Ahead of the upcoming US presidential election, NO MORE is committed to helping survivors of domestic violence and stalking participate safely in the democratic process. This month we launched a new State Voting Guide for Survivors, outlining key options to help survivors protect their privacy and security while making their voices heard.
By consolidating this critical information in one place, the guide simplifies the voting process every step of the way. NO MORE will continue to provide information for survivors, as well as for their friends, employers, and communities to help support them.
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 John Malone and his blog. We haven’t followed each other long but we have become fast friends and I feel like a kindred spirit to him. John has brought my sense of creativity alive, he’s whip-smart, funny, and knows how to express himself through words. I could sit and talk with John for hours and would still have more questions, he’s interesting.
except I no longer have a wife or pets, except a cat called Rosco, but have accrued numerous grandchildren and yes, I still whistle while I walk 🙂
I have five books of poetry published, two of which have been self published and many , many poems anthologized. Between 2000 and 2012 I had over 170 childrens’ poems published in major magazines, in the North America, NZ and here in Oz, some of which are still earning royalties from being republished.
I also have three educational titles with major publishers, guides to creative writing in classrooms which schools use, written during the same period.
I sometimes think I should write children’s poems again but I wrote them for/with my grandchildren while they grew up in my presence.
To dig deeper into John’s career accomplishments click here.
I asked John three questions:
What was your first job and what did you learn from it?
A secondary English teacher; learnt how to ;handle’ teenagers, not always successfully; learnt how to impart my love of literature and get them to write poetry themselves: we were a vibrant writing community.
What is your greatest career accomplishment?
My first book of poems by a major publisher was a thrill. Also between 2001 and 2013 I had over 70 children’s poems published in literary magazines for children in Australia, the Us and NZ. The three poems I’m proudest of are ‘Fork’, ‘Fearless’ and ‘The Mothering Tree’
Did you have a goal for your blog and have you achieved it?
As for the blog I just wanted to get my stuff out there and get immediate feedback instead of going through the delayed process of magazine submissions. I’ve built a lively following and feel part of a vibrant ever evolving literary community: a tribe !
John’s post New Direction was a surprise and a day to rejoice. We had been talking about his accomplishments which I greatly admire and later this post arrived. I’m thrilled John gave me some credit but most importantly, he wrote a new short story after taking many years off from writing. I’m counting the days until it’s published so we can read it on his blog. I look forward to new stories as John has his mojo back.
This post makes me think of all the journals and notebooks I carried around for years, starting as a child, they included writings, drawings, goals, and daydreams. They were my calm, my comfort, they knew my inner thoughts and they never betrayed me. John’s notebook was no doubt just as special, holding his thoughts, stories, and many ideas. The cover is fitting with its lived-in look and who would want to change that?
One of John’s favorite tunes:
Paul Simon – Graceland (from The Concert in Hyde Park)
I set a goal in 5th or 6th grade to become a Journalist for Life Magazine, but that isn’t where my career took me for multiple reasons. John’s career accomplishments are not directly related to my goal but I can imagine that being published gives you the same high and sense of accomplishment. I admire his accomplishments but what’s more important is that John is humble, no boasting, there are no airs about him and I admire him for that.
Be sure to stop by and say hello to John and while there browse through his extensive archives. You will not be disappointed and you may find yourself following John as well.
If you haven’t followed me long, you may not be aware of the health struggles I’ve had dating back to 2010. Not only have I had a major run-in with what might have been the end of my life, but since 2012 I’ve suffered with severe balance issues and cognitive impairment. Although I don’t have a clue what The Mayo will diagnose me with, I am totally confident in their ability to find answers and get me the right treatment.
This post is something I’ve been laughing so hard about because it can only be funny. I’ve been wishing this one plant to have babies for the past year or two to no avail. Today, I was looking at it again, trying to understand why it hasn’t had a baby. Then the brick hit me, it’s an artificial plant! It makes me laugh every time I think about it. Apparently, I was very sick when I planted it thinking it was a live plant only to find today, that it won’t have any babies. HAHA!!!!!!!
I chose to find it funny, how could I not? I won’t kick myself for being too sick to know the difference. I believe this general attitude is why I keep pushing forward in life and can deal with what comes my way. Who needs a kick in the ass?
When you’re living with depression, sleeping doesn’t always come easily. Here are my go-to tricks when I can’t seem to wind down.
When my psychiatrist is worried about me, she always asks me how I’m sleeping. When my depression is getting the best of me, I tend to thrash around on my bed for hours. I seem to wake up every hour.
Here are some tips that have helped me get the sleep that I need so I can function throughout the day.
1. Listen to music
I’ve found that listening to music can relax me to the point that I drift off. I have a playlist on Pandora filled with familiar songs that I really like.
It’s fun to take an hour or two to sort out the songs that work best for you. They can be anything: alternative, pop, classical. You might even want to listen to nature sounds or recordings from the ocean.
The point is that you find something that makes yourelax and that youwant to hear. There are some phone apps that you can use that have relaxing sounds, too. I also have a clock with recorded songs on it that help me relax.
2. Take a hot shower before bed
When I’m getting ready to fall asleep, I have a routine that always includes a hot shower. This helps me relax.
Routines like these are helpful for depression. It might also be helpful to use body wash with scents that you like.
When you’re living with depression, you can find ways to fight back at it with all the five senses.
3. Try anxiety reduction techniques
Anxiety and depression can be related. There are times when I can’t sleep because I’m so worried about something. This feeds into my depression.
There are many techniques to help reduce anxiety. One thing I do is take deep breaths, slowly and gently. I notice that when I’m anxious, it feels harder to breathe, so this really helps.
I may also try writing a list of all the things that I’m worried about — just to get them out of my head so I can focus more on sleep. Identifying what you’re anxious about is an important step in combatting it.
4. Use positive self-talk
When I’m depressed and having trouble sleeping, I start getting very frustrated. I also tend to think negatively about myself. Everything I do is wrong. If I can do something to reverse this, it really helps.
The goal is to counter the depression with everything that is positive. It might sound wild, but one really good way to do this is to talk to yourself. I try to speak calmly and gently to myself all the time.
I acknowledge that,yes, I’m in a depressed mood. But I need to take care of myself and get the sleep I need to be able to function in the morning.
5. Believe that it will get better
One of the hardest parts of coping with depression is feeling like it will go on forever. This can make trying to fall asleep more complicated and overwhelming.
Keep reminding yourself that depression often comes in waves and things will get better. This is one thing that always helps me when I’m struggling to fall asleep and worrying about it being a never-ending problem.
The takeaway
When it comes down to it, it’s important to take care of yourself with self-compassion. Depression can make it harder to fall asleep, but you don’t need to just accept that. Fight back with whatever works best for you.
Try to include things that engage the five senses. Also, keep track of your sleep and tell a mental health professional if you’re unable to sleep. Sometimes, medication is a necessary step. There have been times when my doctor needed to prescribe medication to help me get some sleep.
What matters is finding ways that help you get the amount of sleep you need to feel rested and ready to take on the day.
The key is to do what works for you, give a suggestion a go, and if it doesn’t move to the next. As much as I love music, it doesn’t help me fall asleep, in fact just the opposite, it wakes my brain up. Going to bed earlier than my sleep time has been most helpful to me. I have the room quiet, pamper myself with some good lotion, and arthritis cream, and the air diffuser is on with Lavender oil which relaxes me. I relax between 45 minutes to an hour before sleep time and I’m ready to fall asleep the majority of the time.
This Weekend Music share is dedicated to my friend John Malone and his blog of the same name. On Monday the Blogger Highlight post on John and his blog will be published, and I’ve enjoyed asking him some questions. I asked about his music choices and found one from The Rolling Stones I had forgotten about. Enjoy!
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me this week for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
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 use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Physical therapy may be used alongside other treatments to help reduce fibromyalgia pain and improve mental health.
Chronic pain and fatigue are common symptoms of fibromyalgia. You may also experience sleep, memory, or mood issues as a result of this condition.
There’s no cure yet for fibromyalgia, but doctors may recommend physical therapy in addition to medications and alternative therapies, like massage and acupuncture, to help with your symptoms.
As part of a holistic plan, physical therapy can help you cope with your pain. It may also reduce the frequency and intensity of your symptoms.
This article examines how physical therapy and the right exercise program might help those with fibromyalgia.
Research has found that individuals with fibromyalgia may have difficulty with lower aerobic endurance and muscle strength. They are also likely to live a sedentary life because of their pain. This can increase their likelihood of developing other health complications.
With the help of physical therapy, quality of life and productivity can improve.
Doctors highly recommend that those with fibromyalgia participate in aerobic and strength training activities. While current research does not offer as much support for flexibility exercises, these exercises may also prove beneficial, especially as part of a warm-up or cool-down routine.
Types of exercise frequently recommended if you have fibromyalgia include:
If you’ve received a diagnosis of fibromyalgia, a licensed physical therapist can design or tailor a holistic program specifically for you.
To create your personalized exercise program, a physical therapist will consider your overall health and exercise level. They’ll work with you to develop a workout that is sufficiently challenging but also comfortable enough to do several times per week.
Because fibromyalgia symptoms can fluctuate, your physical therapist may need to make frequent adjustments to your program.
Working out consistently is important, but it can be difficult, especially if you have a painful flare.
Your physical therapist may ask questions about the types of activities you enjoy doing to find ways to motivate you. They may also begin slowly and build up the intensity of your workouts over time to help prevent pain and burnout.
In addition to exercises on land, your physical therapist may suggest aquatic therapy. The warmer water in therapy pools can relax muscles, offer joint relief, and improve circulation.
A physical therapy treatment plan for fibromyalgia may also include massage, the use of a TENS machine, or hot/cold packs to prevent and treat your muscle pain.
In addition to an exercise plan, your physical therapist can provide helpful education about pain management. The skills they teach can be useful in coping with your fibromyalgia symptoms.
Your doctor may be able to provide a referral to a local physical therapist who has worked with individuals with fibromyalgia in the past.
Another place you may potentially be able to get referrals is through a local fibromyalgia support group.
If you choose to do your own research, you may wish to look online for a local physical therapist who advertises their work with fibromyalgia and has articles or blogs on their website demonstrating their knowledge of the connection between physical therapy and fibromyalgia.
It’s also usually a good idea to check out their reviews.
If you have fibromyalgia, it’s important to have the support of others who understand what you’re going through. Your doctor or local hospital may be able to suggest an in-person support group near you.
Another place where you can connect with other people with fibromyalgia is in Meta groups. Research indicates Meta (formerly Facebook) groups can be a source of support for those living with fibromyalgia. But remember that these groups may not always encourage evidence-based approaches to fibromyalgia care.
If you have fibromyalgia, chronic pain can be debilitating. Physical therapy may help reduce your pain, increase your range of motion, and improve your mental well-being. Your doctor may recommend it in combination with medication and alternative therapies.
A physical therapist can help with pain management and develop an individualized exercise plan that includes a mixture of aerobic and strength-building activities. Tai chi, walking, and swimming are some exercises that may be particularly beneficial if you have fibromyalgia.
“September is Suicide Prevention Month, when we work to raise awareness about this urgent crisis. Like mental health conditions, suicidal thoughts can affect anyone regardless of age, gender, or background. But suicidal thoughts should not be considered normal and often indicate more serious issues.”
Fast Facts:
Individual Impact
79% of all people who die by suicide are male.
Although more women than men attempt suicide, men are 4x more likely to die by suicide.
In the U.S., suicide is the second leading cause of death among people aged 10-14, the 3rd leading cause of death among those aged 15-24, and the 12th leading cause of death overall.
46% of people who die by suicide had a diagnosed mental health condition — but research suggests that 90% may have experienced symptoms of a mental health condition.
Community Impact:
Annual prevalence of serious thoughts of suicide, by U.S. demographic group:
8% of all adults
4% Native Hawaiian/other Pacific Islander
2% Mixed/Multiracial
5% American Indian/Alaska Native
13% of young adults aged 18-25
22% of high school students
41% of lesbian, gay, bisexual, transgender, and queer youth
The highest rates of suicide in the U.S. are among American Indian/Alaskan Natives, followed by non-Hispanic white people.
Lesbian, gay, and bisexual youth are 4x more likely to attempt suicide than straight youth.
Transgender adults are nearly 9x more likely to attempt suicide at some point in their life compared to their peers.
Suicide is the leading cause of death for people held in local jails.
This Suicide Prevention Month, check in on your loved ones. Knowing the risk factors and warning signs can assist you in finding help for yourself, a loved one, or a friend. You can learn more about this here.
For the complete list of Awareness Months click on the link under references. Below are the issues that are most important to me or ones I have a personal connection to for which there are several.
ADHD Awareness Month
AIDS Awareness Month
National Breast Cancer Awareness Month
National Depression Education and Awareness Month
National Depression and Mental Health Screening Month
lookingforthelight.blog 