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
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.”
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.
April is Parkinson’s Awareness Month. This year, we want everyone to take action to impact the future of Parkinson’s disease (PD). Whether that means learning how to navigate your own future with Parkinson’s or helping us create a world without PD, together we can make a difference.
HISTORY OF PARKINSON’S AWARENESS MONTH
Parkinson’s disease is a neurodegenerative disease that primarily affects dopamine-producing neurons in a certain part of the brain. It is a mobility disorder caused by a degenerative neural system dysfunction. Symptoms appear over time. At a summit in Luxembourg on April 11, 2005, the red tulip was unveiled as the global symbol of Parkinson’s disease.
Tremors, movement, and balance difficulties, limb rigidity, and delayed muscle action are all symptoms of this slowly advancing illness. While each person’s reaction to the disease differs, the consequences are frequently serious. There is no cure for this disease, and additional research is required. Although awareness, medications, and information can help those who are impacted by the condition, they are not a cure. Symptoms are used to diagnose typical cases, with motor issues being the most common complaint. Approximately 10 million people in the world have Parkinson’s.
The Parkinson’s Foundation has a weekly informative podcast. They have fitness classes for patients, as well as educational seminars. Exercise can greatly stem the symptoms of Parkinson’s. Aerobic exercise helps build new pathways in the brain to replace those that were damaged. This leads to the improvement of motor symptoms. April is Parkinson’s Disease Awareness Month because it is the birth month of James Parkinson. He was the London physician who published “An Essay on the Shaking Palsy” in 1817. He was the first physician to describe Parkinson’s disease.
My great uncle had Parkinson’s, or they didn’t have a name for it then but we’re sure it was Parkinson’s. I was about nine years old when I met him and he couldn’t feed himself and his hands shook all the time. I would feed him and rub his hands in hopes it would help the tremors.
Look at Michael J Fox, he’s done more for Parkinson’s since he was diagnosed. Michael shows us how to live and the struggle is real.
Welcome to the Weekend Edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.
1866
ASPCA is founded
On April 10, 1866, the American Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals (ASPCA) is founded in New York City by philanthropist and diplomat Henry Bergh, 54.
In 1863, Bergh had been appointed by President Abraham Lincoln to a diplomatic post at the Russian court of Czar Alexander II. It was there that he was horrified to witness work horses beaten by their peasant drivers. En route back to America, a June 1865 visit to the Royal Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals in London awakened his determination to secure a charter not only to incorporate the ASPCA but to exercise the power to arrest and prosecute violators of the law.
The legendary rock band the Beatles spent the better part of three years breaking up in the late 1960s, and even longer than that hashing out who did what and why. And by the spring of 1970, there was little more than a tangled set of business relationships keeping the group …read more
On April 10, 1941, the German and Italian invaders of Yugoslavia set up the Independent State of Croatia (also including Bosnia and Herzegovina) and place nationalist leader Ante Pavelic’s Ustase, pro-fascist insurgents, in control of what is no more than a puppet Axis regime. …read more
The U.S. table tennis team begins a weeklong visit to the People’s Republic of China (PRC) at the invitation of China’s communist government. The well-publicized trip was part of the PRC’s attempt to build closer diplomatic relations with the United States, and was the beginning …read more
1953
First color 3-D film opens
On April 10, 1953, the horror film The House of Wax, starring Vincent Price, opens at New York’s Paramount Theater. Released by Warner Brothers, it was the first movie from a major motion-picture studio to be shot using the three-dimensional, or stereoscopic, film process and one of the first horror films to be shot in color.
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:
Although no longer connected to the beer company, Guinness World Records was founded by the managing director of Guinness Brewery in the 1950s. (guinnessworldrecords.com).
Michelin stars are highly coveted by elite and upscale restaurants the world over—but they’re actually given out by the Michelin tire company, the same one whose mascot is the marshmallow-like Michelin Man. If you want to get fancy, pronounce it in the original French, “mich-LEH.” (michelin.com)
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 don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
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
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.
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.
Sexual Assault Awareness Month is very important to the community and survivors. I’ve been assaulted more than once, as a child and again as an adult. I was very scared and in both cases I did nothing. Both were by people I knew and that muddies the waters in your head even when you say no.
At RAINN, we’re dedicated to supporting survivors of sexual violence every day of the year—but each April for Sexual Assault Awareness and Prevention Month (#SAAPM) we do a little something different. During SAAPM, we ask individuals and communities across the country to engage with this issue by learning more about sexual violence, sharing information, bringing together our community, volunteering, and donating. Below we have everything you need—information, planning tips, social media posts and graphics—so you can easily share, tweet, and tag with @RAINN throughout the month. Together, we can support survivors and change the way our communities respond to sexual violence.
The only person responsible for committing sexual assault is a perpetrator, but all of us have the ability to look out for each other’s safety. Whether it’s giving someone a safe ride home from a party or directly confronting a person who is engaging in threatening behavior, anyone can help prevent sexual violence.
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.
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.
I’ve watched many services on TV during Ramadan and it’s breathtaking. People travel for thousands of miles on foot to go to Mecca to hear prayers and to celebrate with other Muslims.
It’s a journey I would like to take one day, I’m a Christain but that doesn’t take away from the Holy prayers that are said and the awe of being there. Now that doesn’t mean that Christians are welcome, that’s just my desire.
It’s a mash-up that’s for sure. It’s civilized but with so many people, it’s overwhelming.
Have a blessed month, I hope you receive prayers and lots of love during Ramadan.
This series highlight bloggers you may not run across while searching. I know you’ll find some great blogs to follow and maybe make a few friends along the way. Keep your eye open each week for a new blogger.
I am a 35 year old daughter of a King, wife, mother, daughter, sister, friend. I am a Nurse Practitioner with the privilege of caring for diverse group of people. I have a passion for God, guiding others, and making mental health as discussed as physical health. I have been frozen in the fire far to many times and have finally made my way out.
“Owning your story is not about sharing the mistakes
of others.
It is about RISING UP IN GRACE
to create the life you desire with the pain, grief,
happiness, hope and love you have experienced.”
JESSICA LYNN
I wanted to highlight Jessica’s blog because she’s real, raw, and makes mental health a priority in her conversations.
Her most recent post, Hero Heart is an open letter to her children that will warm your heart. It touched me because it made me realize how important it is for children to hear their parents’ thoughts and I never had that kind of attention growing up.
Please check out Jessica’s blog for more great posts.
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.
Welcome to the Weekend Edition of Today in History. I’m so glad you’re enjoying the post. Have an awesome weekend.
1860
On April 3, 1860, the first Pony Express mail, traveling by horse and rider relay teams, simultaneously leaves St. Joseph, Missouri, and Sacramento, California. Ten days later, on April 13, the westbound rider and mail packet completed the approximately 1,800-mile journey and arrived in Sacramento, beating the eastbound packet’s arrival in St. Joseph by two days and setting a new standard for speedy mail delivery. Although ultimately short-lived and unprofitable, the Pony Express captivated America’s imagination and helped win federal aid for a more economical overland postal system. It also contributed to the economy of the towns on its route and served the mail-service needs of the American West in the days before the telegraph or an efficient transcontinental railroad.
1936
Bruno Hauptmann, convicted of kidnapping Lindbergh’s son, executed
Bruno Richard Hauptmann, convicted in the 1932 kidnapping and murder of the 20-month-old son of Charles A. Lindbergh, is executed by electrocution. On March 1, 1932, Charles Lindbergh Jr., the son of the famous American aviator who made the first solo, nonstop transatlantic …read more
1978
“Annie Hall” beats out “Star Wars” for Best Picture
The rise of the action-adventure blockbuster was on the horizon, but on April 3, 1978, the small-scale romantic comedy triumphs over the big-budget space extravaganza. At the 50th annual Academy Awards, held at the Dorothy Chandler Pavilion in Los Angeles, Woody Allen’s Annie …read more
1882
Jesse James is murdered
One of America’s most famous criminals, Jesse James, is shot to death by fellow gang member Bob Ford, who betrayed James for reward money. For 16 years, Jesse and his brother, Frank, committed robberies and murders throughout the Midwest. Detective magazines and pulp novels …read more
1996
Unabomber arrested
At his small wilderness cabin near Lincoln, Montana, Theodore John Kaczynski is arrested by FBI agents and accused of being the Unabomber, the elusive terrorist blamed for 16 mail bombs that killed three people and injured 23 during an 18-year period. Kaczynski, born in Chicago …read more
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:
I’m so glad you are enjoying Fun Facts. I learn something new each week, even if it’s weird. I love hearing your comments!
Play-Doh started out as a wallpaper cleaner before the head of the struggling company realized the non-toxic material made a good modeling clay for children and rebranded it. (museumofplay.org)
In the 1940s, a retired schoolteacher came up with Candyland to entertain children who were hospitalized from polio. Because its color system required no reading, young kids could easily play. (toyhalloffame.org)
People started wearing pajamas, originally spelled “pyjamas,” instead of nightgowns so they’d be prepared to run outside in public during World War I air raids in England. (bbc.co.uk)
At Medieval Times dinner attractions, you eat with your hands because people didn’t use utensils in the middle ages. (medievaltimes.com)
Freelancers originally referred to self-employed, sword-wielding mercenaries: literally “free lancers.” (merriam-webster.com)
Introducing a pet dog into your life is a big commitment, and your new four-legged friend will change your life in many ways. So, before you decide to become a dog parent, you must ensure you are prepared for the work involved in caring for a new pet. If you feel that bringing a dog into your life is the right decision, you will find that your new companion enriches your life in many ways. Your new pet will be your constant companion and a truly loyal friend. As your dog brings so much joy to your life, you may be wondering how to give your dog the best quality of life. Here are some ways to ensure your new pet gets to live its best life every day:
Socializing with your dog is an excellent way to ensure they have the best start in life. But, before you begin mixing your dog with other animals, you need to ensure they have had their vaccinations and the all-clear from the vet. Attending training classes once you can ensure your pet feels confident around other people and dogs, making life a lot easier for both of you when you are out and about. As well as being a valuable way to socialize your pet, training classes help instill good behavior in your dog from the start. The better behaved your dog is and the easier they find it to be around other animals and people, the better it is for you both. It is much easier to take your dog places if they are well-trained which means you don’t need to leave them at home.
Feed Your Dog a Healthy Diet
Your dog’s diet is vital to their health, so they need the right food to feel at their best. While it is tempting to feed your dog lots of treats and scraps of your food, it is best to stick to feeding them high-quality dog food. Choosing the right food for your dog will ensure that they get all the necessary nutrients to stay fit and healthy. Once you start looking at the many different dog foods available, you may struggle to know which is the right choice for your pet. Looking at walmart pet food and comparing the brands should help make it easier to find the best option. It is best to select a brand that says it is a ‘complete’ food as this will ensure it contains all the vital nutrients your adult dog needs.
Provide Plenty of Opportunities for Exercise
All dogs need exercise, so providing plenty of opportunities for your dog to be active is essential. The activity your dog needs depends on its age and breed. Too much exercise can be bad for young dogs and certain breeds, putting excessive stress on their joints. So, ensuring your dog gets the appropriate amount of activity for their breed and stage in life is essential to keep them happy and living their best life.
I’m thrilled to announce that The Daily Addict has joined Survivors Blog Here. I’ve been reading her posts for months and knew she would make a great addition to the group. Photo by Secret Garden on Pexels.com The Daily Addict -” I have a disease that has a spiritual solution” You can read her last […]
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 don’t forget to use the hashtag #WeekendMusicShare on social media so other participants can find your post.
Join Lin Health for a free webinar, How A Chronic Primary Pain Diagnosis Changed My Life.
Hi Melinda,
If you’re interested in learning about the diagnosis that changed everything for a fibromyalgia patient-turned pain recovery coach, you’re in for a treat!
You’ll learn: Why traditional approaches to Shannon’s pain failed The new science that changed everything for her chronic pain How the new research is helping thousands of people reclaim their lives from chronic pain
If you’d like to attend this free webinar, click the button to grab your spot. Register for webinar Please note this is a free event – you are more than welcome to share this email with anyone in your life you think might benefit from it. Shannon and I will chat for 45 minutes, and then we will open the floor for a 15-minute question and answer session at the end.
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.
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.
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.
Looking for the Light 