mosquitos, sand flies, are just a few culprits. In the wild animals of all types of animals die, many pests visit the buffet. The critter who is carrying Lyme disease bites you and there is a short window for medical attention.

The flying pest target is blood, they have to eat. They don’t discriminate on where they go for lunch. The ticks who carry Tick-Borne illnesses are smaller than a grain of rice, try to find that while doing a tick check, you will not see them.

Before you get dressed, spray sunscreen with insect repellant with 20% DEET. Reply every hour if sweating or in heavily wooded areas. Wear white socks with your pant leg tucked in light-colored pants. Wear a white or light-colored shirt, a hat that is longer in back to cover your neck. Be vigilant with your kids, if playing outside, spray. Better safe than sorry.

Most important, do tick checks on you and the kids throughout the day. Take some tape and if you see a tick don’t touch it, pull it off with tape. While out hiking wear light colors, tuck pants in socks, wear a hat that covers the back of the neck. Lyme Dieses is not sexy.

Watch these extremely important videos and educate yourself. Know the early signs and a short antibiotic treatment may provide a cure. The bulls-eye rash talked about by doctors only happens 30% of the time.

The Lyme test doctors use only cover a few of the 30 strains of Lyme. I’ve had multiple tests over the past four years and not once did I show positive for Lyme.

https://www.aol.com/article/news/2017/05/03/tick-borne-illness-worse-than-lyme-disease-powassan-virus/22067432/

Chronic Lyme disease causes other chronic illnesses in its wake and new illnesses can pop up at any time. I now suffer from Fibromyalgia, Dementia, Neuropathy, loss of balance, and other cognitive issues. My life is not back to normal and never will.

Chaos

State of Living
Seven days of IV’s

 

 IV Antibiotic Infusion Therapy

 

Sterile Living

 

Medical Waste

 

Port Inserted

 

Container for sharps

B12 Shots

Meds first three months

 

Port Removed
Shaved Head
Wig
Crowded Bedside Table
Staying organized 
Tracking computer 
My brain waves.
Celebrate Life

7 Daily Mantras of Encouragement


7 Daily Mantras of Encouragement

7 Daily Mantras of Encouragement

A simple way to feel at ease is by taking a deep breath and practicing an encouraging mantra. A mantra is a positive statement repeated to promote calmness and concentration. We loving using them to create peace in our day! Today we’re sharing 7 of our favorite daily mantras plus a printable download too 💕

7 Daily Mantras of Encouragement

1. I will seek out the good in an unpleasant situation.

2. I will let go of one thing I cannot change.

3. I will trust my journey even if I may not understand it yet.

4. I will grant myself permission to be me.

5. I will practice kindness toward a stranger.

6. I will be the best version of me.

7. I will continue to check in with myself to ensure I’m on the right path.

CLICK HERE to print these mantras to display on your desk!

Is there a mantra you like to incorporate in your day? Share with us in the comments below!

Related posts:

A Thank You Note to Pretending7 Magical Intentions to Set at the Beginning of the YearAn Introvert’s Guide to the Holidays

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Kristen Bell Opened Up About the “Big Difference” Exercise Makes In Her Mental Health

Shape Magazine

By Arielle Tschinkel April 27, 2020

She said she “busts her buttocks” during workouts in the name of brainpower, not to “get a certain body shape.”

Kristen Bell is crushing her quarantine home workouts. She recently shared a time-lapse video on Instagram showing herself doing a series of at-home cardio and strength moves, led by Los Angeles-based trainer Charlie Curtis.

Huffing and puffing between sets, a red-faced Bell can be seen doing weighted squats (with dumbbells), renegade row push-upsboat pose, and burpees in her video. “I thought the burpees at the end would kill me,” she joked in her caption.

As exhausted as she was post-workout, Bell said she also felt “alive and incredibly grateful” for the “blood-pumping session.”

“I don’t work out to get a certain body shape. I work out for my mental health. And I notice a BIG difference when I do and when I don’t [work out],” she continued. “When I don’t, I’m sad, irritable, anxious, and lethargic. When I do, I’m content, motivated, peaceful, and energetic.” (To say the least, Kristen Bell’s realistic approach to working out is #goals.)

Of course, there’s no denying the many mental health benefits of regular exercise. As Bell said, working out—even socially distanced fitness—can help you stay alert, sharp, motivated, and ~alive~, thanks to the flood of mood-enhancing chemicals to your brain that follows a good sweat session.

But remember: You don’t have to dial up the intensity to reap the brain-boosting benefits of exercise. “Taking a walk stimulates the release of serotonin, dopamine, noradrenaline, and endorphins and makes you feel calmer and happier,” Wendy Suzuki, Ph.D., a professor of neural science and psychology at New York University, previously told Shape. (In fact, here’s why you might want to cool it on high-intensity workouts during the COVID crisis.)

If you need recs for your own quarantine home workouts, Bell invited followers to join her for the virtual classes she does with Curtis (you can find his Zoom classes herehe goes live at 11 a.m. PT Monday through Saturday). “[His classes are] always challenging, which I love (and also hate),” Bell joked in her post. (These trainers and studios are offering free online workout classes amid the coronavirus pandemic, too.)

Bell said she even made a new friend in one of her recent workout classes after being partnered up over Zoom. Imagine being so blessed that you’re Kristen Bell’s fitness buddy in a Zoom workout class?!

Men & Womens Health

#Weekend Music Share

Please wash your hands and keep your distance. Virtual hugs. Have a great weekend. I hope you enjoy a little fun this week!

Melinda





Welcome back to Weekend Music Share; the place where everyone can share their favourite music.

Feel free to use the ‘Weekend Music Share‘ banner in your post, and don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

It’s Lyme Disease Awareness Month!

pa-lyme-resource-network-newsletter-may-2020

Welcome to our latest edition of Lyme Bytes!

We’re grateful for this opportunity to connect with you.  And we’ve been hard at work in the Lyme community … providing patient support, advocacy, education and awareness to those who need it most.

Needless to say, this year has fast become a period of significant change, adjustment, concern and uncertainty.  Now more than ever, it’s important to remember that you’re not alone.  We’re right here with you, experiencing the shifts and twists and turns.

We’re also here to remind you that Lyme Disease prevention is more important than ever.  With so much distraction, it’s easy to forget that ticks are out full-force and posing serious health threats to you and your loved ones.  We’re spending more time at home – which means more time in our yards and other outdoor places.  And unfortunately, ticks don’t social distance.  

To honor May being Lyme Disease Awareness Month, we at PA Lyme have launched an informative awareness campaign!  Our Board Members and Region Leaders are hopping in front of the cameras, introducing themselves and sharing our top prevention tips that are convenient, easy-to-implement and will help to keep you (and those you love!) safer.

Every day, we’re sharing videos, tips and how-to’s that enable you to enjoy the outdoors while knowing just what to do to keep a safe distance from ticks and the diseases they transmit.

You’ll find us sharing away on our social media pages – and right here in this newsletter.  

We encourage you to #Dare2BTickAware by implementing these highly effective tips into your daily routine.  

Here’s a sneak peek of what you’ll find on our FacebookYouTube and Twitter pages!  (Click each photo to watch!)

amy-tiehel
jill-wichner
bill-moore

It’s all about Permethrin.

Make time for tick checks.

To DEET or not to DEET?

michele-cassetori

Wash ticks away.

amy-huck

Education is key.

kathy-rubel

Turn up the heat.

Did You Know?

Many lawn services now offer tick management programs.

PA Lyme’s Virtual Lyme Impact Series

The Coronavirus pandemic is forcing everyone to shift and adjust.  We’ve been doing a lot of that ourselves, and one of our highest priorities has been ensuring that Lyme patients, caregivers and community members continue to receive our support.

Our in-person support group meetings are on hold until we’re once again safe to come together face-to-face.  In their place, we’ve launched our Virtual Lyme Impact Series – a highly informative virtual series where we bring you top experts who are discussing the most crucial things that you need to know. 

We are extremely grateful to have kicked things off with Dr. Chris Turnpaugh who covered the foundational principles to regain and retain health – an especially important and timely topic for anyone with a compromised immune system. 

This online session has already reached thousands, and we encourage you to catch the replay if you couldn’t make the live discussion.  

Watch this captivating conversation by clicking here.

Next up?

May 26th: Dr. Joseph Burrascano, pioneer in Lyme and tick-borne diseases.

June 9th: Rita Rhoads, CNP, MPH

Image

Dare 2B Tick Aware Program Offering Virtual Options

Due to the COVID-19 social distancing mandates, the Dare 2B Tick Aware™ prevention program has transitioned from in person seminars to a virtual format.  Tick awareness and prevention are more critical now than ever.  Springtime weather coupled with social isolation has many taking advantage of being outdoors, such as family walks and kids playing in their backyards.  Also, the mild, wet winter has created the perfect environment for ticks to thrive.  Therefore, we continue our mission of tick borne disease education, support and advocacy. 

The fair market value for the Dare 2B Tick Aware™ in-person presentation is $200.  We have exhausted all grants and can no longer provide the program for free.  Therefore, fundraising and paying customers must support it.

In order to view our presentation, a donation and basic demographic information are required.  This allows us to fund and update the program and track demographic information on its reach.

For your donation you receive:

60-minute PowerPoint presentation with recorded narration covering:

  • Lyme Trends
  • Tick I.D.
  • Tick Habitat and Behavior
  • Prevention Information
    • Personal
    • Yard
    • Pet
  • Acting if bitten by a tick
    • Tick Removal
    • Tick Testing
  • Recognizing early symptoms
  • Seeking help if you get sick

There are two ways to see a Dare 2B Tick Aware™ Prevention Seminar:

  1. 60-minute PowerPoint Presentation with Recorded Narration.  This option allows you/your group to view the PowerPoint on your own schedule.  Click here to access.
  2. LIVE Webinar specifically for your organization/company.  If you are interested in a webinar for your group, please contact Amy Tiehel, Dare Program Manager, at atiehel@palyme.org to schedule. There is a fee associated with this, but this option includes a private LIVE webinar presented by a certified Dare facilitator, followed by a Q & A. These Live webinars are presented via Zoom. 


For any questions regarding the Dare program, email Amy Tiehel at atiehel@palyme.org.

2 Steps to Better Prevention

Spray your skin with skin-safe repellent & your clothing with Permethrin.

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We Can’t Do This Without Your Help!

Your donations are VITAL to our community.

When you donate, you’re joining forces with so many others to truly make a difference for those who are facing the daily physical, emotional and financial struggles associated with Lyme Disease and other tick-borne illnesses.

Here are some other reasons to donate:

  • Because PA continues to lead the nation in the number of new Lyme Disease cases for 7 years running.
  • Because everyone is at risk.
  • Because Lyme Disease is preventable, and people need to know the risks and how to protect themselves.
  • Because your participation and donation raises awareness AND generates the funding that enables us to keep doing what we’re doing to keep our communities safe. (Free prevention seminars, patient/caregiver support, advocacy and legislation efforts … just to name a few.)

Donate to the cause to help us to continue our awareness, education, support and prevention efforts!

We can’t do it without your support!Make A Donation!

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Our Contact Information
PA Lyme Resource Network
211 South Main Street
North Wales, PA 19454
.
http://www.palyme.org

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