5 Luxurious Ways to Make Your Back Yard Your Own

March 31, 2025 Looking for the Light9 Comments

There are many mental health benefits to a backyard oasis for your family. And there are just as many luxurious ways to make your backyard somewhere you won’t want to leave.

Your Very Own Bar

A fantastic way to upcycle your old outdoor shed is to cut a hole on the side and place a surface on it. Then you can install an at-home beer pump for pulling the perfect pint in your own garden. This is a simple design, but one that works. But with some crafty DIY work and creativity, you can install a sound system, lighting, and even cooking facilities. Of course, no shed company wants you to butcher their creations, so reusing an old one is best. Just make sure you give it a thorough cleaning, inside and out, and make sure it’s safe for the purpose before you go sitting at it.

A Deck to Proud Of

Nothing makes a good garden shine like the installation of high-quality decking. Wood and the backyard just go superb together, and you can make many great memories sitting among the scent of wood and flowers on long Summer nights. Additionally, a deck can add a lot of value to your home should you consider selling later on. First, however, make sure you use a reputable builder. Poor decking is dangerous. Splinters, loose boards, and even collapse are real possibilities. And a lousy installation isn’t likely to last long, either.

Heat and Bubbles

You can relax and have fun in a hot tub. So much fun, in fact, that since coming to market in the late 1950s in the USA, around 6 million have been sold all over the country. Hot tubs are excellent no matter your age. They can provide an intimate way of relaxing for couples and friends. And the kids love the bubbles. However, there are multiple health benefits as well. The heat helps soothe aching muscles, and bubbles help with tension. Some medical experts believe the effects of a hot tub to be somewhere around the same as a professional massage.

An Outdoor Cinema

How fun is your very own outdoor cinema? Cozying up on a warm night under the stars with a movie and a drink with your partner is nothing short of amazing. And if you have kids, well, they will just go nuts for something like this. You can purchase an HD projector for very little these days, and some even work with your phone. And a screen isn’t required either. Just a sheet and something to hold it. But before going and doing this, make sure you are far enough from your neighbors, or the sounds of Bridget Jones doing Bridget Jones stuff might not end well.

Fire Pit Arrangement

Being outdoors evokes memories of nature and a primal sense of social atmosphere. One of the most primal elements is fire. Fire is dangerous, but it can be tamed when treated with respect and controlled. A fire pit makes an excellent centerpiece for your garden, and you can make one for very little money. You can buy premade pits with various designs. Or you could use an old washing machine drum, a barrel, or even a tire. Then, arrange your rattan or wicker furniture around the centerpiece for an intimate and sophisticated addition to your backyard tranquility.

Summary

Your backyard is an extension of your home and yourself. So, it would help if you spent time making it special. But, gardening aside, you can add luxuries such as a bar, hot tub, or even a cinema.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Cooking · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Gluten-Free Tahini-Spiced Hot Cocoa-Sounds So Good!

March 31, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The recipe is from Kristin Cavallari’s cookbook True Comfort

Ingredients

1 1/2 cups almond milk

2 1/2 tsp. pure vanilla extract

1/2 tsp ground cinnamon

1 tb. raw cacao powder

1 1/2 tsp. raw honey

3 tsp. tahini

In a small saucepan, warm the almond milk over medium-high heat until it simmers, 5 minutes.

Pour the warm milk into a high-powered blender and add the vanilla, cinnamon, cocoa powder, honey, and tahini.

Blend on high speed until the cocoa is smooth and frothy, 1 minute.

Serves 1

Double the recipe to make two cups.

Enjoy.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Cooking · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

From Family Cookbook-Aunt Dorthy’s Nut Rolls With Filling

March 31, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

The family cookbook contains recipes my Granies & Gramps used often, and is the type of food I grew up on. Many with veggies and tomatoes from the garden. Good ole Southern food like my Gramps dumplings, to Grannies pecan pie.

This is from my husband’s Aunt Dorthy’s recipes, who writes BEST at the top of the card.

Recipe

1 package yeast in 1/4 cup warm water and 1 TSP sugar

Let stand for 5 minutes

Sift 4 cups flour, 4 TBS sugar, and 3/4 TSP salt

Melt 1/2 TBS of butter

Add in 1 cup of canned milk

4 egg yolks beaten

Pour over flour

Add yeast

Knead

Cover

Place in refrigerator overnight or for 5 hours

Divide into 4 sections on a lightly floured surface to approx 10″x13″

Size to fill

Roll up

Let rise

Bake at 350 degrees for 25 minutes

Filling

Beat 4 egg whites with 1/2 cup powdered sugar, 1/2 cup ground walnuts

Okay, from here, I guess you get an icing tube, add the filling insert into the roll, and squeeze until you see the filling has spread in the roll.

This sounds great because I like walnuts, which are so good for you. I’ll have to try this one.

If you make the recipe, please provide feedback on your thoughts or what the recipe brings to mind.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Question Of The Day

March 30, 2025 Looking for the Light1 Comment

How old were you when you learned to walk?

I learned at 10 months old and probably learned by chasing after our dog.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Today In History March 29, 2025

March 29, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Viking Siege of Paris

845 Paris is sacked by Viking raiders, probably under Ragnar Lodbrok, who collects a huge ransom in exchange for leaving

A 5,000 strong fleet of Danish Vikings invaded Frankish lands in 845 and only retreated after besieging Paris and securing a ransom from the Frankish King Charles the Bald. They were part of a series of devastating raids begun by the Vikings from the 790s.

The Vikings were led by a man named “Reginherus” or Ragnar, sometimes linked to the legendary saga figure Ragnar Lodbrok. The Vikings easily overcame defences set in place by Charlemagne and are known to have attacked the Abbey of Saint-Germain-des-Prés just outside the city.

Although struck by an outbreak of plague the Vikings overcame this to return home with their ransom of 7,000 French livres of gold and silver.

Terracotta Army Discovered

1974 Chinese farmers discover the Terracotta Army near Xi’an, 8,000 clay warrior statues buried to guard the tomb of China’s first emperor, Qin Shi Huang

In 1974 local farmers digging a well near the Chinese city of Xian came across one of the greatest archaeological discoveries ever made. The discovery of a clay warrior figure soon revealed many more by state archaeologists. In fact there may be 8,000 terracotta figures in total, each individually modelled and purposely arranged in three pits to guard the tomb of the Chinese Emperor Qin Shi Huang Di (246-210 B.C.)

Contemporary court documents indicate the mausoleum was started soon after Emperor Qin took the throne in 246 B.C and continued until unrest in 209 B.C. Remote sensing and ground-penetrating radar has revealed the whole tomb complex to be almost 38 square miles (98 square kilometers) with the unexcavated Emperor’s tomb at the centre.

If you can see the Terracotta Army, go without hesitation; it’s mind-blowing.

Scott’s Last Entry

Captain Robert Falcon Scott, storm-bound in a tent near the South Pole, makes the last entry in his diary “the end cannot be far”

History can be interesting.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.onthisday.com/date/1912/march/29

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Survivor · Trauma

National Child Abuse Awareness Month

March 29, 2025 Looking for the Light11 Comments

Child Abuse Awareness Month is another awareness month that hits home for me. My abuse started when I was a child and lasted until I was 12 when I went to live with my father. My mother and stepfather not only physically abused me, they emotionally abused me and each were equally painful. I have worked with my Therapist for over 30 years and still have not totally processed the pain and anger. No child deserves to carry this burden and I know firsthand how it plays on your mind.

U.S. Child welfare authorities look into the safety of more than 7.5 million kids annually

Of those, around 3 million children received an investigation or alternative response from child protective services agencies.

How big is the problem of child abuse?

1 in 4 girls and

1 in 13 boys in the U.S.

are estimated to experience child abuse

Source: CDC

1 in 5

children in Europe
are estimated to experience
sexual violence

Source: Council of Europe 2022

1 billion

children globally
are estimated to experience sexual violence

Source: World Health Organization 2022

More than 550,000 children are known to U.S. authorities to be abused.

An estimated 558,899 children (unique incidents) were victims of abuse and neglect in the U.S. in 2022, the most recent year for which there is national data. That’s 8 children out of every thousand.

These statistics make me weep, how can so many children carry the deep pain around with them? Keep your eyes open and if you see something that looks out of line report it.

Melinda

Reference:

National Statistics on Child Abuse

Celebrate Life · Communicating · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Friday Quote

March 28, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health · Music

#Weekend Music Share-America – A Horse With No Name (America In Concert, May 24,1973)

March 28, 2025 Looking for the Light16 Comments

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.

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.

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing

Fun Facts, Did You Know?

March 27, 2025 Looking for the Light10 Comments

Fact: Baseball umpires used to sit in rocking chairs

People have been playing baseball since the mid 19^th century. In the early games, umpires would officiate the games reclining in a rocking chair that was located 20 feet behind home plate. By 1878, the National League also declared that home teams must pay umpires $5 per game.

Fact: The first commercial passenger flight lasted only 23 minutes

These fun facts really get you thinking about how far we’ve come. Taking a 23-minute flight might seem like a waste of money today, but in 1914 Abram Pheil paid $400, which would be $8,500 today, for a 23-minute long plane ride. He flew between St. Petersburg, Florida and Tampa, Florida, where only 21 miles of water separate the cities. Pheil, a former mayor of St. Petersburg, and the pilot, Tony Jannus, were the only passengers. This momentous flight paved the way for air travel as we know it.

Fact: The world’s first novel ends mid-sentence

The Tale of Genji, written by Murasaki Shikibu in the 11^th century, is considered the world’s first novel. After reading 54 intricately crafted chapters, the reader is stopped abruptly mid-sentence. One translator believes the work is complete as is, but another says we’re missing a few more pages of the story.

Fact: The French-language Scrabble World Champion doesn’t speak French

New Zealand native Nigel Richards memorized the entire French Scrabble dictionary, which has 386,000 words, in nine weeks to earn his title. He has also won the English world Scrabble Championship three times, the U.S. national championships five times, and the U.K. Open Scrabble tournament six times. This comes 20 years after first playing Scrabble when Richards was 28 years old.

Fact: A woman called the police when her ice cream didn’t have enough sprinkles

The West Midlands police in England released a recording of a woman who called 999 (the U.K. version of 911) because there were “bits on one side and none on the other,” she says in the recording. She was even more upset when the ice cream truck man did not want to give her money back.

Fact: Uncle Ben’s rice was airdropped to World War II troops

German chemist Erich Huzenlaub invented a process of parboiling rice to keep more nutrients in the rice and lessen the cooking time. The “Huzenlaub Process” had another unexpected benefit, too: It stopped bug infestations. The quick-cook, bug-free rice was a big advantage during World War II, and Converted rice (as it was then known) was airdropped to American and British troops. After the war, the company rebranded to Uncle Ben’s Original Converted Brand Rice, named after one of the company’s best rice suppliers, and the product hit the shelves in 1947.

Fact: The British Empire was the largest empire in world history

According to the World Atlas, an empire “is a group of nations or people that are under the rule of a powerful government or an emperor of a territory usually larger than a kingdom.” The British Empire was most powerful in the 1920s when it ruled over 23 percent of the world’s population. That equates to about 13 million square miles.

Fact: South American river turtles talk in their eggs

Turtles don’t have vocal cords and their ears are internal, so scientists believed that turtles were deaf and didn’t communicate through sounds. However, research has found that turtles actually communicate at an extremely low frequency that sounds like “clicks, clucks, and hoots” that can only be heard through a hydrophone (a microphone used underwater). These sounds even come from the egg before the turtle hatches. Researchers hypothesize that this helps all the turtle siblings hatch at once.

Fact: Penicillin was first called “mold juice”

Alexander Fleming was one of those quirky scientists who accidentally made a scientific breakthrough. In 1928, the bacteriologist left a petri dish in his lab while he was on vacation only to return and find that some liquid around the mold had killed the bacteria in the dish. This became the world’s first antibiotic. But before naming it penicillin, he called it “mold juice.”

Fact: The first stroller was pulled by a goat

This is one of the many interesting facts that had us scratching our head. Or a dog or a miniature horse, but not by parents. William Kent, a landscape architect, invented the first stroller for the third Duke of Devonshire in 1733. By the mid 18^th century, strollers were still pretty unstable, but they had handles so parents, not animals, could pull the baby behind them.

So glad you are enjoying the post; I love hearing your hilarious comments.

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Moving Forward

5 Ways To Help Your Teen As A New Driver

March 27, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Has your teen just passed their driving test? It can be an extremely exciting time for them. Being able to drive and having the independence that comes with having their own car can be exhilarating. But for parents, it can be a time of increased worry and stress. This is only natural, especially when statistics show that young drivers cause 16% of all fatal car accidents in the US.

However, there are many different ways you can help your teen driver as they embark on their driving career to not only put your mind at ease but ensure they are safe too.

Read on for some tips on how to help your teen as a new driver.

Stay Calm

One of the best things when your teen starts driving alone is to stay calm. Whether you are with them or waiting at home. Remember how it felt to be a new driver, and use this to help boost your teen’s confidence. The more faith you have in them and their abilities, the calmer they will be on the road, with or without you. Remember, they have to pass a test and will have all of the basic skills and knowledge they need.

Talk About The Rules

There are driving rules and laws for a reason, and all of them ensure the safety of all road users. As a driver, your teen will now have to adhere to these laws. Keep your discussions out of the car; doing so while driving will only further distract them. Talk about the dangers of driving while under the influence, using a mobile phone when driving, and the number of distractions having passengers can cause. It can be a good idea to talk about their reaction to other drivers and how to react should they encounter road rage or other poor driving habits from other drivers on the road.

Car Maintenance

Maintaining a car is a great responsibility, and as such, having a good mechanic and some knowledge of the internal workings of an engine and components can serve them well in their driving career from teen to old age. A simple but essential step is to talk through all aspects of car maintenance, how their actions will affect the vehicle they are driving, and how safe it is. If your teen knows the common faults of the car they are driving and how to identify when something is wrong, they can call for help and be better prepared for breakdowns or getting repairs fixed quickly.

Car Safety

There is a lot involved in being a safe driver. Your teen needs to be safe on the road, but they also need to be confident that all their passengers and other road users are safe. Some of these issues might not be at the forefront of their minds for teens, especially in those first few weeks or months of driving, from the importance of everyone wearing seatbelts to the distraction of loud music and conversations to speeding and driving appropriately for different weather conditions. It can be a good idea to look into take an advanced driving class to improve their skills or ask them if they want you to ride them when driving after dark for the first time or in wet and windy weather conditions.

Emergency Responses

With nearly 20,000 car crashes daily on the roads in America, there is a high chance your teen may be involved in one at some point in their driving career or witness an accident. Knowing what to do should this occur can give them the tools they need to make the right decisions. From calling emergency services to documenting the scene and contacting their insurance company, these are vital tips they will need to know before an event, not after. Make sure they have all of their documents with them, are up to date with their insurance, have breakdown and recovery services they can contact, and know they can call you anytime in an emergency for help and support, not criticism.

Conclusion

Learning to drive is a rite of passage for many teens, and every driver can remember how it felt to finally get behind the wheel and onto the open road without relying on others to get from A to B. However, as parents, you can help your teen become a better driver by giving them the knowledge you have from your driving experience and the skills and tools they need to be a better and safer driver on the roads.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward · Trauma

Sexual Assault Awareness Month

March 26, 2025March 27, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Sexual Assault Awareness Month is significant to me because I have been assaulted. I know the pain and anger that followed; it took many years of therapy to work through the trauma. Women and men experience sexual assault, and it’s important to reach out for support to process your assault.

Horrifying Statistics from RAINN

Every 68 seconds another American is sexually assaulted.¹
1 out of every 6 American women has been the victim of an attempted or completed rape in her lifetime (14.8% completed, 2.8% attempted).⁴
About 3% of American men—or 1 in 33—have experienced an attempted or completed rape in their lifetime.⁴
From 2009-2013, Child Protective Services agencies substantiated, or found strong evidence to indicate that, 63,000 children a year were victims of sexual abuse.⁵
A majority of child victims are 12-17. Of victims under the age of 18: 34% of victims of sexual assault and rape are under age 12, and 66% of victims of sexual assault and rape are age 12-17.⁶

What was the survivor doing when the crime occurred?⁷

48% were sleeping, or performing another activity at home
29% were traveling to and from work or school, or traveling to shop or run errands
12% were working
7% were attending school
5% were doing an unknown or other activity

Most of the time, loved ones of survivors want to do anything they can to help— but aren’t sure what to do. Whether someone you love has disclosed to you already, or you just want to be prepared for the moment someone does, taking the time to proactively learn how to support a survivor as they disclose can make all the difference. When the time comes to support a survivor in your life, remember this important acronym about how to TALK. Learn more from RAINN’s Family and Friends Toolkit.

I know it’s difficult to reach out for support, but it’s the first step to dealing with the trauma and healing.

Melinda

Reference:

https://rainn.org/?_ga=2.150011316.349518786.1742834594-2015321522.1742834593

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Wordless Wednesday-Flaming Orange

March 26, 2025 Looking for the Light7 Comments

I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday, and I hope to see you soon.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Infectious Diease · Lyme Disease · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Tick Borne Illnesses

Lyme Resources To Help Figure Out Your Next Move

March 25, 2025 Looking for the Light2 Comments

One of the most important things a person with Lyme disease needs is clear, concise information.

Here’s a list of useful resources to get you going in the right direction.

LymeDisease.org is one of the foremost Lyme patient advocacy organizations in the United States. We provide a wealth of information on our website–about ticks, Lyme and other tick-borne diseases, prevention, diagnosis and treatment.

Special features include:

Symptom Checklist: Patients can answer a series of questions, print out the filled-in form and take it to their doctor. The printout describes basic facts, explains the two standards of care for Lyme disease, and endorses the ILADS guidelines. It’s a way to help your doctor help you.

Physician Directory: Find a Lyme-literate practitioner near you.

Our blogs keep the Lyme community up to date on news, analysis, and opinion.

Social media. We spread the word via Facebook, Twitter, Instagram and Pinterest.

Our free weekly email newsletters keep you informed on Lyme-related developments. Click here to sign up.

US National Lyme Online Support Group: Information and emotional support for people dealing with Lyme and other tick-borne diseases.

MyLymeData patient registry: This big data research project allows patients to privately pool information about their Lyme disease experiences. So far, more than 17,000 people have enrolled in the project, providing millions of data points on Lyme disease demographics, tick bites, diagnosis, symptoms, lab tests, co-infections, treatment and quality of life. Add your Lyme data to MyLymeData to help find a cure for Lyme disease.

Lyme disease posters

Children and Lyme disease

Basic info about children with Lyme disease

Gestational Lyme disease LymeHope, a Canadian Lyme advocacy organization, has taken a particular interest in the issue of mother-to-fetus Lyme transmission.

LymeAid4Kids–Financial assistance for Lyme treatment for those under age 21.

Lymelight Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment for children and young adults through age 25.

LivLyme Foundation–Financial grants for children with Lyme disease (under 21).

Mothers Against Lyme–Advocacy and education about congenital and childhood Lyme

Video: Lyme Disease & Pregnancy: State of the Science & Opportunities for Research

Book: When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide by Sandra Berenbaum and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Book: Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and other Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Teens by Dr. Kenneth Bock.

Book: Protecting Your Child From the Child Protection System, by Beth Alison Maloney

Book: Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, by Rachel Leland and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Article: Healthy Mom Best Prescription for Healthy Baby (The Lyme Times) (PDF)

Wrightslaw.com–Website with information about Special Education law.

PANS/PANDAS

ASPIRE: The Alliance to Solve PANS and Immune Related Encephalopathies

New England PANS/PANDAS Association

Northwest PANDAS/PANS Network

PANDAS Network

Moleculera Labs

Three books by Beth Alison Maloney: Saving Sammy, Childhood Interrupted: The Complete Guide to PANDAS and PANS, and Protecting Your Child from the Child Protection system (The author of these books is the mother of a child who healed from PANDAS. She is an attorney/advocate for the recognition and treatment of PANS/PANDAS, and advises parents about legal issues related to PANS/PANDAS and other complex medical conditions.)

Parenting with PANS

Ticks

Types of ticks

How to protect yourself from ticks

Find the repellent that’s right for you (EPA website)

Help! I’ve gotten a tick bite. Now what?

TickEncounter Resource Center—University of Rhode Island

Tick testing. There are various places to get ticks tested. Here are several: IGeneX, TickCheck, Ticknology, Tick Report

MilTICK—free tick testing and identification service available for ticks removed from Department of Defense (DoD) personnel and their dependents.

Mast cell activation syndrome and food-related issues

MCAS, when your immune system goes haywire

The agony of mast cell activation syndrome (MCAS)

Healing from mast cell activation syndrome

What to eat when you’re allergic to everything?

Severe weather can worsen mast cell activation syndrome

Alpha-gal syndrome

There is growing evidence that certain types of tick bites can trigger alpha-gal syndrome (AGS) a life-threatening allergy to red meat and meat-related products.

Alpha-gal syndrome–symptoms, diagnosis, treatment

Tick-Borne Conditions United

Alpha-gal Information Website

Other Lyme-related symptoms & issues

Lyme carditis and heart block

Lyme disease can affect the heart in complicated ways

Lyme disease and cognitive impairments

Gastrointestinal manifestations of Lyme

Psychiatric manifestations of Lyme

Lyme disease and hearing loss

Lyme and multiple sclerosis

Lyme and allodynia

Medical marijuana and Lyme disease

The dreaded Jarisch-Herxheimer reaction

How Lyme disease can affect your vision

12 ways you can help yourself manage chronic pain

Morgellons

The Charles E. Holman Morgellons Disease Foundation

Morgellons: The legitimization of a disease (book review)

Skin Deep: The Battle Over Morgellons (documentary film)

Treating Lyme disease with disulfiram

What is disulfiram and why does it spark excitement in Lyme community?

Treating psychiatric Lyme symptoms with disulfiram

Co-infections

The Lyme Times Special Issue on Co-infections (PDF)

About Lyme disease co-infections

Co-infections poster

Mold

Lyme and mold

Survivingmold.com

Dealing with Lyme disease and mold illness at the same time

Mold Testing Guide (How to test your home for mold)

Your guide to mold in your home

Clean indoor air on a budget

Are you unknowingly ingesting toxic mold?

How to donate blood and tissue for Lyme research

Lyme Disease Biobank

Lyme and pets

Basic information about Lyme and pets

Parasite prevalence maps Educational website includes a US map down to the county level, showing where dogs have tested positive for Lyme, anaplasmosis, erhlichiosis and other diseases. Also, information about protecting your pet from tick-borne diseases.

Companion Animal Parasite Council website has comprehensive information about how to protect your pets from ticks and other parasites.

Books (Treatment, healing modalities, family life)

Brain Inflamed: Uncovering the Hidden Causes of Anxiety, Depression, and Other Mood Disorders in Adolescents and Teens, by Dr. Kenneth Bock

CHRONIC: The Hidden Cause of the Autoimmune Pandemic and How to Get Healthy Again, by Dr. Steven Phillips and Dana Parish

Conquering Lyme Disease: Science Bridges the Great Divide, by Brian A. Fallon, MD, and Jennifer Sotsky, MD

The Deep Places: A Memoir of Illness and Discovery, by Ross Douthat. The New York Times columnist delves into his personal years-long battle with chronic Lyme disease.

Finding Resilience: A Teen’s Journey Through Lyme Disease, by Rachel Leland and Dorothy Kupcha Leland. Based on the journal Rachel kept during the worst years of her illness, with additional insights from her mother, Dorothy.

How can I get better? An Action Plan for Treating Resistant Lyme and Chronic Disease, by Dr. Richard Horowitz

The Lyme Diet, by Dr. Nicola McFadzean. What to eat while healing from Lyme.

Recovery from Lyme Disease: The Integrative Medicine Guide to Diagnosing and Treating Tick-Borne Illness, by Dr. Daniel Kinderlehrer.

TOXIC: Heal Your Body from Mold Toxicity, Lyme Disease, Multiple Chemical Sensitivities, and Chronic Environmental Illness, by Dr. Neil Nathan.

When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide by Sandra Berenbaum and Dorothy Kupcha Leland.

Why Can’t I Get Better? Solving the Mystery of Lyme and Chronic Disease, by Dr. Richard Horowitz.

Books (History, Policy, and Science)

Bitten: The Secret History of Lyme Disease and Biological Weapons, by Kris Newby

Cure Unknown: Inside the Lyme Epidemic, by Pamela Weintraub.

Lyme: The First Epidemic of Climate Change, by Mary Beth Pfeiffer.

Film and Video

I’m Not Crazy, I’m sick, Lyme documentary, available on various streaming services.

The Quiet Epidemic, documentary film about chronic Lyme disease, available on various streaming services.

Under Our Skin, award-winning Lyme documentary film.

Under Our Skin 2: Emergence (sequel)

The Red Ring, documentary takes a global look at Lyme disease.

Your Labs Are Normal, feature film based on real-life experiences.

Financial assistance

LymeTAP.com–Lyme Testing Access Program. Financial assistance for Lyme diagnostic testing.

Needymeds.com–Clearing house for information about various kinds of financial assistance for obtaining medication.

Lymelight Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment for children and young adults through age 25.

Lyme Treatment Foundation–financial assistance for Lyme treatment. No age restrictions.

LivLyme Foundation–Financial grants for children with Lyme disease.

LymeAid4Kids—grants for young Lyme patients (up to age 21).

Partner in Lyme—grants for Lyme treatment for residents of Connecticut.

Applying for Social Security benefits for Lyme disease

Outside of the United States

ALCE Asociación de Lyme Crónico España (Spain)

Canadian Lyme Disease Foundation

LymeHope (Canada)

LYRI (Mexico)

Lyme Disease Action (UK)

LymeDiseaseUK

Lyme Disease Association of Australia

Karl McManus Foundation (Australia)

France Lyme

Tick Talk Ireland

Lyme Poland

Association Luxembourgeoise Borréliose de Lyme (Luxembourg)

Onlyme-aktion.org (Germany)

Lymevereniging (Netherlands)

TOUCHED BY LYME is written by Dorothy Kupcha Leland, LymeDisease.org’s Vice-president and Director of Communications. She is co-author of When Your Child Has Lyme Disease: A Parent’s Survival Guide. Contact her at dleland@lymedisease.org .

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Book Review For Finding My Right Mind By Vanessa Potter

March 25, 2025 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Maddie Dunne-Kirby from Wellbeck Publishing Group gifted me a copy of Finding My Right Mind, One Woman’s Experiment To Put Meditation To The Test by Vanessa Potter for an honest review.

My Thoughts

Gobsmacked is the only word I can say about Finding My Right Mind. I believe that’s a British saying, please correct me if I’m mistaken. Vanessa’s story is like a brick to the head in the very best way. She’s smart, funny, and realistic about the cards she’s dealt.

You can find Vanessa Potter’s book Finding My Right Mind at Amazon.co.uk

The true story of an ordinary woman who went to extraordinary lengths to discover whether meditating could change her life. Insightful, funny, and informative, Vanessa road-tests 10 techniques from mindfulness to psychedelics, and still manages to pick the kids up!

What would you do if you woke up one day blind and paralyzed? This is where Vanessa finds herself, she’s married with children and at the height of her career. What Vanessa does next is nothing short of a miracle. Using her knowledge of meditation she teaches her body to remember feelings, such as the feel of sand in your toes. With sheer grit, she uses 10 techniques to build the life she wants to live. Finding My Right Mind is a must-read for everyone, she an inspiration and will have you examine your life as you live it today. You will find Vanessa’s book inspirational, and fascinating, and looking forward to turning the page. She shows us what the mind can truly do.

This is a must-read story. I’m glad you are enjoying the book reviews, keep your comments coming. I have six books lined up to read so stay tuned.

Wellbeck Publishing Group

Wellbeck Publishing Group is an exciting, fast-growing independent publisher based in London, dedicated to publishing only the very best and most commercial books spanning a number of genres and categories, from leading authors and well-known brands to debut talent. We live for books that entertain, excite and enhance the lives of readers around the world

From building our boutique fiction and narrative non-fiction lists to shaping our world-renowned illustrated reference, gift and children’s titles, our aim is to be a market-leader in every category in which we publish. Our books and products come to life for adults, children, and families in 30 languages in more than 60 countries around the world, selling through a variety of traditional and non-traditional channels. We are constantly looking for new ways to deliver our exceptional content and new ideas to inspire readers and listeners everywhere.

Melinda

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Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Mental Illness · Moving Forward

5 Things I Didn’t Know About Taking Mood Stabilizers

March 24, 2025 Looking for the Light5 Comments

Written by Sally Buchanan-Hagen

Mood stabilizers help keep my bipolar symptoms in check, but they still affect some areas of my life in unexpected ways.

In a previous blog, ‘6 Things I Didn’t Realize About Taking Antipsychotics’, I wrote about some of the impacts that taking antipsychotics can have on your life. But I don’t just take antipsychotics for my <a href=”http://DON’T GIVE UP, MARY! I have had so many bad days, weeks, months, and years even, but when you stick it out, things always get better–sometimes much better than you ever imagined. I encourage you to contact the SUICIDE PREVENTION LIFELINE at 1-800-273-8255. They also have an online chat here: http://chat.suicidepreventionlifeline.org/GetHelp/LifelineChat.aspx. I’ve been in that space before, Mary, and it gets better. I PROMISE! Depression tricks us into believing the world is better off without us, but I PROMISE YOU, THE WORLD IS BETTER OFF WITH YOU IN IT! Please stay…and please stay in touch. bipolar disorder. I also take mood stabilizers. I have been taking mood stabilizers since my diagnosis, but it took two years to get the combination right.

I now take two different mood stabilizers and am happy to say that I am euthymic. Although I experience few side effects from mood stabilizers, taking these medications still impacts some areas of my life.

In a previous blog, 6 Things I Didn’t Realize About Taking Antipsychotics, I wrote about how antipsychotic medications have affected my life. But antipsychotics aren’t the only medications I take for bipolar disorder — I also take mood stabilizers.

It’s worth noting that while mood stabilizer is a commonly used term among clinicians, it’s not an official classification of medication. For bipolar disorder, this category typically includes anticonvulsants and lithium.

1. Tremors

In the beginning, the tremors caused by my mood stabilizer really bothered me. I was on such a high dose of one particular medication that I had to choose between managing my maniaor dealing with wild tremors. It was frustrating, but at the time, the higher dose was necessary to keep my symptoms in check.

I remember being a student nurse on my mental health placement and meeting a young man my age who was on the same mood stabilizer. His tremors were so severe that they made daily tasks — eating, brushing his teeth, writing, brushing his hair, and even getting dressed — incredibly difficult. It took him so much effort just to do things most of us take for granted.

I had no idea then that, just a few years later, I would be struggling with the same challenges — while also trying to write a thesis and work as a nurse in the emergency department. The tremors exhausted me, and I was embarrassed by them. What was hardest was that I couldn’t play the piano or cello, something I truly love. On top of that, the constant tremors felt like a visible reminder that I had bipolar disorder.

Every time my dose was lowered, I would become elevated. During a particularly severe manic episode, I was prescribed an additional mood stabilizer. That second medication, combined with my original one, finally helped keep my mania at bay. More importantly, it allowed me to reduce the dose of my first mood stabilizer without destabilizing my mood. As a result, my tremors are now very mild.

It’s important to point out that the tremors caused by mood stabilizers are different from tardive dyskinesia, a potential side effect of antipsychotics. While both involve involuntary movements, they have different causes and feel distinct from one another.

2. Thirst

Need I say more? Mood stabilizers make you really thirsty. As I mentioned in my previous post, antipsychotics can cause a very dry mouth. Combine that with the thirst from mood stabilizers, and it’s not exactly a pleasant experience.

3. Regular Blood Tests

Some mood stabilizers can make you toxic if they’re over the therapeutic range. To measure this, routine blood tests need to be taken as the level of medication shows up in the blood. I don’t know how many blood tests I’ve had since commencing mood stabilizers, but there have been lots.

When first starting on mood stabilizers, blood tests have to be done very frequently while the dose is titrated up to a therapeutic range.

When I’ve been hospitalized for mania, I would get a blood test every morning. Once the optimal dose has been established for the individual, the blood tests become less frequent, but levels still have to be monitored. I usually get blood work done every two months, but if my dose changes, testing ramps up again.

When that happens, my Saturday morning routine begins with a trip to the local pathology clinic and for a blood test. Fortunately, I don’t mind needles, but I can see how this could be a real challenge for someone who does.

4. Fluctuating Blood Levels

Sometimes, the levels of mood stabilizers in my blood fluctuate. I can always tell when they get too high: I struggle to concentrate, I feel weak, my tremors worsen, and I experience nausea, dizziness, and hot-and-cold flushes.

The first time this happened, I had no idea what was happening to me. I was studying in the university library and seriously considered asking a colleague to take me to the hospital. I didn’t — but looking back, I probably should have. It happened a few more times before I finally made the connection that my medication levels might be too high. Blood tests confirmed it, and my psychiatrist adjusted my dose.

Now, it doesn’t happen often, but when it does, it’s always when I’m dehydrated — which makes sense since dehydration can increase blood levels. Because of this, I have to be extra careful when exercising or on hot days. If my levels spike, it can completely wipe me out for a day or two.

5. Minimal Side Effects

Aside from toxicity — which is extremely serious and requires immediate medical attention — I’ve been surprised at how few side effects I experience from mood stabilizers, especially compared to antipsychotics.

When my tremors were at their worst, I wouldn’t have said this, and I know not everyone has the same experience. But of the three types of medication I take for bipolar, mood stabilizers are the ones I prefer. I owe my quality of life and mentally healthy mind to them.

Sally Buchanan-Hagen

Sally lives in Victoria, Australia. She was diagnosed with bipolar disorder two years ago when she was 22, however she has been dealing with extreme moods since she was 14. When she experienced her first episode of depression, she was too embarrassed to get help even though she knew that something was wrong. Throughout high school she battled depression after depression, each one getting worse. At university she continued to have depressive episodes and when she wasn’t depressed she was extremely happy, incredibly driven and unusually energetic. Everyone thought this was her normal mood, herself included and so the elevated times went unnoticed. The turning point was in her final year of university when she was referred to the university counsellor. She was diagnosed with depression but after many failed treatments she saw a psychiatrist who diagnosed her with type II bipolar disorder. However that quickly turned into a diagnosis of type I bipolar disorder after a psychotic manic episode. She is currently completing her honours degree in nursing and works as a nurse in the emergency department. She blogs for The International Bipolar Foundation and has written for several publications. She also volunteers for a mental health organization where she delivers presentations about mood disorders to high school students. Although relatively new to this world, she is passionate about mental health promotion and thoroughly enjoys writing about mental health.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.bphope.com/blog/5-things-i-didnt-know-about-taking-mood-stabilizers/?utm_source=iContact&utm_medium=email&utm_campaign=bphope&utm_content=Best+-+Mar18+-+Stabilizers

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Good Times On The Highway To Hell Part 7

March 24, 2025 Looking for the Light8 Comments

Time has passed and the stories with my brother are becoming less and less, we aren’t children anymore, you can read about my antics instead.

My stepfather was Luthern and he demanded we go to Vacation Bible School. The only bible I owned was given to me by my mother when I was five years old. One at the end of class the teacher put a star in the back. I was so shocked, I don’t know what I did to deserve it but it felt so good the next day I drew my own start next to hers.

I was not musically inclined when it came to singing but I wanted to be in the Middle School plays so bad. The music teacher took pity on me and cast me among the three main dancers. The dress code was dainty white socks which my mother would not buy so I showed up in tube socks. She was kind and found a place in the back row so I could participate. I lost my desire after that.

In high school I carried my camera everywhere I went. One weekend the KKK was marching near we hung out. I went over and took a few photos. My friends were completely freaked out but I wasn’t their target.

Granny was such a rigid do-it-the-book type of personality. One day shortly after getting my license we went shopping and the parking to was very small. I am backing out a tap the car behind me, Granny was a cool cucumber. She said to get out and see if there’s any damage, if not get back in the car and drive home.

At the end of our block was a wooded area that had a creek. We would sneak down there and have the time of our lives. At the deeper end, the kids before us installed a thick rope so you could swing out to the deep end. One of the great features was that those before us carved out a slide out the side of the hill above the creek. It was dry and you had to learn when to lift your but because there was a tree stump.

I was not allowed to drive my car unless it was to school, work, or to take Granny shopping. My friend picked me up and had me drop her off at her boyfriend’s and she would get the car later. I was so nervous that Granny would wake up in the night and see her car which would put me in big trouble. Her car didn’t have power steering and it was a beast to drive.

The way that Rosanna and I became friends was because I was dating her ex-boyfriend. He made some comment trying to make me jealous and I took the bait. I stood outside her classroom and when she arrived I punched her in the eye knocking out her contact. She followed me after school to see if she could drive me home, sure, what discovered about my boyfriend was unbelievable. Needless to say, I broke up the same day.

I was married at 18 years old, and the wedding dress and the whole nine yards. It was August 1st in Texas which means it was sweltering hot. His father had given the Priest extra money to turn on the air conditioner earlier and take the temperature down. I guess that’s too much to ask in August, if you’re not a Catholic you may not appreciate that during the ceremony you spend a lot of time leaning in front of the altar and I still had my veil down. Suddenly I felt dizzy and thought I would fall over, sure enough, I was going down and my soon-to-be husband walked me over to the first row of seats. I was so dignified, I threw my veil away from my face and begged for water. The Priest comes over with a gold chalice full of water and I suddenly feel guilty, I thought only Prest and Pope could drink from them. We finished the ceremony and we had so many laughs after because the whole thing was recorded.

When I met my husband he had a 55-gallon saltwater fish tank. We eventually added some fish and I had my favorite fish, a Puffer Fish. One night I was messing around and decided to try to hand-feed Puffy, David kept saying don’t put your hand in the water or he will bite you. That’s exactly what happened, I freaked took my hand out of the tank, and threw him on the floor. By now he is distressed and puffed out to full potential. David got him in the net but he couldn’t come until have chilled, then he swam out. I didn’t try that one again.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Moving Forward

April Awareness Months

March 23, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

April includes many important topics that need more awareness. The complete list is available by clicking on the link at the bottom of the page.

Earth Month

Alcohol Awareness Month

Autism Acceptance Month

National Cancer Control Month

National Child Abuse Prevention Month

National Counseling Awareness Month

National Minority Health Month

National Parkinson’s Awareness Month

Paralyzed Veterans Across America Month

Prevention of Cruelty to Animals Month

Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month

Stress Awareness Month

Testicular Cancer Awareness Month

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.goodgoodgood.co/articles/april-awareness-days-months

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Daily Quote

March 22, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

LGBTQ-Community Resources In America

March 22, 2025 Looking for the Light6 Comments

LGBTQ+ Community

National Coalition of Anti-Violence Programs: A coalition of programs that document and advocate for victims of anti-LGBT and anti-HIV/AIDS violence/harassment, domestic violence, sexual assault, police misconduct and other forms of victimization. Site has a list of local anti-violence programs and publications. Hotline: 212.714.1141

The Trevor Project: Help and suicide prevention for LGBTQ youth. Hotline: 866.488.7386
GLBT National Hotline: Call center that refers to over 15,000 resources across the country that support LGBTQ individuals. Hotline: 888.THE.GLNH (843.4564) pen pals, weekly LQB and T chatrooms for youth
Association for Lesbian, Gay, Bisexual & Transgender Issues in Counseling: Directory of LGBT-friendly mental health specialists across the United States. Specialists listed are verified members of AGLBTIC, a division of the American Counseling Association.
FORGE (For Ourselves: Reworking Gender Expression): Home to the Transgender Sexual Violence Project. Provides services and publishes research for transgender persons experiencing violence and their loved ones.
Arrowpassage.com
Compass Recovery
Concise Recovery

LGBTQ+ Therapist Directories

AGLP: The Association of LGBTQ+ Psychiatrists has been advocating on behalf of the LGBTQ+ community for more than 40 years. You can search for a psychiatrist in your area using the organization’s Referrals page, even filtering the results by gender identity and race.
The Gay Therapy Center is a community of highly qualified LGBTQ+ therapists. You can schedule a free 15-minute consultation, which will help match you with a therapist for individual or couples counseling, either in office or online.
The National Queer & Trans Therapists of Color Network is committed to “advancing healing justice by transforming mental health for queer and trans POC,” according to its website. The mental health directory allows you to search for a practitioner in your area.
Pride Counseling is an online therapy tool for the LGBTQ+ community. Fill out a survey, and you’ll be matched with a licensed therapist, whom you can communicate with via phone, video, and messaging.
Inclusive Therapists helps connect marginalized communities with culturally competent care. Search for a therapist near you – filtering by specialty, insurances accepted, and more – or complete a form to be matched with a therapist based on your needs.

LGBTQ+ Mental Health Information and Support

The National Alliance on Mental Illness summarizes the unique challenges facing the LGBTQ+ community and provides a list of resources, as well as a step-by-step guide for finding the right therapist.
The LGBT National Help Center offers free and confidential peer support for LGBTQ+ youth, including hotlines, chat rooms, and a database of local resources.
The Human Rights Campaign has a list of mental health resources for queer and trans BIPOC, including questions to ask when trying to find an identity-affirming therapist.
The Trevor Project is the “world’s largest suicide prevention and crisis intervention organization for LGBTQ young people,” according to its website. Counselors are available 24/7, and you can also make connections using TrevorSpace, an online international community for LGBTQ+ young people ages 13-24.
The National Center For Transgender Equality advocates for policies that signal a deeper understanding and acceptance of trans folks. The organization offers a number of resources, including information on how to access health care and simple ways to take action.
Trans Lifeline offers emotional and financial support to trans people in crisis. All operators are trans or nonbinary, and law enforcement or emergency services will only be called at your request.

To see the complete list of resources click here.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Communicating · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Friday Quote

March 21, 2025 Looking for the Light14 Comments

Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Mental Health · Music

#Weekend Music Share-Carrie Underwood and Steven Tyler – Undo It_Walk This Way

March 21, 2025 Looking for the Light4 Comments

This is such a fun video. I love Aerosmith and he is so talented. Let’s dance!

It’s the weekend!!!!!!

I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share this week.

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.

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Self-Care

How Can You Maintain Your Mental Health When You Have A Stressful Job?

March 20, 2025March 20, 2025 Looking for the Light12 Comments

If you have a stressful job, you might find that your mental health is taking quite a beating every now and then. The good news is that there are things that you can do to maintain your mental health even when you have a stressful job so that you don’t find yourself so close to burnout all of the time. Now, you might think this isn’t possible, but we can assure you it is. In this article, we’ll be talking about some of the ways you can succeed in doing this, so keep reading if you would like to find out more.

Ensure You Have A Job You Like

First, it helps if you ensure you have a job you like. If you’re constantly trying to manage your mental health but you’re stuck in a job that you hate, then this is going to make things harder. Stress can be handled, but the fact that you hate your job on top of this is going to make everything worse, and it’s going to make it more difficult to come out of the other side.

So, the first thing you should do is move into a job that you like. Even if you’re out there locking down mortgage protection leads, as long as you like it, you’re going to have a much better chance of maintaining your mental health in the long term. This will reduce the amount of stress that you feel already, as you will be happier in what you are doing!

Learn Some Calming Techniques

Another thing that we recommend is that you learn some calming techniques. You want to look into things like breathing exercises so that you can step away from the situation when things start to become overwhelming. When this happens, it helps if you remind yourself of the things that make you happy, think about them, and bring some calm into your life. Stress can only be combated by calm, anything else is going to make it worse.

It might even be worth speaking to someone about how you are feeling as they may have some more suggestions on what you can do.

Don’t Stress Yourself Out Too Much

Last but not least, we know that it’s hard, but try not to stress yourself out too much. There’s a difference between working hard and spreading yourself too thin. Our recommendation is to find someone that you can look up to in your industry like Paul Ognibene in real estate development and look into their path to success. If you can plan out a course of action on how to get to where you want to be, you may find yourself becoming less stressed and more focused.

We hope that you have found this article helpful, and now see some of the things that you can do to maintain your mental health when you have a stressful job. You can keep a hold on your mental health without having to give up your job, helping you to live the best life possible! We wish you the very best of luck with this and hope that you see success in trying out these things.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Chronic Illness · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health · Moving Forward

Mental Health Resources In America

March 20, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Mental Health Resources

Addiction Rehab Treatment

Addiction Group.org

D’Amore Mental Health

Addiction Rehab Treatment.com/mental-health/depression/

Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance

International Bipolar Foundation

Mental Health America

MentalHealth.gov

National Institute of Mental Health

National Institute on Aging

National SuicidePreventionLifeline.org
1-800-273-TALK (8255)
Press 1, Veterans Crisis Line USA
Press 2, Se Habla Español
LifeLine Chat

CrisisTextLine.org
Text 741-741
Facebook.com/CrisisTextLine

IMAlive.org Crisis Chat

TheTrevorProject.org (LGBTQ Youth)
1-866-488-7386 (24/7/365)
TrevorChat (7 days/week from 3PM–10PM ET / noon–3PM PT)
TrevorText — text START to 678-678 (Mon–Fri, 3PM–10PM ET / noon–3PM PT)

VeteransCrisisLine.net

Brain & Behavior Research Foundation (BBRFoundation.org): Awards grants for scientific research. Keep up to date on latest research

International Bipolar Foundation (IBPF.org): Bipolar research. Care and support resources for individuals and caregivers. Erase stigma through education.

MentalHealth.gov: US government mental health resources and information.

MentalHealthAmerica.net (MHA): Address needs of those living with mental illness. Promote mental health.

National Alliance on Mental Illness (NAMI.org): Build better lives for the millions of Americans affected by mental illness.

National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH.nih.gov): Federal agency for research on mental disorders.

NeedyMeds.org: 1-800-503-6897. Educates and empowers those seeking affordable healthcare.

Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA.gov): Reduce the impact of substance abuse and mental illness on America’s communities.

To see the complete list of resources click here.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health

Addiction Resources In America

March 19, 2025 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Addiction Resources

SouthJersey Recovery

Addiction Center

RehabSpot.com

Recovery Ohio

Addiction Rehab Treatment

Greenhillrecovery.com

DetoxRehabs.net

StartYourRecovery.org

Addiction Group.org

Local Non Profit Addiction Treatment Directory

AddictionResouce.net

Addiction Center.com Find Rehab Clinics In Your Area

Recovery.Org Find Addiction Treatment Near You

Rehab Centers Nation Wide (Insurance Specific)

Help Guide.org – Addiction Information

Drug Abuse Resources for Parents

SMART Recovery.Org – Self Management and Recovery Training

To see the complete list of resources check out Organizations That Can Help.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Fun · Health and Wellbeing · Mental Health

Wordless Wednesday-Christmas Catus?

March 19, 2025 Looking for the Light13 Comments

I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.

I have only heard of Thanksgiving and Christmas Catus but mine is starting to bud and have flowers in March. The flowers are beautiful but it’s so confusing why it’s blooming now.

Melinda

Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Researchers: Parents can help their children to face anxiety

March 18, 2025 Looking for the Light4 Comments

KSAT.COM

Jared Hoehing, ProducerPublished: October 15, 2020, 7:48 am

Behavioral science expert gives some ways to help your child beat separation anxiety

NEW HAVEN, Conn. – According to the National Institutes of Health, the numbers of kids and adolescents struggling with anxiety, depression, and other mental health conditions have been steadily on the rise. Cognitive-behavioral therapy, which teaches the child coping skills, and medication may help. But for some kids and their families, there is little relief. Now, researchers are studying a new method that helps parents help their children.

Bedtime for some families can become a struggle. But when the goodnight routine for Nicole Murphy’s son began to stretch for up to three hours, she knew she needed help with his separation anxiety.

“His little mind was always racing nonstop. So, it was kind of hard for him to shut that off, I think,” Nicole explained.

Eli Lebowitz, Ph.D., Psychologist, Yale School of Medicine Child Study Center, and his colleagues, developed a method of training parents to support anxious children. It’s called SPACE, or supportive parenting for anxious childhood emotions. Parents go through training to help their child face anxiety. Lebowitz says the first step is to show support and not downplay what their child is feeling.

“I get it. This is really hard, but I know you can handle it,” shared Dr. Lebowitz.

Lebowitz said parents also learn to help their children by not accommodating them. For example, a parent who would limit visitors for a child who gets anxious around strangers, or speaks for a child who gets nervous speaking, learns not to take those steps. In a study of 124 kids and their parents, the Yale researchers examined whether SPACE intervention was effective in treating children’s anxiety.

“Even though the children never met directly with the therapist and all the work was done through the parents, we found that SPACE was just as effective as CBT in treating childhood anxiety disorders,” stated Dr. Lebowitz.

The Murphy’s used the techniques learned through SPACE to coach their son through bedtime. Within a few weeks, he was falling asleep in 30 minutes.

“For us, it was like life-changing, honestly,” smiled Nicole.

Melinda

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Celebrate Life · Communicating · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Elder Care Resources In America

March 18, 2025 Looking for the Light7 Comments

Elder Care

For a complete list of resources visit Organizations That Can Help.

Melinda

Celebrate Life · Health and Wellbeing · Medical · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Blogger Highlight-Taking Each Day Free

March 17, 2025 Looking for the Light7 Comments

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 Taking Each Day Free. Liz’s writing is inspiring, and will leave you wanting more.

Taking Each Day Free

My name is Liz and I have been blogging a good number of years, whether its using the WordPress or Blogger platform.

I decided to write this blog, to share some of my life journeys.

Taking each day as it comes is the only way I can tackle life and it has been this way for some time. Each day I am free to do as I please. I have no one to answer to, but myself. So hence the title of this blog, “Taking Each Day Free.”

Liz has had a long and difficult journey to getting a cochlear implant.

For my cochlear implant, everything is under the tag “My-Cochlear-Implant-Journey. At the moment, I don’t have my CT scan results. So until I have those, I don’t know if it will still be happening. It all depends on my CT scan results.

I have added the link below for my tag link:

https://takingeachdayfree.wordpress.com/tag/my-cochlear-implant-journey/

Questions I asked Liz

M. How has blogging changed your life?

L. I have been blogging for much longer than the years, writing my current blog. But it’s always served the same purpose:

• Being therapeutic

For keeping in touch with friends near and far.

M. What is your favorite post and why?

L. My favourite post is a hard one to pick. But I think my favourite post is one I wrote this year, “What makes you feel good?” This one is my favourite post because it serves as a reminder to me what things I need to keep doing that make me feel good both physically and mentally, along with my other physical exercises I do that I have mentioned in other posts.

https://takingeachdayfree.wordpress.com/2025/02/12/what-makes-you-feel-good/

Be sure to stop by Liz’s blog, say hello and enjoy reading her archives.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Book Review · Celebrate Life · Communicating · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Book Review *The Smart Girl’s Handbook by Scarlett V Clark

March 17, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

Welbeck Publishing Group kindly gifted me The Smart Girl’s Handbook by Scarlett V Clark for review. Scarlett V Clark was 19 when she started her passion project which is now the UK’s largest Women’s Empowerment organization. Scarlett states she is just a girl who decided to go for it. Go for it she did! Today she helps millions of women overcome life’s obstacles which allows them to live to their full potential.

Blurb

Giving women the tools they need to shine in the modern world, become their fearless and authentic self, and design the life and career that fills them with joy. The Smart Girls Handbook brings together inspiration, game-changing ideas, and empowering words from women around the world who have been through it all.

Scarlett V Clark is a speaker and the award-winning founder and CEO of Smart Girl Tribe, the UK’s number one female empowerment community. She is available to provide extracts and top tip features such as:

• How my toxic relationship became the catalyst to my success

• 6 stress busters to stop feeling anxious

• ‘You grow through what you go through’: embracing failure

• How to silence your inner ‘mean girl’

My Thoughts

The Smart Girl Handbook is for women who are tired of being told what dress size they should be, tired of the negativity surrounding them today, including from other women, and for women who want to be their authentic selves. Life happens, and it’s not always pretty, but with a backbone, determination, and the guidance of The Smart Girl’s Handbook, you can come through unscathed, just slightly bruised but not battered.

Learn not to fall into the traps set out there to trip you up. Life around us is very negative, with news outlets, social media, and even toxic friends. You must learn to rise above the negativity, and Scarlett helps you silence your inner mean girl. The Smart Girl Handbook is all the questions you wish you could have asked when you were younger but had no one or place to turn for the answers.

I encourage every woman to buy Scarlett’s book, The Smart Girl’s Handbook. Maybe even share one with a friend. This is not your average self-help book that has been regurgitated over and over. She’s witty, original, and honest about the problem and how to get the answers. She’s not sharing pie-in-the-sky stories; this is her life, dissected and laid out for you to learn from. I think The Smart Girl book is an excellent primer for moms to help their daughters navigate the rough waters ahead.

Website: www.smartgirltribe.com
Facebook: Smart Girl Tribe
Instagram: @smartgirltribe
Podcast: ‘The Smart Girl Tribe Podcast’ is available on Podbean, Spotify, iTunes, and anywhere you can find podcasts.

Kind words Scarlett sent to me

Hi Melinda,

I am the author of The Smart Girls Handbook and I have to be honest, I cried when I read your review, it’s the first one that came in and you nailed the precise mission I wanted the reader to get out of the book. It would be brilliant to connect further but on launch day (March 4th) I’d love to invite you to share a review on Amazon knowing how inspiring you found it! I really think you could help mothers and other women in purchasing it. My entire business has been built on the idea of women fundamentally deserve more from the media and are fully deserving of living a beautiful life full of confidence, ambition and self-worth. I can’t wait to hear your thoughts, Scarlett X CEO/FOUNDER

WelBeck Publishing Group

We are Welbeck Publishing Group – a globally recognised, independent publisher based in London. Our mission is to deliver talent-driven publishing with leading authors and brands worldwide. Our books and products span a variety of categories including, fiction, non-fiction and stationery and gift. We are renowned for our innovative ideas, production values, and developing long-lasting content.

Welbeck’s amazing product comes to life for adults, children, and families in over 30 languages in more than 60 countries around the world. We have collaborated with many of the world’s leading institutions and licensors including – Disney, Universal, Paramount, HBO, Queen Productions, FIFA, International Mensa, Roald Dahl Literary Estate, the Science, Natural History and Imperial War Museums, and Royal Botanic Gardens, Kew.

Melinda

Repost from 2021

Celebrate Life · Family · Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health

Are You Worried About These Hidden Dangers Facing Your Kids?

March 16, 2025 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

As a parent, you are probably constantly worried about your kids, and that’s completely normal. You need to make sure that you feel as though your kids are safe both in and out of the home. That’s easier said than done, particularly when you consider how many dangers could impact your kids every day. So, what dangers are we thinking about here? Let’s explore some of the possibilities.

Car Trouble

It’s easy to forget how dangerous cars actually are. After all, you’re hurtling down a highway in a metal tin at about 70. Does that sound safe to you? While technology has evolved considerably to make cars safer, a lot can still go wrong. This is why it’s important to check your car regularly and recognize the signs that it might need a repair. Companies like Elite Automotive will be able to make sure that you can easily fix your car on a budget and ensure that it is safe for the road. You can also think about updating your vehicle to a newer model. When you purchase a later car, you can take advantage of driver-assist tech, the least advanced form of autonomous technology.

Water Woes

You probably don’t think too much about the water coming out of your tap. However, it could be hiding dangers that you haven’t considered. Research has found that most modern water supplies contain incredibly high levels of fluoride. This is the substance that is used in toothpaste, and it’s also used by water companies to clean it. The problem is that fluoride has been found to cause health issues when consumed. It has been linked to everything from brain tumors to cognitive decline. This is why you might want to consider investing in a water filter. The benefit of a water filter is that you can remove all the dangerous chemicals even if the water looks completely normal.

Stranger Danger

Finally, if there’s one worry that trumps all others for parents, it’s certainly the concern about strangers. You only have to read the news to know that the world isn’t safe for kids. There are a lot of people out there who should be considered a threat. To keep your kids safe, you might want to consider using trackers, particularly when they are playing outside independently. Trackers can be very discreet these days and look like accessories that kids wear all the time. These smart devices can even tell you when your child has left a location that you deem to be safe, and you are immediately alerted that they are in trouble. You will immediately be able to contact the authorities.

We hope this helps you understand some of the dangers that you need to be aware of as a parent. You mustn’t overlook these issues, as they can put your kids in serious jeopardy. However, if you take preemptive action, you can guarantee that these problems won’t be plaguing your mind any longer.

This is a collaborative Post

Melinda

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