April 19, 2019
by Tina Arnoldi
A recent study found that one social media channel, Pinterest, an image sharing site, is a source of support for people living with chronic pain. Analyzed pins reflected supportive content, both informational and educational. Mental health and social media professionals were invited to comment on the potential positive impact of social media activity for this channel.
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Taking the time to learn how to be more mindful is well worth the effort. Researchers are more interested than ever in how mindfulness and meditation affects our health and well-being. According to 2011 research published in the Journal of Happiness Studies, there are several ways that mindfulness training can be good for our mental and physical health
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Pain usually is our body’s way of telling us something is wrong and needs to be handled. Not only a physical experience, pain also has a significant emotional component. And the two, pain and emotions, sometimes work together in a negative way to make each one more noticeable. Pain is something everyone experiences at some time in their lives. And some people live daily with pain from chronic conditions or some other physical health problem.
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November 4, 2014
by Caleen Martin
Your doctor informs you that you have an invisible disease which causes debilitating pain throughout your body. You may lose your job, have to fight for benefits. You have to deal with doctors who think you're lying about your condition and symptoms and become a guinea pig in order to find the most effective medications and therapies.
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October 30, 2014
by Caleen Martin
Mother's with chronic pain often doubt their parenting skills because of their pain conditions. It keeps you from running and playing with your kids; you can't even begin to try and keep up with them. Many days are spent resting in bed or on the couch. Maybe ten minutes of activity here or there but you can often feel inadequate as a mother. The truth is, you shouldn't. The mere fact that you are asking yourself if you are a good mother makes you a good mother. You're willing to take an honest look at yourself. You’re willing to evaluate what is going on in your relationship with your children and you have a desire to make sure you’re there and present with them to the best of your ability.
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October 10, 2014
by Caleen Martin
If you’re like many of us who feel better being in control of the situation or tasks, you’re going to have to learn to let that control go. There are studies that indicate that when we physically feel signs stress and anxiety it is our body’s way of trying to tell us that we need to reach out to others. We need to let others know what is going on. We need to pay more attention to our body and what it is trying to tell us. We need to embrace ourselves, love ourselves and treat ourselves with the kindness and compassion that we so often give to others but forget to give ourselves.
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August 19, 2014
by Caleen Martin
When you are sat down by a doctor and explained that you have an incurable medical condition that could become completely debilitating to you, cause you daily pain, and change every aspect of your life, you die. Your physical life has died, your career has died, your ability to care for your family has died, your ability to enjoy the intimacy between yourself and your partner has died. But your lungs still breath air, your heart still pumps, and you must create a completely new life in spite of your medical conditions.
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July 27, 2014
by Caleen Martin
How many of us have had a particularly nasty, stressful argument and within a day have an intense flare up leaving you in agony? Probably too many of us. Communication will make or break each and every relationship we have throughout our lives. So why aren't we taking it more seriously?
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May 14, 2014
by Caleen Martin
Being selfish has always been considered a trait to avoid. We're taught to give to others, to be selfless and caring. Many times however, we take our selfless acts to such an extreme that we are giving to others at the expense of our own welfare. This happens most often with our children and partners.
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May 7, 2014
by Caleen Martin
Change Your Words, Change Your Worth is the mantra used by Adam Braun, founder of Pencils for Promise. His story is about the language of business and how he found a creative way to engage with other prominent entrepreneurs and not lose them the moment he began discussing his non-profit organization. Braun realized very early on that the terminology he used could make or break the connections he formed in the business world. Those of us living in the world of Fibromyalgia have also found this same issue regarding the discussions we have about our health.
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