The trigeminal nerve is the largest of cranial nerves and consists of 12 pairs of nerves that control many functions of the face. Causes of trigeminal neuralgia range from pressure on the nerve, aging, or a disorder that wears away the myelin such as cerebral palsy. Other causes include injury or stroke.

Those with trigeminal neuralgia may experience severe pain in the face and jaw. Even slight stimulation can trigger pain. The pain can be shooting or jabbing. Before an episode begins, some sufferers experience a burning sensation. The pain may be localized or spread and may worsen over time. It can also last a few minutes or days.

While treatments such as surgery or medications may provide relief, the condition is progressive over time.

About Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN)

Before we can celebrate the passing of this special day, we must first understand what trigeminal neuralgia is. TN is a disorder of the fifth cranial nerve (the trigeminal nerve) that causes chronic pain. It comes in two forms: TN1 and TN2. One can be affected by both of these types, but TN2 is typically a progression of TN1. This condition causes extreme and burning pain in the face, excessive salivation, depression, anxiety, and facial or head contortion. This pain can be triggered by routine activities such as brushing your teeth, shaving, or drinking a hot beverage; however, there is not always a trigger. An episode can occur spontaneously. TN may be caused by multiple things, such as multiple sclerosis, tumors, tangled arteries, an injury to the trigeminal nerve, or a blood vessel pressing on that nerve.

Physical and neurological examinations will be used to find a diagnosis, along with a review of patient history. In order to rule out other conditions, doctors may employ MRIs. Once a diagnosis is obtained, treatment consists of surgery, psychotherapy, anticonvulsants, and antidepressants. Doctors also recommend meditation and yoga.

I’m so thankful that research dollars are spent on a rare disease and I’m sure those with the illness are grateful too. 

Melinda

References:

National Today 

https://patientworthy.com/2021/10/14/celebrating-national-trigeminal-neuralgia-awareness-day/

Smartphones have come to dominate our lives, we use them for work, socializing, entertainment, and more; but they can seriously affect our mental well-being at the same time. Still, you don’t need to abandon your phone, simply optimize it and live a healthier lifestyle. Read on to find out how to make your smartphone lifestyle healthier and more beneficial.

Hide Social Media 

Social media can enhance someone’s life significantly, it helps people to stay connected around the world and creates a space for self-expression; but there’s a dark side to social media that most people have encountered, the tendency to compare our lives to our friends and rivals. 

Social media and poor mental health have a close correlation because the platforms are as addictive as they are harmful. If you don’t want to take some breathing space from social media try hiding the apps on your smartphone so they are less convenient to locate spontaneously.  

Reduce Notifications 

A smartphone – like an internet itself – demands your attention! Apps, websites, and emails, all want to send you a notification about the latest update. Of course, this service can be useful if you require updates for your work or social life, but it also interferes with your everyday life. 

Living with a smartphone is a game of cat and mouse in some sense, the device is demanding your attention and you have to handle this demand responsibly. One of the best ways to reduce its hold on your life is to optimize the notifications of apps, chats, and websites, to relevant ones. 

Digital Downtime 

There’s nothing wrong with having an iPhone 13 in your life but you need to know how to use it to protect your mental health and wellbeing. If you find that your digital life is starting to stress you it’s time for digital downtime. Remember, the stress hormone can be very damaging for you. 

Digital downtime involves giving yourself permission to turn off your phone for a period and live life on your own terms. It can be challenging at first but separating yourself from your device indicates your level of attachment to technology. Train yourself to find a better overall balance.    

Mental Health Apps 

Smartphones might be the source of some mental health conditions, but they can also be the solution. There is a wide range of apps to support mental health and wellbeing, so browse through them and find one that supports your life situation the best. Here are a few options. 

Betterhelp is a therapy app; when you sign up to BetterHelp you get access to a wide range of accredited and experienced mental health therapists. The app matches you to a suitable practitioner and you can contact them when you need them. Insight Timer is for meditation.  

Final Thoughts 

Smartphones are an amazing piece of technology, modern devices have the same processing power as the Nasa computers in the 1960s that sent a mission to the mood. The downside is the mental health issues that go with the amazing capabilities. So look after your mental health. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Decluttering is all the rage as a concept, but it can help people live a calmer and more relaxed life. Living with less offers the chance to spend less time cleaning and tidying up, and physical clutter also leads to mental clutter. 

So how can you make light work of the clutter in your home? 

Donation & Free

To get rid of large items quickly or bags of clothes, you don’t feel like sorting through donations can be the fastest route. People are often happy to pick things up quickly when there isn’t a price tag. 

Your chosen charity will benefit from the goods when people buy them, and you’ll know you did something for the planet and the people in the area. 

Only donate things in good condition. 

Yard sale

Bring the buyers to your door with a yard sale. Those who haven’t had yard sales before can feel a bit awkward just putting your items on the lawn for others to browse and buy. But some people are dedicated to buying yard sale items and selling them as a business. Reading some yard sale tips will help you make the most of the sale. 

5-5-5

This could be any number, but starting with 5 is a great place. Find 5 things that need to go, 5 things you can donate, and 5 things to sell. Do this weekly to keep the steady decluttering pace without overwhelming yourself. 

List 

It is easy to get overwhelmed by the sheer amount of things that need to be cleared and removed. Making a list for each room can make the job a lot easier. You can check off a few items on the list and track where you have gotten up to. 

Short bursts 

Unless you have a team dedicated to helping you clear out the house in record time, it is more beneficial to do it in short bursts until you get to where you want to be. Doing it in short sharp bursts means it won’t become overwhelming or feel like you have taken on too much. Setting 30-minute times and selecting a goal on the list is the best way to keep progressing without taking too much. 

Storage

One thing that makes people feel like they need to declutter is insufficient storage for the space. When you have the right size and style of storage, everything will have its place – and it will look less messy. 

It can be as simple as adding extra shelving or getting roll-away storage under the bed. 

Trash

Be ruthless when it comes to your trash. Anything that isn’t for donation and likely won’t sell should make its way to the trash. Try to recycle where possible – but make putting things in the trash one of your favorite things. 

Use-by dates

Tins, jars, dried goods, makeup, and skin care have a use-by date. Go through yours and ensure that anything out or almost out makes it to the bin. This can clear up a huge amount of space. 

Read more about the benefits of a clean home: Can A Clean House Make You Feel Better? 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today!

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 I highlight a new blogger, Gradina Magica.

Gradina Magica

Fii schimbarea pe care vrei sa o vezi in lume!

Translated: Be the change you want to see in the world!

 You don’t have to know Roaminaian to follow her blog, enjoy the awesome photos and use the WordPress translator.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

National Child Health Day is on the first Monday of every October where we show our support of children’s health, family, and those that work hard to help them. Family income is a major factor in the health of children both physically and mentally. Children from households below the poverty line have a higher obesity rate than those above it, and with the epidemic not slowing down, it’s clear that there’s more that we need to do.

HISTORY OF NATIONAL CHILD HEALTH DAY

There weren’t any facilities dedicated to the treatment of children until the mid-nineteenth-century. They were treated at home and if that wasn’t an option for families, children went to municipal almshouses just like their parents did. The understanding of children’s health wasn’t defined back then and oftentimes abandoned and orphaned babies were left in infant asylums.

By the 1860s, the problem worsened until hospitals that specialized in the care of children were developed to address the issue. There was a stigma surrounding the sick and the poor and not enough was being done to stem the tide. The early children hospitals would admit these sick and abandoned children and offer food, clothing, and more to better their health. The philosophy of these hospitals was that even if their parents made bad decisions, it wasn’t the fault of the children.

Melinda

References:

National Today

This month has some interesting Awareness Days. This is not an exhaustive list, you can search the Internet for monthly awareness days and get more than enough resources.

See you throughout the month with educational posts.

National Cybersecurity Awareness Month

ADHD Awareness Month

National  Bullying Awareness Month

Dyslexia Awareness Week 3rd-9th

Child Health Day 3rd

World Smile Day 11th

Trigeminal Neuralgia 7th

World Mental Health Day 10th

World Osteoporosis Day 20th

International Brain Tumour Awareness Week Sept. 29-October 5th

Melinda

I hear stories every day about doctors not listening to the patient. I’ve had two situations like this and both ended differently. The first time, I encountered a frustrating conversation with my Psychiatrist, he had me talk with a Therapist in the office. She had known him for a long time and she gave me pointers on how to get his attention and keep him from getting frustrated. She said to keep things short and sweet. It worked. That meeting made all the difference and still see him 30 years later, her too for that matter.

The second experience was building over months and months. I was coming off of Lyme Treatment and had my GP take over my care. He worked with me but was always in a rush, even after booking double appointments. I learned to keep my list short so we could get to all my issues. It came down to the fact that I had maxed out on Tramadol and isn’t wasn’t working. He had no idea where to go next and didn’t refer me to a Pain Doctor. I quit his practice. Most doctors can tell when they have all they can. If they are out of your bailiwick they need to pass the patient on for the things they need assistance with.

I’m glad that decision was made. I love my new doctor and she sends me to a specialist when I have a problem she can’t address. She spends 30 minutes with patients giving plenty of time to discuss your list, maybe. You have to prioritize what issue is most important and start your conversation with that. 

Don’t set unrealistic expectations. They have very tight schedules even Specialists and they can’t answer every question you have. You have to narrow it down to three items at most. Write down your questions so the doctor can see you are prepared.

Once in, skip the pleasantries and jump right in. Say I know you are busy so let me jump right in. Then ask your first question, if it draws out because it needs explaining then schedule another appointment before you leave to follow up on other questions. I believe we have to go into a doctor’s office knowing that we are not going to get everything answered in one meeting unless we only have one question.

Bring a dedicated journal to write just medical notes in. This is where you write your questions and your perception of the meeting. Be sure to date each appointment. 

The worst thing we can do is play Internet doctor and go in telling them what’s wrong with us. Write your symptoms in a journal, start talking about the most important item for you and let them take the lead, speak up if you need to interject. Be very aware the doctor at most practices only gives 15 minutes to each patient however, if they run late you may not get your full appointment time. Always book a double appointment if insurance will let you. I did that and it helped a great deal. Then I got close to 20 minutes with him and he was less in a rush.

Another best practice is to take someone with you. If it’s someone close to you it’s possible they’ve noticed something new about you and can tell the doctor. I think anyone with a mental illness needs to take someone with them. It gives your partner or family member to hear straight from the doctor’s mouth what is wrong and what you need to take or do.  

Don’t leave the doctor’s office without talking about the side effects of any new medication written.

What hacks do you have for getting your doctor’s attention?

Melinda

 I want to give a special thanks to Editor, Andrea Marchiano from Cherish Editions for sending me the book This Is Mandy by Mandy Kay.

Blurb

Obsessive-compulsive disorder (OCD) is an anxiety disorder that affects millions of people of all ages. Unfortunately, it is often kept a secret – and that’s true in the case of young Mandy, too.

Mandy’s OCD affects her life at home and school, as she spends so much time on her compulsions and obsessions: washing her hands, brushing her hair, checking locks, and re-writing her classwork – over and over and over. But Mandy comes to realize that OCD isn’t shameful, and it doesn’t have to be hidden. Instead, speaking up helps her to feel like herself again.

My Thoughts

Having OCD is hard for adults but think about how children feel about their OCD. They are still growing, being judged at school, and do not understand why they do the things they do. Not to mention the stigma. Obsessive-compulsive disorder is broad-reaching, it can affect your entire day. I can’t imagine the stress a child must feel. 

Mandy has an art project, she has to paint a portrait of herself. She spends so much time picking the right paint and brush she has little time to draw. But she finished and the portrait has a red face, and black eyes, basically looking very unhappy. Her teacher is alarmed by her work she takes her to a private place to talk about why she drew herself that way. Mandy likes her teacher and opens up about her morning rituals. The teacher reassures her there is nothing to be scared of and that she would get her some help.

Once Mandy gets the help, she feels better. Mandy is confident now and feels good about herself and the future. 

I would recommend this book to all children and adults to read to their children. It highlights the struggle with OCD and with treatment life is better. The other moral of the story is trusting someone to share your problems with can often help you deal with them. 

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

When I read about the new Kuau FrequenCell, I had to try it! A special thanks to Communications Director Nassia Bitha for sending me the product and being so easy to work with. Be sure to visit Vital Field’s website to see the science behind each product, Vital Field does extensive research and testing before a new FrequenCell is released.

The Kuau Cell has been developed for everyone interested in improving their quality of life and revealing their highest potential.

About Vital Field

The cumulative expert knowledge and the science of using precisely targeted frequencies for health management and pain management are now, for the first time in history, available to end-users worldwide. Vitalfield applications don’t replace or compete with traditional medicine or conventional treatment methods. They are intended to provide an alternative treatment to pain and health, when conventional methods fail to provide significant results on their own. With zero negative side effects reported and over 80% reported satisfaction from customers, we are confident in offering a full money-back guarantee if our product does not work for you.

Since Vitalfield products are safe, natural, non-invasive and non-chemical, it’s worthwhile to see if our product can reduce your pain and improve your life.

About the Frequencell

Kuau Cell is a special Energy Cell. In it, the energy of a shamanic ritual, ancient herbal knowledge, and energized water all merge together. The unusual ingredients from the digitized version of the medicinal cactus ritual are a key factor. This ritual’s purpose is rooted in deep cleansing and reconnecting with Mother Earth. The high alkaloid cactus extract used is not psychoactive, but acts as a cell activator.

My Experience

I started wearing on 9/22/22 and have seen an increase in energy and clarity. I plan to wear it longer to get the full effect and will keep you up to date.

Today is the 25th and I’ve only taken one nap, that’s a huge improvement over every day. I woke up at 4:00 am today and have not had a nap. I worked in the garden, deadheaded my roses, and several other plants in the backyard. I even put fertilizer in the Hibiscus plant and thinned indoor flowers.

I recommend the Kuau Cell to anyone looking for increased energy and clarity.

You can find more information on all Frequencells here

Use discount code LIGHT20 for 20% off any Vital Field product.

To your health,

Melinda

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 I highlight a new blogger, Adventure is out there.

Adventure is out there

A love story that meets travel and nature

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

In this fast-paced social media world, it can be difficult to find the time to look within or back in time. I hope you find these quotes and questions interesting. So glad you stopped by today! Continue reading “Deep Thoughts” →