I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
He’s my cling on and can’t get enough tummy rubs.
Melinda
Category: Mental Health
Men, Are You Getting Your Regular Check-Up’s & Screenings?
According to the CDC, the leading cause of death in Men in 2021 was Heart Dieases, with close to 700,000 men dying from the dieases. The good news is Heart Dieases is preventable and reasearch is on-going.
Prostate cancer is the most common cancer in men in the US, other than skin cancer. It’s also the second-leading cause of cancer death (after lung cancer). About 1 in 8 men will get prostate cancer in their lifetime.
It can happen at any age, but the chances go up as a man gets older. Most prostate cancers are found in men over the age of 65. Prostate cancer happens more often in Black men than in men of other races and ethnicities. And when Black men do get it, they are often younger.
Having one or more close relatives with prostate cancer also increases a man’s risk of having prostate cancer.
Men’s Check-Up’s & Screenings
Regular physical exams
Screening can identify specific conditions and cancers, including:
Abdominal aortic aneurysm
Colon cancer
Depression
Diabetes
High blood pressure
High cholesterol
Lung cancer
Prostate cancer
Dentist
Almost half of all adult cancers might be prevented by things we can do or change.
- Stay away from tobacco.
- Be as physically active as you can.
- Eat more nutritious foods, including fruits, vegetables, and whole grains. Avoid or limit processed foods, red meats, sugary drinks, and refined grains.
- Get to a healthy weight range.
- It’s best not to drink alcohol. If you do drink, have no more than 2 drinks per day for men.
- Protect your skin from the sun.
- Know yourself, your family history, and your risks.
- Get regular checkups and recommended cancer screening tests.
Melinda
References:
Researchers: Parents can help their children to face anxiety
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 Nicolle.
Melinda
Repost
Depression Awareness Month
This awareness month is critical for all ages, even the youngest of children can feel depression and even though you may think they should blow it off, it’s not that easy and you can alienate them from talking to you again. Today life is so hard on kids, from an early age they are judged for the way they look, and who their friends are, for any reason because there are so many who don’t know who to communicate with and are haters. Kids also mimic their parents, if your child is having problems, look at your own behavior.
Young girls are fed to believe that these so-called influencers are real perfect-looking people who are pumping the greatest products they have to have. It never crosses their mind that the person is not an influencer, they are made up to look like the girls want to be and they are selling a product they make money on. They don’t get it or don’t want to. They are bullied for being a certain weight or not looking like someone else’s unrealistic standards.
Mix in real life as they get older and a deeper depression may present itself, it could be short-term term or it could be from unresolved issues, one you may not even know about. The key is to get your children the help they need at every step. As they age, professional help may be the answer. Don’t let stigma keep your child from getting the help they need.
As for adults, life can get messy, people can hurt you deeply, someone you trusted can betray you and family can hurt the worst. Some people may be more predisposed to depression whereas others may be situational driven. Adults have their own stigma and don’t seek out help, some men don’t think they need help and some just don’t know where to turn because the answer is not their parents. This is where a therapist comes in, therapy can be short-term just to get over a hump or more long-term because you have many buried issues that need to be addressed.
—
October is recognized as Depression Awareness Month each year. The purpose is to increase understanding, decrease stereotypes, and help educate on how depression and other mental health issues impact people.
Awareness months give people affected by a specific condition a chance to share their stories. The goal is to help increase the overall understanding of depression or other conditions and help overcome stereotypes.
Depression is a common mental health concern in America and throughout the world. Far more than just “feeling sad,” depression negatively impacts how a person feels, thinks, and acts. It can cause disruption to school, work, and personal interests.
Misconceptions and misunderstandings of depression contribute to continuing stigmas about people living with the condition, the reasons it occurs, and their willingness to seek care.
In a 2018 study, researchers conducted a survey to assess the public’s knowledge of depression and the severity of the stigma surrounding it. Key findings included:
- 30% reported believing a “weak personality” causes depression
- 58.9% reported believing that pharmaceutical interventions or medications are not an effective treatment
- over 70% reported understanding the importance of rest and that a person may appear happier than they actually are when living with depression
Depression can wear you out at the exact time you need all of your strength to fight. Trying to cope is extremely tiring — and it’s often difficult to know when others are suffering. That’s why, during October, we observe National Depression Education & Awareness Month. This important holiday helps teach us about the signs, symptoms, and treatment options for depression. It also lets all of us know that seeking help — either from a counselor, a trusted friend, or your community — is a sign of hope and strength.
References:
https://www.medicalnewstoday.com/articles/depression-awareness-month
Repost
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-U.S.A. For Africa -We Are the World
We are the World, we have to work together, our governments have work together to make the world a better place for all. The video has many meanings to me and I hope you see the commitment of everyone singing.
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.
Managing Fibromyalgia In Children
Welcome to Remedy, a blog by U.S. Pain Foundation. Remedy aims to provide people with the support they need to thrive despite chronic pain. It features the information about promising treatments, tips and strategies for self-management, resources for coping with the emotional and social effects of pain, unique perspectives from patients, clinicians, and caregivers–and much more. To submit an article idea, email contact@uspainfoundation.org.
If your child feels tired and achy, you may not worry initially. After all, there’s nothing urgent about what seems to be mild, general discomfort. However, if your child is constantly in pain, exhausted, having trouble sleeping, and experiencing intense moods, he/she may have fibromyalgia.
This condition is fairly common in adults, but parents and clinicians may overlook the possibility of juvenile primary fibromyalgia syndrome — that is, fibromyalgia in children.
JUVENILE FIBROMYALGIA SYMPTOMS TO WATCH OUT FOR
Fibromyalgia is a chronic condition characterized by pain and fatigue. According to experts, children will often describe this pain as “stiffness, tightness, tenderness, burning or aching.” This pain can last for months and is often accompanied by other symptoms that affect a child’s overall well-being, energy level, and emotional health, including:
- Tender spots on muscles
- Difficulty sleeping and fatigue
- Aches, including stomachaches and headaches
- Lack of focus or memory
- Anxiety and depression
If your child is experiencing these symptoms, you should see a doctor. There’s not one test to confirm it, so he/she will go through a range of tests to rule out other conditions.
Unfortunately, there is no one “cure” for fibromyalgia, which can be frustrating for patients, especially children. If left untreated, symptoms can lead to issues at school or making friends. Many parents describe this as a “vicious cycle” where symptoms continue to feed the condition.
Experts still aren’t sure what causes fibromyalgia or how it develops in the body. Some believe that mixed-up pain signals in the brain cause greater pain chemicals and/or overactive pain receptors. Others think it might be triggered, in part, by an emotional event like an illness, injury or psychological stress. But even if the cause involves emotions, the pain is still real.
HOW CHILDREN CAN COPE WITH FIBROMYALGIA
It’s important to create a support team and get your child’s primary care doctor, pain specialist, psychologist, physical therapist, and teachers on board. The more people are aware of your child’s condition, the more they can help him/her cope with symptoms at home and school. You may also want to look for pain support groups near you, for both your child and you as a parent.
Your doctor can help you decide whether medication, such as anti-inflammatories, antidepressants, or nerve pain medications, may be right for your child. He or she also may recommend therapies like injections or topical creams. In conjunction with these interventions, your doctor will probably prescribe treatments like physical therapy and behavioral changes, which are crucial to long-term management of fibromyalgia.
Let’s go over some nonpharmacological strategies for coping with fibromyalgia.
FIVE STRATEGIES FOR IMPROVED SYMPTOMS
Although fibromyalgia may disrupt your child’s life, affecting school and friendships, you may be able to improve your child’s quality of life with these natural therapies and changes. Of course, there’s no cure for fibromyalgia, but by managing symptoms, you can help your child get back to some sense of normalcy.
- Get moving!
Exercise can be incredibly valuable for managing your child’s fibromyalgia symptoms. Exercise can relieve muscle stiffness and tire out the body physically so that your child can fall asleep more easily. In particular, pool exercises have been shown to help patients because the warm water can have a soothing effect on pain and also promote blood circulation.
Consider signing up your child for swim class to get regular exercise that is both fun and good for symptoms. Start with limited intervals of exercise at first, and slowly increase them as symptoms allow. Aquatic physical therapy can be extremely beneficial for patients whose fibromyalgia is too severe for regular pool activities.
- Incorporate meditation methods
While your child may not be interested in meditation, try to incorporate some of the practices in your child’s daily life. After playtime, encourage your child to take a moment to relax and reset. In addition, teach your child how to use relaxing breathing exercises when he/she feels overwhelmed during school or before bed.
Studies show that meditation can help reduce fibromyalgia patients’ stiffness, anxiety and depression. In the least, promoting a stress-free environment and creating a sense of relaxation will help your child feel less anxious.
- Say goodnight to fibromyalgia
Your child’s sleep routine is essential for improving fibromyalgia symptoms. Chart out the best routine for your child together. Make sure he/she goes to bed at the same time every day and start “sleep-ready” habits an hour before bed. This routine could include a break from screen time, reading a story together, listening to a relaxing song and/or taking a hot bath. Promoting a relaxing environment will help your child get to sleep.
Make sure you’re not giving your child food late at night, especially items with any caffeine or sugar. Also, be sure take away tablets and cell phones. The blue light can wake up your child instead of helping him/her get sleepy. Sufficient sleep is essential to managing pain.
- Change your child’s diet for success
Some experts recommend following an anti-inflammatory diet to prevent aches and pains. In general, an anti-inflammatory diet is based on the Mediterranean diet, which emphasizes fish, fish, vegetables, whole grains, and olive oil.
Update your child’s lunch to include a handful of nuts, or add an apple for a snack. Anytime you can add fruits and vegetables to his/her diet, do it! This boost of nutrients will fuel your child for success. Try to limit junk food as well, which has no value and could actually inflame your child’s pains.
- Schedule your child for a physical therapy session
Your child could benefit from seeing a physical therapist or chiropractor near you. Recent studies show how physical therapy or chiropractic can have a positive impact on fibromyalgia patients. Finding the right physical therapist is important. Call in advance to ensure they have experience with fibromyalgia and/or with children. Specific exercises in physical therapy can help to improve your child’s core strength and incorporate techniques to soothe muscle aches and pain. Similarly, regular massage therapy sessions with an experienced masseuse can improve your child’s exercise, sleep and mood.
TALK TO YOUR DOCTOR
A fibromyalgia diagnosis can be challenging, but doesn’t have to take over your child’s life. It’s a good idea to talk to an expert to come up with the most effective care plan for your child, one that ideally includes a diverse range of strategies, like those listed above. Together, you can talk about your child’s specific issues and needs, and figure out the best way to improve symptoms.
About Dr. Brent Wells
Dr. Brent Wells is a graduate of the University of Nevada where he earned his bachelor of science degree before moving on to complete his doctorate from Western States Chiropractic College. He founded Better Health Chiropractic and Physical Rehab in Anchorage in 1998. He became passionate about being in the chiropractic field after his own experiences with hurried, unprofessional healthcare providers. The goal for Dr. Wells is to treat his patients with care and compassion while providing them with a better quality of life through his professional treatment.
Melinda
Repost
Interview With Christine Clayfield Author Of “No Forth River”
No Fourth River is a must-read for anyone who has experienced a dysfunctional household with domestic violence, child abuse, humiliation, electroshock therapy, boarding school, and most importantly survived to see much better days.
Review from Amazon.
Reviewed in the United States on February 28, 2018
Verified Purchase
I’m thrilled to take part in the Blog Tour for Christine Clayfield’s first novel “No Fourth River”. Christine, it’s great to talk with you this morning. Let’s jump in.
Your novel “No Fourth River” is incredibly personal. Starting with the brutal abuse from your father to all the siblings. What convinced you now was the right time to write your story?
There are four influencing factors that made me decide to write my story.
1) My husband and daughters kept telling me, over the years, that I should write a book about my life.
2) I don’t usually share my story with others. However, sometimes when I unintentionally mention things from my past, people are intrigued. They want to know more about my life. I’ve often been told that I should write a book because my struggles would resonate with others and my life story could be an inspiration.
3) I had been jotting down ideas for a while but never started to write. When I collected enough courage to speak on stage, people often burst into tears during my speech. They came up to me after my speech to thank me for sharing my story and to tell me how inspired they were. That moment was when I decided to write my life story. I didn’t realize until then that my life story was an inspiration to others. Very shortly after that, I started writing No Fourth River.
I transformed my life and I wanted to spell out valuable messages in my book too. If I can change one person’s life who will read my book, I will have achieved my goal. I have shared my life experiences, deeply personal ones too, and hope to make a difference in someone else’s life. I want people to know that you can change your life, no matter what you have been through. I am a living example.
4) I am not getting any younger so I needed to do it sooner rather than too late when I perhaps won’t remember all the details of my life.
Your fans responded to “No Fourth River” by rating the book with five stars on Amazon.com. What was your first reaction?
I was anxiously awaiting the arrival of my first review as I was curious to read people’s thoughts about my story. When I saw my first review, I was pleased as punch and totally overwhelmed with happiness. The review confirmed what I wanted my book to be: an inspiration to others.
How long did the writing process take?
From the moment I started jotting down dates of events in my life until the manuscript was totally finished, 2 years went by. However, I wasn’t writing full-time at the beginning, just a few hours per week. Once I’d written a few chapters, I started thinking: “I can actually do this; write a novel”. I had written five business books prior but this was my first novel. From that moment, I started writing most days of the week and I finished the book one year later but had a long break in between as my mum moved in with me and I looked after her in her last stages of dementia.
“No Fourth River” is your first novel, what’s your next book?
I am planning to write a book about “How to market a novel” , based on my experiences. I believe there is a big gap in the market for an informative book on this subject.
I am also scribbling down ideas for my second novel: a fiction novel.
Writers are often avid readers. What type of book do you read for pleasure?
Aside from reading books about all aspects of doing business, I love true stories and inspirational stories.
What are some of your other personal leisure activities?
A leisure activity is doing what you like and as I like working, I consider that as one of my leisure activities. When you enjoy what you are doing, it doesn’t feel like working. I also enjoy watching my husband play drums in his touring theatre show. Apart from that, I love traveling, watching a good movie, and dining with friends and family.
How do you want fans to contact you?
I prefer to be contacted by email: info@christineclayfield.com
Christine’s novel “No Fourth River” available now.
It’s such a pleasure to talk with you today. I wish you continued success on “No Fourth River”.
Melinda
Repost
Wordless Wednesday-Monster Tomato Plants
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Our tomato plants have never grown this big, they are even growing around the hot tube. We picked four delicious tomatos before a critter moved in and ate every last one. I’m planning differently for next year to keep the critter out. David started to pull the plants out this week and will require several more days before it’s complete.
Melinda
Quote
Melinda
Why kids and teens may face more anxiety far more these days
Anxiety, not depression, is the leading mental health issue among American youths, and clinicians and research both suggest it is rising. The latest study was published in April in the Journal of Developmental and Behavioral Pediatrics. Based on data collected from the National Survey of Children’s Health for ages 6 to 17, researchers found a 20 percent increase in diagnoses of anxiety between 2007 and 2012. (The rate of depression over that same time period ticked up 0.2 percent.)
Philip Kendall, director of the Child and Adolescent Anxiety Disorders Clinic at Temple University and a practicing psychologist, was not surprised by the results and applauded the study for its “big picture” approach.
“There is definitely a rise in the identification of kids with serious anxiety,” he said. They are “growing up in an environment of volatility, where schools have lockdowns, where there are wars across borders. We used to have high confidence in our environment — now we have an environment that anticipates catastrophe.”
The data on anxiety among 18- and 19-year-olds is even starker. Since 1985, the Higher Education Research Institute at UCLA has been asking incoming college freshmen if they “felt overwhelmed” by all they had to do. The first year, 18 percent replied yes. By 2000, that climbed to 28 percent. By 2016, to nearly 41 percent.
The same pattern is clear when comparing modern-day teens to those of their grandparents’ or great-grandparents’ era. One of the oldest surveys in assessing personality traits and psychopathology is the Minnesota Multiphasic Personality Inventory, which dates to the Great Depression and remains in use today. When Jean Twenge, a professor of psychology at San Diego State University, looked at the MMPI responses from more than 77,500 high school and college students over the decades, she found that five times as many students in 2007 “surpassed thresholds” in more than one mental health category than they did in 1938. Anxiety and depression were six times more common.
Statistics on anxiety in children and younger adolescents aren’t easy to come by. The study published last month was based on the National Survey of Children’s Health, which the researchers noted “is the only national data source to evaluate the presence of anxiety and depression on a regular basis.” The findings were limited, though, and relied on the reports of parents and guardians as to whether a health-care professional had ever told them their child was suffering from one of those conditions.
Those responding yes were asked to describe the level of both anxiety and depression in their children: 10.7 percent said their child’s depression was severe, and 15.2 percent who listed their child’s anxiety at that level.
Among the study’s other findings: Anxiety and depression were more commonly found among white and non-Hispanic children, and children with anxiety or depression were more likely than their peers to be obese. The researchers acknowledge that the survey method — parents reporting what they were told by their child’s doctor — likely skewed the results.
Grados often identifies anxiety in the children and adolescents he sees as part of his clinical practice in Baltimore. “I have a wide range [of patients], take all insurances, do inpatients, day hospital, outpatients, and see anxiety across all strata,” he said.
The causes of that anxiety also include classroom pressures, according to Grados. “Now we’re measuring everything,” he said. “School is putting so much pressure on them with the competitiveness … I’ve seen eighth graders admitted as inpatients, saying they have to choose a career!”
Yet even one of the latest study’s authors acknowledges that it can be difficult to tease out the truth about the rise in anxiety.
“If you look at past studies,” said John T. Walkup, chairman of the Department of Psychiatry at Lurie Children’s Hospital in Chicago, “you don’t know if the conditions themselves are increasing or clinicians are making the diagnosis more frequently due to advocacy or public health efforts.”
Nearly a third of all adolescents ages 13 to 18 will experience an anxiety disorder during their lifetime, according to the National Institutes of Health, with the incidence among girls (38.0 percent) far outpacing that among boys (26.1 percent).
Identifying anxiety in kids and getting them help is paramount, according to clinicians. “Anxiety can be an early stage of other conditions,” Grados said. “Bipolar, schizophrenia later in life can initially manifest as anxiety.”
For all these reasons, Kendall said, increased awareness is welcome.
“If you look at the history of child mental health problems,” he said, “we knew about delinquency at the beginning of the 20th century, autism was diagnosed in the 1940s, teenage depression in the mid-’80s. Anxiety is really coming late to the game.”
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Toto – Hold The Line (Official Video)
Get’s my blood pumping! Love the 80’s.
It’s the weekend!!!!!!
I’m glad you joined me for another edition of Weekend Music Share.
Have a great weekend!
Melinda
Welcome back to Weekend Music Share, the place where everyone can share their favorite music.
Feel free to use the Weekend Music Share banner in your post, and use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
How To Set Boundaries With Children
Setting boundaries is no more than communicating what you expect from the other person. All people need boundaries in their life. Some boundaries are harder to set than others say like the Internet and Cell Phones, boundries have to start young.
The difficulty with setting boundaries gets harder when your children are adults however if you’ve set clear boundaries growing up it isn’t a problem, maybe a conversation or to reclarify.
As a teen I was raised by my grandparents so I skipped a generation, meaning my grandparents were from deep poverty and the war generation. I went to live with them at 14 years old as a troubled teen. Boundaries were clearly needed.
Boundries My Grandparents Set
No phone calls after 9PM
In bed by 10PM
No leaving the house after 9PM
Curfew was midnight sharp!
Doors to the room were left open unless needed for privacy
Could only drive the car to take Granny shopping, run family errands, to school and back, basketball, special school dances, to write for school or local newspaper.
Once I started working I had to pay Gramps $8 a week for gas and the extra $50 a year it cost to add me to the insurance policy.
No sleepovers
Had to meet every date and friends
Today’s challenges
The biggest challenge faced by a pre-teen and teen is the Internet and Social media. Neither was around in my day. I didn’t buy my first computer until 1991.
If you start setting boundaries very early in life with will be much easier to set them with an emotional teen. One of the biggest challenges is peer pressure at this age and you will have to stand on what is appropriate for your specific child, are responsible enough, and is there a reason.
Now there are a few things to remember, I grew up in a strict environment and believe the boundaries and consequences are appropriate for a healthy relationship.
You have the opportunity to set boundaries are soon as your child is a toddler and the more boundaries as they get older. Be prepared for meltdowns, calling names, which is another boundary to set, and being mad at you.
If you want to try to be a friend to your child all their life you can stop reading here. I don’t buy into that style of parenting.
One of the first things that might come up is what language is appropriate to use in the house, for example calling names.
We’ll eat at dinner time and not in the bedroom. Even if your child is studying, they need a break from the books and this is your time to communicate with your child. How was their day?
A big bone of contention is the Internet and Cell Phones. This is where you will get the most push because this is one huge peer pressure in your pre/teen’s life.
If your child is under 16 years old, but the computer is in an open but quiet part of the house to use. After they reach 16 or are very mature and responsible for their age you can move into their bedroom. The key here is, having a tracking device and blocking sites and apps they can use. Also, give them a limit to how long they have per day to use the computer. If the whole time is taken up for doing school work, too bad they have to wait until the next day.
The other teaching experience is learning responsibility and this can be done by boundaries. If you give your child an allowance, determine how much they should pay you for the computer and phone. Make them save for it. If they don’t save, it’s not that important or they are not responsible enough.
My granny knew how bad I wanted a camera, she said if I would save half she would pay for the other half. That was so appreciated because I didn’t expect it. Those lessons from my grandparents set me up for some great lessons in life.
I’m strict and believe that many problems today are created by the Internet and children’s exposure at too young of an age.
Cell phones are another battle with children. There is so much peer pressure. You have to decide if the phone is needed, are they responsible enough to keep up with it or buy a new one themselves. Same if they lose it. If the child is working, I would have them pay a portion of the bill.
Make sure you buy the lowest Data plan, put a tracker on, and block sites. You are to have the code to the phone at all times and be free to read text. This is not only setting boundaries it’s teaching them responsibility.
A crucial part of setting boundaries is there will be times when they need to be broken, that’s life and you have to monitor the reasons. If there is a mass shooting, they can use all the data they have in one day! The key is communication and understanding why they ran out of data if it’s not apparent. It’s critical that you let your child know you are monitoring their computer and phone activity. If you sneak around you’ll have a hard time gaining their trust again. If they know up front, they have to make wise decisions or not be smart enough to try. It’s that simple.
As your children move out and learn to spread their wings, you’ll have to set new boundaries. But that’s for another post.
Melinda
Repost
Resources to help figure out your next move-Critical Information For Children & Adult’s
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.
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
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.)
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
Other Lyme-related symptoms & issues
Lyme disease can affect the heart in complicated ways
Lyme disease and cognitive impairments
Gastrointestinal manifestations of Lyme
Psychiatric manifestations of Lyme
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 FoundationMorgellons: 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-infectionsCo-infections poster
Mold
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
Are you unknowingly ingesting toxic mold?
How to donate blood and tissue for Lyme research
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)
Lyme Disease Association of Australia
Karl McManus Foundation (Australia)
Association Luxembourgeoise Borréliose de Lyme (Luxembourg)
Onlyme-aktion.org (Germany)
Lymevereniging (Netherlands)
This is one of the most comprehensive articles Lyme Dieases and co-infections. When you talk to a expert on the subject matter be sure to ask for referral, it took me two doctors to find the right doctor. I can say that you General Doctor is not the right type of doctor for your treatment and surgical. YES, it’s that important. The best source for referrals for Lyme Literate Doctor is ILADS.
Melinda
REFERENCE:
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 .
10 tips for cultivating creativity in your kids
IDEAS.TED.COM
Mar 31, 2020 / Mitch Resnick
Turns out, it’s less about “teaching” creativity to children — and more about creating a fertile environment in which their creativity will take root, grow and flourish. Researcher Mitch Resnick, director of the Lifelong Kindergarten Group at MIT, explains how we can do this.
There’s a common misconception that the best way to encourage children’s creativity is simply to get out of the way and let them be creative. Although it’s certainly true that children are naturally curious and inquisitive, they need support to develop their creative capacities and reach their full creative potential. Supporting children’s development is always a balancing act: how much structure, how much freedom; when to step in, when to step back; when to show, when to tell, when to ask, when to listen.
In putting together this list, I am combining tips for parents and teachers, because I think the core issues for cultivating creativity are the same, whether you’re in the home or in the classroom. The key challenge is not how to “teach” creativity to children, but rather how to create a fertile environment in which their creativity will take root, grow, and flourish.
The list is organized around the five components of what I call the Creative Learning Spiral, a process that encourages children to imagine what they want to do, create projects through playing with tools and materials, share ideas and creations with others, and reflect on their experiences.
For each of these five components, I’ve suggested two tips. However, these tips are just a very small subset of all of the things you might ask and do to cultivate children’s creativity. View them as a representative sample, and come up with more of your own.
IMAGINE
1. Show examples to spark ideas
A blank page, a blank canvas, and a blank screen can be intimidating. A collection of examples can help spark the imagination. When we run Scratchworkshops, we always start by showing sample projects — to give a sense of what’s possible (inspirational projects) and to provide ideas on how to get started (starter projects). We show a diverse range of projects, in hopes of connecting with the interests and passions of workshop participants.
Of course, there’s a risk that children will simply mimic or copy the examples that they see. That’s OK as a start, but only as a start. Encourage them to change or modify the examples. Suggest that they insert their own voice or add their own personal touch. What might they do differently? How can they add their own style, connect to their own interests? How can they make it their own?
2. Encourage messing around
Most people assume that imagination takes place in the head, but the hands are just as important. To help children generate ideas for projects, we often encourage them to start messing around with materials. As children play with LEGO bricks or tinker with craft materials, new ideas emerge. What started as an aimless activity becomes the beginning of an extended project.
We’ll sometimes organize mini hands-on activities to get children started. For example, we’ll ask children to put a few LEGO bricks together, then pass the structure to a friend to add a few more, then continue back and forth. After a few iterations, children often have new ideas for things they want to build.
CREATE
3. Provide a wide variety of materials
Children are deeply influenced by the toys, tools and materials in the world around them. To engage children in creative activities, make sure they have access to a broad diversity of materials for drawing, building and crafting. New technologies, like robotics kits and 3-D printers, can expand the range of what children create, but don’t overlook traditional materials. A Computer Clubhouse coordinator was embarrassed to admit to me that her members were making their own dolls with “nylons, newspapers, and bird seed,” without any advanced technology, but I thought their projects were great.
Different materials are good for different things. LEGO bricks and popsicle sticks are good for making skeletons, felt and fabric are good for making skins, and Scratch is good for making things that move and interact. Pens and markers are good for drawing, and glue guns and duct tape are good for holding things together. The greater the diversity of materials, the greater the opportunity for creative projects.
4. Embrace all types of making
Different children are interested in different types of making. Some enjoy making houses and castles with LEGO bricks. Some enjoy making games and animations with Scratch. Others enjoy making jewelry or soapbox race cars or desserts—or miniature golf courses.
Writing a poem or a short story is a type of making, too. Children can learn about the creative design process through all of these activities. Help children find the type of making that resonates for them. Even better: Encourage children to engage in multiple types of making. That way, they’ll get an even deeper understanding of the creative design process.
PLAY
5. Emphasize process, not product
Many of the best learning experiences happen when people are actively engaged in making things, but that doesn’t mean we should put all our attention on the things that are made. Even more important is the process through which things are made.
As children work on projects, highlight the process, not just the final product. Ask children about their strategies and their sources of inspiration. Encourage experimentation by honoring failed experiments as much as successful ones. Allocate times for children to share the intermediate stages of their projects and discuss what they plan to do next and why.
6. Extend time for projects
It takes time for children to work on creative projects, especially if they’re constantly tinkering, experimenting and exploring new ideas (as we hope they will). Trying to squeeze projects into the constraints of a standard 50-minute school period — or even a few 50-minute periods over the course of a week — undermines the whole idea of working on projects. It discourages risk taking and experimentation, and it puts a priority on efficiently getting to the “right” answer within the allotted time. For an incremental change, schedule double periods for projects. For a more dramatic change, set aside particular days or weeks (or months) when students work on nothing but projects in school.
SHARE
7. Play the role of matchmaker
Many children want to share ideas and collaborate on projects, but they’re not sure how. You can play the role of matchmaker, helping children find others to work with. In the Scratch online community, we have organized month-long Collab Camps to help Scratchers find others to work with — and also to learn strategies for collaborating effectively.
8. Get involved as a collaborator
Parents and mentors sometimes get too involved in children’s creative projects, telling children what to do or grabbing the keyboard to show them how to fix a problem; other parents and mentors don’t get involved at all. There is a sweet spot in between, where adults and children form true collaborations on projects. When both sides are committed to working together, everyone has a lot to gain.
A great example is Ricarose Roque’s Family Creative Learning initiative, in which parents and children work together on projects at local community centers over five sessions. By the end of the experience, parents and children have new respect for one another’s abilities, and relationships are strengthened.
REFLECT
9. Ask (authentic) questions
It’s great for children to immerse themselves in projects, but it’s also important for them to step back to reflect on what’s happening. You can encourage children to reflect by asking them questions about their projects. I often start by asking: “How did you come up with the idea for this project?” It’s an authentic question: I really want to know! The question prompts them to reflect on what motivated and inspired them.
Another of my favorite questions: “What’s been most surprising to you?” This question pushes them away from just describing the project and toward reflecting on their experience. If something goes wrong with a project, I’ll often ask: “What did you want it to do?” In describing what they were trying to do, they often recognize where they went wrong, without any further input from me.
10. Share your own reflections
Most parents and teachers are reluctant to talk with children about their own thinking processes. Perhaps they don’t want to expose that they’re sometimes confused or unsure in their thinking. But talking with children about your own thinking process is the best gift you could give them.
It’s important for children to know that thinking is hard work for everyone—for adults as well as children. And it’s useful for children to hear your strategies for working on projects and thinking through problems. By hearing your reflections, children will be more open to reflecting on their own thinking, and they’ll have a better model of how to do it. Imagine the children in your life as creative thinking apprentices; you’re helping them learn to become creative thinkers by demonstrating and discussing how you do it.
Melinda
Reference
This article was originally published on the MIT Press Reader site.
Watch Mitch Resnick’s TED Talk here:https://embed.ted.com/talks/mitch_resnick_let_s_teach_kids_to_code
ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Mitch Resnick is professor of learning research at the MIT Media Lab. His research group develops the Scratch programming software and online community, the world’s largest coding platform for kids. He has worked closely with the LEGO company on educational ideas and products, such as the LEGO Mindstorms robotics kits, and he co-founded the Computer Clubhouse project, an international network of after-school learning centers for youth from low-income communities. He is the author of “Lifelong Kindergarten,” from which this article is adapted.
Reposted
Book Review I Can’t Have That, I Have Allergies by Katie Kinsella
I want to give a special thanks to Managing Editor Soraya Nair for sending me I Can’t Have That I Have Allergies by Katie Kinsella for review.
Blurb
All the animals in the woodland are headed to a party – that is, except Hedgehog, who can’t attend because of his food allergies. But one of his kind friends, Deer, decides to learn more about his condition, and she comes up with a plan so that Hedgehog can safely celebrate, too!
I Can’t Have That, I Have Allergies is a sensitively written story by a mother whose daughter has life-threatening allergies. It will enlighten those unfamiliar with the severity of such allergies, and it will help children who suffer from them to know that they aren’t alone.
My Thoughts
Have you missed school on a special day? You were probably sad that you could not participate in the fun. The Hedgehog has a similar story, he has severe allergies which limit what he can eat. It’s not fun going to a birthday party and not being able to eat cake.
As each of the Hedgehog’s friends stop in on the way to a birthday party, he explains why he can’t go to the party. His friends go on their way but they have a big surprise for him. They cared so much for their friend, they contacted his mother to get a list of what he can’t eat and they made a cake he could. They show up at Hedgehog’s house and have a big Birthday party which allows the Hedgehog to have fun and not worry about what he can or can’t eat.
The book does an excellent job of describing Allergies children can understand. I think the bigger picture is when Hedgehog share’s with his friends why he can’t go, they didn’t abandon him, they embraced him instead. It’s important for kids to know they can talk about their problems instead of keeping everything in.
For every parent who has a child with Allergies of any kind, this is the perfect book to show if you share what is going on with your friends they will have your back.
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
Happy Birthday Daddy 1940-1992
The morning after you killed yourself, we went to secure the house. I knew immediately you suffered slowly. Among the papers, trash, and clothes and I found your lockbox. The divorce paperwork to my mother, every card I gave you as a child. I found the pad you were writing on. Your Bible on the coffee table, dried tears as you were reading Job in the Bible.
The note had 11:30 a.m. written in the corner. I could see you called your best friend and the phone number to a suicide line. There were words and a drawing that made no sense. Granny paralyzed, crying, asking why. The house ransacked, nothing anything made sense to her.
Dirty dishes piled high, nothing in the refrigerator, how did you live like this, how long? You phoned me several times in the months before your death. Delusional and highly paranoid each time. Someone was tapping your phone, they were trying to get you and the rest I could not understand, you were already gone. As much as I hated you, I cried, begged you not to kill yourself, trying to reason with him that Granny would never be the same. I paid your bills for months. You weren’t in touch with reality.
The outcome will not change if determined. I knew you would take your life and told no-one. I’ve wondered what went through your mind in the hours doodling to writing the note, then killing yourself. I received the call at 10:00 p.m., Gramps said your dad has done away with himself. I called right back to see if you were dead or going to the hospital.
The boxes of cassettes next to your bed, taking months to listen to. You were mentally ill, not under the care of a Psychiatrist, no medications. Your temper went 1-10 in seconds, obnoxious, loud, racist, screaming, out of control.
You had hit the bottom and I didn’t know because we were estranged,
I’ve experienced being suicidal more than once, God and my husband saved me. If you are thinking about suiside, call your Psychiatrist right away or go to closet hospital, be open with your doctor and follow all medications instructions, these actions may save your life. I’ve stayed in Psychistratic Hospitals multiple times, I had 21 ECT Treatments, and I feel no shame. My mental heath is critical to living a balanced life.
I think of you one day a year.
Melinda
Reposted
Chronic Illness and Marriage
When you get married you commit for “better or worse and in sickness and in health”. You don’t think those two things will happen early in your marriage if you think about them at all. Marriage is full of ups and downs, good and bad, and is very hard at times. When you add a chronic illness to the mix it can get complicated. Not every person is ready for the “better or worse, or in sickness and in health”.
Sacrifices are essential to living with someone with a Chronic Illness. There were years where my husband had to fill my medicine case each week, cook every meal, do all the laundry, help me shower, get me dressed, help me in and out of the car, walk me up and down the stairs, the list goes on and on. I haven’t seen the inside of a grocery store in years.
He gave up several hobbies he loved to make sure there was always time to take care of my medical and mental health needs. It comes at a cost to the partner’s mental health. I encouraged him to seek counseling which he did and it helped a great deal.
My husband has been caring for me and my health since we first married. Long before Lyme Disease, an Immune Deficiency Disorder, and Fibromyalgia, there was my Mental Illness to care for. I have Bipolar Disorder, which is a serious Mental Illness that requires constant monitoring and several medications to stay well.
From the very beginning, he had to keep an eye out for signs and symptoms. Ask gently if I had taken my medication and help me deal with my depression when the Black Dog moved in.
One of the things I asked from the very beginning was for him to sit in on my appointments with my Psychiatrist. I wanted him to understand how sick I was and hear it from the doctor, to hear me talk to the doctor. This would prove immensely helpful in the years to come.
One critical step my husband took is put my health before his career, it was a huge guilt trip for me. He passed up promotions and great opportunities to travel so that I would not be home alone. Just last week his boss asked all of the VP’s to lunch and he had to decline due to the rising cases of Omacrom. Ouch, that burns sometimes!
I don’t know what I would have done over the past 23 years without his sacrifices. If you have a chronic illness make sure you are transparent in the struggle and what may be required of them. If a dating relationship can’t withstand that challenge then a marriage certainly won’t.
Melinda
Repost
Must-Read Non-Fiction for Personal Growth by Guest Blogger Damon Ashworth Psychology
I enjoy reading Damon’s post, he is a great writer, makes complex subject matter easier to read and is a nice guy. Be sure to stop by, read through his archives and be sure to say hello.
Melinda
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-Murray Head – One Night In Bangkok 1984
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.
Hobbies Can Boost Your Mental Health
We all know that life can get busy. As a result, it can be hard to find the time to treat ourselves or indulge in doing the things that we really love. However, there are a number of reasons why having a hobby can be a really great thing. Hobbies are often much more than just enjoying ‘me time as they can also be something that can be so vital for our overall well-being and our mental health. A hobby is one of the best ways that you can spend your spare time, unwind from your normal routine, and feel happier and healthier as a result.
Photo by Steve Johnson on Pexels.com[/caption]
In fact, there is research that has shown that people who have hobbies are much less likely to feel stressed, low mood, or depressed. So if that isn’t enough reason to find a hobby that you love, we don’t know what is! No matter what kind of hobby you choose, from an academic hobby, a creative hobby, an athletic hobby, or something else more personal, it is important to find things that give you meaning and that you ultimately find enjoyable. When you enjoy it, you will want to carve out time for it to make sure that it happens. So with all of this in mind, here are a few hobbies that can work wonders for your mental health. What would you choose?
Music
If you have an interest in music and want to learn to play an instrument, then it can be an amazing hobby for a number of reasons. Playing music is something that is a fantastic way to help yourself to feel less stressed, and it can be useful when wanting to channel any uncomfortable feelings or emotions that you might have. You can also enjoy the social aspect of a musical hobby if you are interested in joining a group, a band, or an orchestra. Having goals is all part of beating anxiety or depression, and there are plenty of things that are goal-orientated when it comes to music. You will also have the distraction of learning an instrument as you need to fit in time to play it. That will require your focus and mean that you don’t have to focus on other things that are causing you stress or worry.
Gardening
Gardening is a great hobby for people that love to be outdoors and be at one with nature. Even if you’re not too keen on the outdoors, getting out in your yard can work wonders when you are feeling low. You can plant your favorite flowers which will require planning or research, as well as planting fruits and veggies. You will need to do research to know what will be best to do and when, and it can be a hobby that can definitely help you in a physical way, as well as from a mental health perspective too.
Gardening can be a hobby that is very rewarding, as you will see things that will grow because of your efforts in taking care of them. Appreciating nature and the outdoors can also go a long way to help your stress levels, as well as anxiety. So it should be a hobby to consider if you are looking for something new to try.
Cars and automobiles
If you have a passion for cars and automobiles, then it can be a good idea to incorporate those into a hobby of yours. You could have a hobby of making kit cars, which can be extremely rewarding as you see something come together that you can then use, all from your hard work, research, and expertise. You could look at replacing things like car batteries, but make sure that you use a good battery finder to get the right one for your needs. You could also look into repairing engines and learning how to do things like oil changes, which can be such a useful thing to know and save you a lot of money down the line.
From another point of view, you could also get into cars and automobile hobbies by getting into racing. It could be off-road racing, it could be sports car racing, or even something like biking, trail bikes, and even BMX biking.
Yoga
There are a number of benefits to our mental health that come from physical exercise. Yoga is one of those ways that you can exercise that does have a benefit to mental health. It has grown and grown in popularity in recent years, due to it being a way to move and be active and help your mental health. Yoga works well as a hobby because it can calm our nervous system. It can also help with depression and help to reduce any muscle tension. You can watch classes online or attend them locally. Some easy poses can be done at home, although it is a good idea to seek advice from an instructor if you want to take things to the next level. When you are doing something new, your focus is on the task at hand, which can take your mind off other things.
Writing
Writing is a great hobby, and it is one of the most simple choices out there. It costs very little and can be done at any time. Writing out on pen and paper, rather than on a computer or phone notes can do great things for your mind. You could have the creative element of writing a novel or using the time to write more of a journal which can be very cathartic. As a result, it can offer a number of benefits, and help you to relieve stress, help depression, eliminate anxiety, and even help your memory and improve your sleep.
Putting thoughts down on paper means that you can identify some negative thoughts and behaviors, and then they are no longer in your mind. You can also use this time to write down how things are going as a way to replace negative thoughts with happier and more positive ones.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Repost
Wordless Wednesday-Red Striped Roses
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
Melinda
Overcoming Stress & Depression – 5 Tips to Bring Back the Sunshine
Mental health is in decline across the world. Many people are quietly struggling with stress and depression, and it is causing mental breakdowns and suicides. It is especially sad considering that these conditions can be managed and treated.
Here are five easy and reliable tips to overcome stress and depression:
Talk to Someone
Social support is one of the best remedies for stress and depression. People are social beings, and their mental health requires healthy social ties. To this end, loneliness has been identified as a catalyst for stress, depression, and other mental conditions.
You will feel your emotional and mental woes ease when you talk to someone about your troubles. Your friends and family members will offer unconditional love and support to help you overcome your problems.
Additionally, you can get professional help by talking to a therapist if your depression feels too difficult to bear. Bottom line: talk to someone and surround yourself with a positive company.
Distract Your Mind with Entertainment
Don’t get lost in your mind. You will just keep pondering over your problems and making them feel bigger than they are. It will be more exciting and relaxing to distract yourself with something entertaining.
You have lots of entertainment options at your fingertips. You could listen to some soothing music or watch a thrilling movie. Just ensure that it is something you like, and preferably something that will make you laugh.
Exercise
Exercising can work miracles for depression. Working out helps you feel like you are physically unloading your mental and emotional burdens. Exercising also helps reduce the levels of stress hormones in the body and triggers the production of hormones associated with relaxation. Additionally, the physical and health benefits of exercising are a confidence booster.
Exercising is also recommended for seniors struggling with depression because of their physical and mental conditions. For example, exercising can help improve memory retention, easing the depressing effects of Alzheimer’s.
Learn Something New
Learning is another way of distracting your mind and doing something productive in the process. For example, some therapists recommend learning new skills such as cooking as a form of therapy. Other people struggling with depression find solace in photography.
There is no limit to the variety of new hobbies or activities you can undertake to manage your depression. However, make sure that it is something that interests you if you want it to work.
Get a Pet
Pets are unconditionally loyal, loving, and everything nice. They always have time for their masters, and they are the best listeners. More importantly, they will learn new tricks just to please you. To this end, a cute pet such as a dog can ease the emotional and mental strain causing stress and depression. A pet will keep you company and bring you back to your loving self as you both bond.
Final Thoughts
Stress and depression can make life look gloomy, without an end in sight and they can lead to worse mental conditions and even drive patients to suicide. As such, practice these tips for yourself or a loved one to overcome depression and stop suicide in its tracks.
This a collaborative post.
Melinda
#Weekend Music Share-John Fogerty – Centerfield
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.
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote.
Melinda
Wordless Wednesday-Sunflower Sunshine
I’m glad you joined me on Wordless Wednesday and I hope to see you soon.
It’s always a good day when Sunflowers greet you.
Melinda
Blogger Highlight-Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia
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 Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia. Sarah is a tireless advocate for Fibromyalgia and she breaks down the chronic illness is a way that everyone can understand. She also shares her experiences and what’s she’s learned along her journey.
Musings on Life with Fibromyalgia
I’ve lived with fibromyalgia for around a decade now, made many mistakes along the way, but learnt a lot about how to manage the condition and this is what I’m keen to share with readers of this blog.
So, if you want to find out more about living with fibromyalgia and other chronic illness, how life can change and yet still be full of everyday joy, then that’s where this blog aims to help.
I hope at least some of my blog posts will resonate with you – happy reading!
Sarah
Questions Asked
What is your favorite post and why?
My favourite blog post is this one about journaling. I’ve always journaled on and off since my teenage years and I find it such a powerful tool, not just for dealing with chronic illness, but for navigating life’s challenges generally. There’s real magic that happens with a pen and a blank page and it’s often amazing what will spill out onto the page.
What inspired you to start a blog?
After being diagnosed fibromyalgia, I thought my life was over. Everything changed for me – job, finances, physical capabilities and relationships (through not being believed about this illness). I hit rock bottom. Fortunately, my doctor suggested a CBT (Cognitive Behavioural Therapy) course for chronic illness, which started to turn things around. I learned to meet myself where I was at the time (not where I used to be or where I wished I was) and create some new goals.
Slowly but surely, over a period of several years, I began to rebuild my life. I then began to read blogs about fibro and chronic illness and was both informed and inspired by the content. From there, I thought that blogging would be a good way for me to share what I have learned. My blog is about the stuff that I wish that I’d known when I was first diagnosed with fibro. We get a lot of good medical information from health professionals. But where I struggled was with things like, how can I still lead a meaningful life when everything has been turned on its head? What can I do so that I don’t just give up and spend the rest of my life sitting on the sofa wishing things were different? My hope is that through the blog, I can share all of this with others who might be feeling as lost as I was in the beginning.
Published Work
Articles below have all been published in UK Fibromyalgia magazine.
February 2019 – Swimming, fibro and me
March 2020 – Gardening when you have Fibromyalgia
July 2019 – Reasons to Snuggle Up with a Book – the Value of Reading
2020 – Fibromyalgia Magazine – 20th Anniversary Issue
February 2020 – What I’ve Learned about Fibromyalgia from my Dogs
August 2020 – Fibromyalgia and the Perimenopause
September 2020 – My Experience of Lockdown Yoga
December 2020 – Chronic Pain and Rural Living
March 2021 – Benefits of Time Spent in Nature
April 2021 – Open Water Swimming when you have Fibromyalgia
April 2021 – Audiobooks
May 2021 – How Living with Fibromyalgia Might Change You as a Person
June 2021 – Childhood Symptoms that might have been Fibromyalgia
February 2022 – Navigating a Bad Fibro Day
July 2022 – Summertime Blues and Fibromyalgia – page 1 page 2
December 2022 – Anxiety, Fibro and the Festive Season
February 2023 – Experiencing Covid when you have Fibromyalgia
March 2023 – My Top Five Difficulties Living with Fibromyalgia
May 2023 – Reframing the Experience of Living with Fibromyalgia
She’s is also a contributor to The Mighty.
Stop by Sarah’s blog, read through her archives and be sure to say hello.
Melinda
Just Pondering
Hi, I’m glad you stopped by and I look forward to reading your comments.
“Take solace in gentle rhythms of the ritual, in ceremonies of the ordinary. Are tea, fold cloths, knead bread, walk to mailbox. There is much savor in slowness, when quality attention allows noticing each detail-wisp of steam rising, soft folds in well-worn shirts, hands and dough working together, snow crunching underfoot at moonlight.Celebrate this walk through the dark days, this chance to do it differently, to revel in slowness while light waits its turn”
Heidi Barr
Melinda
Reference:
Friday Quote
Thank you for joining me for this week’s Friday Quote..
Melinda
lookingforthelight.blog 
