Month: May 2023

I’m Talking with Amy Gamble-Olympian, Speaker & Mental Health Advocate
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward · Survivor

I’m Talking with Amy Gamble-Olympian, Speaker & Mental Health Advocate

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I have the pleasure of talking with Amy Gamble today about her struggle with the highs and lows of mental illness. I’m proud to call her a friend and she is a true inspiration. I’ve had my own difficult journey with Bipolar Disorder and when I tell you it’s a miracle Amy came out alive, it’s 100% true. Not only did Amy survive, but she also took charge of her life and went on to write her first book Bipolar Disorder, My Biggest Competitor: An Olympian’s Journey with Mental Illness.

Background on Amy*

Gamble tells how the illness also affects her mother, pitched her head first into a nightmare of highs and lows. While it robbed her of her dreams of playing Division 1 ball, it also helped vault her to the U.S. Olympic handball team, leading her to travel the world and compete at the 1988 Seoul Olympics. She was a top performer in sales for Merck, the pharmaceutical giant, but ironically her untreated illness plunged her to the bottom rungs of society. She became stuck in a revolving door of mental hospitals, doctors’ offices and even jails across the U.S., discovering deep-rooted deficiencies in the systems that are supposed to help the country’s most vulnerable citizens.

At the scariest point, she found herself wandering aimlessly at night in a snow-covered mountain forest on the Montana/Idaho border with only moccasins on her feet and a sweatshirt to keep her warm. She was hopelessly lost, freezing and not in her right mind. *

 

 

Thank you, Amy, for talking with me today. I learned more about Amy from the AP overview, so I’ll start there. 

What positives came out of being in a Psychiatric Hospital?

My last psychiatric hospitalization was 12 years ago. It was a hospital far away from my hometown, but the care I received was excellent. I was put on a regiment of medications that got me started on the right track and helped immensely in my recovery journey. The staff members at the hospital were encouraging and really believed in recovery. Overall, it was a really positive experience for me.

Did your mental illness impact your Olympic dream?

I made the 1988 Olympic Team in Team Handball. While I struggled at times with depression, I was able to overcome my challenges and become an Olympian. 

You have a successful career as  Mental Health Advocate and Speaker, how did your Speaking career start.

I began speaking to groups through a local NAMI chapter. My third talk was an interview at a large church with an audience of 300 people. Once I started speaking I began to attend a Toastmasters group and was coached and encouraged by members of the toastmaster group. From 2015 – 2023, I’ve given over 250 talks and mental health trainings reaching over 15,000 people.

You have a passion for advocating for Mental Illness, what organizations do you belong to?

I’m a local NAMI member and I support DBSA (Depression Bipolar Support Alliance)

How did you keep motivated while working your first jobs after the crash?

I felt like working would give me a sense of purpose, a reason to get out of bed in the morning. I looked forward to going to my jobs, even if sometimes I had a little struggle in getting there. Maybe I’d have a rough day or just felt tired. But it didn’t matter because I was driven to get better and work helped me to do that.

Do you have any words of wisdom on life with a mental illness?

Be a student of your mental illness. Learn everything you can learn on how the illness affects you, what are the common symptoms and how can I alleviate most of my symptoms. Make sure you’re getting better or improving under the care of mental health care professionals, whether that’s a psychiatrist or therapist, or both. 

Why did you stop blogging for 2 years?

I took a break from social media. I took time out to reflect and work on some other things.

What are your hobbies and what type of books/magazines do you read for fun?

My number one hobby is reading. I love to read! I’m currently reading “Atlas of the Heart,” by Brene Brown. I’ve also recently finished reading “Wild,” by Cheryl Strayed. Usually, I have two or three books I’m reading at the same time. 

I also enjoy exercising, though I’m not always on schedule. I’ve really tried to get into a good habit since April of this year. So far, so good.

I know you are writing a new book about your PTSD, without giving too much information, what can you share with us. 

I’m so excited about my new book. The book is really about resilience, as illustrated by how the impact of past traumas (primarily sexual assault) interrupted my life and caused symptoms of PTSD, even though the traumatic events had occurred decades prior. I talk about the collision course between bipolar disorder and PTSD and how my past traumas were overlooked by many mental health care professionals until they couldn’t be overlooked anymore. My number one goal is to give a voice to a woman who may not have had one.

Listen to a great interview with Amy by NAMI

 

Please follow Amy at Shedding A Light On Mental Illness and be sure to tell her I said Hello!

Amy’s second book covers her PTSD and more of her journey not shared in the first book. Here are a few questions Amy answers with her second book. 

How she got down from the mountain? 

What happened next?

How did She end up in jail? More than once?

I hope this post inspires, encourages you to keep going, or gives you information to help others with Mental Health challenges. 

Thank you, Amy, for your insight.

Melinda

References:

AP News

Blogger Highlight-Unravelling My Own Bulls#*t!
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Unravelling My Own Bulls#*t!

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Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Unravelling My Own Bulls#*t.

Unravelling My Own Bulls#*t!

There’s never an easy way to start something new. There’s often an anxious part of you which battles the negative thoughts that ask questions like “What if its rubbish?”, “What if no one is interested in what you have to say?” or ” What if they laugh at you?”. Often that internal narrative is enough to stop you in your tracks and for that idea to be parked for now or maybe even forever.

Not today though, not this time. Today I have tentatively taken the first steps too putting my thoughts on paper. To unravelling my own bullshit on this journey. A journey after a divorce of almost 25 years of marriage and for the first time ever really understanding why I am the way I am, what parts of my life shaped me and working through healing them to be authentic and true to myself.

Be sure to check out her thought’s on Growing, Healing, and Living Life.

Melinda

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Happy Mother’s Day Granny
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Happy Mother’s Day Granny

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Happy Mother’s Day Granny. Without your love and support, I would not be alive today. I went to live with my grandparents at 14 years old, a troubled teen with a traumatic background I kept secret from them.

Being raised by people from the “Great Generation” was a blessing to me. Hard work, accountability, honesty, and doing your part were some of the core beliefs. I believe the example they set for me has helped me greatly in life. 

My Granny’s life was especially difficult, she lost her eyesight at age 3, and her father died at age 9, and after my father was born, her husband left her with no support.

When my dad was young, She had two dresses, she would come home from her shift and wash the dress she wore. The next day she had a clean one while the other dried. She walked miles to the trolly every day, I can only imagine how dreadful the cold months were for her.

She raised my father alone for 10 years until she married my Gramps. She was in love with my Gramps until the day she died.

My Granny looked after me from the day I was born and is the only mother I acknowledge.

I miss you from the bottom of my heart and will see you soon. 

She loved her purple rose bush and the photo reminded me of her.

Melinda

Photo by Jess Bailey Designs on Pexels.com
#Weekend Music Share-Eagles – Tequila Sunrise [Live From Melbourne] (Official Video)
Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share-Eagles – Tequila Sunrise [Live From Melbourne] (Official Video)

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Each week I showcase one of my favorite songs. I’m so glad you dropped by, have a great weekend.

 https://youtu.be/bZxhQJC9hWk

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

Melinda

Mental Health Awareness Month
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Mental Health Awareness Month

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While I’m glad there is Mental Health Awareness Month, I would love to see more discussion on the topic throughout the year. The National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI) is an outstanding resource for all topics on Mental Illness.

Warning Signs and Symptoms

Each illness has its own symptoms, but common signs of mental illness in adults and adolescents can include the following:

  • Excessive worrying or fear
  • Feeling excessively sad or low
  • Confused thinking or problems concentrating and learning
  • Extreme mood changes, including uncontrollable “highs” or feelings of euphoria
  • Prolonged or strong feelings of irritability or anger
  • Avoiding friends and social activities
  • Difficulties understanding or relating to other people
  • Changes in sleeping habits or feeling tired and low energy
  • Changes in eating habits such as increased hunger or lack of appetite
  • Changes in sex drive
  • Difficulty perceiving reality (delusions or hallucinations, in which a person experiences and senses things that don’t exist in objective reality)
  • Inability to perceive changes in one’s own feelings, behavior or personality (”lack of insight” or anosognosia)
  • Overuse of substances like alcohol or drugs
  • Multiple physical ailments without obvious causes (such as headaches, stomach aches, vague and ongoing “aches and pains”)
  • Thinking about suicide
  • Inability to carry out daily activities or handle daily problems and stress
  • An intense fear of weight gain or concern with appearance

Mental health conditions can also begin to develop in young children. Because they’re still learning how to identify and talk about thoughts and emotions, their most obvious symptoms are behavioral. Symptoms in children may include the following:

  • Changes in school performance
  • Excessive worry or anxiety, for instance fighting to avoid bed or school
  • Hyperactive behavior
  • Frequent nightmares
  • Frequent disobedience or aggression
  • Frequent temper tantrums

Millions of people in the U.S. are affected by mental illness each year. It’s important to measure how common mental illness is, so we can understand its physical, social and financial impact — and so we can show that no one is alone. These numbers are also powerful tools for raising public awareness, stigma-busting and advocating for better health care.

Looking for signs and symptoms in children can head off larger problems as they age. One great resource for feedback on your child’s behavior is to talk with their teachers. Any new information will add to the puzzle of your child’s behavior.

I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder at 19 years old but didn’t start taking my Mental Illness seriously until my father committed suicide. I read there is was a hereditary link to Mental Illness and did some research. The research and my father’s death convinced me to take my Bipolar Disorder seriously. At 60 years old, I’ve had my ups and downs but have also had a life worth living.

You can find posts about Mental Illness on my site, just click on the topic you’re looking for in the Cloud Category on my front page.

Melinda

References:

NAMI

Wordless Wednesday *St. Petersburg Street View
Celebrate Life · Fun · Travel

Wordless Wednesday *St. Petersburg Street View

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I’m so glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by my blog.
Waterway through St. Petersburg
Guards of Bridge

Melinda

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

ALS (Amyotrophic Lateral Sclerosis) Awareness Month

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You might not know what ALS stands for but I bet you know some high-profile people who have or had ALS. 

Notable individuals who have been diagnosed with ALS include:

  • Baseball great Lou Gehrig
  • Theoretical physicist, cosmologist and author Stephen Hawking
  • Hall of Fame pitcher Jim “Catfish” Hunter
  • U.S. Senator Jacob Javits
  • Actor David Niven
  • “SpongeBob SquarePants” creator Stephen Hillenburg
  • “Sesame Street” creator Jon Stone
  • Jazz musician Charles Mingus
  • Singer/songwriter Kim Shattuck (The Muffs)
  • Bassist Mike Porcaro (Toto)
  • Musician Huddie Ledbetter (Lead Belly)
  • Theatre producer Jenifer Estess
  • Boxing champion Ezzard Charles
  • NBA Hall of Fame basketball player George Yardley
  • Golf caddie Bruce Edwards
  • Photographer Eddie Adams
  • Entertainer Dennis Day
  • Former U.S. Vice President Henry A. Wallace
  • U.S. Army General Maxwell Taylor
  • NFL football player Steve Gleason
  • NFL football player O.J. Brigance
  • NFL football player Tim Shaw

Understanding ALS

ALS, or amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, is a progressive neurodegenerative disease that affects nerve cells in the brain and spinal cord. There is no cure for ALS yet.

ALS causes these motor neurons to degenerate over time until they eventually die. When the motor neurons die, the brain can no longer initiate and control muscle movement. When voluntary muscle action is progressively affected, people may lose the ability to speak, eat, move and breathe.

Who Gets ALS?

Every 90 minutes, someone is diagnosed with the disease, and someone passes away from it.

Most people who develop ALS are between the ages of 40 and 70, with an average age of 55 at the time of diagnosis. However, cases of the disease do occur in people in their twenties and thirties.

ALS is 20% more common in men than women. However, with increasing age, the incidence of ALS is more equal between men and women.

About 90% of ALS cases occur without any known family history or genetic cause. The remaining 10% of ALS cases are inherited through a mutated gene with a known connection to the disease.

For unknown reasons, military veterans are more likely to be diagnosed with the disease than the general public.

You can gather genetic information by having your DNA tested with a company like, 23&Me. Along with the history of your ancestors, you get information on any risk factors in your DNA for diseases. And they show all of your DNA relatives who’ve joined 23&Me and what percentage of DNA you share.  

ALS is a brutal disease without a cure, make sure you know the warning signs and get help right away if having symptoms. The disease doesn’t discriminate between men and women or age groups.  

Melinda

References:

ALS.org

Tips For Overcoming Bad Habits
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Tips For Overcoming Bad Habits

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Overcoming a bad habit is not something that’s easily done. It takes a lot of control and motivation to kick a habit, and for some habits, they might not be something that you can easily rid yourself of, and instead, you may want to try and cut down. Here are some tips for overcoming a bad habit.

Photo by Tanya Gorelova on Pexels.com

Find The Trigger Points

Trigger points are something that is worth recognizing when you have a bad habit. These are the moments or scenarios where you need to do whatever bad habit it is whether it’s taking drugs to bite your nails. We can all have different triggers that depending on the habit, can vary. It might be to do with stress, or it could be to do with who you hang around and the situation you’re put in which will make you do it more. By finding these trigger points, you can focus more on how you can get rid of them or at least start by addressing where they tend to occur mostly and how you could avoid those scenarios as best you can. Stress at work, for example, might be why you tend to smoke more cigarettes in the day than you do at home. It could be that you speak to your boss about managing this stress better and finding alternative ways to cope with it.

Seek Professional Help

When some bad habits are all-consuming or bad for your health, you shouldn’t dismiss getting professional help where it might be needed. An Outpatient Drug Rehabilitation Center for example, can be good, or it might be worth speaking to a psychologist to find out why this bad habit, in particular, is hard for you to control. It’s often that bad habits like excessive drinking, smoking, and taking drugs can get addictive, so you almost lose control because of it. Seeking professional help can definitely help in your battle to kick the habit.

Choose A Substitute

A substitute is something that can mimic the bad habit or elements of it in order to do something healthier or prevent you from doing that bad habit. For example, if you’re someone who often bites their nails, you could always consider getting chewing gum to chew on, or if it’s something you prefer you could always choose to get acrylic nails as that will make it impossible for you to get to your natural nail. There are ways around bad habits in order to avoid them, so consider these as something that might work for you.

Surround Yourself With The Right People

Surrounding yourself with the right people is important, and it’s something you want to do more of where you can. If you’re putting yourself with people that are going to encourage or not stop you from doing the bad habit, then you’re only going to disappoint yourself. Look at who brings out the best in you and stick with them.

Overcoming a bad habit can take time so trust that you can do it and don’t feel guilty for falling short of your goal.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month #ThisIsFibro
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month #ThisIsFibro

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Fibromyalgia is an invisible chronic illness with no cure and can take years to receive a proper diagnosis. One of the reasons it’s hard to get a diagnosis is many of the symptoms are the same as other chronic illnesses. A Rheumatologist is most often the type of doctor to provide treatment to limit symptoms. The key is to keep fighting for your health and changing doctors when needed. Your health now and in the future depends on you.

If you are diagnosed by your General Practitioner, ask for a referral to a Rheumatologist right away. Fibromyalgia treatment requires a specialist, maybe several. If you’re afraid to ask for a referral, get over it. Your health depends on it.

Having Fibromyalgia can be a roller coaster, a plan changer, and a total frustration. Get angry, cry, scream, whatever you need to do after your diagnosis, and then get on with living. It’s important to learn about your illness but not to overfocus, month after month, year after year. Learn the symptoms so you know when you are having symptoms or a flair and write them down to share with your doctor.

Keeping a log of when symptoms occurred and did notice any triggers. Looking for triggers can help you learn what you can do to avoid them. Remember every flair is different and every person with Fibromyalgia is different. If you read about how X medication or supplements worked on someone, don’t assume it will work for you. Discuss what you’ve learned with your doctor to see if it’s a good fit for you. *Just a note, there are many supplements that harm your liver and are to be avoided. DO NOT take any supplements before talking with your doctor. You don’t want to add to your health problems. Fibromyalgia will not kill you but many supplements on the market can.

I recommend joining the Fibro Connect FaceBook Group, here you will hear from others with Fibromyalgia. You will hear others’ stories, learn more about the illness and hear what types of treatment have worked for others. This adds knowledge to your toolbox, questions to ask your doctor, and most importantly, how to stay positive about your future. There are many people with fibromyalgia but it doesn’t mean you need to follow them. There are people who are a negative influence by always complaining, you don’t need the negativity in your life.

Give yourself grace when you have to cancel plans, spend the day in bed, or can’t clean the house. When you have a chronic illness you have to remember your health is more important than what you can’t do.

It’s important your partner or trusted friend go with you to all appointments. The reason is to have another set of ears, someone to take notes to compare later, and being included in appointments will educate your loved one straight from the doctor’s mouth.

If you would like to read more about Fibromyalgia from my past posts you can just click on Fibromyalgia in my Category Cloud on my front page.

I’ve included links to a few previous posts of mine on Fibromyalgia.

Celebrate The Tiny Victories

https://lookingforthelight.blog/2022/08/01/fibromyalgia-thoughts-9-flair-or-something-else/

Fibromyalgia Thoughts #8 Giving Myself Grace

Do You Take Supplements? Are They Safe?

 

Melinda

Reference:

Mayo Clinic

Blogger Highlight-Cultivating Calm Within
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Cultivating Calm Within

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Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Cultivating Calm Within.

Cultivating Calm Within

Reboot the Brain. Find Inner Peace. Drive Ambition. Live Successfully.

 Here at Cultivating Calm Within, Linda is a storyteller and despite everything she has experienced, she’s down to earth and relatable. Probably because she’s experienced life the hard way in her own life. Discovering tools and research that transformed her own personal life.

 Be sure to check out Linda’s podcast.

Melinda

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The Organizations That Can Help Page Has Been Updated
Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

The Organizations That Can Help Page Has Been Updated

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I’ve updated several categories on the Organizations That Can Help page with the most changes to Elder Care and Sexual Assault support. I’m including the Elder Care and Sexual Assault categories in the post and encourage you to check out the page if you haven’t been in a while.

Elder Care

Women & Men’s Domestic Violence/Sexual Assault

If Assaulted call 911, go to the closest Police Station or Emergency Room

image

Joyful Heart Foundation    

RAINN.org  has provided support to the National Assault Hotline since 1994 Many other services are provided and available in English & Spanish

National Domestic Hotline Resources/Support  24/7  1-800-799-7233   Live Chat Daily from 7am-2am Central Standard Time  1-800-787-3224

1 in 6   Supports Male Survivors of Sexual Assault as a Child or an Adult  

No More

Helping Survivors

If you know of other resources for these or any page please let me know. More support available could change someone’s life.

Melinda

Excessive Weight Gain in Eating Disorder Recovery — Guest Blogger Hope Whispers
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Excessive Weight Gain in Eating Disorder Recovery — Guest Blogger Hope Whispers

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I weighed myself this week. It’s something I’ve been putting off for the best part of a year, to the extent that I was becoming phobic about stepping on the scales. I wasn’t supposed to let it get to this stage, my old dietitian recommended weighing myself regularly to avoid precisely this scenario. Realistically, I […]

Excessive Weight Gain in Eating Disorder Recovery — Hope Whispers
#Weekend Music Share-OneRepublic – Love Runs Out (One Night in Malibu)
Celebrate Life · Fun

#Weekend Music Share-OneRepublic – Love Runs Out (One Night in Malibu)

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Each week I showcase one of my favorite songs. I’m so glad you dropped by, have a great weekend.

 https://youtu.be/Cp92QUFmoos

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

Melinda

Pay attention to Mental Health warning signs and make the turn! — Friend & Guest Blogger Shedding Light on Mental Health
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Pay attention to Mental Health warning signs and make the turn! — Friend & Guest Blogger Shedding Light on Mental Health

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You’re driving down a road and suddenly see a sign indicating a sharp turn. Do you slow down? If you don’t you risk going over a steep cliff. It doesn’t mean you “will” go over the cliff…it’s importantly a warning sign to prevent an accident or death. I’ve been a person in the past who […]

Pay attention to Mental Health warning signs and make the turn! — Shedding Light on Mental Health
Wordless Wednesday *Black Sand Beach and Huge Turtle
Celebrate Life · Fun · Travel

Wordless Wednesday *Black Sand Beach and Huge Turtle

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I’m so glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday. Thank you for stopping by my blog.

Big Island 1993

 

Melinda

Every Person And Service You Need To Ensure Your Business Stands The Test Of Time
Men & Womens Health

Every Person And Service You Need To Ensure Your Business Stands The Test Of Time

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If you are in the early stages of setting up a business then you may be wondering who the best people to have on your team are. This can include anyone from cleaners to CEOs, it all comes down to personal preference and how well you want your company to do. You may be aware that not all businesses will make it to their third year of trading. A whopping 90% of businesses will fail during this time for one reason or another. If you are not sure of who to work with or have on your team then take a look below. 

Photo by Tim Mossholder on Pexels.com

Great Employees 

One thing you will need to have on your team is a good number of employees. These will need to be hardworking individuals who don’t bring you down, but instead build up your business. When it comes to the hiring process, you need to get this right from the get-go. You don’t want to end up with a high employee churn rate. This will be detrimental to your business and could potentially bring it crashing down. 

Management Services 

If you don’t have much experience with working in the business world then it might be extremely useful for you to use property managers. They will look after every aspect of your building and keep your company afloat. They can have many jobs and tasks, some can include working with cleaners to keep the building clean and tidy. Other jobs might be to sort out the cash flow of your company. 

Accountants 

You should also make sure that you are using accountants in your business model. Accountants will keep your business books healthy and guarantee that your company never ends up in the red in the future. They can also be useful at critical times during the year such as when you need help with your taxes. By getting help with your taxes, you can avoid a situation where you end up with a massive tax bill that is going to cost you an absolute fortune. If you can’t afford the services of a pro accountant, then, you should consider using a cloud accounting service to check your spending in real-time. 

Suppliers 

Next, you should make sure that you have the right suppliers who you can depend on. If you don’t have the right suppliers, then you’re going to end up with issues relating to turnaround which is going to be an absolute disaster. This could cause clients to abandon your business completely. One of the best ways that you can find suppliers is by using a consultant. They will ensure that you make connections with companies and teams that you can trust. You may also want to consider hiring a legal advisor. They’ll ensure that any contracts you make with suppliers are ironclad. 

Web Designers

Finally, you should make sure that you are hiring the best web designers for your business. Your website is the first impression that people are going to receive of your company. If you don’t tick the right boxes here, then you are going to immediately turn them off. The right web designer will help you avoid issues here and ensure that you have a website that matches your brand perfectly. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Tips For Leaving Your Pet Behind When You Travel
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Travel

Tips For Leaving Your Pet Behind When You Travel

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Traveling is exciting, but for pet owners, it may come with some guilt and anxiety about leaving a pet behind. Whether it’s a short weekend trip or a long vacation, leaving your pet can be difficult. But doing this is a great option if you’re worried about your pet not adjusting well to new surroundings. Thankfully, with proper preparation and planning, you can ensure your pet is safe, comfortable, and happy while away. Here are some tips for leaving your pet at home when traveling. 

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Update your pet’s ID

You may think you have your pet secured indoors before you leave home, but some pets always have a way of sneaking out. So, before setting off, you should ensure your pet is wearing a collar with updated ID information on their tag. This way, you wouldn’t worry too much about your pet not returning home if it gets lost. Updating your pet’s ID tag information gives it a better chance of being returned home when it gets lost. 

Leave your pet with someone they know

There are countless reasons why you shouldn’t leave your pet at home alone. A better and safer option is to send them to someone they know. But if you choose to leave them at home, have a friend, family member, or a neighbor your pet knows and recognizes to come around. Better still, leave your pet with them at their home. And be sure to provide some supplies like food, water, waste bags, a pet first aid kit, etc. It’s important to leave your pet with someone they already know or at least someone they see regularly.

Provide your pet sitter with the updated information

After updating your pet’s ID information, be sure to tell your pet sitter if you’re opting for one. Also, please provide them with any other information they need to care for your pet in your absence. For example, what personality does your pet have? Is it quirky? Does it struggle with anxiety? Are there any health issues the pet sitter should know about? 

You might also want to allow your pet sitter to meet with your pet several times before you leave. They way, the two will establish a good relationship and get to know each other. That makes it easier for both parties to get along in your absence. 

Assess your pet’s needs

Different pets have different personalities. And while some pets do well when left alone, other pets will pretty much get depressed without the presence of their caretakers, especially if it’s a long absence. In general, pets that are used to having a lot of interactions with others may struggle on their own when left alone for longer periods, while pets that prefer isolation will not mind (perhaps not even notice) your absence. Dogs, for example, are very social, with most breeds experiencing separation anxiety when left alone for longer periods. If your dog does not do well alone, consider hiring a dog sitter or enrolling them in a boarding school for dogs. Also, younger pets may not do well alone, compared to older ones, as they still need a lot of interaction. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

How to Help Your Elderly Parents Thrive
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

How to Help Your Elderly Parents Thrive

Looking for the Light3 Comments

The subject of getting older is something that many people try to avoid thinking about too often. In our society, the growing older and the aging process is generally viewed negatively. After all, a thriving industry based on people wanting to look and feel younger. But, when your parents reach their senior years, the subject of old age becomes impossible to avoid. 

Noticing that your parents are now elderly and their needs are changing can be challenging. Whereas they were once the caregiver, you may now find the roles are reversed. While they may not be able to do all the things they once could, you may be keen to help your parents live life to the full. If you want your aging parents to get the most out of life and thrive in their senior years, the following tips should help you make it happen:

Photo by Pixabay on Pexels.com

Be Ready to Listen

As your parents grow older, it is easy to assume you know best and to take on the role of decision-maker. However, it is essential that you discuss your thoughts with your parents before you make decisions on their behalf. 

Listening to your parent’s needs and concerns is essential if you want them to thrive in their later years. So, ensuring you keep the lines of communication open and being ready to listen is vital.

Find the Ideal Living Arrangements

Your elderly parent’s living arrangements may be a cause of concern for you. Maybe you are worried about them living alone and trying to keep up with daily tasks around the house. Or, maybe you are concerned you will need to move back into the family home to care for your parents. Unfortunately, finding the perfect living arrangements for your elderly parents can be a tricky subject to navigate. Nobody wants to lose their independence as they age, but trying to tackle all the chores and run a household is a challenging task. 

Choosing the best senior living community offers the perfect solution, allowing elderly parents to live life to the full while maintaining their independence. While your parents can enjoy the best of senior living, you will have the peace of mind of knowing they can enjoy life without worrying about maintaining a home. You should notice your parents have a renewed lust for life and a feeling of freedom when they settle into their new community and begin enjoying their exciting new lifestyle.

Have Fun Together

When you are helping to care for your parents, you may find the time you spend together is very task-focused. Helping your parents with practical tasks, such as running errands or doing odd jobs, is important. However, it is crucial to also make time to have fun together. You may choose to visit a coffee shop together, watch a movie, or simply chat about past times. Whatever you choose to do, these moments are the perfect opportunity to reconnect and enjoy each other’s company while making new precious memories along the way.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

May Awareness Days
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

May Awareness Days

Looking for the Light5 Comments

It’s a new month and new awareness days. Listed are just a few, you can find a complete list online.

Maternal Mental Health Awareness Month

Deaf Awareness Week 1st-7th

Clean Air Month

ALS Awareness Month

Arthritis Awareness Month

Bladder Cancer Awareness Month

Borderline Personality Disorder Awareness Month

Jewish American Awareness Month

Lupus Awareness Month

Mental Health Awareness Month

Fibromyalgia Awareness Month

 

Melinda

Book Review for The Compulsion Cloud by Averi Ridge Castaneda
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Book Review for The Compulsion Cloud by Averi Ridge Castaneda

Looking for the Light1 Comment

 I want to thank Editor Andrea Marchiano from Trigger Publishing for sending me The Compulsion Cloud to review. Mental Health books written for children teach by writing at a level they understand and will help you start a conversation on the subject. 

Blurb

Holly’s story starts with a cloud – and it’s not a fluffy, white one you’d see on a sunny day. Instead, it’s a scary, dark cloud that looms over her and makes anxiety-provoking demands, which, if disobeyed, could cause bad things to happen to her loved ones. but fortunately for Holly, she is seeing a therapist who has a plan to help her get rid of this bullying cloud, once and for all.

You may have guessed that Holly’s cloud is a manifestation of obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD), and her therapist aims to treat it with Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy (ERP). These terms can be confusing for children having their first OCD symptoms, so The Compulsion Cloud – written by social worker Averi Ridge Castaneda – introduces both concepts in a kid-friendly manner. Ultimately, this story provides a blueprint for recovery, which shows young readers that standing up to their compulsion clouds will bring them back to the light.

My Thoughts

Holly is a young girl who is experiencing obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) that comes over her in the form of a dark cloud. She’s exhausted and anxious, her mind is always going. She’s afraid if she doesn’t do what the cloud tells her to do her family may get hurt. 

Holly met with Anna a therapist to help her understand the disorder and how to break the chains that bind her. Anna makes Holly feel comfortable enough to share her story. She explains all the tasks the cloud has her do and how it makes her feel. Like tap her fingers three times, wash her hands three times and the list of commands goes on. 

Anna introduces her to Exposure and Response Prevention Therapy which is a proven therapy for OCD. She tells Holly to do the opposite of what the cloud tells her to do in order to take control back. It takes baby steps but with time the cloud would go away for good. She sent Holly home with some tools to help her. 

Holly feels conflicted once home when the cloud arrives but she remembers the tools that Anna introduced her to. With practice comes confidence and Holly went on to live a full life with friends and family. 

Obsessive Compulsive Disorder is widespread and requires treatment to break its hold. I would recommend this to parents and grandparents so they can better understand what is happening and the importance of treatment. Another reason it’s good for grandparents to read is they may have a shake-it-off philosophy. The Compulsion Cloud shares real-life experiences that all can learn from. 

Trigger Publishing

TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.

We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Blogger Highlight-Matt’s Plants & Co
Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Matt’s Plants & Co

Looking for the Light1 Comment

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Matt’s Plants & Co.

Matt’s Plants & Co

 

I’m Matt, a newbie gardener based in Gippsland, Victoria, Australia. Here, I share my experiences in the garden – with greenhouses, indoor plants, vegetables, fruit, natives and more.

I hope others can learn from my mistakes in the garden as I try to create a water-efficient, sustainable garden which supports native wildlife while decreasing the need to buy produce from the supermarket.

Check out Matt’s blog and grow your gardening skills.

Melinda

Looking for the Light