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6 Ways to get into a Spring Mindset
I am so excited! Minnesota just had the warmest weekend since the winter started. I am ready for Spring. I am ready for flowers and warmer weather. I am ready for sunshine and walking outside. I am already preparing for Spring in so many ways. Now that we’ve gained an hour of sunshine during the day, I’m excited to jump into longer days. I dislike winter. If I had it my way, I would live in a moderate climate all year round. That’s not possible right now so I’m taking the opportunity to be grateful and prepare for Spring! Here are six ways to get in the Spring spirit. Start…
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Cultivating a Healing Atmosphere
Healing is something sacred to me. It comes in many forms. Physically, healing is rarely able to take full effect, although it does show up here and there. In a mental sense, healing is all around me. I try to surround myself with an ora of peace. It’s much easier said than done. Starting off on this journey was very difficult. How do you go from frustration, anger, and confusion to healing? It starts with what you immerse yourself in. Anything from pop culture to your environment; it comes into play when cultivating a healing atmosphere. So you’re likely thinking, “Where do I start?” Excellent question! Here’s how I started…
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Tips and Tricks for Dealing with OCD
Dealing with OCD is an interesting experience. For most of my life, I was unaware of the fact that my anxiety was obsessive compulsive disorder. Having intrusive thoughts is a normal part of life but for individuals with OCD there’s a hyper focus on them. I can spend literal hours doing mental gymnastics. I repeat phrases to myself and try to ensure my own or others safety. The reality of living with OCD can be somewhat harsh. The only way to truly beat or overcome OCD is to endure. This is a therapy known as Exposure and Response Prevention. The therapy consists of exposing yourself to your fear. Then you…
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Finding My Footing (Literally)
The past two years have been a wild roller coaster. It’s been ups and downs, while my medical problems ebbed and flowed. I am finally (almost) two months without an angioedema episode. Although it may be too early to celebrate, I can’t help but feel excited. Since getting surgery, I am full of hope. Maybe it’s the stress that has slowly dissipated. Both of my surgeries are complete and recovery has been going well for both. I can honestly say I never imagined myself in this situation but that’s okay. I’m not under the assumption that life would come without it’s trials and tribulations. I think what I’m trying to…
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It’s Okay to Talk About You
This is more for the spoonie supporters, unless a spoonie out there needs to hear this. I have been getting this a lot lately, “I’m sorry I shouldn’t complain, you’ve got so much going on.” It’s true, sometimes I may have to dig deep for sympathy but most of the time I love to hear what others are going through. Most importantly, it’s okay to talk about you!! What I am going through should not impact how you talk to me. I want to hear your thoughts and feelings. They didn’t disappear because I had to go to a doctor’s appointment. Your experience is valid. Often, I love to hear…
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Taking Control of Your Life
Attitude is everything. This phrase has been around forever. What does it mean? For me, this means that in uncontrollable circumstances, I choose to focus on what I can control. When I had to move back from living abroad, I was angry and beside myself. It felt like my life was stolen from me, but it wasn’t. It changed drastically but I was about to go to one of the best medical institutions in the world for treatment. During this time, I chose to focus on the negative but after a month, that got old. No one wants to be unhappy but finding happiness in dark times is hard work.…
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Why Meditation is Key
I love meditation. It’s something I found by accident, I started off with the app Headspace and evolved from there. When I first started, it was a challenge. I wasn’t meditating consistently and I wasn’t seeing any results. When I chose to start, I did it because it was something my doctors suggested. Being the dutiful patient I am, I ran with it. Well, at first I limped with it. Slowly, I got up to walking speed and now I’m finally running with it. I think there’s a stigma around meditation. We all have this grand idea that within one session we will have found enlightenment. It only takes the…
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Becoming Vulnerable
When I first started this blog, I didn’t know what to expect. I wanted to share my story, help others through similar experiences. Maybe make one or two individuals feel less alone. When this blog came to fruition, the idea of sharing my story became daunting. When this new path of chronic illness unfolding in front of me, I knew there was a reason. There was something that I needed to learn. For some reason, the universe chose me. There’s such a thing as medical narrative. This comes in different forms, but it’s how we explain what is happening to us when we are ill. This term was foreign to…
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How to Find Radical Acceptance
Radical acceptance is often brought up in treatment for OCD. The concept is quite intriguing. It is the idea that we only need to accept what we are experiencing. In one moment, to the next we bring ourselves to a state of peace by accepting our circumstance. For me, radical acceptance has been very important in my chronic illness journey. After my last surgery, radical acceptance clicked for me. In times of pain, it’s easier to accept than in times of anxiety. So how can we find radical acceptance and how do we implement it into our lives? Here’s how I found radical acceptance: Be Patient Radical acceptance is a…
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A Chronic Illness How to Guide
So, you found out you have a chronic illness or you’re experiencing symptoms you can’t make sense of, fear not. I am here to give you my best tips and tricks for surviving chronic illness. This starts with talking about appointments. How to Advocate For YourselfThis is not something that came easy to me. It took about twenty appointments to get the hang of it but now I am confident going into 90% of my appointments. Be patient, you’ll get the hang of it. Start by listening and acknowledging when you’re getting defensive. Doctors will throw out ideas that may upset you. They can be frustrating or downright offensive. Most…
