Stop Setting Yourself on Fire!
Have you ever come across a quote and have it stick in your mind? That recently happened to me and I couldn’t stop thinking about its meaning and life application. For days, I contemplated this quote and its meaning. What does it even mean to set yourself on fire?
Mental Health and Chronic Illness
Fighting a Chronic Illness is hard work! It doesn’t matter if your battle is against Lupus, MS, ME/CFS, Chronic Migraine, fibromyalgia…the list could go on and on. The honest truth is that the battles are real, the battles are life-altering and the battles are not easy and can have long term effects on your mental health.
Easing Seasonal Affective Disorder Symptoms
Right now, the United States is facing a brutal cold spell that even has the Postal Service suspending deliveries in some areas. It is time for some with Seasonal Affective Disorder to experience what is called the Winter Blues. What is Seasonal Affective Disorder? According the Mayo.com, “Seasonal affective disorder (SAD) is a type of depression that’s related to changes in seasons.” The depression will begin and end at the same time each year. Seasonal Affective Disorder typically occurs during the fall and winter when the daylight hours are shorter. But it can also reveal itself occur the spring and summer months in rare cases.
The Trap of Procrastination
Why do today what you can put off tomorrow? That is a comical saying that I have heard several times through the years. It sounds kind of silly but many people, like myself, fall into the trap of procrastination. Trap of Procrastination There are many reasons that someone may put things off or avoid doing things. The problem doesn’t really lay with putting things off for one day. A problem arises when things never really get taken care of. When this happens it is like an avalanche that just gets bigger as it moves down the mountain. Severe procrastination can make things seem so out of control and can lead…
8 Traits of a Toxic Person
Most of us have come in contact with a person that just sucks the life out of a room. This person may act like the life of the party and “joke” at other peoples expense. There are many traits that indicate someone may be a toxic person, so let’s take a look at some of the them. Common Traits of a Toxic Person 1. They take more than they give…always! A toxic person is always concerned with what someone can do for them. They may constantly ask for favors or “need” your help. Someone like this may only call you if they need something or might need something later. 2.…
5 Signs Someone May Be Hiding Depression
Some people have been dealing with depression for so long that they have become extremely good at hiding it from others. They go about their lives like nothing is wrong, in fact, many of them have a seemingly productive life. They have gotten so good at masking their true feeling that sometimes they do not see it either. If you love someone that is hiding depression, it is important to try to get beyond the facade. 5 signs someone may be hiding depression. 1. Sudden changes in eating or sleeping Sudden behavioral changes can be a sign of depression. If a person is suddenly not sleeping or is sleeping too…
5 Ways to Start the New Year Feeling Mentally Strong
As the year comes to a close, it is easy to become discouraged if you didn’t complete some of the goals you set. Dwelling on these can make starting the new year with a positive outlook difficult. While it is important to reflect on the successes of the year, it is also smart to set yourself up for success in the year to come. It is time to focus on starting the New Year feeling mentally strong. 5 Ways to Start the New Year Feeling Mentally Strong Reflect but Don’t Dwell on the Negative It is important to look back at the year to determine what worked and what did…
5 Ways to Guard your Mental Health during the Holidays
To some, the holiday season may be the most wonderful time of the year but the time period between Thanksgiving and the New Year can be difficult for several reasons. Issues within the family, a recent loss of a family member, health crises and other struggles can make the holiday season difficult to manage. When you include the enormous amount of holiday activities being exhausted only makes the season stressful. When you add in the colder weather and less sunlight each day, seasonal depression and health issues can compound to make the season less than merry and bright. With all of this in mind, finding ways to guard your mental…
6 Ways to Avoid Sensory Overload During the Holidays
Many types of Chronic Illnesses are affected by sensory overload. It can make symptoms worse and make treatments inadequate. But what is Sensory Overload? It occurs when one or more of the body’s senses experiences over-stimulation from the environment around them. Too much noise in itself may not be enough to tip the scales but if bright lights are also there the brain can be impacted. For me, too many sensory factors at one time can trigger significantly worse than normal Hemiplegic Migraines. A public place with fluorescent lighting, loud noise and strong smells is a definite recipe for a severe Hemiplegic Migraine. Unfortunately, the holiday season is full of crowded rooms, music, smells and…
5 Ways to Survive the Holidays
When you have Chronic Migraine, the holiday season can be difficult to manuever. There are parties to attend, gifts to buy and activities to take part in. All of these things equals stress that can trigger migraines that can stop you in your tracks. There are things you can do to help you survive the holidays. Stress Explained There is a misconception that stress comes from bad things and nothing could be further from the truth. Some of our most happy moments are stressful including weddings and having a baby. Not all stress is bad stress but that doesn’t mean that our bodies react to it in good ways. Unfortunately,…
