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Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

May 12th is National Fibromyalgia Awareness Day!

Several years ago I experienced the worse pain imaginable.  After an extensive amount of blood work, numerous rheumatologist appointments and negative test results of alternative diagnoses, my doctor finally concluded that I had FIBROMYALGIA.

All  I remember is that the pain was unbearable!  It hurt to sit.  It hurt to stand.  It even hurt to lay down in bed at night.  My sleep was interrupted with pain.  During the day I had severe migraine headaches.  I was miserable.  I have never experienced anything like that before.

At the time my children were fairly young.  I had a really difficult time caring for them.  I remember feeling depressed and unmotivated.  Desperate to feel better, I took the medication that the doctor prescribed.  The medication had terrible side effects.  It made me feel like a zombie.  Determined to feel better I decided to seek out alternatives to conventional medication and made some lifestyle changes. I lost 35lbs and began what  I now refer to as my wellness journey.

I'm happy to say that I now have virtually no pain from Fibromyalgia.  It's been years since I've had a "flare up".  I do experience occasional stiffness and/or tenderness but NOTHING like I did back then.  I truly believe that natural healing can take place when we begin to make different lifestyle choices.  I know some people think they have to take conventional medication....I disagree!  I'm not a doctor, I am only speaking from my own personal experience.  Lifestyle choices make a difference.  If you are suffering with Fibromyalgia I encourage you to get fit, eat healthier, cleanse your system , and rid your body of toxins, it will make a difference.  

Choose Health & Be Encouraged!

Relax, Relate, Release!

April is coming to an end however, I'd be remiss if I didn't acknowledge that April is National Stress Awareness month.  Every year during the month of April, health care professionals, wellness professionals, and health promotion experts across the country joined forces to increase public awareness about both the causes and cures for an epidemic plaguing many today.  Stress is something that affects everyone, young and old, rich and poor, educated and ignorant.  It does not discriminate.

Millions of Americans die of stress-related illnesses: Heart disease, strokes, and many other chronic diseases may be caused by stress.  Let's also consider the damage done by smoking, alcohol consumption, overeating, and drugs--all often used to help cope with stress.....it's not hard to conclude that stress is a major epidemic with insurmountable consequences.

As, a single mother who works a full time job and runs an at home business, it has become imperative to my well-being that I take time out routinely to de-stress. 

Prayer, meditation, hot bubble bath, aroma therapy, massages, yoga, workouts....There are so many ways to release stress in your life.  Of course, I would be remiss if I didn't also add, there are ways we can also prevent a lot of additional stress in our lives (I'll save that for a future blog).  In the event your stress is being caused by deeper issues, therapy or counseling are always helpful.  Getting to the root of an issue will often alleviate much of the "stress" that surrounds it.

Watch this video of Debbie Siebers with one suggestion for releasing stress. 



Practical Application:   Find some time this week to give yourself 20 mins to de-stress.

Do you have a particular way you release stress?  Please leave a comment below & share it, I'd love to hear it.

Stay Healthy,

Melissa

Move Your Body!