A thought that often crosses our minds in the morning is “I have no motivation to get through the day”. Lack of motivation; an easy thing to explain but a difficult thing to understand and fix. Every person experiences issues throughout life that can cause an impact on them, and this impact can be neglected. We carry all the negativity we acquire during the course of the day without being conscious or aware of it; and the next thing we know, we may become bound to our beds, struggling miserably to get out of it and get some work done.
Why does this happen, though?
Difficult situations are very draining on our energy. Our minds can become full with negative thoughts which can lead to poor self esteem and little self-belief. While for some this can result in one or two low and gloomy days, it can also become a severe and serious thing for others.
People with chronic illnesses can be even more prone to regular levels of low motivation. We should all be aware of different tools that can be used to become as healthy and as happy as you possibly can, even while experiencing a lack of motivation. Now that I have introduced this concept to you, it is time for me to tell you the answer to becoming more motivated; Yoga!
Yoga has a great many benefits and one of the most obvious ones is instilling motivation. Given below are the few ways how yoga becomes the best practice to be motivated in life.
Yoga lowers stress and anxiety levels
Practicing yoga involves a great deal of stretching your muscles. This, in turn, reduces all the stress and tension accumulated in the muscles and relaxes them significantly. The constant breathing exercises help in energizing your body as it regulates the blood flow. This also helps rich and oxygenated blood to reach your brain.
As the brain receives rich blood and your body starts relaxing, the mind also works towards calming itself down. When this happens, you became aware of all the negative thoughts that have been causing you distress and anxiety and can, therefore, push them out of your head effectively. Once your stress levels are lowered, you feel more energized and motivated to work your way through most days.
Yoga increases your ability to problem solve
When your mood is low, one of the most annoying things that could happen to you is not being able to solve the slightest of the problems that come your way. Since your mind may be filled with negative thoughts, it can be difficult to think straight and therefore it may seem like the easiest thing to do is to give up on that difficult task.
The breathing exercises involved in yoga, as discussed above, help to clear out all the negative thoughts. They also assist in making your mind focus better. This means that when you come across a problem in life, you’d be able to focus on it properly. You will be able to come up with practical solutions faster, and therefore there would be no hindrance in the process of becoming a more motivated and happy self.
Yoga encourages self awareness
To keep yourself motivated, you need to know yourself properly first. You need to understand your behavioural patterns, as well as what makes you happy and what keeps you energized at work. Yoga helps in directing your focus towards your own self. It helps you understand your emotions better and makes you capable of consciously keeping them regulated. It helps you balance out all the negativity with positivity and enables you to make more practical and sensible decisions.
Manmohan Singh is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveler in India. He organizes Ayurveda Courses in India and Yoga retreat in Nepal . He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking Tours in India.
One of the biggest misconceptions about people with disabilities is that we have no desire to date or have no understanding of what a relationship consists of. I can tell you first hand that this is false. For as long as I can remember, I’ve always dreamt about the day I will finally get married. I dream of having a ceremony in the smoky mountains of Tennessee, and getting to ride off afterwards in a red 1978 Ford Truck with my future husband.
What I’ve Learned About Dating with Cerebral Palsy
Dating has been one of the most difficult parts of my life. Ever since I hit puberty in middle school, I had an interest in dating and having a boyfriend, like many young 13-year-olds would be. However, I often had trouble with this because boys wouldn’t dare to give me the time of day. This was mainly because of my Cerebral palsy, they just didn’t want to deal with the judgement and stigmas related to dating someone like me, and I can’t blame them for thinking that way.
Love Yourself First
All of this taught me that the first step of meeting and getting to know someone is being in love with yourself first, while accepting your circumstances and your situation. Once you accomplish this, then you can meet someone who will look past your disability and love you for you. Loving yourself when you have a disability may not be the easiest task for some people, but it helps you to move forward when you’re single and want to put yourself out there into the dating scene as someone with a disability.
Picture of the Author: Tylia Flores
If you don’t love yourself, how can you expect other people to gravitate towards you and want to get to know you? Self-confidence is magnetic. If you don’t love yourself and accept that you are who you are and acknowledge that you were made this way, then others may find it difficult to love and accept you as well.
It all starts with you and whether you are willing to try loving yourself, including the way your medical condition shapes you, as well as how you perceive your life as a person with a disability.
I’ve also learned that not everyone you have a romantic interest in is going to return those feelings, and that’s okay. That doesn’t mean there’s anything wrong with you or the person that you are. You just have to accept their feelings and move on from it, while remembering that you’ll find to love you no matter what struggles you experience and what situation you’re in.
Dating May Be Hard, But It’s Worth It
All throughout my experience with dating with a disability, I’ve realized that while it isn’t an easy process, it is a worthwhile one. It is essential that no matter where you are in your journey, you take time out and learn to embrace yourself and your situation. In my case, I need to acknowledge my wheels, the adventures I get to go on because of my Cerebral palsy, and all the things that having Cerebral palsy has taught me over the years. I have learned a lot about myself during the experience of finding love with Cerebral palsy.
Although my life hasn’t been the easiest, I have learned that loving myself and my disability come first are foremost.
About the author:
Tylia Flores is a 24-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world.
Yoga can act as a multi-purpose remedy for people of all age groups. It has therapeutic properties within each yogic movement that are good for the mind, body, and soul.
During your moments of wanderlust and planning your travel, when you have decided your favorite destination to go to, you don’t want any moments of severe symptoms or anxiety to impact your holiday once you’re on your way. It’s good to think positively about your future journey, but it’s wise to also take the necessary precautions. If you have impaired mobility, neurological dysfunction, fatigue, pain, etc., you may end up experiencing anxiety, less social interaction or even depression. In an effort to minimize such experiences, you can calm your symptoms or yourself with Yoga.
Meditation, Pranayama, or Yoga are exercises that can be performed anywhere. Therefore, while traveling, yoga can help relieve the symptoms of chronic illnesses. It works as a stress-buster as you increase qualities such as compassion, focus, improved memory, and better concentration. It may seem like too much of a challenge to maintain a yoga routine while traveling. What if you have to face uninvited challenges? However, it’s worth it. Yoga works as a booster to elevate your moods. Researchers have found and proven that Meditators are more self-aware and come through the stress-related problems to live a quality life.
The Benefits Of Practicing Yoga Whilst Travelling
Yoga is extremely beneficial, especially while traveling. Why? Because it promotes better health, allowing you to make the most of your holiday. Yoga, Meditation, Pranayama, and similar yogic practices can also help with clearing brainfog, which many people with chronic illness experience. Meditation also helps in clearing out the clutter that is causing emotional instability. It gives a clear perspective and a focused mindset while the Pranayama also helps in flushing out the toxins to reward you with a refreshed state of mind.
While traveling it is important to maintain healthy habits and to be aware of your surroundings. Create a safe space for yourself! It is important to look after yourself when you are trying to balance work and family life. People often ignore the more subtle elements of their health because they are too focused on dealing with the lives of other people. Yoga makes sure that you take care of your mental and physical health, because only then can you take care of others.
Establish your own yoga routine so you can take it with you anywhere
To start your yoga journey as someone who experiences chronic illness, consider private instructors initially; join gentle and restorative classes; practice Yoga from online sources or digital media. A little bit of stretching and deep breathing can be a benefit to almost anyone. So, travelers must consider this wonderful hack to give priority to their health while still making the most of their adventures. Let Yoga be your travel partner, a guide that can help protect you from all the bad forces of life with the natural power it inherits.
Look at the positive side of the world and appreciate every with grace. Staying positive is a weapon that not many people can fully embrace, but many people chase this state of mind as an infinite goal. So, if practicing yoga interests you, grasp motivation and start your journey. After all, being alive is a gift in itself to cherish!
Bipin Baloni is a passionate Yogi, Yoga Teacher and a Traveller in India. He organizes 200 hours of yoga teacher training in various cities in India and Nepal. He also conducts AyurvedaCourses in Kerala He loves writing and reading books related to yoga, health, nature, Himalayas and Trekking in Nepal .
This may sound a little strange but it is true. I live with several autoimmune diseases and sometimes it’s very hard to stay positive. When there is a flare, an increase of all symptoms, it’s easy to feel down and get even worse.
Writing helps me stay positive, but not just any writing. Writing and creating my Chargimals. They are little monsters that each represent a specific health condition or general symptom. They live in al alternate universe called Chargieville and have adventures together despite their limitations.
The world we made up in our minds
I am the person who creates the adventures for The Chargimals. Together with my partner in crime Jenni Lock, we live in Chargieville. In our minds. I can see the characters walking around in my brain and go on the adventures we create for them. My daughter (8) occasionally helps us write stories too.
Focus on the positive
How
does this help me stay positive you may think. First of all the
stories focus on the positive things you can do while living with
limitations. This makes us think about all the things we would be
able to
do. By focusing so much on the positive in a constructive way, it
makes me feel better. It makes me feel that, yeah, I am able to do
things. I may just need to do them in an adapted way, but that’s
okay.
I
can think about my issues and how I would work around them. The
Chargimals go on adventures that I create in my mind. To me it feels
like I am actually there. Like I am going on adventures as well. On
my good days I have a clear mind, I can write and leave the house as
well. On a bad day I can’t come up with new stories because of my
brain fog, but I can read the stories I’ve written so far, or work
on one with Jenni (giving feedback is easier than actually writing
yourself) and have them make me feel better.
Release frustrations
Writing
these stories and making memes gives me a way to release my
frustration with certain aspects around living with my autoimmune
diseases. It makes me feel like I’ve accomplished something. When I
read the stories to my daughter before bed she absolutely loves them.
The Chargimals are living and breathing personas in our house. We
know them all by name and know what their personalities are like.
It gives a sense of purpose and a sense of belonging when people reply with “I feel the same way”.
An unexpected friendship
Secondly
it has given me a friendship with Jenni, the writer. We met though
Facebook and really bonded over writing these stories. It gave me a
partner in crime, someone to confide in, someone to share it with.
Last
but not least, it strengthens my bond with my daughter. She adores
the Chargimals, and it hungry for more stories. She can’t get
enough! She knows we write them ourselves, and comes up with topics
and sometimes even whole stories. It’s something we can do together
and enjoy, it sparks her creativity and makes me feel happy.
Happy feeling
When
I’m feeling down, having a hard day, simply fed up with being sick
all the time, I can rely on the chargimals. Read the stories to my
daughter, talk about new ideas with Jenni, and connect with The
Chargimal Fans, which are the best people in the world!
Long
story short they make me feel valued and loved, even on my worst
days.
Want a bit of the magic too? Follow the Chargimals on Facebook or Instagram, you will see what I mean.
Like many people, I have always enjoyed going to the movies with my friends and family. My favorite types of movies to go see are comedies and films based on true stories. However, due to my Cerebral Palsy and my mild form of epilepsy, I also dread going to the movie theatre because of how it can affect both of these conditions.
When it comes to having spastic Cerebral Palsy, I tend not to do so well with loud noises and screaming since it makes me jump. The flashing lights and moving colors that are often on theatre screens are not good for people with epilepsy. As a result, whenever I go to the cinema I have to worry about what may happen if this movie has a scene where there is a lot of flashing lights or moving colors, or if it has loud noises that could make me jump and cause other movie go-ers to stare at me.
Dealing with self conciousness
Each of these disabilities impacts my life in different ways and sometimes it makes me very cautious about going out to certain places because of the responses that I get from the people around me. My body has a mind of its own, which can get out of control when it’s triggered by my epilepsy. It shakes and moves around and I have no idea what’s going on with my body. I don’t know if there will ever be a time where I can go to the theatres and be comfortable to enjoy the movie without a single worry on my mind.
Pictured above: Author, Tylia, at a movie theatre.
How movies could be made epilepsy friendly
It would be nice to be able to enjoy certain movies without having to be cautious about them having flashing lights or loud noises in them. This could be made possible if filmmakers would gain more awareness about epilepsy and other conditons, and how these conditions affect movie goers that enjoy movies but also have to worry about their epilepsy or other symptoms being triggered during the movie.
This would mean that people like myself could enjoy films and head out to the theatre more often without a single worry about their bodies or having to deal with the stress of not being able to enjoy the film because of their health. My combination of Cerebral Palsy and epilepsy together cause me to experience this stress every time I see a movie.
Until filmmakers make efforts to change this I will continue to go to the cinema and watch brand new movies because I refuse to miss out on things that everyone should be able to enjoy.
About the Author:
Tylia Flores is a 24-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world.
Most people have the best intentions at heart when they tell you something. Especially your friends. Assuming you’ve got good friends obviously.
I DO BELIEVE MY FRIENDS ARE GOOD FRIENDS, THAT’S WHY THEIR ADVICE SURPRISED ME SO.
My
goal in life is to spread awareness about living with multiple
chronic illnesses. How being fatigued is not the same as being tired,
how even when we smile we are in pain, how many people don’t
understand us. But we try to explain it to them the best we can.
Let me explain why well meant advice can be hurtful by giving examples of advice given to me by my friends.
“Don’t
be so negative and just go out there. Sitting at home by yourself is
not helping you feel better”
When I say I won’t be able to make it, it’s a form of self care. I’m not being negative. Living with a chronic illness is exhausting and I need a lot of rest. Just sitting up in a chair “not doing anything” is already draining my energy. I’ve tried to explain this in my article “fatigue in chronic illness explained”.
When there are multiple people there, and music playing, it’s even more exhausting. Multiple people, bright lights and music and noises can overstimulate me, making me agitated and on edge. It’s not a fun feeling, and this happens faster when I’m already not having the best day.
This is most likely the reason I’m telling you, I can’t make it today. It’s not as simple as taking some pain meds and keep going. Like another helpful friends suggested. This is not a muscle ache, pain meds don’t take away the pain and don’t do anything for my fatigue and possible overstimulation.
“Just
push yourself a little, when you put your mind to it you can do it”
The power of positivity is a good thing and you can accomplish a lot by looking at the bright side of life. I totally agree with this. But I can do that as much as I want, and it won’t take away my flare.
When
I go out with someone one day and won’t go out with you the next,
or vice versa, doesn’t mean I prefer their company over yours. It
means that I need to recover from my outing.
It goes both ways, if I know I’m going out of the house in a day or two I will preserve my energy now. Pushing harder won’t accomplish anything but getting a bigger flare, and having to recover for even longer. Sometimes it can even leave you with long term damage. Nothing is worse than pushing yourself over your limits when you live with a chronic condition.
“Did
you try yoga/kale/essential oils/alkaline water?”
Yes! I appreciate you trying to help me, but nobody is more invested in getting better than me! If there was a magic cure for my conditions, believe me I would’ve found it already.
Most of these things are part of my daily routine, eating an extremely clean diet, exercising (meaning basically just moving a little every day), supplements, essential oils, crystals and whatever else I can find that helps.
When you make a suggestion and I haven’t heard about it before, feel free to enlighten me and I’ll look into it. But when I tell you no thanks, for whatever reason, don’t push me. I don’t care that your sisters aunts friend was cured, I probably tried it and it hasn’t helped me. Or maybe I’m just tired of trying things for right now, and I simply don’t want to.
Knowing when to step back, knowing when advice is hurtful is hard, especially when you have no idea what it feels like to live the chronic illness life. But please, have respect and believe me when I tell you things. Don’t pity me and judge me, and don’t try to cure me. That’s all I ask.
We all have different coping skills when it comes to handling anxiety and the challenges it brings. One of my coping mechanisms is watching Nick Jr.’s animated show Paw Patrol! Although I’m 24 -years old and in college, studying creative writing, you might be wondering what is Paw Patrol and how did I get introduced to paw patrol?
What Is Paw Patrol
Paw Patrol is an animated series shown on Nick Jnr following the adventures of Ryder and his gang of pups living in Adventure Bay. Each episode sees the pups face a problem that needs solved either on land or sea. There are 8 different pups, each having a specific profession based around the emergency services.
My Introduction to Paw Patrol
It all started for me a few years ago. When I first struggling with the feeling of being trapped in my body because of my cerebral palsy. And trying to deal with the reality that I’m stuck in a body that I don’t have much control over and that my brain will never be free form this condition. Which causes me to have sleepless nights, spasms 24-7, or struggle to do task that others might find simple like putting on shoes or going to bathroom. All of these constant obstacles cause me to have struggle with anxiety which is common for young adults with Cerebral palsy.
When I first discovered that I was suffering from anxiety, I felt like I was not getting any relief out of the things I was told I needed to do to reduce my anxiety attacks from happening. I felt lost, and that I had this constant feeling of having a plastic bag over my head. Which felt like it was taking the life out of me every day, causing me to suffer from anxiety attacks over and over again.
It wasn’t until my then boyfriend recommend I watched Nick Jr’s Paw Patrol with him. He too had cerebral palsy and he had the same struggles as I did.
From the minute, I saw Chase, Marshall, Skye, Zuma, Tracker, Rocky, Rubble and Everest, my body becomes relaxed and I instantly feel like I could breathe again!
What I’ve Learned From Paw Patrol
As I watch paw patrol I remember through the lessons being taught that a problem always has a situation. And most of all the feeling that I have when I face issues with my anxiety every day! I remember that it takes baby steps and that nothing gets easier but you have to keep going despite the obstacles you’re facing in your life just like I do with my anxiety and spastic Cerebral palsy. It has taught me that I can’t give up on my challenges because I’m having a rough day with feeling anxious or having a lack of movement due to my chronic pain with Cerebral palsy.
Thanks to watching Paw Patrol I’m reminded that I’m a strong woman and I could overcome anything that comes in my way and I will overcome anything just like the characters on the show.
About The Author
Tylia Flores is a 24-year-old born with cerebral palsy. Although her condition has affected her mobility, it has never affected her will and determination to make a difference in the world. Through her many life challenges and obstacles, she discovered her passion for writing. Tylia’s goal in life is to share her stories with the world.
We’ve all been scolded for being on our phones, laptops and tablets. In this current age of rampant technology, it is understandable that these convenient devices can inhibit human interaction. While this is a growing issue, there is another side to this conversation that no one seems to be discussing.
What if technology was your only source of social interaction?
What if a disability, disease or mental health challenge inhibited your ability to have regular social interactions.
To these folks, a computer, tablet or cell phone may be the single source of not only entertainment, but also friendship and connection to other human beings.
Isolation is one of the most difficult parts of having any disability or illness. Not being able to socialize like we once did is a difficult card to be dealt, along with life long, incurable illness.
Most of us, before our diagnosis led very social, exciting lives. Most of us have had to mourn not only the life we once knew, but the friends that isolation took with it.
This is why it is SO important to keep in touch with your disabled friends and family and never judge them for the amount of time they spend on technology.
You never know how one text message or phone call can make a difference in someones life, for the good or bad.
For example. as a former career oriented women with a robust social life, since my diagnosis of Adrenal Insufficiency caused by my congenital disorder, Medullary Sponge Kidney I have had to reclaim a new life. I am no longer able to work a full time job and am mostly homebound. Due to health, I was forced to move away from my home state and am isolated in a foreign place for access to rare medical treatment. Texts, phone calls and social media are the main way I communicate with my friends and loved ones now. My extroverted soul aches in the isolated four walls I live in now.
I recently texted one of my loved ones, repeatedly, with no response.
I know it shouldn’t, but since that is my only source of communication with people, it hurts my feelings sometimes when people seem to be too busy for a three second reply.
This person’s response to my repeated text was “Sorry, I try not to be on my phone much.”
And I thought. “What a luxury.”
I miss the days where I didn’t have time to look at my phone because I was so busy running the geriatric home I was the director for. I was so busy perusing my degree in medicine I didn’t have time to scroll through social media. I was out in the world. I was an extrovert who was allowed to be extroverted.
Now, texts, calls, FB messages etc are my sources of social interaction, other than my weekly treatments at the hospital.
Social media and phones can be a source of JOY or a source of STRESS. It’s all in HOW you use it. It’s all in what you expose yourself to. It’s all in the people and content you ALLOW in your life.
If you are homebound and isolated, please don’t feel alone. There are many communities and support groups that understand the struggles you may be facing.
You are never alone, even if your only friends are in your phone 😉
Another point to be made is how important streaming services and TV can be in the life of someone chronically ill.
I know we all have felt guilt at some point for how much binge watching we’ve done, but honestly this practice has it’s place!
There are days where I am in so much pain and feel so miserable from my disease that I have to have a distraction. My mental health depends on it. Sometimes, watching a comedian on netflix or a comforting classic movie is a much needed distraction for those of us who struggle with difficult diseases or disabilities.
There’s only so many deep breathing exercises, meditation and yoga you can do and sometimes you just need to rest and recuperate.
I know sometimes we feel guilty for the amount of resting we do, but when you battle a disease 24/7 365 with no remission, it is completely okay to need a distraction in your life.
If netflix, youtube, hulu or whatever is that distraction for you, by all means please do not feel guilt over that. You deserve to rest. You deserve to be able to enjoy movies, shows and entertainment just like the healthy people.
I will close with two messages:
1- Don’t let anyone berate you about being on technology if you are using it for POSITIVE reasons.
That being said, if technology and social media is becoming a source of stress, it’s ok to cut back on it. Just don’t isolate yourself completely. You deserve to be heard, understood and loved.
2- If you love someone who is homebound, sick or disabled, respond to their texts, messages and phone calls when you can.
I get it, you’re busy. But we should never be too busy to let someone know we care Sending a text takes 3 seconds, but it could make someones whole day! Make people you love a PRIORITY. Especially those with chronic health issues, they may value your efforts even more. <3
Wishing you hope, healing and happiness!
Love, Win
To read more from Winslow you can visit her website-
Disclaimer: When starting a new health supplement or diet you need to consult with your doctor first to ensure that any changes will benefit your health instead of making it worse.
As someone who is both chronically ill and overweight, I am a perfect target for the “miracle cure” products that circle the internet. If you’re unsure as to what I’m referring to, certain products on the internet claim to be the “miracle cure” that can cure “any and all” illness or disability. Of course, this isn’t true.
If It Sounds Too Good
I’ve learned over the years that if a treatment sounds too good to be true, then it probably is.
Not only do these products target and take advantage of chronically ill and/or disabled people, but they can also be extremely dangerous. It’s not just because of the possibly unregulated ingredients though. Some of these “treatments” even recommend stopping all other medications while using the product, which is ridiculous!
I’m not going to mention specific product names or brands in this article, as I don’t want to cause any legal issues. However, there are plenty of online resources that can be consulted regarding these types of products. I find that the five most commonly targeted conditions by these scams that I’ve seen are Cancer, Obesity, Fibromyalgia, ADHD, and Autism. However, there is no condition that the scam supplements will not claim to cure. The rise of internet usage in our society has made it super easy for the creators of these scam products to widely sell their product, but I’m hoping we can use the internet to raise awareness about this issue and turn things around.
My Experience
Like many others, I have seen these products advertised all over the internet. Luckily, my mother taught me at a young age to do my research before buying any of these “miracle cures”. Like many of us, my experiences with the advertisement of these products was purely online… until earlier this year. I’ll set the scene: One afternoon I was walking through the main street of my town, minding my own business, heading towards my dentist appointment. Out of nowhere, a woman runs out of a little nutrition store and asks me if I’d be interested in learning more about her products. Me, finding it hard to say no and having time to waste before my appointment, agreed and headed into the store.
It wasn’t until later that I realised how weird it was that she ran out of her store upon seeing me. She wasn’t standing outside her store handing out flyers, and I didn’t see her approach anyone else. Later I realised that she must have seen me as an easy target because I’m overweight and was using my walking cane. As I entered the store, I instantly regretted my decision. Every single one of the products in that store was a “health” product from a single company that is well known on the internet for promising benefits for their products that they don’t deliver. I continued to talk to this woman as if I was interested in buying the products. She went on and on about how her products have improved the lives of people with many medical conditions.
I then asked if I needed to consult my doctor before starting to use these products. She told me that no, I didn’t need to consult a doctor because it was all-natural, and then she made a snarky comment that the fast-food I eat would react far worse with my medication than any product she sells. The funny thing is, despite being overweight, I only eat fast food not even once a week. I couldn’t believe she’d say something like that to someone she had never met before, and I knew her comment about it being all-natural and therefore not possibly interacting with medication was blatantly untrue. I then escaped the store, and the awkward situation, by telling her that I needed to leave to attend my appointment and that I would consult my finances and get back to her. After my appointment, I went home and did my research, and it turns out this company’s products are linked to liver failure. I definitely dodged a bullet.
The Rising Awareness Concerning These Products
Some of these products are so dangerous that the FDA (Food and Drug Administration) has released warnings about them. The FDA is discussing tightening rules regarding these products, however, the companies behind said products are adept at finding loopholes in the law. D] Phil even did an episode regarding a “miracle” cabbage and salt-based drink that the creator claimed cured all illnesses – she evened claimed it could grow back missing limbs and organs and fix chromosome disorders. However, this drink had such a high salt content that prolonged use would cause sodium poisoning, which can be deadly.
Thanks to coverage from platforms like these and articles all over the internet, awareness regarding these dangerous products are arising. Still, however, some people are falling victim to these schemes, and I’m hoping that the continued spread of information through the internet will eventually turn the tables against these scam products.
Some Supplements & Diets Can Be Helpful
Depending on your chronic illness and current treatments, supplements can be helpful for aiding the treatment of your symptoms. Magnesium, for example, is widely known to help lessen muscle pain and spasms. It was first suggested to me by my doctor, and I’ve found it to be very helpful in addition to my other medications. Other popular supplements include turmeric and fish oil, which each have a long list of ways they may be able to aid your health.
Certain diets can also be helpful. I have encountered many people with obesity, chronic pain, and/or fatigue who swear by the keto diet as a way to lose weight and aid the treatment of their symptoms, though I have not yet tried it myself. These treatments (when used under the guidance of a medical professional) can be genuinely helpful. What isn’t genuinely helpful, however, is when people claim that their unreliable diets and supplements can cure any and all forms of illness, which is obviously not true.
“Natural” Doesn’t Always Equal Safe
The main angle these companies use to advertise their “miracle cure products” is that their products are “100% natural, 100% safe!” Don’t let this fool you. A product containing all-natural ingredients does not guarantee its safety. After all, cyanide is natural! And so is the cabbage and salt drink I mentioned above, yet the amount of salt in this ‘treatment’ has caused serious medical events in patients that have drunk it, such as stroke.
It’s not just an excess of certain ingredients that can be an issue. There’s also an issue that comes along with these products targeting the chronically ill. Like many people who are chronically ill, I take a lot of medication in an attempt to manage my symptoms. Many medications have specific ingredients that may not be consumed along beside this medication. Some of these ingredients are in other medications. Others are a part of natural growing foods. For example, I can’t consume products that have grapefruit in them because that would negatively interact with the medication I take every day.
How to avoid dangerous “miracle” supplements:
Do your research.
If anyone other than a trusted medical professional recommends a health product or routine/diet to you, do your research. When researching a product, Google the product and look at reviews that are not on a website connected to the product brand (as some brands delete negative reviews). Make sure the brand or website you’re buying from is reliable. You can even check with the FDA to see if the product is approved, or if the FDA has any concerns regarding the product or the brand. Also, in my opinion, “health” products from MLM (multi-level-marketing) companies and websites should be avoided.
Consult Your doctor or a pharmacist
As always, when starting a new health supplement or diet you need to consult with your doctor before to ensure that this will benefit your health instead of making it worse. This is especially important if you have chronic health issues and take medication.
Pharmacists can give you a break down on ingredients in the supplement you are enquiring about, and inform you as to whether they will interact with any of the treatment you are undergoing. Consulting a pharmacist regarding a supplement I was interested in saved me from possibly developing Serotonin Syndrome, which can be deathly. This would have been caused due to an interaction between the supplement and one of my medications.
Only buy from reliable sellers
Once you have the “OK” from your doctor or pharmacist, only buy health supplements from reliable sources. I personally only buy my supplements from pharmacies and supermarkets. Unless I’m visiting a website directly connected to a supermarket or pharmacy, I will not buy supplements online.
While some people may think that what other people decide to sell or buy is no one else’s business, these “miracle” products take advantage of vulnerable people and they are also often extremely dangerous. I can not stress enough how important it is to consult a medical professional before starting a new treatment. People reading this may think I’m being repetitive and redundant, but I can’t say it enough.
Dr Phil, regarding dangerous cabbage-salt drinks: https://www.drphil.com/videos/medical-professional-explains-potential-dangers-of-controversial-health-beverage/
About The Author
Amy Clements is a 20-year-old who has lived with chronic pain, the result of Fibromyalgia, since childhood. In her teens she was diagnosed with Complex Regional Pain Syndrome in her wrist, which was the result of a netball injury. Amy lives in New Zealand and studies Business part-time at University. She enjoys reading novels and writing. She especially enjoys writing about her experience with chronic illness.
Though exercise is an important part of maintaining our health, exercising regularly is more difficult for people living with a chronic illness than it is for many others. However, with a doctor’s approval (of course), regular exercise can become manageable to some extent, while being highly beneficial for many aspects of people’s lives. For people with chronic illness, it can be even more crucial to regularly do some light physical activities, in order to increase their heart rate within safe parameters.
Some of the benefits of exercise for people with chronic illness include bone and muscle strengthening, weight control, improvement in mental health and mood, reduced chances of falls, as well as reducing the risk of heart disease, diabetes, and metabolic syndrome (as well as helping to manage the symptoms of these conditions). As a whole, regular exercise can help preserve your lifestyle.
How to get started:
If you’re a person suffering from some kind of chronic illness, then the topic of chronic illness and exercise is surely familiar to you. The first thing we ask ourselves is how to even begin exercising. The first thing you should do is speak to your doctor. This is very important, as they will give you the best advice that will match your medical condition and capabilities. Your doctor will advise you on how to start, what exercises are best, and what pace to keep.
Remember to ask about the exact benefits of taking up some physical activity, the safe exercises you can do, the ideal intensity and duration of these exercises, and the realistic goals that you can set; as well as learning what exercises are definitely off your list that may cause you harm. You can find the right level of activity for yourself and your unique chronic condition only when you have the answers to all the above considerations to act as a basis for your exercise plan.
Dealing with exercise related fear, grief, and trauma
Exercising with chronic illness can lead to experiencing a turmoil of emotions, including fear, grief, and trauma. Fear can be brought on by worrying about being judged by strangers while exercising, or being scared that we may not be able to keep up or do what we used to. There is also the fear of onset numbness, flares, and possible injury.
Grief can be experienced while exercising with chronic illness because we may not be as fast as we used to be, and the loss of functionality and stamina during our workout routines can be upsetting. We need to acknowledge that our bodies will look and work differently than they did before the onset of our chronic illness symptoms. Even knowing this may not stop us from feeling vulnerable as we see other people doing everything we once could but now can’t. We need to be aware that each person has a different level of activity they are capable of.
People diagnosed with chronic illness experience moments of acute trauma. This can mean that due to pain they feel, they simply disconnect their mind from their body in an attempt to ease the tremendous pain they feel. However, when exercising it’s impossible to disconnect our body from our mind. The sensations that accompany being physically active are discomforting, especially for people with a chronic illness – as they tend to associate the pain from exercise with the pain associated with their illness.
These are some reasons many people with chronic illness avoid exercise. We can help ourselves overcome these by thinking encouraging thoughts and assuring ourselves that we are not in danger. The more we are able to deal with these emotions, the stronger and more capable we will become. This kind of practice will make us stronger – both physically and mentally.
Start off slow
It’s important to start off slow. Choose some light, mild activities as you begin your exercise plan. These activities could include taking a short walk, gentle stretching, riding a bike leisurely, or lifting light weights. If you’re a fan of walking, take some walks in nature: go to the park or the countryside. If you prefer cycling, find a perfect bike that fits your personality and needs and cycle leisurely around your neighborhood. Any kind of physical movement, even though it might not seem much to you, is better than no movement at all.
Choose activities you like
Usually, in life, we persist and continue doing what we enjoy doing. That’s why it’s key to choose the activities we enjoy because in that way we’ll have something that ties us to the activity. Another way to persist in doing physical activities is to find an exercise buddy. That helps you stay motivated and accountable. Everything we do with our friends is easier and more bearable, as we can give each other support during hard times.
Frequency is more important than duration
This means that you should focus on moving a little every day rather than doing something for two hours once a week. You should try to make the activities a part of your day. Even things such as using the stairs, sweeping and even standing up and sitting down on a chair repetitively are also considered to be light physical activities.
Set realistic goals
It’s necessary to be realistic in setting our goals. We should start with simple and easily doable ones such as some yard work and little housework, for those people who don’t suffer from severe chronic conditions. On the other hand, people who suffer from more severe forms of illnesses should maybe start with improving their flexibility in order to start managing some usual daily activities. Setting unrealistic goals can lead to disappointment and lack of motivation.
Don’t give up
Even if sometimes you can’t keep up with a regular activity once or twice in a certain period, don’t let that bother you. Take a break if you need to, but remember to go back to exercising as soon as you can. Go over in your mind what you’ve achieved so far and think about what you can achieve in the future if you keep up the good work.
Motivation is important
Everybody has a different motivation for making themselves go through something that is extremely difficult for them, such as exercise. Some people want to be in better physical shape in order to keep up with their toddler, while other people want to improve their mood, their quality of life, and their overall health – the reasons are countless. When you have a reason strong enough, you’ll find more time and energy to endure. It’s especially important to remember your motivation on the days you don’t feel like exercising. Motivation is a very powerful tool and it can help you achieve almost anything.
Remember: Your excercise plan can be adapted to suit you
If there is an exercise that you loved but are no longer able to do, it may be able to be adapted to suit your needs. This means you don’t need to stop doing what you enjoy. For example, yoga can be practiced from a chair and you can receive all the same benefits of improved flexibility, increased strength and reduced stress
Try attending a class
Attending a fitness class has the benefit of being able to consult an instructor, who can help you do the exercises correctly and avoid any mistakes that could lead to an injury. If you worry that a “normal” fitness class may be too hard on you, you may be able to find a special class for people with disabilities or chronic illnesses. This means you also get to spend time with people who may have a similar condition as you, allowing you to share your experiences and maybe even hear a few good pieces of advice.
Learning how to live a to-some-extent-normal life when suffering from a chronic illness is not an easy task. With lots of effort, motivation, will, and support from our dear loved ones, we can try to improve as much as we can and be the best version of ourselves.
Helen Bradford is a journalism student who always seeks new ideas to write about. She enjoys blogging about beauty, health and style trends for women. When she’s not writing, she spends her spare time being active through fitness and traveling.
