Long Day
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Health, Reading
I spent so much time on various buses today (or waiting for them) that I read half of Fifty Shades Darker and all of Fifty Shades Freed, then started the first book of the Iron Druid Chronicles by Kevin Hearne, Hounded. I can’t say how grateful I am to have my Nook on days like this.
I’m exhausted, though, and for the first time in a while I feel on the verge of a flare. I just can’t get warm and I don’t feel like I’ve really recovered from a hypoglycemic episode earlier this evening, but I don’t want to eat anything. Everything hurts more than usual and I feel too tired to sleep, if that makes any sense. I can’t begin to count the number of mistakes I’ve had to correct while typing just this short post. Please forgive me for whichever ones made it past me.
Fibrant Living: Being an active part of your own health care team, part I
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Friends, Health
I started a new series at Fibrant Living today about being an active part of your own health care team. It’s important for anyone, but vital for those of us with complex or chronic conditions.
I got to go to the library again today, thanks to Steven! We also had a great lunch at Johnny’s Pizza. I have enough of my calzone left for another two meals, in fact (at least).
Now I have five more books with which to continue my studies, so I should get on with it!
Tags: Fibrant Living
Fibrant Living: Fight Brain Fog!
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Health
Over at Fibrant Living, I’m talking about ways to fight brain fog. That’s a problem for people with chronic pain, depression, and other disorders, and I’d love to hear about how some of you deal with it.
I’m in a good mood. It’s a lovely day, I’m learning things, and I’ve got things to look forward to. How about you?
Tags: brain fog, Fibrant Living
Fibrant Living: Canaries Are Us
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Announcement, Health
I missed mentioning an FL post yesterday! It’s one that has been in the works for a while, Canaries Are Us.
Tags: Fibrant Living
Today’s Post is at Fibrant Living
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Announcement, Blogging, Health
Getting Better is today’s post. I’m going to be alternating between posting here and posting on my other blogs from now on, but I’ll always at least post a notice here.
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Jumpiness and Nerves
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Health, NaBloPoMo
Back to the NaBloPoMo prompts:
What do you do to cope when you’re nervous?
I have a whole mess of diagnoses, including post-traumatic stress disorder and social anxiety disorder, so I feel jumpy and nervous fairly often. I’m on medication that helps, and I have Ativan that I can take if I must for panic attacks. But I try really hard to use the Ativan, because 1) it can be addictive; and 2) it makes me sleepy. It makes far more sense to take advantage of the biofeedback techniques I learned years ago to try to get my heart rate and breathing under control. Cognitive behavioral therapy has also given me some valuable ways to examine the thought patterns that lead to panic attacks, so that I can try to short-circuit them before I get too wound up.
For less critical nerves, I find it important to keep my hands busy. I usuallly take a small stitching project with me wherever I go. Having my hands busy and keeping my mind partially occupied takes up enough of my energy to keep me from getting too wound up in nerves, most of the time. My stitching is the equivalent of other peoples’ doodling or fidget toys.
Gratitude
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Gratitude, Health, NaBloPoMo
Today I’m grateful for MARTA, which allows me to get around without having to own a car.
I’m also grateful for my wonderful pain specialist and incredible therapist.
Tags: MARTA
Gratitude
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Gratitude, Health
Today I’m grateful for having access to exercise equipment, and being healthy enough to use it.
Book Recommendation: The Mindful Way Through Depression
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Health
I’ve been responding to writing prompts instead of writing personal posts because I haven’t had a lot to say publicly. I feel a need to stop now, though, and strongly recommend a book that I’ve been reading. The Mindful Way through Depression: Freeing Yourself from Chronic Unhappiness
I’m finding the book’s approaches very useful. I have hope of possibly recovering beyond just taking medication forever for the first time I can remember. I’d be interested in hearing feedback from others who are using the same approach.
Tags: depression, meditation, mindfulness
Accessibility
Posted by Cyn | Filed under Civil Rights, Health, NaBloPoMo
When someone asks, “Is (X place) accessible?” the answer is “no” if there are any stairs involved in getting there. It doesn’t matter if everything inside X is on one level but there are three “little” steps at the front door, or “just one flight of stairs out front.” Those “little” steps aren’t so little for those using scooter and wheelchairs. The answer is also “no” if there is no wholly accessible bathroom near the main area.
Just once, I’d like to arrive somewhere to find a place truly accessible instead of having someone who’d claimed accessibility say, “Oh, I didn’t think about those little steps!” or “But that’s just one flight of stairs!” or some such stupid thing. Even though I happen to be able to walk most of the time, if I’m using my scooter, there’s a reason for it. If I were to get off of it to walk up those few steps, where am I to store the scooter? 1 Plenty of other people cannot walk up those steps.
Why choose an inaccessible place of business, anyway? Why are builders continuing to build inaccessible residences? It isn’t expensive to build in accessibility in the first place, compared to renovating for accessibility. Has all the talk of the aging of America meant nothing with regards to home design?
Everyone is just temporarily abled in the long run, anyway. If you buy or build a house, it pays to go ahead and consider whether or not it would still suit you if you were injured in some manner. Could you get around on crutches or in a chair? If (shocking thought) you were to want to entertain someone who uses mobility devices to get around, could that person even get in your front door? Any door? I’ve lived in places where the answer would be a resounding “No!” and even if we got the poor soul in through, say, the garage, she couldn’t get up to the living areas.
1 A significant investment.
Tags: Accessbility, Disability, Rant