Monday, February 25, 2013
Saturday, February 02, 2013
Just Some Thoughts
It's funny how life gets us so busy thinking outwardly that we pay so little attention to what's in our hearts and heads. Or, the outward distractions we choose to see in life are conveniently placed so that we can ignore more important issues that need dealing with; put them off for a later time. What if later never comes? A person could live their entire life like that, never saying what needs saying, never righting a wrong, or healing a hurt. We, as a culture, adopt the most popular or insistent belief, and go with it, without question, without thought, because it's what everyone else is doing. It's easy. We find ourselves on a spiral that we are no longer aware is going up or down. We are blindly-focused people. We see what we choose to see, and miss out on everything important. If people were able to focus inward for minutes a day, to check in with their emotions and thoughts, would it make a difference in how our world works? Just minutes. The time will pass anyway.
Everything we do each day is fueled by one of two things; Thought, or Emotion.
Thought is deliberation, it is drawn out of the depth of experience, made of facts and calculations. Thought allows us to contemplate a situation, any situation, and act with the most appropriate and effective means possible. Actions based on thought can be damaging. For the sake of oversimplifying, here's an example. "This hammer put to hand will cause physical pain." Or helpful, such as "this hammer put to nail will get the damn roof on."
Emotion is wild. It is swift and deep, tumultuous and sometimes violent, sometimes soft, warm and quiet. Not every emotion requires action, because acting upon pure emotion can have devastating consequences. Not every thought requires action either, but one thing I've learned is this: If you don't spend SOME TIME each day, contemplating your thoughts, emotions, and actions? You will live a blindly-focused life. Your relationships will feel empty. Your work will not be fulfillling. You will feel caged, suppressed, maybe even depressed. Here's the thing; we ALL have all of these emotions, whether we can admit it or not. It's part of the human experience. Passion brings out the colors of life.
Not everything has to be assigned "meaning." But if we live each day with meaning, with deliberance and compassion, I think it becomes a little better, every day. I think that emotion warms the thoughts, it rounds them out, causes them to feel fuller, more complete. Sometimes this fullness can even take on a mind of its own, fueling the thoughts in a way that can cause pain to oneself or others to the point of counterproductivity or destruction; and before that leap is made, before actions is taken, that is when we need to center again, to find the balance, to hold emotion in one hand, and thought in the other, and make a decision. "Who will this help? Who will this hurt?" If the answer to the former is "many" and the answer to the latter is "few" That is the best action.
"If you can, help others, if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them." ~Dalai Lama
Everything we do each day is fueled by one of two things; Thought, or Emotion.
Thought is deliberation, it is drawn out of the depth of experience, made of facts and calculations. Thought allows us to contemplate a situation, any situation, and act with the most appropriate and effective means possible. Actions based on thought can be damaging. For the sake of oversimplifying, here's an example. "This hammer put to hand will cause physical pain." Or helpful, such as "this hammer put to nail will get the damn roof on."
Emotion is wild. It is swift and deep, tumultuous and sometimes violent, sometimes soft, warm and quiet. Not every emotion requires action, because acting upon pure emotion can have devastating consequences. Not every thought requires action either, but one thing I've learned is this: If you don't spend SOME TIME each day, contemplating your thoughts, emotions, and actions? You will live a blindly-focused life. Your relationships will feel empty. Your work will not be fulfillling. You will feel caged, suppressed, maybe even depressed. Here's the thing; we ALL have all of these emotions, whether we can admit it or not. It's part of the human experience. Passion brings out the colors of life.
Not everything has to be assigned "meaning." But if we live each day with meaning, with deliberance and compassion, I think it becomes a little better, every day. I think that emotion warms the thoughts, it rounds them out, causes them to feel fuller, more complete. Sometimes this fullness can even take on a mind of its own, fueling the thoughts in a way that can cause pain to oneself or others to the point of counterproductivity or destruction; and before that leap is made, before actions is taken, that is when we need to center again, to find the balance, to hold emotion in one hand, and thought in the other, and make a decision. "Who will this help? Who will this hurt?" If the answer to the former is "many" and the answer to the latter is "few" That is the best action.
"If you can, help others, if you cannot do that, at least do not harm them." ~Dalai Lama
Wednesday, January 16, 2013
Year 2013
What have I done this year? I hope it was a lot, since I haven't posted on here in almost a year. This year, I finally, truthfully, began forgiving my body for not working the way it used to. Pain has chosen to stay, and I have chosen to live with it, instead of make it my enemy, I choose peace. I choose to embrace my life, the beautiful people in it, and not give in to the deep depression that has seemed like such a prison for the last few years. It's amazing to me how I have felt for so long that I was doing fine; I was taking care of my family as best as I know how, raising happy, healthy children and keeping house as good as anyone...but I have been so paralyzed inside. By pain, by fear, by how deeply sad I have been over several big losses in a few short years. I've always tried to be brave, I've smiled through pain and tears and poverty, death and divorce. But I never just said, "enough." I need to breathe. I need to clear my mind. Just like I swept my floor each night after tucking my babies into bed, I neatly swept the pain and thoughts of failure away, focusing on what I love and what makes me happy, pushing away what terrified me to face. What many people who have experienced pain (and that is the majority of us, to some degree) is that it doesn't just go away on its own sometimes. The void gets bigger. These feelings NEED, they DEMAND, to be acknowledged. And they will continue to brew, the thoughts will cut into your peace, until you take the time to look at them and honestly FEEL what you've hidden away from yourself. Agonizing. But at the same time, I have found more peace in the past year than I had convinced myself I had found already several years ago! How is that?? I STOPPED LYING to myself about how I was doing, to my family, to everyone. Never again would I automatically say "I'm good!" every time someone asked me how I was. Not when I wanted to scream "I'm not OK! I'm in pain! I'm terrified I won't be able to work again! I can't feel my arm today! I couldn't wash the dishes today because of my neck pain!" That doesn't mean I went around moping and telling the world my problems...most people don't know what I deal with on any given day unless they know me well. But I would think to myself, "How AM I doing?" I'd hold onto the first word that came into my head, and even if I smiled and replied "I'm good! How are you?" that one word would roll around until I had discovered why it came to mind, and what was I going to do about it? Meditation. Loving and forgiving my body for hurting. Visualizing love in the places where pain has seemed to take hold. This does not mean my pain has miraculously been cured, or that I no longer have days where I rule my house from atop the mountain of orthopedic devices and pillows and heating pads and ice heaped onto my bed; I do. But I always rule. I always love. I always wake up the next day to some kind of change. I have a choice. I choose love.
Tuesday, January 17, 2012
My Gift Today
Today, (well it was today when I began this post, now it's after midnight) 1/16/2012, it's been 5 years since my brother passed on. I woke up to an alarm clock that I couldn't shut off, I hit every button and unplugged the cord and finally had to remove the battery to make the alarm stop buzzing! What the heck?! (very funny, brother! Good morning to you!! LOL)
I padded sleepily to my daughters' bedroom, woke them for school, and as they woke and giggled their usual sleepy morning giggles and got ready for the day, I wandered to the window to see the sunrise, and asked, "Bri, will I see an angel in the clouds today, or a 4-leaf clover, (remember Brian's 4-leaf clover tattoo) a little sign that you are thinking of us, as we are thinking of you?" I stood at the window and searched the sky for a few minutes, sending love to my brother, to my sisters and family, all of us who miss Brian so much...and I didn't see an angel cloud, or a duck, a fish, clover, or bunny or any other funny shapes in the sky...but as I turned to walk away from the window, I glanced down at the white snow, and what do you suppose I saw there? A perfect, beautiful little snow angel, right below my window, all by itself. Away from the footprints and sled trails and snowmen the kids have made in the yard...it was all alone, this sweet little snow angel, made by one of my brother's beautiful angel daughters. I know it was Ava or Elli because any of the other kids would have made taller snow angels than this little bitty one. Thanks, Bri...I knew I'd hear from you today. We love you so much, and continue to be amazed at the many ways you find to reach us from Heaven.
Thanks to my sweet brother, for all of the four-leaf clovers we found this year, I have to count how many- 10 on our walk in Irvine Park, all in one place! Just up the road from your favorite fishing spot...3 that Zakk found while he was at Fort McCoy, 3 that Jess got from her little neighbor boy, 1 that Mom found when she asked Bri when she would find hers, and he said, "When you let yourself see it, Mom." And she did! A few years before, Dad found 4 outside his door on Mother's Day, for me and Mom, Jess and Kristi...and he's found more 4-leaf and even a 5-leaf (!) since then! Have you ever heard of anyone finding so many four-leaf clovers, especially in one family??? We have them pressed in books, held up in picture frames, kept in jewelry and tattooed on our skin...four-leaf clovers have become our family's symbol of hope, love, peace and joy.
The family went out to dinner tonight, to celebrate the life of my brother, and what did his sweet daughter find? On her piece of cake, a perfect little 4-leaf clover, made in chocolate frosting. My kids and the rest of my nieces and nephews rushed to the buffet, to have a piece of cake with the clover on it too, but Ava's was the only one! There's your sign...thanks, brother, daddy, son, husband, uncle, best friend...such an amazing person, in physical life and beyond. We hear the songs on the radio, we take note of the coincidences that you orchestrate, all the time. Thanks so much for loving us, for teaching us even in your passing. We are blessed. I am convinced my brother is in a beautiful place, free of pain and worry and despair, he is so full of joy and love and pure positive energy, it knows no boundaries now. That gives me such peace.
To anyone who has ever loved someone and lost them, I hope you see this post. I hope you see the tiny little miracles that our loved ones leave for us, to let us know that they really aren't lost at all. Just in a different place, unbound by the physical world and the beliefs we put upon ourselves here. Wayne Dyer once said, "we are not human beings having a spiritual experience; rather, we are spiritual beings having a human experience." I know that is true. I have died and returned to my body, in the car accident 6 years ago, and I know that there is nothing on this earth that can damage our beautiful spirits. Our bodies might be injured or life taken from them, but spirits are not damaged or killed. They live on after they leave this world, whether you believe in heaven or hell or hauntings or just an End...if you open your eyes and your heart to the world around us, you will see that we are all truly connected, beyond this human life. That doesn't just end when we transition out of this physical body into the spiritual realm, whatever you want to call it. I find comfort in knowing that, we are all truly connected...we just have to open our minds to it.
I padded sleepily to my daughters' bedroom, woke them for school, and as they woke and giggled their usual sleepy morning giggles and got ready for the day, I wandered to the window to see the sunrise, and asked, "Bri, will I see an angel in the clouds today, or a 4-leaf clover, (remember Brian's 4-leaf clover tattoo) a little sign that you are thinking of us, as we are thinking of you?" I stood at the window and searched the sky for a few minutes, sending love to my brother, to my sisters and family, all of us who miss Brian so much...and I didn't see an angel cloud, or a duck, a fish, clover, or bunny or any other funny shapes in the sky...but as I turned to walk away from the window, I glanced down at the white snow, and what do you suppose I saw there? A perfect, beautiful little snow angel, right below my window, all by itself. Away from the footprints and sled trails and snowmen the kids have made in the yard...it was all alone, this sweet little snow angel, made by one of my brother's beautiful angel daughters. I know it was Ava or Elli because any of the other kids would have made taller snow angels than this little bitty one. Thanks, Bri...I knew I'd hear from you today. We love you so much, and continue to be amazed at the many ways you find to reach us from Heaven.
Thanks to my sweet brother, for all of the four-leaf clovers we found this year, I have to count how many- 10 on our walk in Irvine Park, all in one place! Just up the road from your favorite fishing spot...3 that Zakk found while he was at Fort McCoy, 3 that Jess got from her little neighbor boy, 1 that Mom found when she asked Bri when she would find hers, and he said, "When you let yourself see it, Mom." And she did! A few years before, Dad found 4 outside his door on Mother's Day, for me and Mom, Jess and Kristi...and he's found more 4-leaf and even a 5-leaf (!) since then! Have you ever heard of anyone finding so many four-leaf clovers, especially in one family??? We have them pressed in books, held up in picture frames, kept in jewelry and tattooed on our skin...four-leaf clovers have become our family's symbol of hope, love, peace and joy.
The family went out to dinner tonight, to celebrate the life of my brother, and what did his sweet daughter find? On her piece of cake, a perfect little 4-leaf clover, made in chocolate frosting. My kids and the rest of my nieces and nephews rushed to the buffet, to have a piece of cake with the clover on it too, but Ava's was the only one! There's your sign...thanks, brother, daddy, son, husband, uncle, best friend...such an amazing person, in physical life and beyond. We hear the songs on the radio, we take note of the coincidences that you orchestrate, all the time. Thanks so much for loving us, for teaching us even in your passing. We are blessed. I am convinced my brother is in a beautiful place, free of pain and worry and despair, he is so full of joy and love and pure positive energy, it knows no boundaries now. That gives me such peace.
Thursday, December 29, 2011
Christmas Time
With 2012 approaching and 2011 coming to a close, I think back on the past year and all of the wonderful memories I've made with my loving family...I have so much to be thankful for. I've always thought that my appreciation for life and all of the people in it have helped me keep my head on straight, although I've made my share of mistakes...I know in my younger days and even some of my older ones, I've made some wrong turns, taken some steep climbs and fallen low in the valleys too...but I always come back up again, always find an even keel, and I know that a big part of that is due to the loving support of my family and friends. Life is about choices, and the path that we choose sometimes heads us in directions we never expected to go, but need to experience nonetheless.
Every Christmas since my accident, I'm reminded of the first Christmas after...December 2005...when my co-workers played Santa Claus to our family, making our holiday so beautiful. Sweet and dear friends who cleaned my house for me when I couldn't, coworkers of Mom's, strangers we had never met, so many people reached out to us that year, helping with childcare, lending a shoulder or an ear, and even helping lil old busted-up me in and out of bed while I healed. I still can't find words strong enough to express my gratitude to everyone during such a tough time; I have tried again and again, but the only way I've found that feels even remotely close to the amount of gratitude I feel is to give back to people in my community that have fallen on hard times too. Paying it forward just fills me up inside. It's also a big part of my emotional/spiritual healing, which I thought was all happening along with the physical, but the mind is an amazing thing...while I was concentrating on the physical healing, my mind blocked out a lot of the emotional stuff, at least until I was at a point where I could take that on as well. The greatest part of that is done but I still have my moments. I'm grateful for a partner who is loving and patient with that part of me. Thanks hun...also equally grateful for my loving mom, dad and sisters, who listen when I need to cry and love me no matter what. You are the best family a woman could ask for. And my kids, who show me everyday all that I have to be thankful for and joyful about, they are my every breath. I am here only because of them, I know that, beyond any doubt.
Before our family had experienced the tougher times, I was fiercely independent, always the first to lend a hand to others but always the last to ask for help. I didn't have a lot of faith in people outside of my own family, life up until that point had shown me that it's just best to rely only on yourself, it just saved me from constant disappointment that way. The outpouring of kindness that our family experienced was completely unexpected and overwhelming. Thank you to all of my family and friends for reminding me that standing alone doesn't necessarily make you stronger; it just makes sure that you stand alone when you really could use someone to lean on. I couldn't have stood alone that year, and I'm so glad I didn't have to. Thank you to everyone who took the time to be there for all of us that year.
I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for you all, everyday. We may not talk often enough or even travel in the same circles anymore, but believe me, I have not forgotten all of the wonderful things you all did for me, and I never will. You are all in my daily prayers, and you will continue to be, because you deserve to be lifted up and cherished always. Not a day goes by when I don't remember how blessed I am, and I don't intend to forget.
I know this might be hard to believe, but I don't think I'd be nearly the person I am now if I hadn't gone through that accident. I wouldn't wish that kind of thing on anyone, even myself, but I can see the good that has come of it, and the goodness I've found in myself and other people. I learned that I am much stronger than I ever imagined was humanly possible...but that it's ok to be weak sometimes too. Someone very smart once said, "It's when we feel we are at our weakest that we learn how truly strong we can be." I learned that the goodness and kindness of strangers is much greater than I ever could have known if I hadn't crashed that day. I have learned a new appreciation and respect for everyone around me, from my own family to the gas station attendant down the road. Every life is of the utmost value and importance. I'm so thankful that mine was spared...because I have a good life, and it's only getting better!!
Love, Light, and Best Wishes to EVERYONE for 2012!! (and, now I need to get off the computer because my back can't handle this dang chair today...LOL)
Every Christmas since my accident, I'm reminded of the first Christmas after...December 2005...when my co-workers played Santa Claus to our family, making our holiday so beautiful. Sweet and dear friends who cleaned my house for me when I couldn't, coworkers of Mom's, strangers we had never met, so many people reached out to us that year, helping with childcare, lending a shoulder or an ear, and even helping lil old busted-up me in and out of bed while I healed. I still can't find words strong enough to express my gratitude to everyone during such a tough time; I have tried again and again, but the only way I've found that feels even remotely close to the amount of gratitude I feel is to give back to people in my community that have fallen on hard times too. Paying it forward just fills me up inside. It's also a big part of my emotional/spiritual healing, which I thought was all happening along with the physical, but the mind is an amazing thing...while I was concentrating on the physical healing, my mind blocked out a lot of the emotional stuff, at least until I was at a point where I could take that on as well. The greatest part of that is done but I still have my moments. I'm grateful for a partner who is loving and patient with that part of me. Thanks hun...also equally grateful for my loving mom, dad and sisters, who listen when I need to cry and love me no matter what. You are the best family a woman could ask for. And my kids, who show me everyday all that I have to be thankful for and joyful about, they are my every breath. I am here only because of them, I know that, beyond any doubt.
Before our family had experienced the tougher times, I was fiercely independent, always the first to lend a hand to others but always the last to ask for help. I didn't have a lot of faith in people outside of my own family, life up until that point had shown me that it's just best to rely only on yourself, it just saved me from constant disappointment that way. The outpouring of kindness that our family experienced was completely unexpected and overwhelming. Thank you to all of my family and friends for reminding me that standing alone doesn't necessarily make you stronger; it just makes sure that you stand alone when you really could use someone to lean on. I couldn't have stood alone that year, and I'm so glad I didn't have to. Thank you to everyone who took the time to be there for all of us that year.
I love you all so much, and I am so grateful for you all, everyday. We may not talk often enough or even travel in the same circles anymore, but believe me, I have not forgotten all of the wonderful things you all did for me, and I never will. You are all in my daily prayers, and you will continue to be, because you deserve to be lifted up and cherished always. Not a day goes by when I don't remember how blessed I am, and I don't intend to forget.
I know this might be hard to believe, but I don't think I'd be nearly the person I am now if I hadn't gone through that accident. I wouldn't wish that kind of thing on anyone, even myself, but I can see the good that has come of it, and the goodness I've found in myself and other people. I learned that I am much stronger than I ever imagined was humanly possible...but that it's ok to be weak sometimes too. Someone very smart once said, "It's when we feel we are at our weakest that we learn how truly strong we can be." I learned that the goodness and kindness of strangers is much greater than I ever could have known if I hadn't crashed that day. I have learned a new appreciation and respect for everyone around me, from my own family to the gas station attendant down the road. Every life is of the utmost value and importance. I'm so thankful that mine was spared...because I have a good life, and it's only getting better!!
Love, Light, and Best Wishes to EVERYONE for 2012!! (and, now I need to get off the computer because my back can't handle this dang chair today...LOL)
Tuesday, December 13, 2011
Diet Changes to Decrease Pain
Today I'm steering clear of the sappy feely sobbing EMOTIONAL part of dealing with chronic pain, etc...and I'm going to make a list of changes I've made in my diet that have helped me cope with my chronic pain. I don't know how many doctors I've seen or specialists I've talked to, but I have to say that, with the exception of one amazing doctor, the most helpful information that I have gained is a result of my own research. BOO, modern medical community, BOO.
Above all, for any illness or injury, to get the best recovery we need to NOURISH OUR BODIES WELL. That doesn't mean eating more, it means eating SMARTER and giving our bodies the right nutrients so we can become well again, or give our bodies more fuel to fight against whatever illness or injury is taxing us. Whole foods, fresh fruits, veggies in great abundance, lots of good water, sunshine in healthy doses and fresh air and exercise- sounds so old-fashioned, but guess what?? The incidences of cancer, colic, mental illness/depression, and all types of syndromes, disorders, diseases, allergies and sicknesses were WAYYY lower a hundred years ago, before we were adding all of these fillers and additives and chemicals and recycled air to our daily diets. Do you ever wonder if "so many diseases were under diagnosed" really means "it just didn't exist yet" ??? Read up, buttercups, it's true. Our preservatives and flavor enhancers and artificial sweeteners are making even healthy people sick. So here's what I do to help me feel better everyday. Any of you who try these things, make sure you check with your doctor if you're taking any medications, because HERBS ARE POWERFUL and they can and will enhance, interfere with or otherwise affect the medications you are already taking. So don't take them without discussing it with your doctor first.
DIET: 1. DECREASE RED MEAT CONSUMPTION. I have cut red meat down to about once a week. (much to the chagrin of my carnivorous family) I've done lots of reading about red meat increasing inflammation by antagonizing or adding to our bodies' natural prostaglandins, which are hormones associated with muscle tone, irritability and women's cycles. (also men's but this is not sex ed lol)
2. Cooking with lots of OLIVE OIL. Omega-3's and 6's are very good for all of us anyway, but I've read that they can be helpful in decreasing chronic pain, I think mostly by encouraging more of the feel-good chemicals released in the brain when we feed it "brain-food" like Omegas. Omegas are also in fish oil, salmon and other big fish, and so eating more fish instead of red meat is a plus.
3. FLAX SEED OIL. Also has Omegas in it, and for some reason it is associated with lowering joint inflammation. There are great bread recipes with flax seeds in them, or you can add the oil to just about anything you cook, it doesn't have a strong flavor so it doesn't alter the flavor of the food. COLD-PRESSED oils are better than heated or chemically purified oils, because they retain the most of their natural nutrients and our bodies recognize NATURAL nutrients as opposed to CREATED or ARTIFICIAL- our bodies receive chemically processed and artificial ingredients and view them as "invaders" or possible threats to the body's health and thus the body activates the immune system. IE: MORE INFLAMMATION. Also if we are feeding our bodies processed and altered foods everyday, we are constantly wearing down our natural immunities and stressing our immune systems to the point of exhaustion. That's when syndromes, diseases and all kinds of illnesses kick in full-storm. Protect against that. Just eat better.
4. TURMERIC. It's a simple spice, found in lots of soups and seasonings, I add it to lots of stuff because it also helps encourage healing, is a strong reducer of inflammation and is good for circulation. I've read it can even be beneficial in preventing/protecting against cancers.
5. BLUEBERRIES! Tons of fresh fruits and veggies are good for you, but blueberries have so many vitamins and healthful properties, they supply some building blocks to basic cell rebuilding like capillary basement membranes, they support collagen production, they neutralize free radicals and they are just yummy.
6. VITAMIN D!!! People living in Wisconsin are almost always vitamin D-deficient. We don't have enough sunshine year-round to allow our bodies to make the proper amount of vitamin D, and you will not get it from tanning beds, you will only get wrinkles, skin discolorations, melanomas and other bad stuff from tanning beds so just take a supplement and stop pretending you are trying to get some much-needed sunshine. You are defeating the greater good of our sunshine with those fakey bakey bulbs. I take 1,000 IUs daily. Now, vitamins A and D are FAT-SOLUBLE which means they are stored in the tissues when our bodies can't use any more of what is available, so it IS possible to overdose on D. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate level for you. Vitamin D also aids the body in absorbing calcium and calcium is needed for bone health, muscle tone and building, and healing. Calcium is pushed by docs and media and yes it is necessary but it is not well-absorbed without vitamin D.
7. VITAMIN C. I take 500-1000mg daily. Vitamin C is WATER-SOLUBLE so once you've ingested (via food or supplement) all that your body needs, you will just excrete it in your pee (or, if you're sensitive to vitamin C, which some people are, you will become good friends with the bathroom as your body makes you acutely aware of your BT or Bowel Tolerance of vitamin C. So listen to your body. Use common sense and caution as well as a trusted doctor's advice.)
8. B VITAMINS!!! (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin (which causes a warm flush in some people), B6, Folic Acid (good for healthy baby making too) and B12.) People who deal with chronic pain are also very very very very (did I say very?) often, chronically depressed. I don't like to take medications. I am very sensitive to them, I don't like to feel "doped up" or unnatural and so dealing with the frustration/sadness/depression/pain cycle is easiest to handle, for me, by taking a B-complex. Some people swear by St. John's Wort also, I have not tried this yet but am curious. Watch for it in another blog post. Or, if my posts suddenly become giddy and super cheery, then the St John's Wort worked. Yay me.
9. GARLIC. I can't say enough about the healing and illness-fighting properties of garlic, onion, leeks, everything I read about them is good. Antibacterial, antiviral properties, they aid in digestion (unless you're allergic or intolerant of them like some people) they are cholesterol lowering, and are good for lots of stuff. I don't have a spleen and so my immune system is overworked all the time as a mother of 5, I use garlic to help fight off colds and illnesses, and of course, vampires. ;)
10. ATTITUDE. of GRATITUDE. And LAUGHTER. It is so easy to be pissed off and hate our situations, our pain, our problems, but you know what? It does NOTHING. Except get us pissed off. Wasted energy. Energy we could have spent researching a tonic for pain, laughing hysterically with friends or family or at ourselves, over a funny movie or ridiculous situation, doing some deep-breathing and focusing on drawing positive energy to ourselves to encourage wellness...laughing burns calories, it increases the brain's production of feel-good chemicals which flood our bodies and decrease our perception of pain, and breaks the destructive cycle of "I can't, I hurt, I'm worthless, I'm perpetuating my own pain by feeling BAD." So just stop it. We have today. Everyone has a different today, but we all have it, so use it to your advantage. You have it. TODAY. Breathe deep, in and out, 10 times. Now do something else. Stop focusing on the bad, and go do some good, for you or someone else. Your body will thank you for it. ;)
I am a firm supporter of chiropractic care, don't call them quacks- because if you think about it, they care for the message center for our ENTIRE BODY. That is very important work. If our spinal cords are not healthy and functioning properly, how can the rest of our body work properly?? They CAN'T. Medical doctors would like us to think chiropractors are quacks, because diminishing the reputation of chiropractic and holistic care allows other medical professionals to keep pushing pills and writing scripts and making money off the perks from pharmaceutical companies. Stop feeding the moneymaker. Take your health care back into good hands and out of the medical model of treating SICKNESS. Promote your own wellness. Chiropractors promote wellness.
Check out Ayurvedic medicine and massage. Don't knock it til you try it. Invigorating massage, yoga, meditation, the best medicine EVER, and it's been around for thousands of years. Can't be all that bad.
Herbal remedies, whole foods, holistic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, ALL things that are "poo-pooed" or diminished by the medical community, but the truth is that these are ALL things that promote health and wellness. Check into it, do some reading at your local library, you will be surprised at the untapped resources of sound health care practices you will find there. Herbal and holistic medicine is much more regulated, monitored and kept to standards of good measurement than the bad press of the past would have us think. There is a reason universities around the country and the world are teaching herbal and holistic medicine...IT WORKS!!
Much love and light to everyone, I hope anyone out there dealing with chronic pain can find some sort of helpful information from this blog...I can't have gone through all of this pain for nothing, so I have decided to try and use it to help other people avoid the frustrations that I've had along this journey.
I forgot to add, I have been reading a lot about Valerian Root recently, and I plan to talk to my doctor about it. I've read that it is very helpful in decreasing nerve pain, helping with sleep disorders (which are very common in people with chronic pain) and I'm curious to see if it's something that would help me. Stay tuned.
Above all, for any illness or injury, to get the best recovery we need to NOURISH OUR BODIES WELL. That doesn't mean eating more, it means eating SMARTER and giving our bodies the right nutrients so we can become well again, or give our bodies more fuel to fight against whatever illness or injury is taxing us. Whole foods, fresh fruits, veggies in great abundance, lots of good water, sunshine in healthy doses and fresh air and exercise- sounds so old-fashioned, but guess what?? The incidences of cancer, colic, mental illness/depression, and all types of syndromes, disorders, diseases, allergies and sicknesses were WAYYY lower a hundred years ago, before we were adding all of these fillers and additives and chemicals and recycled air to our daily diets. Do you ever wonder if "so many diseases were under diagnosed" really means "it just didn't exist yet" ??? Read up, buttercups, it's true. Our preservatives and flavor enhancers and artificial sweeteners are making even healthy people sick. So here's what I do to help me feel better everyday. Any of you who try these things, make sure you check with your doctor if you're taking any medications, because HERBS ARE POWERFUL and they can and will enhance, interfere with or otherwise affect the medications you are already taking. So don't take them without discussing it with your doctor first.
DIET: 1. DECREASE RED MEAT CONSUMPTION. I have cut red meat down to about once a week. (much to the chagrin of my carnivorous family) I've done lots of reading about red meat increasing inflammation by antagonizing or adding to our bodies' natural prostaglandins, which are hormones associated with muscle tone, irritability and women's cycles. (also men's but this is not sex ed lol)
2. Cooking with lots of OLIVE OIL. Omega-3's and 6's are very good for all of us anyway, but I've read that they can be helpful in decreasing chronic pain, I think mostly by encouraging more of the feel-good chemicals released in the brain when we feed it "brain-food" like Omegas. Omegas are also in fish oil, salmon and other big fish, and so eating more fish instead of red meat is a plus.
3. FLAX SEED OIL. Also has Omegas in it, and for some reason it is associated with lowering joint inflammation. There are great bread recipes with flax seeds in them, or you can add the oil to just about anything you cook, it doesn't have a strong flavor so it doesn't alter the flavor of the food. COLD-PRESSED oils are better than heated or chemically purified oils, because they retain the most of their natural nutrients and our bodies recognize NATURAL nutrients as opposed to CREATED or ARTIFICIAL- our bodies receive chemically processed and artificial ingredients and view them as "invaders" or possible threats to the body's health and thus the body activates the immune system. IE: MORE INFLAMMATION. Also if we are feeding our bodies processed and altered foods everyday, we are constantly wearing down our natural immunities and stressing our immune systems to the point of exhaustion. That's when syndromes, diseases and all kinds of illnesses kick in full-storm. Protect against that. Just eat better.
4. TURMERIC. It's a simple spice, found in lots of soups and seasonings, I add it to lots of stuff because it also helps encourage healing, is a strong reducer of inflammation and is good for circulation. I've read it can even be beneficial in preventing/protecting against cancers.
5. BLUEBERRIES! Tons of fresh fruits and veggies are good for you, but blueberries have so many vitamins and healthful properties, they supply some building blocks to basic cell rebuilding like capillary basement membranes, they support collagen production, they neutralize free radicals and they are just yummy.
6. VITAMIN D!!! People living in Wisconsin are almost always vitamin D-deficient. We don't have enough sunshine year-round to allow our bodies to make the proper amount of vitamin D, and you will not get it from tanning beds, you will only get wrinkles, skin discolorations, melanomas and other bad stuff from tanning beds so just take a supplement and stop pretending you are trying to get some much-needed sunshine. You are defeating the greater good of our sunshine with those fakey bakey bulbs. I take 1,000 IUs daily. Now, vitamins A and D are FAT-SOLUBLE which means they are stored in the tissues when our bodies can't use any more of what is available, so it IS possible to overdose on D. Talk to your doctor about an appropriate level for you. Vitamin D also aids the body in absorbing calcium and calcium is needed for bone health, muscle tone and building, and healing. Calcium is pushed by docs and media and yes it is necessary but it is not well-absorbed without vitamin D.
7. VITAMIN C. I take 500-1000mg daily. Vitamin C is WATER-SOLUBLE so once you've ingested (via food or supplement) all that your body needs, you will just excrete it in your pee (or, if you're sensitive to vitamin C, which some people are, you will become good friends with the bathroom as your body makes you acutely aware of your BT or Bowel Tolerance of vitamin C. So listen to your body. Use common sense and caution as well as a trusted doctor's advice.)
8. B VITAMINS!!! (Thiamine, Riboflavin, Niacin (which causes a warm flush in some people), B6, Folic Acid (good for healthy baby making too) and B12.) People who deal with chronic pain are also very very very very (did I say very?) often, chronically depressed. I don't like to take medications. I am very sensitive to them, I don't like to feel "doped up" or unnatural and so dealing with the frustration/sadness/depression/pain cycle is easiest to handle, for me, by taking a B-complex. Some people swear by St. John's Wort also, I have not tried this yet but am curious. Watch for it in another blog post. Or, if my posts suddenly become giddy and super cheery, then the St John's Wort worked. Yay me.
9. GARLIC. I can't say enough about the healing and illness-fighting properties of garlic, onion, leeks, everything I read about them is good. Antibacterial, antiviral properties, they aid in digestion (unless you're allergic or intolerant of them like some people) they are cholesterol lowering, and are good for lots of stuff. I don't have a spleen and so my immune system is overworked all the time as a mother of 5, I use garlic to help fight off colds and illnesses, and of course, vampires. ;)
10. ATTITUDE. of GRATITUDE. And LAUGHTER. It is so easy to be pissed off and hate our situations, our pain, our problems, but you know what? It does NOTHING. Except get us pissed off. Wasted energy. Energy we could have spent researching a tonic for pain, laughing hysterically with friends or family or at ourselves, over a funny movie or ridiculous situation, doing some deep-breathing and focusing on drawing positive energy to ourselves to encourage wellness...laughing burns calories, it increases the brain's production of feel-good chemicals which flood our bodies and decrease our perception of pain, and breaks the destructive cycle of "I can't, I hurt, I'm worthless, I'm perpetuating my own pain by feeling BAD." So just stop it. We have today. Everyone has a different today, but we all have it, so use it to your advantage. You have it. TODAY. Breathe deep, in and out, 10 times. Now do something else. Stop focusing on the bad, and go do some good, for you or someone else. Your body will thank you for it. ;)
I am a firm supporter of chiropractic care, don't call them quacks- because if you think about it, they care for the message center for our ENTIRE BODY. That is very important work. If our spinal cords are not healthy and functioning properly, how can the rest of our body work properly?? They CAN'T. Medical doctors would like us to think chiropractors are quacks, because diminishing the reputation of chiropractic and holistic care allows other medical professionals to keep pushing pills and writing scripts and making money off the perks from pharmaceutical companies. Stop feeding the moneymaker. Take your health care back into good hands and out of the medical model of treating SICKNESS. Promote your own wellness. Chiropractors promote wellness.
Check out Ayurvedic medicine and massage. Don't knock it til you try it. Invigorating massage, yoga, meditation, the best medicine EVER, and it's been around for thousands of years. Can't be all that bad.
Herbal remedies, whole foods, holistic medicine, Traditional Chinese Medicine, ALL things that are "poo-pooed" or diminished by the medical community, but the truth is that these are ALL things that promote health and wellness. Check into it, do some reading at your local library, you will be surprised at the untapped resources of sound health care practices you will find there. Herbal and holistic medicine is much more regulated, monitored and kept to standards of good measurement than the bad press of the past would have us think. There is a reason universities around the country and the world are teaching herbal and holistic medicine...IT WORKS!!
Much love and light to everyone, I hope anyone out there dealing with chronic pain can find some sort of helpful information from this blog...I can't have gone through all of this pain for nothing, so I have decided to try and use it to help other people avoid the frustrations that I've had along this journey.
I forgot to add, I have been reading a lot about Valerian Root recently, and I plan to talk to my doctor about it. I've read that it is very helpful in decreasing nerve pain, helping with sleep disorders (which are very common in people with chronic pain) and I'm curious to see if it's something that would help me. Stay tuned.
Tuesday, December 06, 2011
Instant Replay
Yesterday, as I returned from dropping PJ at school, I realized I had overestimated the amount of gas in my gastank...not a good move on a December day in Wisconsin. Hoping I could make it to the gas station closest to home so I could get home in time to kiss Lou before he was off to work and see Zakk for a few minutes before he was off to school, I stubbornly passed not one but two (2 blasted, gd godforsaken) gas stations on the way. And, no, I did not make it home. Sputtering at an intersection not more than 1/4 mile from the gas station I hoped to reach, I realized I was going to have to coast through my green light and park it, and grab a gas can or get ahold of my very kind and very resourceful Lou to come and rescue me. (dammit, I hate having to be rescued. Thanks, Corey, and thanks, Lou.)
The significance of my running out of gas is nil; the strange thing was what happened as I ran out of gas, and in the hours afterward. As I coasted through the intersection, my truck stalled completely...and as I look up from my frantic attempt to restart the truck one more time, I see a huge mack truck barreling down on me, horn blaring and no sign of slowing down. It helped my panic to see that the falling snow had made the roads slippery...and if I didn't get that truck to start up one more time, I was going to be toast. Broadsided because of my own rushed stubbornness. PLEASE GOD, just get me off the road and to safety, PLEASE BESS (my truck is Bess), just START! Bess heard the desperation in my voice, and she begrudgingly started!! I limped as fast as I could, willing my big old beast of an Expedition out of the way of that truck, and got to the shoulder of the road, feeling the wind of the passing truck shaking my vehicle as I coasted to safety...close call. WHEWWW!! SHIT! Damn my stupidity! I actually cheered out loud, alone in my silly out-of-gas Bess. And then I burst into tears. I shook like a leaf, I got the worst headache I'd had in a long time, my vision was going black. I couldn't breathe, my heart leapt into my throat and I couldn't slow my pulse down to normal...I kept swallowing hard and trying to remind myself "you are here, you are safe, this is just a minor thing. why are you so freaked out?" I calmed down enough to call Lou, in tears, and of course, he brought me gas and a hug, and I got home just fine. Thanks hun. :)
So, Lou got enough gas in the tank for me to get up the hill and fill up the truck. I went home and tried to shake off this creeping feeling of panic that kept threatening to swallow me up...what in the world was wrong with me?? It was just a close call, no one was hurt, a minor inconvenience in an otherwise typical day, so why did I feel like I was trying to avoid a full-on panic attack? It was over with, nothing bad had come of it. I kept dismissing the feelings, getting ready to drop Lou and Zakk at work and school since my gas escapade had caused them both to miss their ride, and I was short-tempered and irritable with myself and tried not to let my emotions spill over onto my family. I did pretty well, but while we were driving, the feeling of panic completely overwhelmed me again. I burst into tears, apologized to Zakk and Lou for being so emotional, but that I couldn't shake these awful feelings that began when that truck whizzed by me on the highway. After six years, I still have moments when I'm flooded with flashbacks and panic from that car accident. I haven't been very patient with myself; this entire time I have been scolding myself. "Get over it Lisa, there are people who have survived much worse than you." "Pull it together, girlfriend, there are more important things to focus on right now." "Think of the soldiers returning from battle, or civilians who live in war zones, inner cities, poverty, all forms of trauma and abuse. You have a great life. Shame on you for being such a baby." These are the things I hear, from the not-so-friendly voice in my head, the "me" that is generally as kind and forgiving and compassionate as I can be to everyone around me, but I can not extend that same kindness to myself. I have never afforded myself the proper time to heal, the time to focus on myself and have only wanted to focus outward to the family I love so much and live for. I guess I haven't been important enough to "me" to figure out what's been happening in this head of mine, because most of the time, I'm my happy, easygoing, always coming-out-on-top self. But truly, PTSD still rears its ugly head, and always when I least expect it.
After a good cry, and explaining to my love and my oldest son that I just needed to reset my panic button and I would be fine, I WAS fine. My breathing slowed, my heart fell down from my throat and resumed its proper place, and the feeling of fear slowly left me. Just acknowledging that I needed some time to focus on what had triggered the emotions, that made all the difference. I can't make those panic feelings disappear when they come up, and the harder I try to ignore them, the more insistent they become, until I just break down and cry.
I think many more people suffer from PTSD than any statistics show, and I think so many people would benefit from counseling, meditation, or a therapy called MDR that I practiced with a psychiatrist during the first two years after my accident. All three therapies have helped me so much, even when I was in complete denial that I had ANY symptoms of PTSD. Many situations can cause PTSD, whether it's a death in the family, an accident, physical/emotional abuse, witnessing a traumatic event, gore or violence, assault...all of these things threaten our sense of personal safety, refuge, and security. Our brilliant minds try very hard to protect us from these vivid and terrible memories, and sometimes the mind is successful at doing this for years, or so we think. But it crops up unexpected, ruins a special occasion, dampens the joy of family gatherings, or just plain makes some days miserable for no apparent reason.
With all of the horrible events that have taken place in the last few years, the tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, combat and war, terrorist attacks, fires, crashes, the list goes on and on--the number of people who may be suffering from PTSD easily number in the thousands. My hope is that someone reads this blog, someone who might suffer from PTSD and not know it, or knows and loves someone who suffers from it...and I hope they are encouraged to get help. We aren't alone! That sounds like such a cliche, I hate to even use it. But there is help out there. I encourage anyone who thinks they might have PTSD to research it on the net, consider the symptoms, and know that people love you and will help you learn to feel safe and loved again. Check out these websites: (DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with these websites, but have read through them myself and have found many wonderful resources and stories, as well as the peace that I've found through meditation. I list these only to try and help people to start their own research, and to help others begin to find their own paths to healing.
Love and Blessings of Health and Wellness to All!! I'm continuing on my journey to wellness, and loving every step of the way!
http://reclaimingourwoundedwarriors.org/id22.html
http://www.justanswer.com/sip/PTSD?r=ppc|ms|4|Health+-+Mental|PTSD&JPRC=1&JPKD=2561358159&JPDC=b&JPAD=801947716&JPKW=ptsd%20help&JPRQ=ptsd&JPAF=txt&JPCD=20110524
http://helphealingtrauma.com/
http://www.meditation-ptsd.com/
The significance of my running out of gas is nil; the strange thing was what happened as I ran out of gas, and in the hours afterward. As I coasted through the intersection, my truck stalled completely...and as I look up from my frantic attempt to restart the truck one more time, I see a huge mack truck barreling down on me, horn blaring and no sign of slowing down. It helped my panic to see that the falling snow had made the roads slippery...and if I didn't get that truck to start up one more time, I was going to be toast. Broadsided because of my own rushed stubbornness. PLEASE GOD, just get me off the road and to safety, PLEASE BESS (my truck is Bess), just START! Bess heard the desperation in my voice, and she begrudgingly started!! I limped as fast as I could, willing my big old beast of an Expedition out of the way of that truck, and got to the shoulder of the road, feeling the wind of the passing truck shaking my vehicle as I coasted to safety...close call. WHEWWW!! SHIT! Damn my stupidity! I actually cheered out loud, alone in my silly out-of-gas Bess. And then I burst into tears. I shook like a leaf, I got the worst headache I'd had in a long time, my vision was going black. I couldn't breathe, my heart leapt into my throat and I couldn't slow my pulse down to normal...I kept swallowing hard and trying to remind myself "you are here, you are safe, this is just a minor thing. why are you so freaked out?" I calmed down enough to call Lou, in tears, and of course, he brought me gas and a hug, and I got home just fine. Thanks hun. :)
So, Lou got enough gas in the tank for me to get up the hill and fill up the truck. I went home and tried to shake off this creeping feeling of panic that kept threatening to swallow me up...what in the world was wrong with me?? It was just a close call, no one was hurt, a minor inconvenience in an otherwise typical day, so why did I feel like I was trying to avoid a full-on panic attack? It was over with, nothing bad had come of it. I kept dismissing the feelings, getting ready to drop Lou and Zakk at work and school since my gas escapade had caused them both to miss their ride, and I was short-tempered and irritable with myself and tried not to let my emotions spill over onto my family. I did pretty well, but while we were driving, the feeling of panic completely overwhelmed me again. I burst into tears, apologized to Zakk and Lou for being so emotional, but that I couldn't shake these awful feelings that began when that truck whizzed by me on the highway. After six years, I still have moments when I'm flooded with flashbacks and panic from that car accident. I haven't been very patient with myself; this entire time I have been scolding myself. "Get over it Lisa, there are people who have survived much worse than you." "Pull it together, girlfriend, there are more important things to focus on right now." "Think of the soldiers returning from battle, or civilians who live in war zones, inner cities, poverty, all forms of trauma and abuse. You have a great life. Shame on you for being such a baby." These are the things I hear, from the not-so-friendly voice in my head, the "me" that is generally as kind and forgiving and compassionate as I can be to everyone around me, but I can not extend that same kindness to myself. I have never afforded myself the proper time to heal, the time to focus on myself and have only wanted to focus outward to the family I love so much and live for. I guess I haven't been important enough to "me" to figure out what's been happening in this head of mine, because most of the time, I'm my happy, easygoing, always coming-out-on-top self. But truly, PTSD still rears its ugly head, and always when I least expect it.
After a good cry, and explaining to my love and my oldest son that I just needed to reset my panic button and I would be fine, I WAS fine. My breathing slowed, my heart fell down from my throat and resumed its proper place, and the feeling of fear slowly left me. Just acknowledging that I needed some time to focus on what had triggered the emotions, that made all the difference. I can't make those panic feelings disappear when they come up, and the harder I try to ignore them, the more insistent they become, until I just break down and cry.
I think many more people suffer from PTSD than any statistics show, and I think so many people would benefit from counseling, meditation, or a therapy called MDR that I practiced with a psychiatrist during the first two years after my accident. All three therapies have helped me so much, even when I was in complete denial that I had ANY symptoms of PTSD. Many situations can cause PTSD, whether it's a death in the family, an accident, physical/emotional abuse, witnessing a traumatic event, gore or violence, assault...all of these things threaten our sense of personal safety, refuge, and security. Our brilliant minds try very hard to protect us from these vivid and terrible memories, and sometimes the mind is successful at doing this for years, or so we think. But it crops up unexpected, ruins a special occasion, dampens the joy of family gatherings, or just plain makes some days miserable for no apparent reason.
With all of the horrible events that have taken place in the last few years, the tsunamis, earthquakes, floods, combat and war, terrorist attacks, fires, crashes, the list goes on and on--the number of people who may be suffering from PTSD easily number in the thousands. My hope is that someone reads this blog, someone who might suffer from PTSD and not know it, or knows and loves someone who suffers from it...and I hope they are encouraged to get help. We aren't alone! That sounds like such a cliche, I hate to even use it. But there is help out there. I encourage anyone who thinks they might have PTSD to research it on the net, consider the symptoms, and know that people love you and will help you learn to feel safe and loved again. Check out these websites: (DISCLAIMER: I am not affiliated with these websites, but have read through them myself and have found many wonderful resources and stories, as well as the peace that I've found through meditation. I list these only to try and help people to start their own research, and to help others begin to find their own paths to healing.
Love and Blessings of Health and Wellness to All!! I'm continuing on my journey to wellness, and loving every step of the way!
http://reclaimingourwoundedwarriors.org/id22.html
http://www.justanswer.com/sip/PTSD?r=ppc|ms|4|Health+-+Mental|PTSD&JPRC=1&JPKD=2561358159&JPDC=b&JPAD=801947716&JPKW=ptsd%20help&JPRQ=ptsd&JPAF=txt&JPCD=20110524
http://helphealingtrauma.com/
http://www.meditation-ptsd.com/
Subscribe to:
Posts (Atom)