The Clearing App Provides Pain Management On Your Time

April 12, 2022April 27, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

Clearing puts you in the driver’s seat when it comes to your pain with 24/7 access to the Care-Team, making healthcare available on your time. No more waiting in line, calling for an appointment, or having to wait until the doctor is available. Clearing gives you access at your fingertips backed by a highly qualified medical team of specialists.

Clearing is Recommended by America’s top pain management doctors

The Medical Advisory Board has 150+ Combined years of professional medical experience

Doctor’s Representing 10 of America’s leading hospitals

465+ Combined medical papers on chronic pain

How we work with our advisors

They review our clinical protocols to make sure clinicians at Clearing provide top-notch, comprehensive care.
Our advisors tune us into what’s next, from new conditions to the latest scientific breakthroughs in pain relief.
They partner with clinicians at Clearing on best practices for everything from behavioral habits to psychological impact.

81% of Clearing patients feel substantial, noticeable relief within 5 weeks*.

*Based on aggregate patient data.

The doctors, the treatments, and the support you deserve, from the comfort of home

Here are a few types of Pain Clearing Supports

Arthritis

Fibromyalgia

Wrist Pain

Sore Ankles

Back Pain

Shoulder Pain

Feet Tingles

For a comprehensive list go to Clearing here.

It’s time to take control of your pain.

I dove in headfirst and joined Clearing to get first-hand knowledge about the App. I want to understand the process, and how Clearing works.

The Signing Up Process

I provided a medical history overview that includes a detailed description of the pain for each area of the body I highlight.

You’re asked specif questions about each area of the body including some visual exercises to see if they cause pain.

Patients are then partnered with a medical doctor as a part of their Care Team and once the medical information is reviewed, your doctor lays out your program via email from your team.

Your entire Care Team works side-by-side with you to fine-tune your plan and track your personal goals and progress.

Meet my Health coach Hadley.

I’m Hadley, a Health Coach at Clearing. I’m so excited to partner with you.

You can count on me for:
• Weekly Check-Ins
• Accountability
• Support

We’ll work through the hard times, celebrate every win, and figure it all out, together.

Others on my Care Team

Dr. Jacob Pain Doctor

Ava Care Coordinator

Upon Sign Up I received:

Home Exercise Program which is a 20-minute program designed for my target area.

1:1 Meet with Health Coach

Prescription Compound Cream

Community: Join the Clearing: The Journey to Chronic Pain Relief group!

The monthly plan includes the Medical Review, Home Exercise Program, a 1:1 meeting with Health Coach, Prescription Compound Cream, Chronic Pain Relief Group plus 24/7 access to your Care Team.

Extras include their Highly concentrated CBD Cream and Proprietary Neutraceuticals. Find out more here.

Joining Clearing was easy, it only took a few minutes, was stress-free, and put me in touch with a Care Team as soon as I completed the process. Dr. Vydyanathan reviewed my medical information, put together my care plan and my prescription pain cream shipped the next day and arrived within a week.

My pain cream was formulated for arthritis, neuropathy, and muscle spasms. I applied the cream to my legs, it’s a nice consistency, light menthol smell and it went to work. I noticed a significant difference in the number of muscle spasms and my neuropathy did not bother me as usual.

Clearing is an opioid-free solution. The types of therapy offered can include nutraceuticals, a prescription compound cream, CBD cream, targeted exercises, and access to pain specialists who can guide you toward better pain management.

The Clearing alternative

To sum it up, we know opioids have their place, but we will not be prescribing them at Clearing. Instead, we will be doing everything we can to match you with opioid-free options for long-term relief, so that treatments are as safe and supportive as possible. Our personalized, whole-body treatment plans combine non-opioid medications, personalized exercises and stretches, and high-touch care from a team of specialized providers delivered via our telehealth platform.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your pain journey, get started now with a trial.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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

Depression: How To Cope When Everything Is Going Wrong

April 12, 2022 Looking for the Light7 Comments

Things going wrong in life is a normal part of the journey. They aren’t always going to pan out how you hope. However, when you have depression, it can be more challenging to process. Even minor disruptions can feel like a disaster.

Depression makes life harder. It can feel like an enormous effort just getting through the day. When something goes wrong, particularly if it is serious, then it can derail you entirely.

Unfortunately, life will throw curveballs at you from time to time. Therefore, it’s critical to know how to respond if you are living with depression. Here are some tips.

Breathe

Breathwork is something that yogis and sages have been doing for millennia, and for good reason: it really works. When you take time to do a series of deep breaths from the stomach, you’ll notice that it fundamentally changes how you feel. You go from feeling tense to a more relaxed state.

Meditation practices that focus on breathing can help people get through stressful times. When things go wrong, just lying down, closing your eyes, and doing some deep breathing can really help.

Tell Other People How You Feel

If you’ve never had depression before, it is hard to really understand the complexities of it. You have a lack of energy, fatigue, and disturbed sleep. It’s hard to just perform daily tasks.

When things go wrong, it creates anger and frustration. Because your life is so difficult already, adding more hassle makes it feel even more unbearable.

If you are struggling, tell other people how you feel. Explain what your symptoms mean and how they affect you. Get them to understand where you are coming from.

Look For Help

When things go wrong in your life, you don’t necessarily have to live with it. In many cases, you can get help.

For instance, if you get a citation, look for a traffic ticket fighter who can prevent money from draining your bank account. Or, if you have a problem with your boss, find an advocate who can make your case.

When it comes to asking for help, be kind to yourself. Let other people give you support. In many cases, it’s something that they want to give to you.

Seek Out The Positives In The Situation

Life might seem dreadfully serious all the time, but changing your perspective can help tremendously. Seeing the funny side of a situation can change how you feel in a profound way and actually lessen the suffering when things go wrong. Use bad times as a learning opportunity: a springboard for new things in your life.

Do One Thing At A Time

Lastly, if you’re feeling overwhelmed by things going wrong in your life, fix one thing at a time. Don’t attempt to do everything all at once.

Take some time to prioritize what you can actually fix first and then move down the list. Do each task one step at a time. Break it up into chunks and get other people to help.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

Blogger Highlight Peaceful Hearts Rise

April 11, 2022 Looking for the Light11 Comments

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

Peaceful Hearts Rise

I am on a healing journey from childhood trauma, sexual abuse, and domestic violence in an intimate partner/long-term marriage.

If you are going through the same thing or know someone; I’m sorry…but…please know we have a voice, our story to tell, we will survive and we will thrive!

I hope that by sharing my story that someone out there will know he or she is not alone and that we can heal and become free as the butterfly and strong as the oak tree.

“I am here. You are here. We have a voice. Our story matters. Silent no more.”

“You are safe now. Be free.”

I love her raw poetry, it moves me. Please check out her site today.

Melinda

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

Book Review The Packing House by G. Donald Cribbs

April 11, 2022April 27, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

I want to say a special thank you to Managing Editor Soraya Nair of Trigger Publishing for sending me an advanced copy of The Packing House by G. Donald Cribbs for review.

About the Author

G. Donald Cribbs has written and published poetry and short stories since high school. Donald is a graduate of Messiah College in English and Education and has a master’s degree in Clinical Mental Health Counseling.

He is also a licensed professional counselor (LPC). He and his wife and four boys reside in central Pennsylvania where the author is hard at work on his next book, tentatively titled, UNPACKING THE PAST, the sequel to his debut novel, THE PACKING HOUSE (2022), by Cherish Editions.

Having lived and traveled abroad in England, France, Belgium, Germany, China, and Thailand (you can guess where he lived and where he visited), the author loves languages and how they connect us all. Coffee and Nutella are a close second.

Blurb

When 16-year-old Joel Scrivener has a raging nightmare in study hall and someone records it on their phone, he awakens to a living nightmare where everyone knows his secret, one that he’s suppressed for ten years. Reeling as the whole school finds out the truth, Joel takes to the woods, leaving the bullies and his broken home behind.

However, life as a runaway isn’t easy, as Joel’s hallucinations and nightmares follow him into the wilderness. To stop them once and for all, he pieces clues together with flashes of the images that play endlessly inside his head—will he figure out the identity of the person who caused his nightmare before it’s too late?

My Thoughts

“It has been said, “Time heals all wounds.” I do not agree. The wounds remain. In time, the mind, protecting its sanity, covers them with scar tissue and the pain lessens. But it is never gone.
—Rose Kennedy”

Excerpt From
The Packing House

I have to agree with Rose Kennedy, time doesn’t heal all wounds. My upbringing involved growing up in a domestic violence household with an alcoholic step-father, I was abused by both parents, and became a became drug addict as a teen. The trauma of abuse especially sexual abuse stays with you. You push it to the back and move on. Move on is a relative term and certainly applies here.

Repressed memories are traumatic and please seek therapy right away if you are dealing with repressed memories. You will need some guidance.

What is your worst nightmare? For Joel Scrivener, it comes to life right in the middle of class with a room full of students. He fell asleep and during that time had a nightmare that was a repressed memory. Some even took their phones out to film him in the nightmare screaming for someone to get off of him! Now everyone knows.

This is a story about survival, luck, and good endings.

G. Donald Cribbs is a great storyteller, he keeps it moving and yet fills in all the blanks. The Packing House is a very fast read and keeps you eager to turn the next page.

I would recommend this book to anyone but to all parents of teens for sure

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

@loookinglight

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

Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SOCS Prompt is How

April 9, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Our prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “how.” Use the word “how” in your post. Bonus points if you start your post with it. Enjoy! Thanks, Linda!

After you’ve written your Saturday post tomorrow, please link it here to this week’s prompt page and check to make sure it’s here in the comments so others can find it and see your awesome Stream of Consciousness post. Anyone can join in!

To make your post more visible, use our beautiful SoCS badge! Just paste it in your Saturday post so people browsing the reader will immediately know your post is stream of consciousness and/or pin it as a widget to your site to show you’re a participant. Wear it with pride!!

How in the world am I going to keep up with all the new plants in the garden?, as I brush the dirt off the computer. At least no replacing them next year. That is the objective.

This year we decided to turn our flower pots to all Perrinialls and I bought all new plants. Two roses, a Gardenia, two Hydrangeas, two verbenas, and I forget from there. I had to buy larger pots for a few plants. We also had to move the Peony to the east side of the house as the spot we had it in was too much sun. I look forward to its fragrant blooms.

I’ve planted two of the four Rosemary plants and planted the Gardenia this morning.

The watering has already started and it’s nowhere near summer but with new plants, you have to keep your eyes on them.

We lost all of our shrubs in the great storm of 2021 and so this year we have new scrubs, I can’t wait till they are a little larger It’s hard to see the effect I’m going for now. For the first time, we planted some bulbs that you leave in the ground, no digging up for me. They look like large purple balls. I can’t wait, they are peaking thru now.

I’m eager, just four more plants to get in the pots and I’ll be Spring ready!

Melinda

Here are the rules:

1. Your post must be stream of consciousness writing, meaning no editing (typos can be fixed), and minimal planning on what you’re going to write.

2. Your post can be as long or as short as you want it to be. One sentence – one thousand words. Fact, fiction, poetry – it doesn’t matter. Just let the words carry you along until you’re ready to stop.

3. I will post the prompt here on my blog every Friday, along with a reminder for you to join in. The prompt will be one random thing, but it will not be a particular subject. For instance, I will not say “Write about dogs”; the prompt will be more like, “Make your first sentence a question,” “Begin with the word ‘The,’” or will simply be a single word to get you started.

4. Ping back! It’s important, so that I and other people can come and read your post! For example, in your post you can write “This post is part of SoCS:” and then copy and paste the URL found in your address bar at the top of this post into yours. Your link will show up in my comments for everyone to see. The most recent pingbacks will be found at the top. NOTE: Pingbacks only work from WordPress sites. If you’re self-hosted or are participating from another host, such as Blogger, please leave a link to your post in the comments below.

5. Read at least one other person’s blog who has linked back their post. Even better, read all of them! If you’re the first person to link back, you can check back later or go to the previous week by following my category, “Stream of Consciousness Saturday,” which you’ll find below the “Like” button on my post.

6. Copy and paste the rules (if you’d like to) in your post. The more people who join in, the more new bloggers you’ll meet and the bigger your community will get!

7. As a suggestion, tag your post “SoCS” and/or “#SoCS” for more exposure and more views.

8. Have fun!

For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at:

Linda G Hill

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day (10 April)

April 7, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

I’m so excited to see this day recognized. When you are young you think you are invincible but the facts are you are not. IF you have unprotected sex or oral sex you can get HIV/AIDS. Please know the facts and parents please have this critical conversation with your kids.

April 10 is National Youth HIV/AIDS Awareness Day, a day to raise awareness about the impact of HIV on young people. Together, we can help young people stay healthy by encouraging HIV testing, prevention, and treatment. https://bit.ly/3L4rKhS #StopHIVTogether #NYHAAD

Youth with HIV are the least likely of any age group to be aware of their infection and have a suppressed viral load. Addressing HIV in youth requires that young people have access to the information and tools they need to make healthy decisions, know their HIV status, reduce their risk for getting HIV, and get treatment and stay in care if they have HIV. Get the latest data on HIV among youth and find out how CDC is making a difference.

CDC-INFO

CDC’s national health information hotline, providing answers to your questions regarding HIV, how to protect yourself, and where to get an HIV test.
1-800-CDC-INFO (232-4636) | 1-888-232-6348 TTY
In English, en Español, 8 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday
www.cdc.gov/info

HIVinfo

A service of the United States Department of Health and Human Services (HHS), offers access to the latest, federally approved HIV/AIDS medical practice guidelines, HIV treatment and prevention clinical trials, and other research information for health care providers, researchers, people affected by HIV/AIDS, and the general public.
1-800-HIV-0440 (448-0440) | 1-888-480-3739 TTY
1-301-315-2816 (Outside United States)
In English, en Español, 1 pm to 4 pm ET, Monday through Friday
ContactUs@HIVinfo.NIH.gov | hivinfo.nih.gov/external icon

The Clinician Consultation Center

http://nccc.ucsf.eduexternal icon

Clinicians’ Warmline

Provides health care providers with expert clinical advice on preventing and treating HIV.
1-800-933-3413 | 9 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday

Perinatal HIV Hotline

Provides clinicians with around-the-clock advice on indications and interpretations of HIV testing in pregnancy, and consultation on antiretroviral use during pregnancy, labor and delivery, and the postpartum period.
1-888-448-8765 | 24 hours, seven days a week

PEPline

Provides expert guidance in managing health care worker exposures to HIV and hepatitis B and C. Clinicians receive immediate post-exposure prophylaxis (PEP) recommendations.
1-888-448-4911 | Occupational PEP: 11 am to 8 pm EST, seven days a week | Non-occupational PEP: 9 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday; 11 am to 8 pm EST, weekends and holidays

PrEPline

Provides expert guidance on considerations for providing pre-exposure prophylaxis (PrEP) to people who don’t have HIV as part of an HIV prevention program.
1-855-448-7737 | 9 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday

Substance Use Management

Peer-to-peer consultation from physicians, clinical pharmacists, and nurses with special expertise in substance use evaluation and management.
1-855-300-3595 | 9 am to 8 pm EST, Monday through Friday

There’s a ton of information out there on youth and HIV/AIDS so find some resources that work for you.

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.cdc.gov/hiv/group/age/youth/index.html

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

Just Pondering

April 7, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

By Live Bold and Bloom

Would you choose to be born into a different culture than the one you have?

Melinda

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

Book Review for Understanding Human Nature by Richard Brook

April 6, 2022April 11, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

A special thanks to Alice Rowe at The Book Publicist for providing a copy of Understanding Human Nature, A Users Guide To Life by Richard Brook for review.

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

Just Pondering

April 5, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

By Live Bold and Bloom

If you became the leader of the country, what would be the first thing that you do?

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

How To Work From Home Without Direct Supervision

April 5, 2022 Looking for the Light6 Comments

Working from home comes with many perks, but it also requires a massive level of independence without direct supervision. While some may consider this ‘freedom’ a blessing, it’s a nightmare for those who struggle to work independently. Being unable to work without supervision can affect your quality of work, quickly lead to trust issues between you and your superiors, cause micromanagement stress, and even cost you your job. Fortunately, you can change that. That said, here are some tips to help you work without direct supervision.

Start believing in yourself

If you feel you can’t handle a task on your own, you’re already setting yourself up for disappointment. Take the time to figure your skills out, identify which skills you lack, find ways to learn those skills, and hone the ones you already have. Next, trust your abilities and believe that you can handle the given tasks without supervision. However, working independently does not mean you cannot ask for assistance or clarification when needed, so the next point is also important.

Create a team system

Working remotely and independently does not mean you can’t have a team. It helps to create a team system around you, where you and your colleagues can work on independent tasks while collaborating. Either one person at a time will work independently of the team, or you can all work on solo projects while maintaining healthy communication. You’ll be surprised by how such collaboration can improve your ability to work without supervision.

And speaking about having a team, it also helps to have an assistant at home to take care of home distractions that make it difficult to focus on work. For example, you can rely on direct care services to help ease the burden of caring for a loved one or provide some personal assistant services. You can also rely on family members to help you out with some home responsibilities, so you can focus on work.

Initiate communication with your employers

Just because your superior wants you to be able to work unsupervised does not mean they’re not interested in assisting you when you need it or communicating with you. The last thing you want to do is wait for your superior to contact you first before explaining your struggles or asking for help. Always ensure that you initiate the communication and seek guidance.

Initiating communication shouldn’t be limited to asking for assistance; you should provide regular updates to your superiors, especially if you’re working on tasks that’ll take time to complete. Your superiors will want to know your progress, so you shouldn’t wait for them to call first to provide them with the necessary information.

Be proactive

Aside from initiating communications, be proactive in general. Think ahead and plan without waiting to receive orders. Make suggestions, and don’t hesitate to voice out issues you may have with assignments before you begin working on them. Also, it helps to learn how to work at a pace you can sustain and own up to your mistakes without making excuses.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

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

April Writing Prompts

April 3, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

Each month Sheryl at A Chronic Voice shares writing prompts for all with a chronic illness or disability to participate by sharing their story to help encourage others.

This month’s word prompts are:

Forgetting

Modifying

Maintaining

Vocalizing

Trusting

I’ve chosen three words, Forgetting, Modifying, and Trusting.

I’m choosing to forget all the times I couldn’t do something or go somewhere planned. It’s a burden that none should have to carry. It’s a big monkey on the shoulders that doesn’t go away unless you make an effort. When we make the decision that we are important, we learn to take care of ourselves. Part of taking care of ourselves is giving ourselves some grace. The house might not be as clean or you may have to skip an invitation with a friend or family member but you must come first in taking care of your health.

Reducing stress is taking care of ourselves, we have to plan activities, like a foot or hand mask, foot soak, meditation, and the list goes on. Remember self-care time is taking care of ourselves time.

My immune disorder has left me trapped in the house since before COVID started and it’s time to move forward in this Post Covid world. I’ve been getting my hair cut and colored, driven to a few appointments, and am going to sign up for a Self-Defense class. I have to modify my life, it’s too restrictive. If I start getting sick, then I’ll have to take stock but for now, it’s game on. I have a void in my life and it’s time to fill it.

I’m trusting that once I get active outside of the house that my health will improve, I know my mental health will improve as I work in the garden every day. I’ve ordered several very special flowers this year and bought more perennial flowers as well. My garden is my haven in the Spring and Summer and no matter how bad I feel the garden makes me feel better.

Thank you for reading and please be sure to check out Sheryl’s site, she is a wealth of knowledge and has a great archive.

Melinda

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

Stream of Consciousness Saturday #SOCS Prompt is Tip

April 2, 2022April 2, 2022 Looking for the Light25 Comments

Our Friday prompt for Stream of Consciousness Saturday is: “tip.” Use it as a noun or a verb. Have fun!

This prompt is easy, the tip of my tongue. The tip is so sore from rubbing it on my teeth and gums. I’ve read where a chip or something can set this obsessive behavior off. I just want it to stop. I feel like my tongue is going to split open. I’ve contacted my dentist and Phsychatrist but no word yet on a solution.

As for another tip, it’s actually several tips.

This is my first participation in at least a year so it’s a short one.

For more streams, rules, and tips for Stream of Consciousness Saturday, visit our host, Linda at:

https://lindaghill.com/2022/04/01/the-friday-reminder-and-prompt-for-socs-april-2-2022/

Have a great weekend.

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

April 2, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

By Live Bold and Bloom

Is stadium seating called bleachers because everyone gets blasted by the sun?

HAHAHAHAHA

Melinda

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

How A Chronic Primary Pain Diagnosis Changed My Life Webinar with Shannon Doughtery

March 31, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

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

Everyday Magic 3/31/2022

March 31, 2022March 31, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

I’m so glad you are enjoying Everyday Magic. I find it a good place to wind down and ask some important questions.

Bella and Grace by Stampington

No matter if you’re an introvert or an extrovert, it’s important to spend time alone.

What are some of your favorite things to do by yourself?

Enjoy your day!

Melinda

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

Holistic Health: 5 Common Reasons You May Be Struggling to Achieve Your Fitness Goals

March 30, 2022March 31, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

People choose to engage in exercise for many different reasons. Making exercise a part of your lifestyle can be challenging at first, but once you develop a routine, it becomes easier to follow. Once you’ve made it a routine, the next step is to not just get it done but to get it done efficiently and in a way that meets your reasons for engaging in an exercise in the first place.

If you’re struggling to achieve your fitness goals, you may be lacking a holistic approach to health.

What is holistic health?

Holistic health is a multifaceted approach to health that integrates all components of wellness. According to most definitions, holistic health has six components:

Physical
Mental
Spiritual
Intellectual
Social
Emotional

If you’re approaching your fitness routine exclusively from the physical component of health, you’re likely struggling to meet your goals.

Health-related barriers to achieving fitness goals

Some of the most common reasons you may be struggling to achieve your fitness goals include the following five non-physical health-related barriers:

Drug and alcohol misuse

While drug and alcohol abuse affects your physical health, they tend to develop due to deficiencies in the mental, spiritual, intellectual, social, and/or emotional components of holistic health. Substance abuse can affect your fitness performance by impacting your sleep, caloric intake, heart and liver health, and overall energy levels during workouts.

According to drug abuse statistics, substance abuse is more common than you might think. If you’re struggling with substance abuse to the extent that you feel unable to control your use, consider contacting a reputable detoxification center to start getting your health – and life – back on track.

Mental health issues

So much emphasis is placed on physical health that many people prioritize this over looking after their mental health. Mental health conditions like anxiety and depression can make engaging in regular exercise challenging.

These mental illnesses can also impact your overall energy levels. Without high energy levels, you may struggle to put in the time required to make healthy meals and push yourself in your workouts.

Disordered eating habits

A person can have disordered eating habits without having an eating disorder. Disordered eating habits include overly restricting calories, restricting certain food groups, ignoring hunger signals, and overeating.

Disordered eating habits can impact your metabolism and negatively impact the work you put in at the gym.

Aesthetics-driven exercise

Everyone knows that exercise benefits mobility, longevity, and overall quality of life. However, exercise is also often engaged in changing the appearance of the body. Both men and women are frequently plagued with images in the media that set a standard for what an attractive person ‘should’ look like.

If your primary motivation for engaging in exercise is aesthetic-based, you’re likely approaching exercise from a punishment perspective and have an increased risk of injury.

Poor self-image

Aesthetics-driven exercise is also often caused by a negative self-image. Without believing you’re worth it regardless of the way you look, you’ll struggle to meet your fitness goals.

To pursue health, you need to believe that you are worthy of health. You also need to recognize that the appearance of your body does not reflect your health status.

This is a collaborative post.

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Mini Me Health Update 3/30/2022

March 30, 2022 Looking for the Light13 Comments

I had an appointment with my Immunologist yesterday and it didn’t go as I thought it would.

A total disappointment this time. He laid out that my Hypogammaglobulinemia isn’t bad enough and insurance will only approve Antibody Infusion Treatments if I have been on antibiotics several times in one year. I didn’t understand that from our last appointment.

He did order a complete set of labs to see how my body is doing but I don’t think that is going to make much difference.

My ear has been bleeding and he found it was infected and prescribed a short-term antibiotic.

I go back in three weeks to see how the antibiotic is working and discuss my lab results.

He did take a look at the physical symptoms overview I shared with him and he encouraged me to see a Neurologist. I have a referral for a Rheumatologist at this time and will go from there. If no diagnosis comes out of the Rheumatologist then I’ll go see a Neurologist.

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Overview of Pain Management App Clearing

March 29, 2022April 12, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

I’ve heard it said a thousand times how doctors aren’t listening to their patients and their pain needs are going unmet. Clearing is a new Pain Management App that answers the call, it hears your stories and addresses each with a personalized regime backed by a professional team of doctors and has 24/7 support.

50+ million Americans deal with chronic pain, yet frequently feel stigmatized, dismissed, or left addicted to opioids. Combining technology with a patient-centric approach, we can build a new model of care that provides opioid-free relief for millions, while making it more affordable & accessible.

We’re transforming our broken pain care system by making it easy & affordable for patients to access the specific physical and mental treatments they need to find relief. We are the only vertically integrated chronic pain management platform, combining prescription medications, physical exercise, health coaching, and 1:1 doctor-patient consultations.

“There are way too many people who are suffering without getting the care they need, and it just doesn’t need to be that way.” ~ Dr. Jacob Hascalovici

Your pain treatment, on your terms and your schedule

Your time and mental health are too important to give up. Let Clearing handle your treatment plan, support team, and pain history in one place.

Whole-body healthcare to treat your pain from home

Comprehensive

Treatment that addresses physical pain, emotional strain, and the need for support.

Personalized

Each program is personalized for each patient, evolving over time and under the care of doctors trained in treating chronic pain.

Convenient

Treatments delivered to your door, virtual doctor visits, and 24/7 messaging access to your care team really make a difference.

What is the biggest issue you have with healthcare providers?

The list is long isn’t it? Clearing is addressing each of the issues with a comprehensive system backed by some of the biggest names in Pain Management from Harvard to John Hopkins.

Clearing’s Medical Advisory Board

A network of highly trained Neurologists, Anesthesiologists, Psychiatrists, and Orthopedic Surgeons who specialize in treating pain.

How does Clearing work?

Clearing starts by gathering all medical information, and life experiences and asking a series of questions to better understand your pain-needs. From there, your profile is reviewed by a medical specialist and a telehealth appointment is scheduled.

After meeting with your doctor a comprehensive personalized regime lays the groundwork for moving forward in your pain journey as the team works side by side with you to fine-tune the plan.

Here are a few types of Pain Clearing Supports

Arthritis

Fibromyalgia

Wrist Pain

Sore Ankles

Back Pain

Shoulder Pain

Feet Tingles

For a comprehensive list go to Clearing here.

It’s important to understand Clearing is an opioid-free solution. The types of therapy offered can include nutraceuticals, a prescription compound cream, CBD cream, targeted exercises, and access to pain specialists who can guide you toward better pain management.

If you’re ready to take the next step in your pain journey, get started now with a trial.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

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

Help Us Celebrate Our 8th Anniversary — Survivors Blog Here Mental Health Collaborative

March 29, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

In 2014 an idea was hatched to create a site that would allow everyone to share their story in a safe environment and Survivors Blog Here was born. Now it’s 2022, it’s hard to put into words what the past eight years have meant to me and the contributors of Survivors Blog Here. We have […]
Help Us Celebrate Our 8th Anniversary — Survivors Blog Here Mental Health Collaborative

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

Blogger Highlight-Bipolar: A Way Of Life

March 28, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

Thank you for all the great feedback on the Blogger Highlight series, I’ve enjoyed meeting each blogger and sharing their site with you. This week I highlight a new blogger, Bipolar: A Way Of Life.

Bipolar: A Way Of Life

Diagnosed with Bipolar and BPD, I have been managing these illnesses for the last 30 years.

I’ve lived a pretty good life and have stayed out of trouble. I’ve learned what works and what doesn’t. Really it’s all about living a balanced life and everything in moderation.

I’m a Fur Mom to Luna, a Former Professional who went out on Longterm Disability, and also a Single Living on a Budget.

My Interests include: Psychology, Christian Living, Healthy Living, Reading, & Jigsaw Puzzles.

I talk about a variety of things in my blog.

Mostly the things I’ve learned and how I live my life.

Be sure to check out her blog to read her most recent posts. She’s hit home on several posts I’ve read recently, most recent the need to shop to fill a void. I fall into that category even with happy home life and years of therapy. Maybe you do too?

Melinda

See last week’s Blogger Highlight here.

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

Book Review How To Breathe Like A Badass by Hannah Jane Thompson

March 28, 2022April 6, 2022 Looking for the Light1 Comment

I want to say a special thank you to Managing Editor Soraya Nair of Trigger Publishing for sending me the book How To Breathe Like A Badass by Hannah Jane Thompson for review.

Breathe Like a Badass: Beat Anxiety and Self Doubt, Calm Your Inner Critic & Build a No-Nonsense Mindfulness and Meditation Toolkitme and Build Your No-Nonsense Mindfulness and Meditation Toolkit by [Hannah Jane Thompson]

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Hannah Jane Thompson

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Breathe Like a Badass: Beat Anxiety and Self Doubt, Calm Your Inner Critic & Build a No-Nonsense Mindfulness and Meditation Toolkitme and Build Your No-Nonsense Mindfulness and Meditation Toolkit Kindle Edition

About the Author

Hannah Jane Thompson is a qualified mindfulness meditation teacher and certified life coach. She runs Breathe Like a Badass, a personalised online meditation service helping ambitious-but-anxious women all over the world beat stress and anxiety, overcome imposter syndrome and get productive without burning out.

Hannah discovered meditation herself over a decade ago, after years of struggling with anxiety, low self-worth, bad break-ups, lack of career direction, and even less self-compassion. Hannah’s work focuses on personalised meditation – a mixture of life coaching and a variety of different meditation techniques – designed around the goals and personality of each individual.

Hannah currently lives in Abingdon, Oxfordshire, with her long-term partner Oliver and her Norfolk-Jack Russell cross puppy, Luqa.

When she’s not meditating, she can be found doing at-home yoga, drinking coffee or gin, eating Nutella with a spoon, crocheting, hunting for the nearest woodfired pizza, thinking about maybe going for a run, planning her next escape to the sun, wearing massive earrings, and snuggling with her dog.

Blurb

Breathe Like a Badass is a no-BS guide to creating a life-changing, burnout-busting emotional toolkit – one breath at a time. Want to quieten your inner critic, rediscover your inner badass and build a successful, freedom-filled life you love? Then BREATHE.

Hannah Jane Thompson is on a mission to help ambitious-but-anxious women like you banish patterns of self-sabotage.

This down-to-earth guide teaches you how to start – and stick to – a non-woo woo meditation habit (no chakras or chunks of rose quartz here, sorry) that will help calm anxiety, beat self-doubt, and build a focused, fulfilled and happy life.

Using scientifically proven mindfulness, meditation and self-reflection techniques, Hannah will help you turn your inner critic from b*tch to badass and create an emotional toolkit to use when life gets tough.

Through acceptance and self-compassion, you can transform all areas of your life – from working on your mental health, calming anxiety, stress and depression; to giving fewer sh*ts about what others think and improving your sex life, body confidence, relationships, career and finances.

My Thoughts

I love this quote she includes in the book.

“You can’t stop the waves, but you can learn to surf.”
Jon Kabat-Zinn, professor and mindfulness expert”

Learn to surf we must if we are to move forward in life. One key is to learn to be aware of our self-talk and inner criticism. Hannah’s goal is to show how to slow down, learn to listen to your inner voice, and bring more balance into your life.

This book is unlike other meditation books I’ve read in that Hannah breaks things down to the bone. There’s no fluff here, no sage burning or mystic crystals. Just straightforward conversation in a manner you can understand and can make part of your daily routine right away. If your looking for fluff don’t buy this book.

Excerpt From
Breathe Like A Badass

“That’s how I realized that making new habits isn’t about willpower, or how much you want it, or finding the exact right time or moment. It’s about repetition, and not waiting until everything is perfect to start. If I had waited until I felt calm enough, ready enough, or had the perfect place or the perfect time to begin learning to meditate, I would never have got started.”

Isn’t this paragraph about life, really? If we waited for everything to be perfect to happen in our lives, nothing would happen, or something we aren’t controlling. That’s the point, we have to take the wheel in life.

She lays out the basics of what is meditation and she makes it easy to see how meditation can fit into your life with practice and a little patience.

I recommend this book to all women who want to learn how to calm their inner voice.

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.

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@lookinglight

Celebrate Life · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Happy Mother’s Day

March 27, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

To all the mothers in the UK, Happy Mother’s Day!

Photo by Kristina Paukshtite on Pexels.com

You probably haven’t been told often enough how much you are appreciated but today I’m telling you that you are! These flowers are for you.

Have a beautiful day!

Melinda

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

Sunday Quote

March 27, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

I hope you’re having a great day. Here’s some food for thought.

SHE IS A BEAUTIFUL
PIECE OF BROKEN
POTTERY. PUT BACK
TOGETHER
BY HER OWN HANDS
A CRITICAL WORLD
JUDGES HER CRACKS
WHILE MISSING
THE BEAUTY OF
HOW SHE MADE
HERSELF WHOLE
AGAIN.

J.m. Storm

Melinda

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

Just Pondering

March 24, 2022 Looking for the Light10 Comments

By Live Bold and Bloom

Do you think that you would feel like you had more time if we decided that the day had 48 hours instead of 24?

Melinda

Health and Wellbeing · Men & Womens Health · Mental Health

Endometriosis Awareness Month

March 24, 2022 Looking for the Light4 Comments

National Endometriosis Awareness Month was an initiation taken by The Endometriosis Association in 1993. This month is observed worldwide through various activities that involve educating people about the condition, fundraising, and marches. Yellow ribbons and brochures are distributed worldwide to honor National Endometriosis Awareness Month.

Endometriosis is an inflammatory condition where endometrial tissue (tissue similar to the lining of the uterus) grows outside of the uterus. It is estimated that 1 in 10 women have endometriosis (Zondervan 2020). Endometriosis frequently presents with the symptom of pain including dysmenorrhoea (painful periods), dyspareunia (pain during sexual intercourse), and chronic pelvic or abdominal pain. Endometriosis can cause infertility and for women with subfertility the prevalence rate ranges from 25% to 40% (Ozkan 2008).

The causes of endometriosis are uncertain, but several factors such as genetics, retrograde period flow, (where blood flows back into the pelvis instead of out of the body,) immune system disorders, and hormones are possible influencers.

Treatment ranges from symptom management with pain medication and hormone therapy such as oral contraceptives to surgical treatment. Conservative surgery involves removing the misplaced endometrial tissue while preserving the uterus, though in severe cases a hysterectomy may be performed.

Endometriosis can have a devastating effect on the quality of life of individuals suffering from this disorder and can have a huge impact on their physical, mental, and social well-being.

Before my hysterectomy from Cervical Cancer, I suffered from Endometriosis, it was horrible. I started my period when I was nine and by 12 years old I was in excruciating pain and started taking pain pills. This went on for another 19 years. I’ve been pain-free since my hysterectomy

Melinda

Reference:

https://www.cochrane.org/news/endometriosis-awareness-month-2022

https://nationaltoday.com/national-endometriosis-awareness-month/

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

Just Pondering

March 23, 2022 Looking for the LightLeave a comment

By Live Bold and Bloom

Melinda

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

World Water Day March 22, 2022

March 22, 2022 Looking for the Light2 Comments

World Water Day is observed each year on 22 March. The day, which was established by the United Nations was first celebrated in 1993 to celebrate the importance of freshwater around the globe.

Did you know that over 45% of the world’s land surface is covered by river basins, and over 75% of all countries have their boundaries within shared river basins.

All around the world events will be held to celebrate freshwater and promote its sustainability, and every year there is a different theme. The theme for 2019 is “Leaving no one behind”.

From water and our future to sanitation and water scarcity, the day aims to keep us informed, and in a whole host of different ways!

Around the world there will be an array of events, from musical performances to galas, art shows and seminars.

So why not get involved? Find out all you need to know by dropping by the official website to see how you can participate.

We use water every day for so many things we do and often times we take for granted the water will always flow. Unfortunately, it won’t and for many countries, there already have a major water crisis. Some countries don’t have access to clean water.

We can do simple things like turn off the water when we brush our teeth, make sure we don’t have any leaks in our house, only run the dishwasher when it’s full, and the same for adjusting the level of water based on the size of the load. One thing I do as often as possible is collect rainwater so I can use it to water my plants. The plants love the non-chemical water and I love that it’s free.

Melinda

Reference:

http://www.national-awareness-days.com/world-water-day/

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

Just Pondering

March 20, 2022 Looking for the Light3 Comments

By Live Bold and Bloom

Which is the greater loss: failing or never trying?

Melinda

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

Book Review of How Do You Feel? by Suki Bains

March 18, 2022March 27, 2022 Looking for the Light8 Comments

I was kindly gifted an advanced copy of How Do You Feel?-A Holistic Guide to help you work with your mental, emotional, physical, spiritual, and whole Self by Suki Bains from Soraya Nair at Cherish Editions for a review.

About the Author

Suki Bains drew on her own life experiences, analysis and years of education to build the one-of-a-kind programme introduced in How Do You Feel? She has taken Holistic training courses and has independently researched subjects like mental health and psychology. Suki has lived in several countries, where she learned to immerse herself into different cultures, and this has given her a unique point of view and the ability to view life from many perspectives. Plus, she has always been an empath, so opening up and exploring emotions is nothing new. And now, she sets out to help you on the same path so that you, too, can get to know yourself on the deepest level – and maintain that important relationship for years to come.

Blurb

Beneath every reaction, action, and behavior lies the truth of how you feel.

Are you aligned with your truth? There will be days when you find it hard to make sense of life and struggle to process or express how you feel.

Why? Your mind and body experience two worlds. The outside world, which teaches you who you should be and how you should be; and the inside world, where your emotions, feelings, and thoughts live. Only you can feel and see this place inside of yourself -If you do not know how to align your two worlds, you will bury, dismiss, reject or suppress your feelings. This can lead you to react and act and behave in ways that do not serve you.

The Answer: How Do You Feel? is a holistic guide that helps you see your whole self clearly. It includes a dictionary of feelings that helps you define your emotions and feelings and work with your inner self, as well as exercises to help the mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual parts of yourself. It will also inspire self- reflection so you can uncover the truth of who you are and how you feel. Altogether, this powerful guide will allow you to align with your true self and empower you through every stage of your life.

Profits from the sale of all Trigger and Cherish books go to sister charity, Shawmind. The charity aims to ensure that everyone has access to mental health resources whenever they need them.

My Thoughts

Can we truly know ourselves? This is an important question as it can lead to greater fulfillment in life. Suki’s guide is a holistic approach to answering this very question. She draws her on years of experience to create exercises that focus on mental, emotional, physical, and spiritual health awareness.

One advantage this book has over others is that it includes a dictionary of feelings that can help you define your emotions which can only aid you in speaking your truth.

“Only when you see your whole self clearly, inside and out, can you start to take steps to work with your whole self rather than against your whole self.”

How Do You Feel is a book that you can refer to over the years, it’s not a one-time read. We all need refreshers and reinforcement.

Suki is inspiring, she shares from her heart and is not over technical in her writing which I appreciate.

I would recommend this book to everyone! We all need to dig deeper into how we truly feel and better understand ourselves.

Cherish Editions

Cherish Editions is the self-publishing division of Trigger Publishing, the UK’s leading independent mental health and wellbeing publisher.

We are experienced in creating and selling positive, responsible, important and inspirational books, which work to de-stigmatise the issues around mental health, as well as helping people who read them to maintain and improve their mental health and wellbeing. By choosing to publish through Cherish Editions, you will get the expertise of the dedicated Trigger Team at every step of the process.

We are proud of what we do, and passionate about the books that we publish. We want to do the very best for you and your book, holding your hand every step of the way.

Enjoy Reading

Melinda

Looking for the Light

@LookingLight