‘Walking is a man’s best medicine’ – Hippocrates You’ve no doubt heard that we should all be aiming to walk 10,000 steps every day. But did you know that this figure actually came about from a Japanese advertising slogan, rather than being based on medical science? Honestly – google it!! The important thing is that […]
18 reasons why walking is good for you! — Happy Healthy Me – a Journey
Enjoy!
Melinda
It’s hard to believe that two centuries ago, most people didn’t have access to a garden. The best they could hope for was a park. Today, though, things are different. The majority of people have a garden at the back of their home where they can feel a little closer to nature.
And that’s good news: gardens can work wonders for your mental health. Here’s how:
For some people, just watching seeds they’ve planted grow into full-grown plants can be an extremely edifying experience. You’re doing something that is allowing life to flourish – and that can make you feel great. Spending time in nature to better your mental health is ideal and recommended, which is evident from the Second Nature Utah Reviews. Going to an outdoor therapy retreat can be incredible for your well-being and mental health, which is something you might wish to try if you want to work on yourself.
Do you remember lounging around in summerhouses while you were young, reading a book without a care in the world? If so, you’ll know all about the incredible calming powers of gardens.
Just spending a couple of hours in the garden can be enough to allow the stress to drain from your body. The person who steps back into the house after lounging in the sun is not the one who stepped out of it two hours before.
Because you have more space, you’re much freer to move your body in the garden than you are in the house. In turn, this helps to elevate your mood. Your brain releases a host of feel-good hormones that circulate around your body, changing how you feel.
As modern humans, we’ve largely lost our connection to nature. We’ve forgotten that we’re not just strange aliens who arrived on Earth out of the blue but instead products of this planet. As such, we’re at our best when we’re in nature, enjoying its surroundings.
Sometimes, though, we forget this, particularly if we live in giant modern cities. Our built environment does not resemble nature and can leave us feeling alienated and lost, without really knowing why.
Having a garden helps to reverse this by putting you back in touch with your roots, if only in a small way. Many people report feeling sensations of biophilia when out in nature — the profound sense that “this is where I should be.” This alone can be enough to transform your mental health, reminding you that nature is bigger than it appears on the television screen.
Of course, even gardening comes with risks. Make sure that you don’t spend too long out in the sun to avoid skin damage. Drink plenty of water when outside.
Gardening can lead to a host of bacterial and insect-borne illnesses. These include:
So long as you protect yourself, you should be safe in the garden. Simply spending more time outdoors can work wonders for your mental health, particularly if your job requires you to be in the office all week.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments each week.
Melinda
We have one tree out front that lost several limbs due to ice. My husband had to go on the house and pull one larger limb off the roof. It’s beautiful outside of course that’s from the inside in the warmth. Tonight the roads are re-freezing and will be another morning with hundreds of accidents since people won’t stay off the roads.
Be Safe!
Melinda
Addiction whether it be to alcohol, drugs, gambling, sex, spending money or food, to name a few, is ultimately a maladaptive behaviour that has emerged in response to an inability to manage deeply rooted fears and anxiety and low self-worth. Unfortunately what starts as a way to soothe our anxiety, numb our pain, make us […]
The Addiction Dilemma — Emma Pay
Chronic illness & depression are intimately linked. Here are 8 triggers from life with illness, pain & disability that affect mental health.
Chronic Illness & Depression : 8 Trigger Points — Invisibly Me
Melinda
Melinda
Most of us will react to things going wrong in our lives with shame and self-criticism. We ask ourselves what our problem is and why can’t we cope. This just creates further emotional distress and we seem to dig ourselves a hole that gets bigger and bigger with more emotions such as anger, despair, confusion, […]
Mindful Self-Compassion — Emma Pay
When you get married you commit to for better or worse and in sickness and in health. You don’t think those two things will happen early in your marriage if you think about them at all. Marriage is full of ups and downs, good and bad, and is very hard at times. When you add a chronic illness to the mix it can get complicated. Not every person is ready for the better or worse, or in sickness and in health.
Sacrifices are essential to living with someone with a Chronic Illness. There were years where my husband had to fill my medicine case each week, cook every meal, do all the laundry, help me shower, get me dressed, help me in and out of the car, walk me up and down the stairs, the list goes on and on. I haven’t seen the inside of a grocery store in years.
He gave up several hobbies he loved to make sure there was always time to take care of my medical and mental health needs. It comes at a cost to the partner’s mental health. I encouraged him to seek counseling which he did and it helped a great deal.
My husband has been caring for me and my health since we first married. Long before Lyme Disease, an Immune Deficiency Disorder, and Fibromyalgia, there was my Mental Illness to care for. I have Bipolar Disorder, which is a serious Mental Illness that requires constant monitoring and several medications to stay well.
From the very beginning, he had to keep an eye out for signs and symptoms. Ask gently if I had taken my medication and help me deal with my depression when the Black Dog moved in.
One of the things I asked from the very beginning was for him to sit in on my appointments with my Psychiatrist. I wanted him to understand how sick I was and hear it from the doctor, to hear me talk to the doctor. This would prove immensely helpful in the years to come.
I had to trust him with the darkest part of myself, my Bipolar Disorder and it was difficult at first but I knew it was needed if our marriage was going to work. I had to trust that he would listen and learn but not take over my healthcare unless I was a harm to myself.
One critical step my husband took is put my health before his career, it was a huge guilt trip for me. He passed up promotions and great opportunities to travel so that I would not be home alone. Just last week his boss asked all of the VP’s to lunch and he had to decline due to the rising cases of Omacrom. Ouch, that burns sometimes!
The truth is I don’t know what I would have done over the past 20 years without his sacrifices. If you have a chronic illness make sure you are transparent in the struggle and what may be required of them. If a dating relationship can’t withstand that challenge then a marriage certainly won’t.
Melinda
Bella and Grace by Stampington
Enjoy your day!
Melinda
This is a tricky topic. But I will share my own experience in this area because it is all that I truly know. Coming into recovery I was taught by those who went before me that to be clean means I cannot take any mind or mood altering substances. IF they are prescribed for me […]
Addicts and pain meds 1/30 — The daily addict
Mohandas Karamchand Gandhi, the political and spiritual leader of the Indian independence movement, is assassinated in New Delhi by a Hindu extremist.
Born the son of an Indian official in 1869, Gandhi’s Vaishnava mother was deeply religious and early on exposed her son to Jainism, a morally rigorous Indian religion that advocated nonviolence. Gandhi was an unremarkable student but in 1888 was given an opportunity to study law in England. In 1891, he returned to India, but failing to find regular legal work he accepted in 1893 a one-year contract in South Africa.
In Londonderry, Northern Ireland, 13 unarmed civil rights demonstrators are shot dead by British Army paratroopers in an event that becomes known as “Bloody Sunday.” The protesters, all Northern Catholics, were marching in protest of the British policy of internment of suspected …read more
With the stirring notes of the William Tell Overture and a shout of “Hi-yo, Silver! Away!” The Lone Ranger debuts on Detroit’s WXYZ radio station. The creation of station-owner George Trendle and writer Fran Striker, the “masked rider of the plains” became one of the most …read more
On January 30, 1920, Jujiro Matsuda (1875-1952) forms Toyo Cork Kogyo, a business that makes cork, in Hiroshima, Japan; just over a decade later the company produces its first automobile and eventually changes its name to Mazda. Today, Mazda is known for its affordable, …read more
In London, King Charles I is beheaded for treason on January 30, 1649. Charles ascended to the English throne in 1625 following the death of his father, King James I. In the first year of his reign, Charles offended his Protestant subjects by marrying Henrietta Maria, a Catholic …read more
Melinda
I have written about anxiety before. I have even written about some of the things below. I am writing about it again because I know someone out there has been through it or knows someone that has. Someone out there needs to know they are not alone. The Strange Feeling In My Head Many years […]
Another Anxiety Story — Webbblogs/Ocd and Me
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!
Enjoy!
Melinda
I learned to make this dish during my travels. It was at a hostel in Moab, Utah, where I first had a Thai curry so tasty that I decided I had to learn to make it myself. It took me several attempts, but I managed to create one that hit all the right notes. My […]
Curried Winter Vegetables — Micro of the Macro
Original Video
“There are losses that rearrange the world. Deaths that change the way you see everything. Grief that tears everything down. Pain that transports you to an entirely different universe, even while everyone else thinks nothing has really changed.” – Megan Devine
Grief and loss come in a multitude of forms. It may be the death of a person you have loved. The end of a meaningful relationship, for you. The loss of a job or the end of a career. A tragic accident or receiving shocking news.
Whatever kind of loss you are grieving for right now, it can help to be real and to process how you feel.
The questions below might help you with this:
1. What losses am I grieving? Who am I grieving for?
2. What is the most difficult time of day, for me?
3. Where in my body do I hold the…
View original post 132 more words
So glad you stopped by today, I look forward to your comments each week.
Melinda
“No one has the right to judge you, because no one really knows what you’ve been through. They didn’t feel what you felt in your heart.” Keep these words in mind the next time you feel that someone has some view, or opinion about you. – No one has the right to judge you. Absolutely […] […]
No one has the Right to Judge you — Don’t Lose Hope — Coaching Skills International
Dr. Lori Gore-Green discusses the second trimester of pregnancy.
Understanding the Second Trimester — Dr. Lori Gore-Green
The world of cosmetic surgery has recently seen an increase in the number of procedures becoming available to patients interested in improving their appearance. With the boom in popularity, a certain amount of controversy has come surrounding these surgeries. The rise in some non-surgical options leads to questions about which type is best for people considering enhancement.
Invasive vs non-invasive cosmetic surgery options have been a hot topic in the media. In some cases, the controversy about which is better for patients has led to botched surgeries and malpractice claims.
The most common question people ask is whether or not an invasive surgery is automatically better than a non-invasive procedure. While it might seem like there is a simple answer and that invasive surgery would be the preferred option, sometimes it can vary based on the person and their specific needs.
These surgeries are performed through cuts made in the skin rather than around or through it. The benefit of this cut is that the surgeon will have direct access to what they need to correct.
Because invasive surgeries require cuts, patients typically need to spend more time recovering from them and may not return to work as quickly.
These surgeries do not require any cuts in the skin, but instead, they create small incisions around the area they are working on.
The main difference between invasive and non-invasive cosmetic surgeries is where doctors make their incisions. While one requires cuts into the skin, the other allows surgeons to make small incisions around the area they need to work.
Invasive and non-invasive surgeries offer patients benefits and drawbacks, which is why it’s essential to talk about their differences with a surgeon. While some invasive surgeries may require more recovery time or have higher risks of complications, they often lead to better results that last longer. Non-invasive procedures are generally considered less risky, but they can often offer less accurate results that don’t last as long.
As with all medical procedures, patients need to understand which type of surgery is right for them before making a final decision about their cosmetic enhancements. Before choosing either invasive or non-invasive cosmetic surgeries, it’s helpful to speak with a surgeon about the risks and benefits of both to get the best results possible.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
Melinda
Did you know that over 60% of Americans have experienced childhood trauma of some sort? Yes, trauma faced while growing up is more common than you might think.
So common that you may have experienced trauma of some sort too. Perhaps you’ve repressed the memory, forgotten it, or even processed it – but it is essential to know where you’re at so you can move on in adulthood.
You may be wondering, how exactly can you measure trauma? Well, that’s where the childhood trauma test comes in. Below, we share the essential guide to the ACE childhood trauma test and everything you can learn from it.
The ACE childhood trauma test for adults is a score summing up the extent of difficult childhood experiences. The ACE test questions for childhood trauma include a series of 10 questions about various incidents that occur during the earlier stages of life.
According to the test, the rougher your childhood, the higher you’ll score on the quiz. This, in turn, has implications for experiences well into adulthood. For example, this may manifest in symptoms that range from headaches and heart disease to depression and substance abuse.
If you are interested in taking the test please use the link.
Please pass along if you know someone who may need some answers.
Melinda
Dr. Lori Gore-Green discusses the first trimester of pregnancy.
Understanding the First Trimester — Dr. Lori Gore-Green
Recently, there has been a big change in the way people think about the environment and about how they’re living on this planet. While not the norm as yet, self-sustaining homes are certainly becoming more popular because of this. And the idea of living ‘off-grid’ is something that many people are starting to consider. Although there will be plenty of challenges associated with this kind of lifestyle, the long-term positives outweigh the negatives.
One thing that you would need to consider, of course, is the cost of creating a self-sustaining home. Read on to find out more about what this would cost you and how you can offset those costs in the end.
Assuming you want to buy a property from scratch, you will need some land to build it on, and this will be the first cost to consider. How much you spend will depend entirely on how much land you need to buy and where you need to buy it. When you have a budget in mind, the best thing to do is to speak to a land expert who can source you the ideal plot.
Once you have the land, you’ll then need to build the property. Again, this will differ from place to place, so it’s worth speaking to Philadelphia architects to get some idea of how much it might cost.
The house is going to save you money in the long-term due to its sustainability factor – that’s one of the big benefits of building this kind of property in the first place, as well as the fact that it will help the planet hugely. However, that doesn’t mean that there won’t be other things to pay out for, at least initially.
Energy bills still need to be paid out until the house becomes entirely self-sustaining. It can take anything from months to years to become completely self-sufficient, so be aware that you might still need to ‘import’ electricity and water until you have enough for yourself. The same goes for your food.
Plus, you’ll need to spend money to ensure that the house is self-sustaining in the first place. This might mean installing solar panels, digging a well, or creating a vegetable garden – or all of the above, plus more. Many people choose to take out a short-term loan to cover these initial costs, knowing that the money they save overall will help them to pay it back more quickly.
There’s no doubt that building a self-sustaining home is going to cost you money. From the land to the labor costs and materials to the fact that self-sustainability doesn’t happen overnight, you could be spending many hundreds of thousands of dollars. Yet when you consider that you would have spent the same on a normal house but that ordinary house wouldn’t be good for the planet and wouldn’t eventually pay you back and allow you to live off-grid, you’ll see that it’s money well spent.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
It’s no secret that good oral hygiene is key to maintaining overall health. However, many people don’t realize that there are warning signs that can indicate a problem with your dental health. If you’re experiencing any of the following symptoms, it’s time to visit a dentist
If your gums are constantly bleeding, it’s a sign that something is wrong. Healthy gums don’t bleed easily and should only occasionally bleed after brushing your teeth. Bleeding gums can be a sign of gum disease, which, if left untreated, can lead to other health problems.
If your gums are receding, it means that the bone and tissue supporting your teeth is being lost. This can be a sign of gum disease but can also be caused by other factors such as brushing too hard or smoking. Receding gums can lead to tooth loss if left untreated.
Pain in your teeth can signify many different problems, from cavities to gum disease. It’s important to have tooth pain checked out by a dentist, as it could be a sign of something more serious.
Bad breath is often caused by bacteria in the mouth and can signify dental problems such as gum disease or tooth decay. If you’re experiencing bad breath that doesn’t go away after brushing your teeth, it’s time to visit the dentist.
Smoking also causes bad breath, so it’s especially important to visit the dentist regularly if you smoke.
If you’re experiencing dry mouth, it means that your mouth isn’t producing enough saliva. This can be a sign of many different problems, such as gum disease, Sjogren’s Syndrome, or medication side effects. In addition, a dry mouth can lead to tooth decay and other dental health problems if left untreated.
Swollen gums can be a sign of gum disease and should be checked out by a dentist. Swollen gums can also be a sign of other health problems, such as diabetes or HIV.
If you notice white spots on your teeth, it could be a sign of tooth decay. Tooth decay is a common problem and can lead to other dental health problems if left untreated.
White spots can also be a sign of fluorosis caused by too much fluoride in the water.
If your teeth feel loose, it could be a sign of gum disease. Gum disease can cause the gums to pull away from the teeth, leading to tooth loss if left untreated. If you’ve already lost a tooth, speak to your dentist about your options regarding dental implants. Anything can be fixed with the right solution.
If your gums are tender to the touch, it could be a sign of gum disease. Tender gums can also be a sign of other health problems, such as diabetes or HIV.
If you notice that your teeth are changing color, it could be a sign of tooth decay, fluorosis, or other dental health problems. Teeth can change color due to many different factors, so it’s important to have them checked out by a dentist.
Visit your dentist if you’re experiencing any of these warning signs! A routine dental check-up can help identify any problems with your dental health and prevent them from worsening.
This is a collaborative post.
Melinda
The Chronic Illness Writing Prompts are hosted each month by Sheryl at A Chronic Voice, please check out her awesome website and helpful archives.
This month prompts are:
RECUPERATING
REVERSING
DAWNING
MAPPING
DEFINING
I’ve chosen Recuperating, Mapping, and Defining as my three this month.
I’m recuperating and dealing with lingering issues with swollen salivary glands. I don’t have symptoms of a blockage or stone so I skipped the scan. There are other illnesses that can cause swelling of the glands and I hope to know more when I see a new Rheumatologist in march. I don’t want to be a hypochondriac or self diagnose but do know that Lupus can cause this problem. I’ve been tested for Lupus twice before and came back negative. This time I have many more symptoms and we’ll see how her test turns out. There are other illnesses besides Lupus so the test may surprise me.
This new doctor is promising! She takes 1-4 hours on your initial appointment, who does that? It could take a year or more to get that much face time with a doctor. I’m hopeful this is a sign of how thorough and knowledgeable they are.
I’ll let you know in March. In the meantime, I’m dealing with tender glands and lots of fatigue.
2022 is all about coming to terms with the fact that this is the new normal and how to navigate life with a chronic illness thru an ongoing Pandemic. I went two years without going to the dentist for teeth cleaning, I can’t do that moving forward. I have to keep my appointments in order to stay as healthy as possible. I won’t be going out to eat or socializing with a group of people but do plan to get out more.
I’m getting braces this year, Invsilines and I’m so excited. I had braces as a teen and thank goodness they are very different today. My teeth have changed over the past ten years and though I don’t have to get them I’m doing it for self-love.
A moment of true joy as a child on my birthday.
Looking for the Light 