Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Invisible Pain.

Invisible Pain

LIVING WITH CHRONIC HEADACHE AND OTHER PAIN FOR WAY TOO LONG

In 1997 I survived an horrific car accident. In “The beginning” you can read more details about that. Ever since that day I’ve been in chronic pain. The most debilitating pain I have is a 24/7 headache. I haven’t experienced a minute awake without pain in my head since 1997. I have several other body parts that ache constantly as well, and the most frustrating part, is the fact that I can’t find relief. The doctors and specialists are at loss. I’m just dealing with it all without medication, or any other forms of pain relief.
I’m still trying to find a doctor who’s willing to figure out this mystery that I am.
In this blog I write random thoughts, experiences, and complaints. Feel free to comment and share your story with me if you please. You can also e-mail me directly at invisiblepainblog@gmail.com
Thank you for reading!
Sincerely,

Vanessa

Her site is the best of both worlds, great writing and photography. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Most people find that driving can at least be quite stressful from time to time. But if you generally have anxiety, then it’s highly likely that driving is one situation where your anxiety is quite profound. This is true of a lot of people, and you shouldn’t feel bad about it if it is true for you too. Fortunately, there are steps you can take to approach driving better and handle the anxiety better, so that’s something that you should think about here. Here are some of the things you can do about it if driving tends to make you anxious.

Keep On Top Of Repairs

You will probably generally feel a lot less anxious if you make a point of keeping on top of the repairs that your car needs. There are a lot of these kinds of repairs that might crop up every now and then, and it’s vital that you are going to be aware of these. You might need a windshield repair in order to avoid it cracking further, or your brakes might need replacing, or anything in between. As long as you get these done as soon as possible, you won’t have to worry about them as you drive.

Know The Signs Of A Panic Attack

For those with quite severe anxiety, panic attacks can often be something they need to think about and be aware of. After all, having a panic attack while driving could be quite dangerous. It will be important to make sure that you pull over as soon as you safely can if you are having a panic attack, and that will be easier to do if you know when one is coming. So make sure you know the signs of a panic attack and that you can identify it as early as possible.

Get Further Training

Very often, being practiced and prepared is something that can help with anxiety in any given situation. You’ll find that this is certainly true of driving anxiety too. If you want to keep your anxiety to a minimum while driving, then you are definitely going to want to get all the training your can. Beyond the normal driving lessons, there are also always further lessons that you are able to get, which can help you to feel so much more confident on the roads. That is something that you can always pursue, no matter how long you have been driving.

Credit – CCO License

Deal With Your Anxiety In Other Situations

It’s all related: if you can improve your anxiety generally, then you are going to find that it helps with your driving anxiety too. So make sure that you are thinking about how you might improve your anxiety in other situations because that is something that you’ll certainly want to think about doing. That could make a world of difference to how your driving experience goes, and you’ll probably feel better on the roads in no time if you can do this. That could be the most important thing here.

Invest in Car Coverage

One of the best things you can do to make sure that you will be less anxious when driving is to invest in proper car coverage. It might be a good idea to get some liability auto insurance as well as breakdown cover and more, depending on your circumstances. If you are unsure about what car coverage would be best for you, contact Cars Protection Plus. They can help you find the best coverage for you. Being prepared for anything can be a great way to ease the stress of driving. 

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, The Rebel Chic.

The Rebel Chic

Live life. Take pictures. Drink good tea.

 Hi! My name is Cristina. I’m in my 30’s and currently working part time in the health sector in Bergen Norway. I grew up in the Philippines and moved to Norway when I was 19 years old. During my free time, I would go out and explore nature in the nearby areas alone or with friends and spend time with family. I’ve always dreamed of conquering each and every mountains of Norway and take photos of the fjords and fill my memory jar with life experiences and teachings. At the same time share my struggles in life and how I cope with them so that I could also in a small way help those who are on the same boat as me.

Check out her fun-filled adventures. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

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

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Sare Flower Kjelden.

Sara Flower Kjeldsen Writes

Story writer. Book blogger. Tea lover.

My name is Sara and I’m a multi-genre Canadian author who has written 16 stories. Aside from that, I love to blog about lifestyle, indie publishing, and also share photos from my nature walks. I hope you enjoy my blog! My aim is to inspire and entertain. 

 Sara is a prolific writer and has written 16 books. She has so much to offer on her blog, you must check it out.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, A Visual Journey.

A visual journey

Relax! Let your eyes wander and quiet your mind with some visual therapy. A picture is always more than you can see. You will also find my own illustrations, animations and sometimes short stories. You never know what you will find so make sure to come back.

 I love getting her posts, she is so creative.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Visions in the Dark. 

Visions In the Dark

From the mind to the pencil, night visions, a legacy honored in the light

This blog is to help me cope with the loss and suicide of my father. My Dad had written his own book of short stories, jokes, poems, and drawings he called “Night Visions” that helped him cope and express himself in his life. I hope to share some of his work as well as my own writing

Her blog is very unique and she has such great stories to share. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

Everyone wants to live a long and healthy life, but not everyone knows how to take care of themselves to ensure health and longevity. Yet, if you know that you want to look after yourself to ensure the best possible health for as long as possible, it’s important to take the right steps. In this blog post, we’ll go over some tips on how to care for yourself so that you can enjoy a long and healthy life.

Why Should You Focus on a Long Healthy Life

There are plenty of good reasons to focus on living a long, healthy life. For one thing, you’ll feel better if you’re healthy. You’ll have more energy to do the things you love, and you’ll be able to enjoy your life more. Additionally, staying healthy can help you avoid costly medical bills and time spent in the hospital. Of course, there’s also the simple fact that you’ll live longer if you’re healthy. And who doesn’t want to live a long, happy life?

So why not do everything you can to live a long, healthy life? As much as you can take medication or get partial dentures or have operations, why not do things that can prevent this all together? We’re now going to take a look at the three things you can do to make sure you find longevity in life.

1. Eating Well for Longevity

One of the most important things you can do for your health is to eat a nutritious diet. A healthy diet includes plenty of fruits, vegetables, whole grains, and lean proteins. It’s also important to limit your intake of unhealthy foods like processed meats, sugary drinks, and excessive amounts of saturated and trans fats. Eating a nutritious diet will help your body stay strong and fight off disease.

2. Moving Your Body More

In addition to eating a healthy diet, you should also make sure to get plenty of exercise. Exercise is important for maintaining a healthy weight, improving heart health, and reducing your risk of developing chronic diseases like diabetes and cancer. Aim for at least 30 minutes of moderate-intensity exercise most days of the week. Walking, jogging, biking, swimming, and taking group fitness classes are all great ways to get in your daily exercise.

3. Taking Care of Your Mind

Finally, it’s important to take care of your mental health. Stress can take a toll on your physical health, so it’s important to find ways to manage stress in your life. Meditation, yoga, spending time in nature, and talking to friends and family are all great ways to reduce stress levels. Taking care of your mental health will help you feel your best and enjoy a long and healthy life.

Making Your Health a Priority

Taking care of yourself is essential for enjoying a long and healthy life. Eating a nutritious diet, getting plenty of exercise, and taking care of your mental health are all key components of self-care. By following these tips, you can live a long and happy life full of good health.

This a collaborative post.

Melinda

The most significant aspect of your life is your health, which demands your attention. However, because of the requirements, so many individuals view this as a task that must be accomplished. But it doesn’t have to be this way; you shouldn’t feel as though taking care of your health is a burden. It’s worth looking into the many things you may do and how you can be creative with them since it can be pretty enjoyable. Once you start focusing on your health a lot of other things fall into place and you will start to enjoy every part of your life without worrying about your health.

Make sure you keep your appointments and checkups

One of the best things you can do is to look at preventative care but then also to see professionals if something does occur. This could be things like seeing the dentist, the eye doctor, and any specialist for any ailments you have. If anything happens like you lose a tooth you will need immediate care like getting dental bridges applied.

Get support to quit smoking 

Your respiration, circulation, and general fitness can all be impacted by smoking. Heart disease and stroke might potentially result from it. The single biggest step you can take to enhance your health is to stop smoking. You can seek free local counseling and support to assist you with quitting. Stopping is never too late.

Stress less 

We’ve all experienced it, and if you haven’t, probably, you’ve never been to a family meal. But if you consistently experience stress, it might harm your health. We are all aware of how detrimental stress is to our health. Our heart health may suffer the more worried we perceive ourselves to be. But with the job, relationships, families, and everything else life throws at us, it can be hard to resist giving in to stress. Avoid letting it affect you.

Embrace your joy

When it comes to self-care techniques, there is no right or wrong, yet it is simple to slip into the “shoulds” trap. Making self-care another item on your to-do list negates its purpose. If rising at five in the morning to meditate isn’t your cup of tea, try something else until you discover something that works for you. Following your delight will increase both your satisfaction and the efficacy of your self-care 

Every day, spend 20 minutes outside

How frequently do you experience anxiety and overwhelmed when you’re outside, strolling through nature, or unwinding on your porch? The likelihood is that you experience the majority of your stress when working at your computer inside, chasing after children, or rushing to put food on the table. Getting outside for at least 20 minutes each day is one simple method to put your mental health first. This can entail taking your dog for a walk or running a few miles. Even if you don’t always manage to get in 20 minutes, just taking a brief break outside can do wonders for your stress and attitude.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Think about the last time you had a bad day. Maybe you were feeling down about yourself, or perhaps everything that could go wrong did. It’s easy to let those negative feelings take over, but it’s important to remember that they’re just temporary. No matter how bad things seem at the moment, there are always ways to improve your self-image. Here are a few little changes you can make that will help you feel better about yourself in no time!

Be Kind To Yourself

Every day, we wake up and look in the mirror. We see ourselves, and we make judgments. We decide if we like what we see or if we don’t. We may feel good about ourselves, or we may feel inadequate. Our self-image is the way that we see ourselves, and it can have a significant impact on our lives. If we have a positive self-image, we’re more likely to be successful and happy. If we have a negative self-image, we may miss out on opportunities and be less likely to achieve our goals. 

Luckily, there are things that we can do to improve our self-image. One of the best things that you can do is to smile at yourself in the mirror every day. It sounds simple, but it’s actually quite powerful. When you smile, you send a message to your brain that says, “I’m happy with who I am.” Another great way to improve your self-image is to give yourself compliments. Acknowledge your achievements, no matter how small they may seem. Give yourself credit for everything you do well, and soon you’ll believe it too! Improving your self-image is a process, but it’s worth undertaking. By making small changes in your daily routine, you can make a big difference in how you see yourself – and in how others see you too!

Dress Nicely

If you’re unhappy with your self-image, don’t worry – you can make plenty of small changes to feel better about yourself. For instance, start paying attention to the way you dress. Even if you’re just lounging around the house, put on something that makes you feel good about yourself. It doesn’t have to be anything fancy – just something that makes you feel comfortable and confident. Additionally, make an effort to take care of your appearance. At the very least, keep your hair clean and styled and your nails trimmed and polished. But, again, you don’t need to go overboard – just put in a little effort to look your best.

Take Care Of Your Body 

You don’t have to make considerable changes to see a big improvement in how you feel about yourself. Taking small steps to improve your appearance and eating habits can go a long way in boosting your confidence and self-esteem. For example, something as simple as getting an orthodontics evaluation can make a big difference in how your smile looks. And adding more fruits and vegetables to your diet can improve your skin tone and overall health, giving you a radiant glow. By making some small changes, you can significantly improve how you feel about yourself. So don’t wait any longer; start making those changes today!

In Conclusion

Improving your self-image can be as simple as making minor changes to how you speak and treat yourself with kindness. By improving your relationship with yourself, you’ll see a big difference in how you feel daily. Plus, a positive self-image will help you attract more positivity into your life overall. Who knew that such little changes could have such a big impact?

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

It’s no secret that a home gym can provide many benefits. In fact, research has shown that people who have a home gym are more likely to stick with their fitness routine. There are many reasons for this, but the most common one is convenience.

When you have a home gym, you can work out any time you want without having to worry about scheduling appointments or fighting traffic to get to the gym. 

You also don’t have to worry about paying high membership fees. Plus, you can hire your own gym equipment through companies like Hirefitness if you don’t want to fully commit to one type for too long.

Another big benefit of having a home gym is that you can customize it to fit your needs. You can choose the equipment that works best for you and the exercises that you enjoy doing. This means that you can create a workout routine that is perfect for you and your fitness goals.

What you should keep in mind

If you’re thinking about setting up a home gym, there are a few things you will need to think about.

Space

First, you need to make sure that you have enough space. A home gym doesn’t have to be huge, but you do need to have enough space to move around and store all of your equipment.

Equipment

Second, you need to make sure that you have the right equipment. You don’t need to spend a lot of money, but you do need to get quality equipment that will last.

Rules

Third, you need to set some ground rules. For example, you need to decide what time of day you will work out and how often you will work out. Once you have these things in place, you’re ready to start working out!

Exercises

If you are ready to get going, here are 10 exercises to help you on your fitness journey.

Push-ups:

Push-ups are a great way to work your arms, chest, and shoulders. To do a push-up, start in a plank position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body down until your chest is just above the ground. Push back up to the starting position.

Squats:

Squats are good for working your legs and glutes. To do a squat, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Lower your body down as if you were going to sit in a chair. Keep your knees behind your toes and make sure that your back is straight. Push back up to the starting position.

Sit-ups:

Sit-ups are for your core. To do a sit-up, lie on your back with your knees bent and your feet flat on the ground. Place your hands behind your head and curl your upper body up towards your knees. Lower back down to the starting position.

Lunges:

Your legs and glutes will love you after doing this. To do a lunge, stand with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Step forward with one leg and lower your body down until both knees are bent at 90-degree angles. Make sure that your front knee is behind your toes and that your back is straight. Push back up to the starting position.

Burpees:

Burpees will get your heart rate up and work your whole body. To do a burpee, start in a standing position with your feet shoulder-width apart and your hands at your sides. Lower your body down into a squatting position and place your hands on the ground in front of you. Kick your feet back so that you are in a push-up position. Lower your body down and then press back up to the starting position.

Jumping jacks:

Jumping jacks will work all over your body. To do a jumping jack, start in a standing position with your feet together and your hands at your sides. Jump up and spread your legs out to the side. As you land, bring your legs back together and jump up again.

Mountain climbers:

Another exercise that will work your core as well as the arms and legs. To do a mountain climber, start in a push-up position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Bring one knee up towards your chest and then quickly switch legs. Continue alternating legs as fast as you can.

Planks:

If you have never done a plank before, you’ll certainly feel it when you do it. To do a plank, start in a push-up position with your hands on the ground and your feet shoulder-width apart. Lower your body down so that your elbows are bent at 90-degree angles and make sure that your back is straight. Hold this position for as long as you can.

Side plank:

Side planks will work your obliques. To do a side plank, start in a plank position with your feet together and your right hand on the ground. Rotate your body so that your left foot is on top of your right foot and your left hand is in the air. Make sure that your body is in a straight line from your head to your feet. Hold this position for as long as you can and then repeat on the other side.

Squat jumps:

It may sound hard to do, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be a pro. To do a squat jump, start in a squatting position with your hands at your sides. Jump up as high as you can and land in the same squatting position. Make sure that your knees are behind your toes and that your back is straight.

Conclusion

Hopefully, you will find them to be incredibly beneficial to your fitness regime!

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Continue reading “Deep Thoughts” →

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week we highlight a new blogger, Bridgette Tales.

Bridgette Tales

Everybody has a story. Here’s a little of mine.

I started this blog in 2013 with the words: “Once upon a time there was a mother who wanted to do something other than dishes and laundry.”

This version of myself feels sort of familiar.

It ended with the words: “She took a deep breath and just went for it.”

This I recognize. 

I’ve spent the last nearly decade breathing in and plunging forward.

I’ve been as transparent as I can, exploring motherhood, depression, and body image. There are things I withhold to protect my friends and family, and I’m attempting to explore new territory with my fiction writing. The blog, like me, is a work in progress.

Be sure to check out Bridgette Tales.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

All the yesterdays brought me to today.

Melinda

I want to send a special thank you to the Managing Editor of Trigger Publishing, Soraya Nair for sending  Me, Myself and Ana by Abi Appleby to review. This is a story that will pull at your heart and will help people see there is light at the end of the tunnel for those who need help. 

Blurb

Who’s your best friend? What happens when they’re not a real person, but a voice in your head?

Abi Appleby’s eating disorder manifested as Ana, a voice that told her to eat less and exercise more until she disappeared. Abi trusted and listened to her for long enough that her loved ones noticed her changing body and behaviours. They helped her into treatment, but even there, she could still hear Ana’s voice.

Me, Myself & Ana tells the story of Abi’s descent into anorexia nervosa, but it also shows how she finally quieted Ana – and realized that she wasn’t her best friend, but an enemy that she could defeat.

My Thoughts

Eating Disorders are complex to treat, and require a very specialized treatment plan and oversight. “Statistically anorexia has the highest mortality rate of all psychiatric disorders (Arcelus, 2011). Help from professionals reduces the likelihood of dying from anorexia significantly.” (Except from book)

Abi’s eating disorder is so severe it manifested into a voice/friend in her head named Ana who doesn’t want Abi to get better. Ana was taking over her life by giving her restrictions on what to eat, and how much, and forcing her to exercise way beyond her capability. She is starving and praising Abi for how good she looks.  

Abi is doing her part by going into treatment after she reached a dangerous state of health and her family noticed how sick she was. She works very hard in treatment but she is still controlled by Ana and getting ridiculed daily for seeking treatment.

Now her struggle is shutting out these voices during treatment that are sabotaging her and learning how to live without an eating disorder. At one point Abi was skin and bones and her goal was to disappear. As you can imagine, Ana spoke even louder and more destructively and Abi follow her right into the middle of the eye of the storm. 

“Ana” wasn’t so much a friend as a deadly mental illness disguised as a friendly voice inside my head: anorexia nervosa.” Several of her journal entries are quite scary. I am so proud of her for getting help and now she helps others. 

Excerpt From
Me, Myself and Ana

We all have an inner voice but it’s very different for people with a mental illness who are very sick to see clearly.

This would also be great to have around the house for tweens/teens, boys, and girls, so they can get exposure to eating disorders, you have to start young with what is normal and what is not. There is so much peer pressure on teens these days with Social Media showing so many images that are photoshopped or they hear about a starving model hear makes over a million a year. 

This is a big thumbs up in my book!

Trigger Publishing

TriggerHub.org is the first mental health organization of its kind. We are bringing mental health recovery and balance to millions of people worldwide through the power of our books.

We have built a first-class resource of curated books produced and published in-house to create a unique collection of mental health recovery titles unrivaled in quality and selection. We work with experts, psychologists, doctors, and coaches to produce our books, but we also work with real people looking to share their stories to reach out to others and provide hope, understanding, and compassion. These brave authors also aim to raise awareness of mental health’s “human” face and its impact on everyday lives. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light

November has arrived and that means it is time to think about holiday gifts. Books are a special gift and you can personalize it by writing an inscription on the first blank page of the book. I have kept books that are not necessarily ones I’ll read again but kept them because they have inscriptions that bring back memories.

I’ve combined several lists to give you more choices.

 Links To Top Books published in 2021/2022

Amazon.com

Goodreads

Esquire

AARP

Barnes & Nobel

There are some great list in these links, the AARP is great because it cast a wider net than Bestsellers.

Melinda

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Shangri-La.

Shangri-La

Never Grow Old

I love to write about the simple things in every day life with humor and positivity. My late Irish born mother Mary, is my favorite subject. I have written several stories about her on my blog and hope to comprise them all into a book in her memory. I also work in a Psychiatric hospital and cherish all the wonderful patients that enrich my life with their beauty, intelligence wit and courage, each and every day.

Please check out her site, she writes from the heart. 

Melinda

Looking for the Light