Chronic Pain Care & Management

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NOTE: Content is not a substitute for treatment or therapy, and as always, please consult with your healthcare provider.

If you have chronic pain it can be an emotional struggle as well as a physical one.

In my work with chronic pain patients, one treatment approach I use includes solution-focused interventions rooted in mindfulness. Instead of thinking ‘why me’, look at the situation from a ‘what now, how will I deal with this’ perspective.  A new mindset can make the situation less stressful, and if you are less anxious, your body will cope with the pain better.


Learn To Relax

Pain occurs to warn you that there is something wrong with your body. It is often in the muscles, but can occur in other parts of the body as well- such as the nerves. If your body is tense the pain could be worse, but learning to relax can aid in lessening the effects of it.

Calming your body down is the objective, and you have to find the best method of relaxing your muscles that suits you and helps to improve your well-being. Some people are lucky enough just to be able to sit back and it happens naturally, where others will have to do progressive muscle relaxing for it to work.

Rest

Some people with painful conditions feel exhausted throughout the day, but may find it difficult to rest due to the high demands of living in today’s society. However, rest is a key factor in proper recovery, so making sure that you listen to your body and try to incorporate rest breaks throughout your day will aid in rejuvenating your body, and could reduce some pain related symptoms.

Don’t Overdo It

If your chronic pain is a bit easier after a few days of rest and relaxation, don’t suddenly try to do everything you normally would. Overdoing it can delay your recovery so even if you are feeling better, take it easy for a while longer. Perhaps doing light tasks can suffice, but keep them simple or you could be back at square one.

Eat Foods That Are Anti-Inflammatory

There are some foods and herbs such as turmeric, oily fish, red fruits and vegetables, and leafy greens that have anti-inflammatory properties. Carrots, squash, watermelon, and peaches are all additions to your diet that could help.

Seek Help from a Medical Professional

There is help available if you’re experiencing in chronic pain. Your healthcare provider is a first step in treatment, or you can visit a specialist- like a chiropractor or physical therapist. Moreover, depending on the type of pain you’re experiencing, you could also try acupuncture or massage therapy.

Another alternative medical approach uses feedback modalities- such as Neurofeedback or Biofeedback. These non-invasive treatment therapies help teach you how to control your own physiology, and in many cases, can reduce pain symptoms in the back, neck, nerves and other areas.

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Guide To Getting A Good Night's Sleep

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DISCLAIMER: As always, this post is only to provide general information. Please consult with your healthcare professional regarding treatment for your specific needs.

Sleep problems can be common with a lot of people. We have all been around friends or colleagues that have said they are exhausted or didn’t sleep well last night. The good news is that if you are intentional and committed to making some changes, you can get a much better night’s sleep, which can be a benefit to your life, as well as your health and wellness.

Below, I share a few suggestions that you can try in your nightly routine that may help you achieve a more effective sleep.

Avoiding Caffeine

It can be hard to cut caffeine completely from your body, but when you have caffeine close to bedtime, it can significantly disrupt your sleep. If you are someone that does have caffeine in their diet, then avoiding it closer to bedtime will be beneficial to you. The impact that caffeine has is also true as you get older, especially if you consume it multiple times throughout the day, so taking steps to get into healthier habits now, will augur well for your overall health.

Rest and Unwind

This might sound like an odd one, because surely going to bed itself is a way to rest and unwind? But in actuality, stress has a massive impact on how well you are able to sleep. So before you actually get into bed, you need to take time to rest and unwind. It could simply be meditating for a few minutes, lighting a candle or listening to calm music. It’s best if you can avoiding screens and computers before bed because they can overstimulate your brain. A good book or magazine is the perfect alternative, but either way make sure it is stress-free. If you’re quite easily involved in fiction, then a tense, scary, or emotional story is not great for bed-time. Keep it easy, breezy, and even uplifting.

Try Natural Remedies

They say that pillow sprays made from things like lavender can have an impact on your sleep, so that is a natural easy win that can help you to drift off. Diffusing essential oils can help, as well a CBD oils like those of Imbue Botanicals, for example. The reason being, if you suffer from anxiety at night, or are someone that suffers from insomnia or wakes up a lot, then this kind of oil might be a solution, as it relaxes the mind and body, reduces your heart rate, and helps you drift off to a restful night’s sleep.

A fragrant, warm bath filled with luxurious oils or bubbles is a great way to relax. We may not have the time to regularly indulge in baths during the week, but they are perfect before an early night. Breathe deeply, apply a face mask or other pampering treatment, and try to release all the tension from your muscles. When we fall asleep, our temperature drops slightly. This also happens when we get out of the bath, and mimicking a slight temperature drop can tell our brain that it is time to sleep.

Create a Conducive Environment for Sleep

Where you sleep plays a big part, because if you are not comfortable, then it will be hard to drift off to sleep. Making sure that you have a mattress with good support and some comfortable bedding is an easy win. Then make sure your room is just the right temperature for you, as too hot or too cold will impact how well you sleep. Don’t use your bed for things like studying or doing work as these can be things that stimulate the mind, and you will start to associate your bed with those things. Not good when you are already struggling to drift off.

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Beginner Yogi?? Here's Everything You Need To Know!

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Yoga is an ancient practice, originally coming from Indian culture. Yogis, the elders of the practice who taught it to others, practiced the sport as a peaceful balance of mindfulness and physical wellness. Now practiced around the world, yoga is an incredible way to stay fit, strong, and balanced while helping to keep your mind at ease. Yoga, also pairs incredibly well with meditation and mindfulness practices. 

If you’re looking to take up a yoga class, but you aren’t sure of what to expect, here are some tips to get you started on your yogi journey.

Keep an open mind

In movies and other forms of representation, yoga can be portrayed as “hippie” or too free-spirited. However, yoga centers around peace and mindfulness, and whoever you are, you will benefit from that. Whether you’re young or old, if you’re a business-minded careerist or a free-spirit artist, your mind and body will thank you for working on mindful exercise. 

Do Your Research

Depending on where you live and the array of options available, researching yoga classes in your area is essential before you attend. There are some yoga classes, run typically in gyms and workout centers, which center the practice around working out, incorporating some mindfulness in the exercise. Other places, such as Buddhist centers, focus centrally on the mindfulness aspect of yoga. Depending on what you’re looking for, you can find the best class for you and your needs.

Come Prepared

Yoga, believe it or not, is actually a hard workout. While gyms push your body in terms of weightlifting and cardiovascular fitness, yoga is a different form of exercise. Yoga practices the body’s ability to hold itself in different positions and improves flexibility.

Additionally, you want to come to your yoga class prepared. Bring water, and wear comfortable clothing you feel confident and physically able to move around in. Traditionally, most yoga classes required you to be barefoot and in close proximity to others. However, with the current COVID-19 pandemic, facilities have been taking social distancing and safe practicing precautions, but you should also ensure that your hygiene, health and general cleanliness are good before you attend. 

Your clothing should also be breathable workout gear, such as booty scrunch workout leggings combined with a comfortable fitting top. Keeping your lower back and core supported fitted leggings can help you find the yoga positions more easily. Plus, these leggings aren’t see-through, so you will be able to focus without the worry of your attire.

Ask Questions

All professional yoga teachers go through lengthy training before they begin teaching their practice. If you’re new to yoga, ask questions during and after the class! Do not be afraid to put yourself out there and find out more about this amazing sport. You pay to practice with a professional, so utilize their knowledge to help you learn. Yoga is an exercise that benefits your health long term, so enjoy it, and use every resource you can to help you improve!

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Boost Your Fruit And Vegetable Intake

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The fact is when it comes to vegetables and fruits, many of us simply aren’t getting enough in our diets. It is very easy to cook a burger, order something for delivery, and it’s even easier to use cheap microwave meals and not even consider the consequences.

However, we really should be making an effort to improve how we eat. Not only to ensure our bodies have everything they need in terms of vitamins, minerals, and other nutrients but because it is better for us mentally and physically too.

Who doesn’t want to see a large improvement in their amount of energy, mental health, and even the bags under your eyes slightly disappearing? These are just some small tweaks you can make to pack more of the good stuff in on the daily.

Not everyone can do this without an expert on hand, so perhaps you might consider a macrobiotic counselor.

Suck it Up

This isn’t going to be easy, but unless you start changing the way you prep your food, you are actually going to struggle with this. You have to have a conversation with yourself and decide what is more important. Become dedicated to yourself and the improvements that you can see from making some slight changes to your diet. Don’t make excuses like you don’t like the taste of water, or you don’t really enjoy apples. 

Because if that’s the case, you can flavor your water, and apples are not the only fruit that you can choose from. Become dedicated to it.

Suck it Up, Part Two

One of the most convenient ways is to have a huge amount of fruit and vegetables; like a smoothie. You can make them super tropical and pack them with pineapples, oranges, mangoes, and papaya. Or you can have something super green and have a mix of apples, spinach, cucumbers, and even kiwi. You can add powders on top of your smoothies with added nutrition if you need it.

Tapas

If you are staring at a plate that is filled with vegetables and fruit and all you want to do is eat some noodles and fries, then you’re going to struggle. However, if you make the whole process more interesting and turn everything into a tapas-style meal, you are going to pick and munch a little bit more and not really notice. 

Put on a spread packed with gherkins, sliced tomatoes, artichokes, olives, stuffed peppers, and even cucumbers. Leave the bowl on the table, and as we are natural grazers, the chances are you are going to double down on your portions without even noticing.

Meal plan

This may potentially be the most important thing that you can do. Every week before you do your weekly shop and certainly before you are hungry, start meal planning. This way, you will buy the things you need for each meal, and with that in mind, you would be less tempted to grab things on the go or order takeout. There is also the option of ordering full delivery boxes with everything you need to make the meals. 


Just remember when you open your fruit and vegetable intake, you are actually doing an incredible thing for your body, and you will see the results in your skin hair and nails in no time. So dedicate this to yourself.

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Taking Care Of YOU (the easy way...)

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Sometimes even though we want to make changes and feel better, we don’t really know where to start. When it comes to taking care of yourself, you can do smaller things in the beginning and slowly over time build it up. 

It takes 12+ weeks to build or break a habit, and if you overload yourself with too many at once, it can begin to feel like a chore, not something that you want to do. So here are a few simple things that you can do to take better care of yourself, without the pressure or stress. 

Food

Have you took a look at what and how you are eating? Chances are there’s room for improvement. Don’t worry, though, you don’t have to make a lot of drastic changes all at once. Instead of thinking about a diet, think about a healthy eating plan instead. Find foods that you love to cook, try new fruits and vegetables, and try new recipes. If you find that you snack a lot, then try swapping out your usual snacks for a piece of fruit or some salad. Much about healthier eating has to do with preparation.

Supplements

Taking a supplement can change a lot. If your diet isn’t incredibly well balanced (and even when it is), there are some things that you are probably pretty lacking in, and everyone needs something different. This is where Hundred supplements are ideal. Instead of paying for a standard multivitamin, you can have something that is designed for you and your lifestyle. 

Tech-Free

We spend so much time on technology. Our mobile phones are in our hand almost all of the time. Between that and work laptops we are plugged in nearly all of the time. Using technology too much has been shown to have a negative impact on us. So making a conscious effort to turn off the laptop, leave the phone on the side and get some technology-free time. 

Start Working Out

You don’t need to head to the gym for long, intense workouts. You can do more gentle exercise at home. Starting with Yoga, or even the 30-day shred. A few times a week will improve your energy levels, and the other perk is that you will naturally be more thirsty. So you will be drinking more water - perfect! 

Rest

If you are busy most of the time, you might not notice your stress levels creeping up. Over time these can become dangerous and cause a range of other issues too. Learning to rest properly, or going to bed a little earlier can improve your mood, your energy levels and your productivity. 


If you struggle to sleep, then consider using an app like the Calm app or Headspace to help you drift off to sleep, or to learn other relaxation techniques. 

Work Free

If you run your own business, then this might be more difficult, but making sure that you have strict work-personal life hours will mean that you aren’t working when you should be relaxing. 


Smaller changes add up to a more significant difference over time, and they are more likely to be permanent changes too. 

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Forget the Dieting Gurus: Go the Traditional Route

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There are thousands of people out there pushing diets and making promises all around the world. If you get on their plan, they tell you, you’ll be able to lose weight, tone up and get rid of those love handles you loathe. The problem with diet gurus is that (at the root), they’re trying to sell a product, be it a book, supplement, or online course. While there’s nothing wrong with this per se, it creates a conflict of interest. Does the guru want to make you healthy, or do they want the money? In reality, it’s probably a bit of both. 

Fad diets, however, are often unsustainable, and sometimes they can lead you to eat foods that are dangerous to your health, all in the name of weight loss. Many, for instance, advocate high fat and high meat consumption - two food categories associated with shorter lives and more disease. 

The key to the puzzle is to look at what thriving populations ate in the past and what worked for them. The inhabitants of Sardinia in the Mediterranean, for instance, had long lives and lived practically disease-free. They ate a diet of beans, whole grains, and vegetables, with the occasional peppering of nuts and seeds. Meat, fish, cheese, oil, and sweets were rare treats - not a part of the everyday diet. 

The following infographic details some of the most popular fad diets and talks about the dangers of going on one of these programs. It then describes the kinds of foods we should adopt if we want to live well for a long time. 


Infographic by USC

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Cardio: Is It All That?

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Most of us spend more time looking after our internal issues, that we can let our physical health dip sometimes. When it comes to finding the best physical exercise, we need something quick, and we need something effective, right? Naturally, we all think about going running. But is cardiovascular exercise in that form really all that?

The True Definition Of Cardio

Cardiovascular exercises are about getting the heart pumping and the blood flowing, and this is the ultimate goal. But when it comes to cardio, we can be guided down the wrong avenues. Cardiovascular exercise isn't just running, it can be lifting weights, it can be brisk walking, there are so many different types. And it depends on what you are after. Low intensity, long duration cardio training is best for someone just starting out. But for someone that's looking for something that pushes them to their limits, you could go for high-intensity interval training or high-intensity short duration cardio training. Find the right one for you based on your fitness needs.

It's Not Just Running

Running is certainly a good place to begin, but if you do it wrong, or have poor form, you could end up doing more damage. You may end up having to get a knee replacement a few years down the line, or you may just twist your ankle really badly. Running is certainly a very sociable activity, but these days, there are as many people saying that running is bad for you. So what's the answer?

Finding Other Ways

As we've already said, it's about getting the heart going, and cardiovascular exercise isn't just about running; it could be weight lifting, which has been shown to be more effective than general cardio for fat loss. It does depend on your goal. If you're looking to lose weight, you need something that's going to hit all the major areas.

Cardio Is Not "Bad"

Cardio had a bad rap recently because it's not been shown as the most effective way to lose weight, but if you want to lose weight, there are plenty of effective methods out there. You just have to be willing to dig deeper to accomplish them. Tabata sprinting is one aspect of high-intensity interval training that can help with fat loss, but is an intense workout which is why many love running (or jugging) because you can go at your own. pace.

Cardio isn't necessarily a bad thing, but it depends on the type of cardio that you want. Remember, cardio is about getting the heart pumping and the blood flowing.

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Ready to Stop Yo-Yo Dieting? Keep Reading...

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Are you a yo-yo dieter? If you are, you are indeed not alone. The process of losing a significant amount of weight, before regaining all or most of it, and then repeating the process time and time again is a frustrating experience shared by people all over the world (trust me, I know firsthand!!)

Just as you feel like you are making progress and getting somewhere with your weight loss, you find yourself slipping back into bad habits, and before you know it, you are back where you started. In some cases, people end up even heavier than they were initially. Managing your weight in this way is neither healthy nor sustainable, and will not do your self-esteem much good either, as you may feel like you are continually failing yourself. If you are ready to break this cycle, here are a few tips to help you on your way.

Think about your attitude towards food, and any issues that you may have

When it comes to weight loss, this is one of the most important things that you can do. You will never be successful in losing weight if you haven’t considered your feelings and attitudes towards food and diets, and if you don’t deal with any underlying issues surrounding it, nothing will work in the longer term. It may be something simple, but more often than not, there are a variety of factors which, when combined, have made you gain the weight or stopped you from losing any. Perhaps you comfort eat, or eat out of boredom? Are you disorganized, so end up grabbing that calorific takeout on your way home from work? Maybe you are an inexperienced cook and don’t know how to prepare healthy meals. Working out the reasons behind the problem will help you to gain much more control over the situation. If you feel like you have some extreme emotions or issues when it comes to food, you may want to consider speaking to a counselor or therapist to help you regain control and deal with them.

Clean Out The Kitchen

It can be incredibly difficult to follow any healthy eating plan if your kitchen is full of unhealthy and high calorie/carb or nutritionally devoid snacks and food. If you have a family or roommates, get them on board too, so that you can’t use the excuse that they are available for them. Dispose of anything that isn’t providing your body with nutritional goodness - anything overly processed, salty and prepackaged, or full of added sugar or preservatives. Ready meals and jars of sauces may be convenient after a hard day at work, but they, as a whole, are relatively devoid of nutrition. Do a big grocery shop and fill your cabinets and refrigerator with fresh fruit and vegetables and healthier alternatives. Don’t completely deny yourself a treat - a piece of chocolate here or slice of cake there isn’t going to hurt, and in fact, can be a part of a balanced diet, but make sure it is an occasional treat.

Research Healthy Eating Plans

There are hundreds of thousands of eating plans out there, and it is essential to do your research and find one that is suitable for you - some will only make yo-yo dieting worse as they aren’t sustainable for more than a few weeks. Others can be implemented as a life long healthy eating plan rather than a short term diet. This noom review gives you an idea of one such plan you may want to take a look at. However, speaking with your doctor or a nutritionist that can tailor a plan specifically for you is always a good way to go!

Learn To Cook

For many people, especially these days where we rely heavily on convenience foods, an inability to cook is one of the main reasons why people struggle to maintain a healthy weight. Learning to prepare exciting, yet healthy meals, means you are less likely to pick up Chinese takeout or reach for the cookie jar just because you want something satisfying to eat. Invest in some herbs and spices and learn how to use them in your everyday meals and slowly build up your repertoire. Look for healthy swaps where possible - can you swap that heavy cream out for natural yogurt? If time is an issue, as it is for lots of us, could you invest in a slow cooker so that you can walk in after a day at work to a hearty and healthy home cooked meal? Experiment with flavors and recipes, and most importantly, have fun with them.

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How To Get The Most Out Of Your Health

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Your health is one of the most important things that you need to think about in your life, above all, because it's also one of the very little things that you're actually able to control - so make sure that you do so. There are many different things that you'll want to think about when it comes to your health, but here are some of the main areas that you'll want to focus on.

Nourish your body with what it needs

Everyone says that you are what you eat, and this can be as literal as you make it. Your body needs so many different nutrients, minerals and vitamins in order for it to work and function properly. Without consuming these, your body won't be as strong as it can be. You won't have as much energy as you should have, your immune system will be weak and if you're unfortunate enough to get a common cold or bug, it will take a lot longer for your body to repair itself compared to if you were healthy.

Have regular checkups

So many people refrain from going to the doctor for a checkup because they assume that it's not only a hassle, but also people don’t want to feel like they’re wasting someone’s time, or they may feel like a hypochondriac. But the thing is, this tends to be the reason why so many people are ill and get un-diagnosed with a serious issue. Just because you may not feel any specific symptoms doesn't mean that you have none. For example, there are times when individuals do not experience symptomatology from certain forms of cancer, and this is why yearly physicals and well women’s exams and any kind of help from Ovarian Cancer Symptoms Inspire can be a first level of prevention. Of course, these are all worst case scenarios, but you can never be too sure unless you get yourself checked out.

Start active every day   

Exercise is so important - it isn't just about eating well, it's about getting your body moving and you circulating yourself. Get the heart beating and your blood pumping through your veins. Your body needs to move and be active in order to burn off fat and gain muscle. Having said that, it isn't all about getting in shape purely for the aesthetic appearance, but for all the good it does for you on the inside too. It can be anything from running around the block, to signing up for a gym membership, or even just turning on your favorite songs and dancing around the house.


Now that you know what you need to look out for, make sure that you take the time to do so, because above everything else, you need to make sure that you look after yourself, because no one else will if you don't let them. It's all about the little things, but as long as you live your life in moderation, everything should run smoothly.


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How To Achieve A Balanced State Of Well-being

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You can probably attest to the fact that a long-term healthy routine is hard to achieve. Most of us fluctuate when it comes to our physical and mental well-being. You might put on a few pounds, go running for a few weeks, lose the weight, and then go back to a sedentary lifestyle. Or maybe you get into a good sleeping pattern only to ruin it all when you take a summer vacation or see your family at Christmas. After that, it takes a few months to get back into a good rhythm. Obviously, nobody’s perfect, and we’re all allowed occasional treats or lazy days when it comes to our health. In fact, being able to relax is important for your mental health, but you should strive to maintain some semblance of balance and structure in your life. These are some small steps to achieving a balanced state of well-being.

Think about your diet and level of physical activity.

The first step to consider when you’re trying to achieve a balanced state of well-being is improving your diet. The food you eat has such a big impact on your physical and emotional well being. If you’re struggling to stick to a healthy diet then try making meal plans at first. As mentioned in the introduction, the key to achieving a lasting healthy routine is to find some semblance of structure in your life. The other component of a healthy physical lifestyle is regular exercise. You need to strive for daily physical exercise in a healthy routine.

Rather than simply going for a run when you need to lose a few pounds, as was discussed in the introduction, you should try going for a run every day. Maybe you’ve never felt the motivation to do that because you don’t have the time or energy for a strenuous workout routine. However, you don’t have to push yourself too hard at first. Even 10 minutes of jogging around your local area on a daily basis is better than doing no exercise at all. You’ll feel the difference in terms of your physical and mental health. Moving your body releases endorphins in the brain, and that’ll improve your motivation. You’ll be able to gradually increase the intensity of your workout routine.


Cut down on unhealthy habits.

Living a balanced lifestyle is about more than adopting healthy habits; you also have to cut down on the unhealthy habits in your existing daily routine. We’re all allowed occasional treats in life, as mentioned earlier, but you need to recognize the habits that have developed into something more excessive. Whether you drink too much alcohol, eat too much junk food, or engage in some other bad habit, you need to wean yourself off these things if you want to achieve a balanced state of well-being. You might even want to look into residential drug treatment to get some professional assistance. It’s a smart idea to get support for unhealthy habits that are starting to spiral out of control.


Prioritize a regular sleeping pattern.

This is one of the most important components of a healthy lifestyle, but it’s something that so many people in the modern world dismiss. You might think that a cup of coffee is the solution for a sleepless night, but that isn’t the case. A lack of energy is only one symptom of a larger problem. Sleep deprivation weakens your metabolism, immune system, muscles, and mental health. All of the healthy changes you’re making will be impeded by a poor sleeping routine. Get enough rest every night if you want to achieve a balanced state of well-being. If you’re struggling to get 8 hours of sleep because you can’t shut down your mind then try avoiding stimulants such as coffee and phone screens before bed.

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