Archive for the 'How to Help Yourself' Category

What is a healthy healing in reflection?

Published by
Fibro Viv
at July 24, 2008 in How to Help Yourself, Coping and Stress Management and My Own Experience. 0 Comments

Hello Everyone,

Today I found an interesting question on one of my community sites. Here is what was asked: In your opinion or basing from your experiences, what is healthy healing in reflection? I found myself thinking about the question and decided to share my answer on my site as well as on blogcatalog.com.

 

In my point of view the following techniques is a good way to reflect in a healthy way:

- an individual must first decide to choose a specific time to reflect,
- be specific about what you want to focus on,
- think about one challenge (issue) at a time,
- determine what you want and decide if it is realistic,
- be open and non-judgmental,
- realize the answer to your questions or issues may require sharing your feelings with another individual,
- if you have a difficult time expressing your feelings with another individual, write them down on paper,
- if you shared your feelings with someone, reaffirm your respect for their opinion and end on a positive tone.

This technique or strategies enables an individual to establish an atmosphere of cooperative problem-solving and/or reflection.

I hope and pray this post has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv

 


Taking time out for yourself will…..

Published by
Fibro Viv
at June 15, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

reduce your stress, improve creativity and lets you recharge your relationships.

Remember to have fun and laugh as often as possible. Try telling a joke, teasing someone, playing pranks, acting goofy or just plain flirting with your spouse or boyfriend.

Drop petty grudges and see how closeness builds your relationships.

To help you break emotional barriers, try touching someone…..a slight pat on the back, holding hands or a big hug. It helps boost your energy and makes you feel good all over.

Catch someone doing something right!  It takes vigilance to look for the good and not let it pass unremarked.  It’s human nature to take notice of things that are not done as we like, so take notice and catch someone doing something right.:)

I hope and pray this information has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv

Lift your spirit with super foods!

Published by
Fibro Viv
at June 15, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

Asparagus helps you avoid mood swings, it is packed with folic acid, which steadies your serotonin level and keeps you in a positive spirit all day long.

Beef stabilizes your spirit, every bite is loaded with mood-boosting zinc, iron and B vitamins.

Oranges help combat cancer, they are full of vitamin C which help fight the cancer causing free radicals that your body produces whenever you are stressed out.

Tuna helps lower your tension, it contains Vitamins B6 and B12 helping to lower stress. It is also a good source of low-fat protein.

Cottage Cheese helps you when you hit that mid-afternoon energy slump. The protein in cottage cheese keeps you satisfied and helps you avoid any sudden changes in blood sugar you might experience with sugary snacks.

Blueberries help lower that stress level. They are high in fiber, low in calories and contain Vitamin C.

Almonds help you halt heart disease because they are full of Vitamin E, which helps your body bust the free radicals that cause heart disease.

Salmon helps lower LDL cholesterol.

Lean meats help defend you from anemia.

Carrots contain antioxidants to neutralize free-radical damage.

Oatmeal helps you keep a steady blood sugar level and makes you feel fuller for longer periods of time.

Water regulates your body temperature and flushes toxins out of your system.

I hope and pray this information has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv


Lowering your Blood Pressure

Published by
Fibro Viv
at June 15, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

Hello,

Did you know that taking 15 minutes to breathe deeply just once a day can lower your blood pressure? This is true, according to the American Journal of Hypertension. So try this:

—-Inhale deeply as you slowly raise your shoulders to your ears,
As you exhale, let your shoulders sink away from your ears,
Repeat this five times.

Add this to you daily regimen and by all means do it when you start feeling stressed out.

I hope and pray that this information has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv

Exercise for your neck muscles :)

Published by
Fibro Viv
at June 15, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

Does stress or lack of rest give you a pain in the neck? Try the following exercise to relieve the muscle pain:

Lie face-up and gently lift your head, then lower it for about two to three sets of twenty repetitions three times a week.

Completing these neck strengthening exercises can relieve your pain and prevent them from coming back if you are consistent about completing the exercise noted above. Add it to your daily exercise regimen.

I hope and pray this information will help someone today.

Fibro Viv


Cognitive Behavior Therapy..Is it for You?

Published by
Fibro Viv
at May 22, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

Cognitive behavior therapy is basically used to help people understand their emotions and thoughts.  Patients are asked to keep a journal or notebook handy so they can write down their symptoms and note down what is happening, their thoughts and emotional process at that point in time.  The process enables a patient to identify any negative thoughts or emotions they may be experiencing when they are in pain.  This type of therapy teaches patients how to control their thoughts, and change the process to something positive. Negative emotions affects their body and learning to notice their stress related thoughts, patterns, and reactions will enable a patient to control their thought process.

This type of therapy is utilized on individuals that have a chronic disorder or those who have to deal with some type of disability the rest of their lives.  Some people forget or tend to ignore any positive experiences they lived in the past and believe it will never happen again.  Some times without even realizing they are their own enemy, per say.  They tend to overgeneralize their diagnosis and see themselves suffering the rest of their lives.  If they experience any time of the day, week or month without pain, they do not focus on that.  Instead, their thought process is still focusing on the negative.

There are people that suddenly get chronically ill or are diagnosed with a disorder that requires them to change their lifestyle. This is a very difficult time in their life, not only are they suddenly ill, they are now required to accept change. This change is sometimes viewed negatively.  Some patients tend to set higher expectations on themselves, which only leads to failure.  Others just expect to be able to handle tasks, be it physical or mental, as usual. The frustration leads to negative thoughts and emotions instead of working on the healing process.  Changes in their lifestyle, expectations and accepting help from others is not always pleasant and can feel degrading.

Cognitive behavior therapy enables an individual to think rationally, defuse anger and stops them from placing the blame on themselves.  People personalize everything by trying to understand what caused their illness or disorder.  Attitude has a lot to do with emotions and how the body processes these emotions.  There are many different types of treatments included with this type of therapy.  Patients are encouraged to utilize these other treatments.  They may include yoga, biofeedback, relaxation tapes, meditation and
sometimes hypnosis.

The entire process enables patients to become aware of their surrounding, thought process and enables them change them into positive affirmations and reactions.  It takes many sessions with the therapist in order to understand the process and change their mindset.  The other treatments mentioned above should be mandated while undergoing Cognitive Behavior Therapy.

Please consider the option of utilizing Cognitive Behavior Therapy if you are experiencing thoughts and emotions that lead you to blame yourself for your illness.

I hope and pray this information has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv

“7 Ways to Make Yourself Happier in the Next Hour.”

Published by
Fibro Viv
at May 16, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

The idea is to try to do as many of them as you can in an hour.

1.  Boost your energy by getting up and moving around. Taking a brisk ten-minute walk is best, because when you are moving faster, your metabolism speeds up and the activity is good for your focus and mood and helps you retain information.

** If you have Chronic Fatigue you may not be able to take a brisk ten-minute walk. Try stretching daily and slowly try walking pacing yourself. I realize some of us cannot walk at all.

Try visualization. Our minds are powerful, give it a try.

2.  Reach out to friends.  Arrange a lunch date or send an email to someone you haven’t seen for a while.  Socializing boosts moods and having close bonds with others is one of the keys to happiness.

3.  Get an old task out of the way.  If you’ve been procrastinating about a chore, tackle it now.  Like making that doctor or dental appointment, or arranging to get broken equipment fixed.  You’ll feel a sense of relief and a burst of energy.

4.  Create a calmer environment.  Just clearing some space around you, or getting things in order will give you a sense of serenity.

5.  Plan some future fun.  Decide to get to that new movie, or order a book you’ve been wanting to read, or plan an activity with friends or family.  Having fun on a regular basis is necessary to happiness, and anticipation is a part of that.

6.  Do a good deed.  Something as simple as holding a door for someone or offering praise can help, because the adage “do good, feel good” really works.

7.  Act happy.  Smile! Just going through the motion of happiness lifts your spirits and makes you more approachable.

So, why not give it a try – and get happy! I understand those people that are chronically ill cannot do all seven things…..but we can do some of these things that do not take a lot of effort.

I hope and pray that this post has helped someone today.  Praying for a fatigue and pain free day.

Fibro Viv


9 Symptoms Not to Treat Yourself

Published by
Fibro Viv
at April 6, 2007 in How to Help Yourself and General Tips. 0 Comments

Get to the doctor or an emergency room immediately if you have any of the following symptoms:

1.   A feeling of pressure or squeezing in your chest;
2.   Severe pain, especially in the head, chest or radiating down one arm;
3.   Blurred vision;
4.   Trouble talking or swallowing;
5.   Weakness or paralysis on one side;
6.   Dizziness and confusion;
7.   Blood in your urine or stool;
8.   Unrelieved depression;
9.   Shortness of breath, fever and/or a cough with a yellow-green discharge.

I hope and pray this information has helped some individual out there seeking help and answers.

Fibro Viv

Try a variety of strategies to help your condition

Published by
Fibro Viv
at January 4, 2007 in How to Help Yourself. 0 Comments

Taking an active role in learning about your illness may help you find benefits from different treatment options/programs that include some of these strategies:

  • Moderate exercise
  • Relaxation techniques
  • Stress management
  • Visualization
  • Stretching
  • Yoga
  • Healthy eating
  • Massage
  • Use of medications to manage specific problems such as sleep, pain and psychological disturbances,
  • Use of organic products to replace your traditional medications.

When possible I have tried all of the above strategies. Sometimes our own lack of or poor health insurance keeps us from trying some of these treatments.

Massages, medications, doctor visits, therapy and even some organic products are not cheap. Prior to losing my job I was able to take medical leave and had health coverage that allowed me to participate in a Rehabilitation Program offered in our city. Unfortunately, not all the program was covered, so I only have information on what I was able to participate in. I will share this information with you as quickly as possible on my posts. Please check my blog daily.

I will also research old notes when I visited various websites that offered free information when I was trying to figure out what was going on with my body, the aches, cramps, cognitive issues, pains, etc.

Since I had been with my PCP for so long and only suffered from asthma and the occasional flu, colds, etc., he knew I was not a hypochondriac. When I came to him with all of these symptoms, he started to try to eliminate one at a time. It was a long process. My PCP was also trying new and different medications. As many of you know, medications affect people differently. We can all share what we have tried and our experience with the different strategies and treatments.

My mission is to share this with as many people as possible, please share your experiences with us all.

I pray and hope that this post has helped someone today.

Fibro Viv