Hi, I’m glad you stopped by and I look forward to your comments.
“I am going quite mad with the knowledge of accepting the overwhelming number of the of things I can never know, places I can never go, and people I can never be.
For me to travel to Jordan, the conflict in the Middle East would have to change dramatically. I’ve wanted to see Jordan since I saw a feature on the Travel Channel. The awe-inspiring Petra, Dead Sea salt baths and the people are so inviting. They are so generous by taken in so many refugee’s.
The list of places and countries to travel to is long but with planes falling out of the sky every day, I’m not flying.
Don’t depair if your backyard isn’t bathed in sunlight. Many medicinal herbs thrive in partial shade, including lemon balm, mint, skullcap, sweet woodruff and thyme.
Start Small, start simple
Begin with a few easy-to-grow herbs, like rosemary, lavender, and calendula. As you gain confidence, you can expand your collection.
Observe and learn
Pay close attention to how hearts grow and respond to their environment. Keep a journal to make note of eaches plants unique needs, and preferences. Research their medicinal properties, history, and folklore and record your insights.
Connect with community
Join a local gardening club or community garden. Sharing knowledge and resources with other gardners can be incredibly rewarded.
Grow what you need
Consider what ailments or conditions you’d like to address with your herbal remedies. Camomile can a great ally for stress, headaches, and sleep. Peppermint can calm an upset stomach and sooth nausea.
Harvest with intention
When harvesting your herbs, do so with gratitude and respect; this will enhance healing properties.
Make it a sensory experience
Engage your senses. Smell the herbs, feel their textures, taste the leaves, and observe their growth.
Despite its name, hurry sickness isn’t an actual medical or mental health condition. Still, a pressing need to hurry through tasks and make the most of every moment can represent a legitimate concern for many people.
This time urgency, as it’s also known, often partly relates to the ever-increasing variety of technological devices designed to make life easier:
With so many tools to help you get things done, you have plenty of time to take on additional tasks, right? (Probably not.)
You’ve got a laptop and a smartphone, so you can respond to work emails anytime, can’t you? (Actually, no.)
Shouldn’t it be easy to complete a full day’s work, cook meals, exercise, do chores, connect with loved ones, and still devote 7 or 8 hours to a good night’s rest? (When you do the math, you certainly won’t get a number below 24.)
The more that’s expected of you, the more you might agree to take on, pushing yourself harder to complete every “essential” task.
Yet rushing through life can affect physical health and leave you feeling unfulfilled and unable to devote attention to the people and things you care for most.
Hurry sickness can show up as a driving need to make the most of every second.
“We’ve come to know this habit as multitasking,” explains Rosemary K.M. Sword, author and co-developer of time perspective therapy. “Many people who’ve incorporated multitasking into their life are proud of their ability to do more than one thing at the same time.”
When you juggle too much at once, however, you might forget or neglect important things — even while in the middle of them.
Case in point: Distracted by something your colleague has just said, you forget about the soup. It scorches, setting off the smoke alarm and ruining lunch.
Other signs might include:
speeding, both in your car and through conversations, the grocery store, or meals
rushing through work tasks and household chores, to the point where you sometimes make mistakes and have to do them again
frequently performing time calculations in your head to see whether you can fit in another task
feeling irritable when you face delays
constantly trying to find ways to save time
endlessly running through your to-do list in your head to make sure you haven’t forgotten anything
Hurry sickness frequently involves an undercurrent of anxiety. Perhaps stress and worry creep up when you think of everything you have to do.
Or maybe you quickly become anxious when you find yourself stuck in traffic, early for an appointment, or waiting for something with nothing to do in the meantime.
Hyperaware of the seconds ticking by, you fixate on all the things you could be doing with the wasted time.
The belief that you don’t have time to handle daily responsibilities or achieve more distant goals can create plenty of stress. Packing the tasks you want to accomplish into the time you have available, you worry whether you’ll ever get them all done.
Living with anxiety always simmering on the back burner generally doesn’t feel very pleasant. This anxiety presses you to keep moving, to keep doing, to attach more urgency to your to-do list than it requires.
As you rush from one thing to the next, you might notice trouble concentrating, since you’re always worrying about the next item on your list.
Neglecting to give your work the attention it deserves means you either have to:
do it again, using up more time
leave it as it is, knowing you could’ve done better
Either option can leave you facing more stress, Sword notes, along with feelings of inadequacy, failure, or diminished self-esteem. You might also feel irritable, tearful, and guilty.
Relationship Issues
“Hurry sickness can eclipse what’s really important in our lives — our relationships with others,” Sword says.
Perhaps you don’t listen to your partner because you’re worrying about everything you have to do, or you snap at your children when they’re slow to get moving.
You forget important dates, push others aside because you lack the time to offer emotional support or physical affection, and find it difficult to keep hold of the frayed edges of your temper.
In short, you struggle to remain present and engaged with your loved ones, which can do lasting emotional damage to all involved.
Spending your days hurrying often means you devote less time to self-care.
Relaxation and alone time might be the first “unnecessary” activities you scrap when you feel busy, but many people with hurry sickness also start to ignore things like hydration, balanced meals, physical activity, or sleep.
Prolonged stress can also play a partTrusted Source in burnout, a state where you feel completely drained and no longer able to cope with the demands of daily life.
A 2003 studyTrusted Source found evidence to suggest certain traits associated with type A personalities— including time urgency and impatience — led to an increased risk for high blood pressure (hypertension).
Researchers looked at five traits in more than 3,000 adults between the ages of 18 and 30:
When researchers followed up with participants 15 years later, they found that 15 percent of the participants had developed hypertension.
Study authors say competitiveness, anxiety, and depression didn’t appear to increase hypertension risk. Known risk factors, including lack of exercise, alcohol use, or obesity, also didn’t seem to affect the results.
What did appear to increase risk were two specific traits: Time urgency/impatience and hostility. What’s more, those who experienced these traits more strongly showed greater risk for hypertension.
At first, slowing down might feel impossible — you’ll never get anything done, and thinking about the tasks waiting will only add to your stress. But remember: You can work much more efficiently when your mind isn’t bogged down by racing thoughts.
Instead of coming to a screeching halt, it’s often more helpful to slow down, well, slowly.
These strategies can help you push back the urge to keep rushing and get in the habit of taking life as it comes.
Take a walk
Putting down what you’re doing and temporarily changing your environment can help you counter the need to hurry, even when you feel most rushed.
As you walk, take deep breaths to ground and refresh yourself. Aim to walk for 30 minutes, if you can. A half hour spent stretching your legs, breathing fresh air, and getting some sunlight can energize you and even boost creativity, so you might find yourself returning to your responsibilities with a renewed outlook and improved mood.
Embrace mindfulness
Mindfulness — whether it’s meditation or just taking a few deep breaths — helps you focus your attention on the things happening in the moment, so it’s an important skill to develop when trying to manage hurry sickness.
Trying to multitask and jam several activities into one short span of time can leave you distracted and frustrated:
You’re replying to an email from your boss while making a doctor’s appointment over the phone. Since you aren’t entirely listening, you end up needing the information repeated before you can accurately note down the time and date of your appointment. When you finish the call, you notice you’ve typed some of the receptionist’s words into your email, so you have to review it again to check for other errors.
When your awareness remains with your current task, instead of wandering along to everything else you have to do, you’ll probably notice you do a better job and feel more satisfied with your results.
You’re cooking dinner. Instead of rushing through the chopping and slicing your finger open, you slow down and focus on the rhythm of the knife and the uniform shape of the vegetable slices. Putting more of your attention into the meal allows you to take more pride in your work when it comes out just as you envisioned.
Mindfulness takes practice, and you might notice worries and distracting thoughts keep popping up.
But instead of fixating on the slipping sands of time, acknowledge those thoughts and then let them go. Accept that yes, you have other things to do later, and remind yourself you’ll get there when you get there.
Take care of important needs
There are certain physical needs you simply can’t neglect, no matter how busy you become.
Your body needs fuel and rest to function properly. Without food and water, quality sleep, companionship, and exercise, you won’t be able to maintain your top speed for very long. Eventually, you won’t be able to maintain any speed at all.
Instead of denying your body’s essential needs because you’re in too much of a hurry, remind yourself investing in your body helps prevent hunger, exhaustion, and burnout, making it possible to keep going.
Prioritize relaxation
Sleep, hydration, nutrition, and exercise make up the basics of self-care. Other key components, including relaxation, can improve quality of life along with physical health.
Making time for yourself makes it easier to show up as your best self and stay present as you move throughout the day. Balancing your responsibilities with enjoyable activities also makes it easier to remember that you don’t always need to hurry.
Relaxation might involve quiet moments sitting alone, an hour of online shopping, an afternoon with a good book, or a long talk with your best friend. How you choose to unwind matters less than the fact that you do find time to unwind.
Learn to recognize your limits
People often get stuck in the hurry cycle because they have a hard time saying no. When you accept more responsibilities than you can realistically handle, you’ll almost certainly find yourself rushing to cram everything in.
You might worry saying “no” will upset loved ones or create difficulties at work, but consider another possible outcome: You say “yes” but end up not having time to get to the task or do a good job with it.
Setting healthy boundaries for yourself (and sticking with them) can help:
“I won’t take on extra work when I have more than one current project.”
“I’ll make time for a walk every day so I can relax and recharge.”
Prioritization can also make a difference. You probably can’t refuse every task you’d like to turn down. Instead, evaluate your responsibilities and identify which need immediate attention and which can wait.
Remember, too, that it never hurts to ask for help. If you truly can’t let anything go, a good next step might involve seeking help from a co-worker or loved one.
Get support
It’s not always easy to break free of long-standing patterns. If you just can’t seem to slow down, a therapist can offer guidance and support.
Sword recommends talking to a professional particularly when you find yourself doing dangerous things, like speeding, or struggling to control irritability or anger toward others.
Therapy can also help when a sense of time urgency fuels anxiety and other emotional or physical distress. A therapist can teach mindfulness and relaxation techniques, along with other tools to help manage hurry sickness.
Support from a therapist can also make it easier to identify potential contributing factors, such as people-pleasing tendencies or a fear of failure. By addressing hurry sickness at the root, you’re more likely to see lasting improvement.
Pressing the “pause” button and disrupting the hurry cycle is often easier said than done. But living your life on fast-forward won’t do much to support long-term wellness.
“Stop and smell the roses” might be a cliche, but that doesn’t make it bad advice. Taking life at a more gradual pace leaves you with more time to enjoy important relationships and savor everything life offers, both large and small.
New research has found that cognitive behavioral therapy may help people with fibromyalgia.
The researchers were able to identify differences between fMRI scans between participants as well as a significant reduction using survey-style tools.
Experts are hopeful that these finding can help support patients and clients while reducing bias and barriers to care.
For those in chronic pain, mental health supports are both vital and lack availability. A new study, published September 20 in Arthritis & Rheumatology, has found that the use of cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) can be especially helpful for those living with fibromyalgia.
The research—conducted by a team from Harvard, Norway, and Pittsburgh—included 114 participants and found that CBT was better at helping to reduce catastrophic thinking related to the disease.
This was compared to people using educational materials alone.
Understanding catastrophizing, according to Dr. Chandler Chang (PhD), clinical psychologist and founder at Therapy Lab, is key to supporting people with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia.
“Let’s say you have fibromyalgia and you start thinking, ‘The rest of my life is going to be like this, my life is ruined, everything is going to suck after this.’ Those are examples of catastrophic thoughts that you might have,” Chang said.
The researchers used tools such as Brief Pain Inventory (BPI), BPI Pain Severity, the Fibromyalgia Impact Questionnaire-Revised (FIQR), and the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), to assess participants alongside the scans. Once the participants participated in the imaging, they were either given eight weeks of CBT or educational materials about fibromyalgia and chronic pain.
Those who received the CBT were provided weekly sessions across eight weeks.
The researchers used the Pain Catastrophizing Scale (PCS), a tool that is scored out of 52, to see how CBT could impact people with the condition.
They found that those who received CBT therapy saw an average reduction of 8.7 points on the scale while those receiving educational materials saw a much lower drop of 4.6.
The team also used an fMRI scan and were able to see the impact of catastrophizing thoughts in the brain patterns. After the CBT, they could see evidence that changes in brain patterns coincided with people who benefited from CBT.
Kelsey Bates (LPC), founder at Women’s CBT, says that catastrophizing is a particularly impactful element of both fibromyalgia and CBT treatment but that providing mental health support for those with chronic illness, in her practice, requires the use of trauma-informed tools.
“Reframing our thoughts is important. But we also need space to acknowledge the grief that might happen when people are going through a chronic illness or dealing with chronic pain,” Bates said. “There’s a level of acceptance that we have to figure out.”
Dr. Jeff Krauss, Chief Medical Officer at Hinge Health and Staff Physician at the VA of Palo Alto, says that this study could help reduce stigma and lead to better patient outcomes.
“One of the problems with chronic pain is that it’s very hard to see it. People used to get, and still do get, accused of faking their pain, because doctors will look and see that there’s nothing wrong with their back, or there’s nothing wrong with their knee… It’s really exciting that we can start to see it in the brain, and know that these feelings that people have are very real, even though it might not be correlated with tissue damage.”
Bates says that while “pain doesn’t discriminate” she also regularly sees clients who feel left behind by the medical system when it comes to the mental health side of chronic illness and chronic pain.
“I meet folks and they’ve felt really gaslit by medical providers, especially with fibromyalgia in particular, that they have heard the phrases like you just need therapy, you just need to relax, just manage your stress,” Bates said.
One of the stated limitations of the study was that, while fibromyalgia does disproportionately affect women, and all the participants were female, more work can and should be done to include both men and non-binary people in future research.
As for what comes next, Krauss says that while these results are encouraging they are still part of a larger picture that has many barriers to treatment for those experiencing these symptoms.
“I think until we have the ability at scale to do this very expensive imaging, and to find those interventions that can actually change the way the brain processes pain through some sort of pharmacologic intervention or something, through a drug, then we’re really left with a lot of these very foundational lifestyle changes that are so effective and necessary for treating chronic pain.”
Bates, meanwhile, says that her hope is that research like this can add to a more integrated approach when it comes to CBT, one that prioritizes trauma-informed care as well as other modalities like Dialectical Behavioral Therapy (DBT) and acceptance and commitment therapy (ACT).
“My personal outlook is that chronic illness and chronic pain is considered medical trauma…So I think it’s our clinical duty to provide a safe, warm therapeutic space that’s conducive to holding space for all of those things.”
A new study, published this week in Arthritis & Rheumatology, has found that the use of CBT can be especially helpful for those living with fibromyalgia.
With tick activity hitting alarming highs this summer, the pest control company Terminex has announced its first-ever comprehensive ranking of the Top 25 Most Tick-Infested U.S. States.
Based on proprietary 2024 pest management data, this report reveals which states are facing the greatest tick pressure and risk of tick-borne illnesses.
This first-of-its-kind list arrives at a critical time, offering homeowners and outdoor adventurers new insight into how geography and climate are shaping tick populations across the country.
States like California, Florida, Texas, Pennsylvania, and New York are at the top of this list due to their warm climates, high humidity and abundance of green spaces.
Notably, New York City, Los Angeles, Philadelphia, San Francisco and Washington, D.C. rank as the top five tick-infested cities in the country, underscoring that even densely populated urban areas are not immune to tick activity.
Overall, the Northeastern region of the U.S. generally experiences the highest populations of ticks, with common species including the blacklegged tick and the American dog tick.
“This isn’t just a nuisance; tick activity is reaching new levels across the country, posing a serious and growing public health threat,” said Tom Dobrinska, Technical Service Manager at Terminix.
“Climate change continues to increase tick populations. As winters become milder and warm seasons increase in length, tick survival and risk for human exposure increase significantly.”
Top 10 most tick-infested states
California
Florida
Texas
Pennsylvania
New York
Georgia
New Jersey
Arizona
Massachusetts
Ohio
States most impacted by Lyme and other tick-borne diseases
While not all ticks carry illness-causing pathogens, disease risk can vary by tick species.
According to the CDC, Northeastern states like Pennsylvania, New York and New Jersey, as well as parts of the Upper Midwest, are often identified as the worst places for ticks in the U.S. due to their high rates of Lyme disease cases. Southeast and Southcentral U.S. might see more cases of ehrlichiosis or spotted fever rickettsiosis.
“Scientists and public health experts are constantly researching ticks to better understand the threats they pose,” said Dobrinska. “As these experts continue to monitor tick activity and disease spread, it is essential for the public to stay informed about the dangers and know how to prevent tick bites.”
Tips for tick prevention
To protect against tick bites and tick-borne illness, Terminix recommends the following steps:
Avoid tick-infested areas: Ticks prefer wooded areas with high grass and abundant leaf litter; wear long sleeves and pants whenever you plan to go on a hike or walk through forested areas.
Inspect yourself and pets: After returning home from being outdoors, conduct a full body check, especially under the arms, around the ears and on the back of the knees. Finding them before they bite will help prevent being infected with any diseases they may be carrying.
If you find a tick bite: Using fine-tipped tweezers, grasp the tick as close to the skin as possible and pull upward with steady, even pressure. After removal, clean the area with soap and water or rubbing alcohol. It’s best to consult with a medical provider for extra precaution.
Mary provides a comprehensive list of ways to heal yourself naturally.
Stuffy nose, headache, upset tummy, and even obesity. There’s a pill for that. Modern medicine has discovered an endless list of pharmaceutical drugs to “cure” whatever ailment may come your way. We also have an extensive list of alternatives or complementary remedies to conventional medicine, most of which have been used for hundreds, if not … Continue reading
I wrote this post many years ago, I think the last one written was #17. This was written during a difficult time when Fibro ruled my life. I haven’t had a bad flare in several months and I’m so thankful.
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I had to accept the loss of everyday control once diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. I go to bed with plans for the next day, when the morning rolls around, I can’t get out of bed. In the past, I would beat myself up, feel shame and anger.
A shower takes an hour, it’s painful and exhausting. Instead, I use hospital approved cleansing wipes to bathe on the days when I can’t handle the thought of a shower. I’m embarrassed to tell my husband.
I shaved my head yesterday, taking care of my hair takes too much energy. I’m housebound, only doctors see me. My husband doesn’t say anything but I imagine the negative thoughts he has. Why can’t his wife be normal like others, why can’t we go out to eat, why don’t we have sex, I’m fat………the thoughts can consume.
I can ask myself questions about why not shower every day, I don’t. It’s not productive, within my control and doesn’t help my health. Stress creates inflammation creates more pain.
Pleasure Beach, a popular summer destination in Bridgeport, Connecticut, will remain closed for the entire 2025 season due to a serious tick infestation.
City officials, in consultation with state environmental and public health experts, made the call after discovering multiple tick species on the island, including the Asian longhorned tick—an invasive species that poses unique risks.
Unlike native ticks, this species can reproduce asexually, allowing a single female to spawn a full-blown infestation. Even more concerning, it can potentially carry serious pathogens.
While disappointing for beachgoers, the closure may benefit the island’s fragile ecosystem. Pleasure Beach is a critical nesting site for protected Audubon bird species, including the endangered piping plover.
With reduced human activity, conservationists expect a boost in nesting success and habitat restoration.
Bridgeport officials plan to conduct treatment and containment efforts throughout the summer, with the goal of reopening the beach in 2026.
Birthdays have always meant something to me, as a child it was all about the cake, as I grew older it was about the presents but now it’s a celebration of life. Surviving the struggles and appreciating what additional knowledge I have. It’s a great day.
Me and My Pony Final test for scuba certification 1987My name is Miss Trouble Happy FaceToys for Tots Yearly RunBig Island 1993
My Birthday meal is sweet corn and shrimp on the grill. Yummy!
Happy Birthday to everyone who shares the special day.
Three years ago, the 988 Suicide & Crisis Lifeline launched to connect people in emotional distress with trained crisis counselors – 24/7, free, and confidential. Since then, 988 has fielded about 16.5 million calls, texts, and chats from people needing urgent support. But a crisis resource like 988 is only as strong as the resources we give to it. Congress must continue to invest in 988 to ensure it’s there when people need it most. That means more capacity at local crisis centers, more training for staff, and more availability of follow-up services that can save lives. Take 2 minutes today to urge your members of Congress to support robust federal funding for 988.
Together, we can protect and strengthen this vital service. According to today’s new poll from NAMI and Ipsos, 86% of Americans believe that funding 988 should be a priority for Congress. Let’s make sure we tell Congress how much we care about continuing to build and improve 988 and crisis services. Read more about the poll here.
Emergency rooms nationwide are reporting a record-breaking increase in tick bite cases, according to new CDC data.
July 2025 is already surpassing previous highs set in 2017.
Director of the University of Rhode Island’s Center for Vector-Borne Disease and its TickEncounter Resource Center, Dr. Thomas Mather, and Dr. Tom Daniels joined the Morning Joe to discuss.
They say Lyme disease is still the top concern when it comes to tick bites, but note that ticks can transmit other pathogens as well.
With ticks being so plentiful right now, they say it’s likely that more people will end up getting sick from tick-borne infections.
There are many activities I can lose myself into, like photography, ancestry, looking at old photos of my family and ancestors, working in my garden, watching birds and researching topics of interest.
Stress can lead to inflammation, muscle spasms, and tension in your back.
Back pain is one of the most common medical conditions, affecting millions of people around the world.
But did you know that apart from physical triggers (like pulling a muscle or slipping a disc), back pain can be caused or worsened by stress? Back pain and stress have a complex relationship that can flow both ways.
Evidence suggests that chronic stress can lead to chronic pain and vice versa. For many people, this involves back pain.
According to a 2021 study, chronic stress eventually leads to cortisol dysfunction as well as problems with the body’s inflammatory response. Cortisol and inflammation problems lead to oxidative stress, free radical damage, cellular injury or aging, and tissue degeneration, all of which can lead to chronic pain.
In addition, research has shown that stress has a direct effect on pain processing.
Overall, stress can be linked to back pain in several ways:
Muscle tension: Stress can cause the muscles in your back to tense up, which can lead to stiffness and pain.
Increased sensitivity to pain: Stress can make the body more sensitive to pain. Research shows that critical life events can trigger changes in the limbic system and related neurotransmitters, which can change pain inhibitory mechanisms.
Inflammation: Chronic stress can lead to inflammation throughout the body, including in the back, which can cause pain.
Poor posture: When you’re stressed, your breathing patterns change and your shoulders hunch up, which can lead to strain and tension in your middle and upper back.
Reduced blood flow: During stressful times, your blood vessels may constrict, reducing blood flow to your back muscles and causing pain.
An analysis of 8,473 people found that severe stress was linked to a 2.8-fold increased risk of chronic low back pain compared to the general population. Another study of 77 police investigators found that stress was significantly linked to upper musculoskeletal pain. However, this particular study didn’t find a link between stress and lower back pain.
Stress-induced back pain varies from person to person and may show up differently, depending on its location.
Lower back pain is often characterized by a dull or sharp ache, stiffness, or muscle spasms, and it may also radiate to the legs or buttocks.
In contrast, upper back pain may cause a burning or stabbing sensation or a feeling of tightness or pressure between the shoulder blades. In some cases, upper back pain can also cause pain in the arms or chest.
How to tell if back pain is from stress
It can be challenging to determine whether back pain is specifically caused by stress since back pain can have many different causes. However, here are some signs that may suggest that your back pain is stress-related:
Physical and emotional stress: If you’ve been experiencing a lot of physical or emotional strain, such as from a demanding job or a difficult relationship, your back pain may be related to stress.
Gradual onset: If your back pain has developed slowly over time rather than suddenly, it could be a sign that it’s caused by stress-related tension in your muscles.
Lack of other symptoms: If you don’t have any other symptoms, such as numbness, tingling, or weakness, and your pain isn’t severe, it may be caused by stress.
Pain that comes and goes: Stress-related back pain may come and go depending on your stress levels, whereas pain caused by an injury or condition is likely to be more consistent.
Improvement with stress management techniques: If your pain improves with stress-reducing activities like exercise or deep breathing, it may be related to stress.
The duration of stress-related back pain may vary depending on several factors. In some cases, it can go away on its own within a few days or weeks. However, if the underlying stress is not addressed, the pain may persist or worsen over time.
Some research suggests that stress can predict the presence of back pain later on. A study of 588 people found that, within a 2-year follow-up, the following stress types were identified as risk factors for back pain intensity and disability:
Heat therapy: Applying heat to the affected area can help relax the muscles and reduce pain. You can use a heating pad or hot water bottle or take a warm bath.
Massage: Massaging the affected area can help relieve tension and reduce pain. You can try self-massage techniques or see a professional massage therapist.
Stretch: Stretches that target the lower back, such as knee-to-chest stretches and cat-cow stretches, can help relieve tension in your back muscles.
Stress and back pain are two interconnected conditions that can significantly impact your quality of life. Regular exercise, stretching, and good posture can help alleviate back pain, while stress management techniques like meditation and deep breathing can help reduce stress levels.
If you’re living with stress-related back pain, seek the help of a healthcare professional, such as a physical therapist or a counselor, who can provide valuable guidance and support in managing these issues.
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 or questions interesting. I’m so glad you stopped by today!
These shower steamers are great for self-care and make great gifts. I’ve looked on Amazon and was surprised by how expensive Steamers are. Treat yourself, your friends, and to family to these favorite shower steamers.
Add all the dry ingredients to a large, non-metallic bowl and whisk until blended. Drop the essential oils on the dry ingredients, and stir to combine. The essential oils can create droplets, which will dissolve in the following step.
Spray the mixture with a little water and incorporate it immediately to avoid a reaction. If you don’t have a spray bottle, sprinkle water on the mixture using a teaspoon.
Put on nitrile gloves to protect your hands when kneading the mixture as the citric acid can irritate sensitive skin and nail polish. The mixture should feel like damp sand and be wet enough to hold its shape when pressed together. If using colored mica and dried herbs or flowers, add them to the mixture.
Fill the silicone mold with the mixture, and press firmly into the mold using your fingertips, paying attention to the edges. Let the mixture dry for 24-48 hours. Making shower steamers can be affected by the humidity; in a humid environment, the drying time may be longer. When they feel hard and solid, carefully peel back the mold and gently pop out of the disk. Store the steamers in an airtight container or jar, and ensure that the steamers aren’t exposed to water or moisture. The shelf life is one year.
Before use, let warm water run for several minutes to moisturize the air. It’s best to place the steamer away from the running water and the drain. Ideally, only the bottom of the tabs should be wet. You can also put a shower steamer in a soap dish. Breathe in deeply as the essential oils vaporize.
These are a year-round self-care treat. Make a huge batch and then you have some for gifts. Don’t forget your self-care, save some for yourself.
Gabapentin isn’t a narcotic or federally controlled substance, but it is regulated and recognized as a controlled substance in certain states.
Gabapentin is approved by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA) to treat seizure disorders and neuropathic pain.
Some people misuse the prescription medication alongside opioids to boost their effects, though this significantly increasesTrusted Source the risk of unintentional opioid poisoning and death.
This has led several U.S. states to classify gabapentin as a controlled substance, with more potentially looking to do the same.
There have also been calls for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) to classify the medication as a federally controlled substance, though some doctors disagree with such a move.
Read on to find out more about gabapentin’s current classification status across the United States and the various side effects and risks of the medication.
Although gabapentin isn’t controlled federally, some states have listed it as a controlled substance and therefore regulate its use.
That’s because there have been increasing reports of gabapentin being misused, whether by being combined with opioids or used alone for nonprescribed reasons.
Some neurologists believe that stricter gabapentin regulation may lead to greater opioid use and make it harder for people with neuropathic pain to receive proper care.
The following states classify gabapentin as a controlled substance:
Alabama
Kentucky
Michigan
North Dakota
Tennessee
Virginia
West Virginia
Several other states require gabapentin prescriptions to be monitored, allowing authorities to detect potential misuse:
Gabapentin is generally well tolerated and safe for most people to use. But as with any medication, there’s a risk of side effects. Misuse can increase the risk of side effects.
When first taking gabapentin, it’s best to be cautious when driving, using machinery, or drinking alcohol. The medication can cause drowsiness, which may affect your ability to do certain things, or have an adverse reaction when mixed with alcohol.
But the biggest risks of gabapentin come when people take the medication with opioids, or if a person already has a substance use disorder. In these cases, there may be an increased risk of dependence or overdose.
Finally, there may be a higher risk of fetal cardiac abnormalities in pregnant people, according to a 2020 study. But the same study did not find evidence of a link between gabapentin use and major fetal abnormalities overall.
Before taking any new medication, it’s a good idea to talk with a healthcare professional.
Let them know if you currently take any opioid medication or medications for anxiety or sleep, or if you have any health conditions, such as breathing disorders, kidney disease, or diabetes.
It’s important to be honest about any drug or alcohol use or misuse. This will help your clinician determine whether gabapentin is safe for you, or if there’s a better alternative.
I want to send a special thank you to Dr. Alvin May and Erin Cernuda from Jackson Clara Publishing, LLC for sending me Heal Your Wound to read and review.
About the Arthor
Dr. Alvin May is a general surgeon and wound care physician serving the Southern California area for over ten years. He is a graduate of Harvard Medical School and trained in general surgery at the Boston Medical Center. Shortly after starting his career, Dr. May helped launch a national wound care company providing physician-directed wound care services to nursing homes and long-term care facilities.
This book breaks down complex medical concepts into simple, actionable steps. “Heal Your Wound” offers a unique blend of expert advice and real-life stories, showing you exactly how to accelerate your healing process. You’ll uncover the critical factors that might be holding your recovery back, from underlying medical conditions to poor wound care techniques. With practical tips and proven strategies, this book will empower you to take charge of your health.
Heal Your Wound: A Doctor’s Guide For Hard-To-Heal Wounds
Dr. Alvin May was inspired by a personal experience to write on this all to important topic which receives very little attention. One of the first things you will notice is it’s not written in medical talk, the explanations are complete and easy to follow. In addition to his writing, he shares graphics which explains the different types of would and the care needed. If you are in the medical field, a caregiver or caring for yourself this is a must have book for you.
Some Topics Covered:
Chronic Wounds: Not your typical wound
The non-healing wound
Wound Healing Basics
A Holistic Approach
Surgical wounds
Dr. May also shares stories of others who have experienced hard to heal wounds.
Thoughts on Wound Healing Journal
The journal is invaluable, it provides pages to manage care on a daily and monthly basis, areas to mark medication taken, doctor’s appointments as well as other notes. The journal is a life saver.
Heal Your Wound and the Wound Healing Jornal deserves a permanent place on your bookshelf.
My dinner party would be non-traditional in that each guest is deceased. First it would be multiple parties to talk with everyone I have questions for. The first party would include Jesus, The Virgin Mother, Peter, and Moses. Each shaped my would profoundly and I would love to expaned on certain topics I’m not clear on. I believe Jesus has the ability to see present day but not so much the others. I would love to hear Jesus take on the world today and his new rally cry to Christains. Since the Bible is the foundation of the Christain religion, Jesus might not have anything else to add.
There are a number of things you need to know before embarking on a travel adventure. For many people, going on a trip is something they’ve always wanted to do, but it’s not something you can simply just start without any preparation. You need to do a lot of planning and research, and you also need to learn how to control your expectations. Because every location and journey is unique, it’s important to brush up on the essentials before you go; read on to find out more.
Saving Money
If you want to spend less money when traveling, you need to learn how to save money. There are a lot of things that might add up if you approach your adventure like a typical vacation, so it’s vital to spend some time thinking about what’s most important to you. To save money, you may have to give up staying in posh hotels and dining out every night.
Reducing the amount of luggage you bring, learning how to get inexpensive flights, and even traveling in the off-season can all help you save money when you travel. When you’re planning a trip, it’s a good idea to look for ways to save money and tailor your trip accordingly.
Pack Carefully
What you can and cannot do while you’re gone will be dictated by how you pack, so prepare accordingly. Of course, if you’re just going to stay in one hotel, it doesn’t hurt to bring a few extra things with you since you won’t be dragging them around from place to place. If, on the other hand, you want to travel, you’ll want to learn to pack light since you don’t want to be carrying heavy baggage from place to place and run the risk of losing things on the way.
It’s difficult to pack lightly if you’ve never done it before, but a general guideline is to bring just what you need, bearing in mind that you can purchase some items at your destination if you really need to. Check that you have adequate room for your crucial papers and gadgets that you will need while you are there. You’ll most likely need your phone, a power bank, a camera, and a travel adapter to charge all of your electronics. If you’re planning on camping or hiking, you’ll also need your specialist equipment from ECOGEAR FX.
Important Documents
Depending on where you’re going and the country you’re coming from, you’ll require a different set of paperwork. You may be required to travel with a certain passport and a visa in some cases. If you don’t do your homework in advance, your trip will be a disaster; you might not even get to go in the first place. You should always double-check your understanding of the requirements before proceeding so you aren’t disappointed and don’t lose a lot of money.
Also, it’s a good idea to keep a copy of your papers in a separate location just in case. On top of this, always have all your passport information and additional passport photos with you on any trip. This could save you a lot of trouble if yours goes missing. Having a backup plan in case you lose your passport while traveling might make things a lot less stressful.
I’m so glad you enjoy Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
In ancient Greece, the word for “cook” and “priest,” was the same: “mageiros,” which shares its etymological root with the word “magic.
New Yorkers bite 10 times more people than sharks do worldwide each year.
According to legend, cats were created when a lion on Noah’s ark sneezed and two kittens came out
Knitting acts as a natural antidepressant and can help ease anxiety, depression, and chronic pain. It can also protect the brain from aging.
Candy Land was created 70 years ago to give kids stuck in polio wards a way to vicariously move freely in the pursuit of delights. The original board featured a boy in a leg brace about to walk through starting gate of the game
Just 30 minutes of daily complaining can physically damage your brain. Listening to someone constantly complain also negatively affects brain function.
A German word for nightmare is “alptraum,” which literally means “elf dream.” In German folklore, elves were dangerous figures who could control dreams and create nightmares.
Rocky Road ice cream was originally marketed during the Great Depression as a metaphor for coping with the economic crash
The Titanic‘s chief baker nonchalantly stepped off the stern of the sinking liner and calmly paddled around until he was rescued at dawn. Experts note that he survived the disaster by getting completely drunk.
“Moonglade” is the bright reflection of the moon‘s light on an expanse of water.
Snakes do not have eyelids. Although they cannot close their eyes while they are sleeping, they can close their retinas
Enjoy the humor and try not to laugh too hard like I do each week.
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