Turn Devastation into Motivation - Britni N. Dunn : Balboa Press

Turn Devastation into Motivation - Britni N. Dunn : Balboa Press

Try not to underestimate the strength of peer to peer contacts...

Having a great and positive support system is essential & beneficial for many reasons. Support can come from family, true friends, support groups, mental health professionals, and believe it or not, animals can be of support as well.  If you choose, the support can come from one, more than one, or all of the above.  Anything that will help with the emotions experienced such as: sadness, anger, anxiety, depression, or any other emotions, feelings, and thoughts experienced or experiencing.  Having a support system will assist in not only recovery but not becoming withdrawn and secluded.

There are support groups for almost anything that can be thought of.  An individual needs to find the one(s) he or she is most comfortable with.  The members of the group(s) might turn into friends and can offer new, insightful, and helpful information that the individual did not know about.  Information about the topic and information about other things,such as: employment and leisure time activities. These groups can be online, in person, or both.  Because they are going through or have gone through what you are going through, they know EXACTLY what is being experienced and understand completely...

Things that make you go hmm...

It is interesting and sort of funny when I tell people that I have multiple sclerosis.  That statement is usually immediately followed by "You don't look disabled or like you have MS."  It used to upset me but after a while, I got accustomed to hearing it.  I curbed the anger with realizing that not to many people know what Multiple Sclerosis is, how it affects its inhabitants, inside and out; how I found out, what were the indicators that prompted me to get checked by the doctor, tests I had to take, etc.  Multiple sclerosis not only effects us physically.  MS also effects us emotionally, mentally, and socially.

Truthfully, they are caught off guard when I and ask "what does a person with MS look like? Or what does someone with a disability generally look like?"  That usually leaves them tongue tied or at a loss for words since many disabilities can be or begin as hidden.  I then go into how MS specifically effects me, and generally effects a person, and the common symptoms that are shared.  MS is as different as fingerprints and affects each of us MSers differently but we do share some commonalities. Not all MSers experience all of the symptoms listed below but the experience of one or more is expected:

·                 Slurred speech/mumbling

·                 Tremors

·                 Bladder & bowel dysfunction

·                 Difficulties swallowing

·                 Hearing loss

·                 Insomnia

·                 Foot drop

·                 Muscle tension/tightness

·                 Muscle spasms

·                 Dizziness / Vertigo

·                 Muscle weakness

·                 Difficulties walking

·                 Headaches

·                 Numbness

·                 Fatigue

·                 Loss of balance

·                 Loss of coordination

·                 Pain

·                 Sexual dysfunction

·                 Spasticity

·                 Cognitive problems

·                 Memory loss

·                 Temperature (Heat/cold) intolerance

·                 Tingling

·                 Vision disturbances

·                 Involuntary eye movement

·                 Falling down

·                 Paralysis

·                 Anxiety

·                 Seizures

·                 Depression

·                 Exhaustion and breathing problems

 I ask you... Do you know what MS is? What someone with a disability looks like?  What someone with MS looks like?  What is it to you?  MS not only effects the individual who was diagnosed.  It not only effects the individual with the diagnosis but also their families since they witness firsthand, what the MS patient deals with on a continuous basis. Maybe even effects some friendships.

It is not always days full of minor or major difficulties. There are also days of accomplishment and prosperity. The prosperity and accomplishment comes more often after focusing on what CAN be done instead of focusing on what cannot be done.

What is Multiple Sclerosis (MS)?

I am sure anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis goes through (orhas previously experienced) bouts of depression, frustration, anger,anxiety, stiffness, and etc of the variety of symptoms due to the having this diagnosis.  What is Multiple Sclerosis?

It is not contagious. The average age of diagnosis is 20 - 50. Women are more likely to have it 2/3 women to men.  400,000 people in the US and 2.5 million worldwide are diagnosed and possibly more.  Men experience it to a different level of severeity because the hormone estrogen (only found in women) helps.  Multiple sclerosis (MS) is a life-long, lifealtering, unpredictable, cause unknown, auto-immune disease that affects thecentral nervous system (CNS).  Auto- aword that is Latin for “self”.  MS is adisease wherein the immune system begins to attack itself for reasons that areunknown. The CNS is made up of the brain, spine, and optic nerves.  The brain and spine control everything insidethe human body from the memory (cognition), speech, vision, movement, walking,muscles, strength, coordination, equilibrium (balance), feeling (stiffness,numbness, and/or tingling), urinary and bowels , etc.  Anything that you can think of in regards tothe human body and its functions, MS effects. 

There are four different types ofMS which all exhibit the same symptoms but differ in severity, duration, andpermanency.  Each will be listed in orderfrom least severe to most severe: (1) the most common type is Relapsing Remitting MS (RRMS), (2)Primary Progressive MS, (3) Secondary Progressive MS, and (4) Progressive RelapsingMS.   Multiple Sclerosis is as different as fingerprints so you may know someone who experiencing certain symptoms from their MS and someone else who is not experiencing the same symptoms.  It is not that one person is lying or putting on thick for sympathy.

 

For many years, people had no idea that I have MS until I verbally told them because it was not visually noticed.  MS does not make us helpless or stupid.  Yes, we may need extra help in certain areas and it does have an effect on the memory, but we are not stupid and still have feelings, emotions, and a heart.  Being diagnosed with MS or any other illness/disease definitely lets us decipher who is a friend and who is not.,who loves you and who does not, who is judgemental and who is not, who is willing to be there for you through thick and thin and who is not.

Whichever MS type you may have, know someone who has,may not have MS, or any auto-immune illness /disease or not; it is always important to bepatient, compassionate, and understanding with yourself, others, and to take your time & do it right.  Remember "Patience is a virtue"take your time & do it right.

The best saying that fits for us, great bill of health or not, "You never know how strong you are until being strong is the only choice you have." -Unknown.  You might feel like your world is over but it is not. It's just beginning.


References
National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis.

National MS Society, . "Four Disease Courses of MS." National MS Society, . "Who gets MS." www.nationalmssociety.org/about-multiple-sclerosis. National MS society. 

Rebif Interferon, . Rebif Kit Overview. Rebif, Print. <www. MSLifeLines.com>.

Relaxation: massage, music, and more. Oh my!

What relaxes your tension, anxiety, frustration, and etc. things that often plague you? 

You might wonder how can you deal with those symptoms? 

Deep tissue massage, yoga, ginger, cinnamon, and music therapy work wonders for me and the symptoms of my diagnosis.Symptoms such as, numbness, vertigo, balance, and walking limitations are greatly improved.

Ginger: improves circulation which helps equilibrium issues such as vertigo. Because of this natural herb, my walking has improved significantly. Rarely have to use the wall for support when walking.  If the wall is used, it is out of habit from using it for so long. Ginger can help you as well.  Whether you take it in the pill supplement form, raw forms, beverage forms (ginger beer *not an alcoholic beverage unless that is what you prefer by adding Rum*)

Cinnamon: serves many purposes but two purposes *for me*.  It also improves blood flow (circulation) and lowers high blood sugars for diabetics. Cinnamon can be found in the pill form, raw, probably and most likely in your kitchen cabinet.  Either way it is taken, it has the same effects.

Deep Tissue Massages and Acupuncture: help relieve pain, improve circulation & dizziness. Massages not only serve to aid with pain from an illness or disease.  Massages relieve stress and are relaxing.

Music Therapy:  You do not have to be a music lover, such as myself, to receive the relaxation properties music has.  Just find the genre of music that is relaxing to you and affords you with happy relaxing thoughts.

Yoga: stretches your muscles, helps with stiffness, is often preformed to relaxing music, can be done at home, in the gym, even at work.

Acupuncture and acupressure also assist with the symptoms listed above. Acupuncture minimizes dizziness, pain, and other symptoms.

Acupressure helps pain, walking, & etc. there is even a "do it yourself" guide for acupressure for Multiple Sclerosis.

Yoga for MS DVDs and books can be purchased on www.Amazon.com, and websites similar to Amazon, and bookstores.  "Office Yoga Simple Stretches for Busy People" by Darrin Zeer can be purchased at Barnes and Noble www.BN.com or on Amazon

This blog is not  saying,  "Ditch your prescribed medications."  It is just offering additional help. Natural help.  How did people in history survive without the conventional medication we have today?  The natural way.  How do I deal with alot of my symptoms? Uses of some of the conventional way coupled with the natural way.  What works for you is up to you to find out.  I provided you with a few resources. It is up to you.  Are you willing to try? I am living proof.

"It is difficult but it is not impossible. It slows me down but it does not stop me.  The only thing that stops you  is what is in between your two ears." -- Britni  N. Dunn

Herbs: More than garnishment and flavoring

***I am not a doctor but just informing you of what nature can do for you and what it has done/is doing for me"**

*GINGER- Blood circulation to the brain which improves: equilibrium & walking

*GINKGO- Improves memory. restorative effects on the nervous system, etc.

*CINNAMON- Lowers blood sugars for diabetics, stops vomiting, etc.

*CAYENNE- improves circulation, etc.

*PARSLEY- Cleanses blood, Freshens breath, improves digestion, relieves itching from conditions such as, bug bites and etc.

*LEMONS- Lightens scars and dark spots, improves circulation

*ECHINACEA- Boosts the immune system, used to help treat infectious conditions.

***That is just a few of the many medicinal properties that lie within common cooking herbs and seasonings. There are many more herbs that serve more than one purpose***

Resources

"Back to Eden: The Classic Guide to Herbal Medicine, Natural Foods, and Home Remedies Since 1939" - Jethro Kloss

Alternative Cures: More than 1,000 of the Most Effective Natural Home Remedies" - Bill Gottlieb

I refuse to let it stop me: Turn that frown upside down...

I refuse to let it stop me: Turn that frown upside down...: I'm sure anyone who has Multiple Sclerosis goes through (or has previously experienced) bouts of depression, frustration, and anger due to...