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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 28, 2010 at 1:24 PM under
• 0 commentsHello There-
The blog will moving to a stand alone website www.antistressandpainblog.com
The new blog will grow into a community especially for caregivers.
To sign up for free updates visit http://antistressandpainblog.com/feed/
I'll no longer post blog entries here so please make sure to visit and bookmark the new site at www.antistressandpainblog.com
Looking forward to connecting with you!
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 24, 2010 at 7:25 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
Since I don't know you, I'm going to assume you're one of those kids
like I was whose mom taught that it's more blessed to give than to
receive. Growing up there was always those little life lessons that
taught the importance of selfishness versus selflessness.
For
some reason, there is a negative association with being selfish and
rightfully so. After all, people who are completely selfish think
mainly of themselves and could care less about others. Self is at the
center of everything.
Selfishness versus Selflessness
The actual definition of selfishness is to be devoted to or caring only
for oneself.
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 21, 2010 at 6:41 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
Do you find yourself waiting for just the right moment or the perfect life to do things you have always wanted to do?
Maybe, you are waiting for the perfect time to take a vacation or redecorate your home, get a makeover or just get a little respite care so you can do you. Whatever it is, why are you waiting?
It's
quite easy to push fulfilling your hopes and dreams back to another
day. It's an especially easy thing to do for caregivers who have a
hard time accepting that there is no perfect life.
Tomorrow becomes the next day again and again. I guess we are so focused on doing the "caring for others" part of our lives that we forget that what we do for ourselves is just as important as what we have to do for others.
It's
time to realize that there is no perfect life. Life is as perfect as
you make it, filling it with people places and things that you enjoy.
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 14, 2010 at 9:42 PM under
• 4 commentsby Michelle H Smith
Finding the balance between caring for yourself and caring for others can be difficult when you actually get the free time.
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 11, 2010 at 3:47 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
"Some day I'll take a trip to one of the places I dreamed of visiting as a child."
"Some day I'll begin writing my autobiography."
"Some day I'll go to India and ride naked on a llama (Ok, not so much)"
Do you see where I'm going with this? Constantly putting off the things you could be doing today because you are caring for others is not much more than having a case of Some-Day-Itis. And being stuck there is not only leading a life that's less fruitful. It will open the door to stress and resentment of life.
Neglecting to do the things that will enrich your own life because you are so busy caring for others is the result of one of two things:
- Paralysis of Analysis
- Overly attending to others
Paralysis of analysis is when you are so focused on the details of a thing that you do nothing. Sometimes, in life you just need to take risks. Of course, you want to be informed before making big decisions but that doesn't mean you have to take five years of French before you book that trip to the French Riviera (oh wait that's my dream). You get the picture.
Caregivers tend to care so much for others that they leave no time to care for themselves.
I love to write.
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
If you were going to build a house, you'd start with making sure you used all of the proper materials for a sturdy foundation. Depending on the type of house you were building, you'd need to make sure you had enough brick, wood, or concrete.
The planning and preparation that goes into building a safe and sturdy structure requires close attention to detail. Now what does that have to do with your personal health care? it's all in the details.
Just like building a house on a firm foundation requires close attention so does maintaining a healthy body/temple (your house).
You see, your body is not the real you but it is the house you live in. Would you allow your family to live in a house that is falling apart? Of course not! Yet, every day people allow their body's to fall apart due to lack of care and concern.
Good Personal Health Care
So, what does good personal health care entail? There isn't a right or wrong answer.
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Posted by Michelle H Smith on June 4, 2010 at 11:34 AM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
The ladies in this photo are nurses who have helped care for my son over the years. They have tough jobs.
Professionals are absolutely necessary and they have one of the most caring jobs in the world. Some do it for free. Most get paid to do it. Either way, it's a choice to be a caregiver.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on May 24, 2010 at 1:26 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
If you were an aspiring lawyer studying for the bar, you would put together a plan to reach your goal. That plan might include creating a study schedule, creating study note cards, learning effective time management skills and reviewing all of the topics that could possibly be covered on the exam.
Passing the bar is a big goal.
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Posted by Michelle Howard Smith on May 18, 2010 at 2:53 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
My son is a diagnosed epileptic. He has seizures that are not as controlled by meds as I would like so my eyes are always open for new treatments.
While doing some research on natural remedies for anxiety, I stumbled upon some information about Passionflower. I never heard of Passionflower being used for any sort of alternative remedy but it turns out Passionflower has a long history of use for those seeking relief from anxiety.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on May 13, 2010 at 2:48 PM under
• 0 comments
Some shun the use of alternative pain relief but an increasing number of medical professionals are bowing to the effectiveness of the various alternative methods available for alleviating pain.
There are many methods of alternative pain relief available and I wanted to introduce you to the most popular so that you are able to make an informed decision for care:
- Acupuncture - A Chinese Medical procedure that uses the application of fine needles to specific parts of the body
- Ayurveda - Uses diet, herbs and detoxification to balance the bodily elements
- Biomagnetics - Magnetic fields are applied to the body and work with the body's electrical energies
- Chiropractic - Manipulation of the spine and joints to realign the body
- Herbal Medicine - The ingestion or topical application of herbs and extracts from natural sources
- Homeopathy - The administration of tiny doses of a substance that causes a particular illness to enhance the body's natural defense system
- Hypnosis - Uses an altered state of the relaxed, conscious mind by the suggestion of images and words
- Massage - The skillful manipulation and rubbing the muscles of the body to stimulate and relax
- Naturopathy - Uses natural remedies that include special diets, herbs, essential oils, vitamins, and massage
The different forms of alternative pain relief are available to be administered by a professional or home treatment with products that have certaiin features built in such as the Chi Neck Traction Device which uses acupressure and massage to relieve sore neck muscles.
Are you interested in trying alternative products to ease your pain? You will find quite a bit of them right here on this site at www.antistressandpain.com/alternative-pain-relief. Not only are they affordable, they are safe and effective.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on May 9, 2010 at 9:52 AM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
- You had the privilege of forming a new life
- You get to empower another human being
- You get an additional tax deduction
- You get to tell someone what to do for a lot of years
- You get to share your wisdom with someone who has no choice but to sit and listen to it (even if they don't want to hear it)
- You get to run your own business (household)
- You learn how to be unselfish (well sometimes)
- You get to run someone else's life...at least for a few years
- If you have a daughter, you get to dress someone the way you wish you could have dressed when you were younger but the style was either not available or you were too big to wear it
- You get a free live in babysitter for your other kids
- You get a free live in housekeeper and errand runner (once they have reached the teen years)
- You get someone to love you unconditionally
- When your children grow up, you get a friend
- Some day you may get to be a grandmother
- You get to enjoy one full day devoted to honoring you...Mother's Day
Do you have anything to add to this list? Add them in the comments section below.
About Michelle: She's a mom of 3 great people who she gives the best that she has to. While they have caused a bit of stress in her life over the years, she's found some great ways to manage the stress.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on May 7, 2010 at 3:31 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
Grace under pressure - what exactly does that mean? I have heard people say that all of my life and I'm convinced it means something completely different for different people.
I have a little boy who has cerebral palsy and epileptic seizures. Grace under pressure? For me, grace under pressure is a little condescending when coming from others. It's as if someone is telling me to suck it up and be graceful when I'm experiencing challenges with my son's health and the conflicts that arise with my day job.
I think of grace under pressure differently when no one else is looking or inputting their 2 cents. It's completely different.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on May 5, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
Buffer - A person or thing that shields and protects against annoyance, harm, hostile forces, etc.; a device used to clean, polish or give a grainless finish of high luster to.
The word "buffer" has a number of meanings but the two above stand out and can be used to examine your life. For starters, let's take the definition of buffer that is to protect against harm, annoyance or etc.
Sometimes life is just plain difficult with all of its challenges. What may be an easy challenge for one person to handle may be a stressful challenge for you to handle. Fortunately, with all of life's challenges and curve balls there are "buffers" available. For me, my buffer is the Word of God. Just reading what God has to say about my life's challenges in His Word is enough to soothe my frazzled emotions and lift my spirits. His Word protects me from emotional harm, physical harm and overall disturbances that try to overwhelm me.
If you use the definition of buffer which is to clean, polish or finish to a high luster, that can be compared to life challenges that push you to be your very best.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 29, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsMichelle H Smith
There may come a time in your life (if it hasn't happened already) when your finances may be putting in a bit of a bind. The sudden loss of unemployment, the death of a spouse, an unexpected illness...all too common reasons that cause financial stress.
We are about to wrap up Stress Awareness month, addressing financial issues like debt is quite appropriate considering it's a major cause of stress for most people.
When your money is not flowing the way it should or even the way you would like it to, bills may be paid late...even to the point of going to bill collectors. If it hasn't happened to you, God bless you.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 25, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsMichelle H Smith
Have you ever just felt like, you don't have enough to get things done? Not enough accessories, supplies or time? Often times all it takes is repurposing the stuff you already have.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 21, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsby Michelle H Smith
When you find yourself under a mountain of unfiled papers, piled up clothes or any other unorganized mess, it's no wonder you're stressed.
It's no secret that we all tend to accumulate clutter every now and again (except if you are a hoarder or a neat freak). Periodic disorganization won't cause much harm to your mental focus but the danger comes when it's allowed to continue. You become less inclined to deal with the madness and so it just festers.
Hoarders are constantly bombarded with clutter and disorganization.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 18, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsIt's true. You're never going to live a 100% stress free life. Things happen and there's no way to avoid that.
As women, we have a different set up issues we encounter that men don't typically have. (notice I said typically). Women are often the child rearers, home managers, and overall caregivers.
You may be the sole provider in your home or you may be a good old fashioned housewife. It doesn't really matter your exact role. As a woman, you will meet with the opportunity to stress on a regular basis.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 14, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsLet's face it. When trying to find relief for stress, you don't want to have to wait. Quick relief is a necessity. After a long stressful day, it's crucial to be able to unwind. Here are 5 products that won't break your wallet but will get the job done:
Spa Comforts Herbal Stress Relief Set
With comforting clove, calming cinnamon, and uplifting
eucalyptus, your body is engulfed in a gentle warmth while soothing aching
muscles and helping you relax.
Click here to read more
12 Piece Cupping Set
Exerst slight pressure while working to release rigid soft tissues and muscles, thereby providing stress relief.
Click here to read more
Foot Hot Stones
Relieve stress through the feet with hot stones.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 11, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsJust in case you missed it..April is Stress Awareness month.
Throughout this month (not much different from other months), there will be a special focus on ways to reduce as well as manage stress. This blog offers information about stress and pain because the two are so closely connected. However, for April we'll deal with the stress because if you can get that under control, you have a better chance of avoiding the pain side of things.
Let's deal with diet. Nature has provided a number of natural foods to help keep stress levels in check.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 8, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 comments
Managing yourself is by far the best way to prevent stress and it is a pre-requisite for managing time,
money and relationships.
Eating
too much (an imbalanced relationship with food) or doing anything in excess
that will rob you of time, money or health exhibits a lack of self control
which leads to stress.
Next Steps:
Begin
by managing yourself with a careful attention to managing your finances,
relationships and time. Do so and you
will be light years ahead keeping your stress levels within a healthy range
versus individuals who don't.
- Manage your time by learning to prioritize,
planning your days and taking time to rest and play
- Manage your finances by living directing its
purpose via a written budget
- Determine the type of relationships you should have with people based on time known, reliability and past behaviors
Michelle H Smith is a stress and pain management professional,
published author and New York Wellness Examiner.
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Posted by Michelle Howard Smith on April 6, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 comments
Not trying to be clever really, just want to get your attention while we dissect the next area you need to manage for a healthier stress level...Money Management.
Yes, this is a big one. If you don't get a handle on your money, specifically managing it, stress is only the beginning to an end.
The #1 stressor
for many people due to ignorance greed or lack thereof is money. Let's face it. When your money is funny (and not the
laughing type...although it may be laughing at you), you can't enjoy much of
anything else.
Successful money
management begins with understanding the purpose for which money should be
used, budgeting your money flow and seeking honest, reliable methods for
increasing your streams of income when a shortage is present.
Michelle H Smith is a stress and pain management professional,
published author and New York Wellness Examiner.
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Posted by Michelle Howard Smith on April 4, 2010 at 8:00 PM under
• 0 commentsNext on the chopping block to dissect in our 4 part series on areas to manage for healthy stress levels is....Relationship Management
You've probably
heard the sayings, "You can't be all things to all people" and
"Learn to say no." While these
are a start to relationship management with people (and things), it doesn't end
there.
Unless you are completely home bound, people may come into and out of your
life like a revolving door. You must be
able to adequately determine the type of relationship that’s most appropriate
for each one.
Let's examine relationships by breaking them into
sectors and using the Tabernacle of the Bible’s Old Testament to illustrate. The Tabernacle has three key sectors: Outer Court, Inner Court and the Most Holy Place.
The Outer court is for people you don't know very
well and should share none of your personal affairs with. These could include people you first meet as
well as some acquaintances.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on April 1, 2010 at 6:07 PM under
• 0 commentsThroughout the entire month of April, health care professionals and experts
across the country will work together to increase public awareness about the causes, dangers and treatments for stress.
Stress is a major problem in our modern day society and it's important, no critical to educate people about it's dangers.
The Health Resource Network (HRN), a non-profit health education
organization is sponsoring, Stress Awareness Month in a national effort to keep people informed as well as sharing successful strategies for coping with stress.
On my little corner of the world (Yonkers, NY), I will share all of the information, strategies and resources for stress management that I have at my disposal, beginning with these resources:
Causes of Stress
Stress Management
Stick with me through the month and I'll have tons of tips, techniques and products to share with you to help manage your stress once and for all.
Michelle H Smith is a stress and pain management professional,
published author and New York Wellness Examiner.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 30, 2010 at 5:37 PM under
• 0 comments
Stress does not discriminate because it is no longer a poor man’s problem or a rich man’s. Stress affects
everyone at all stages of the game and regardless of your networth, you will need to do some practical things On Purpose if you are going to manage stress accordingly.
There are 4 major areas that
if managed adequately, will keep your stress levels within a healthy
range. Imbalance in any of these areas
will result in higher stress levels that lead to frustration, tension and even
illness.
Today, let' s look at the first area:
Time Management
One of the main
causes of stress for many people is poor time management skills. Everyone is managing their time in one way or the other but how successfully you manage that time will determine if you will be overwhelmed out of your mind or sailing through each day accomplished yet sane.
Poor time management is a result of either taking advantage of time, thereby not getting things
done or trying to accomplish too much in the little time you have available to you.
The key to good time management is having balance and attending to
priorities first. Successful time managers
employ tools such as scheduling planners and timers. They also make time to
rest and to play. Think about it for a few days.
I'll put it all together at the end but not until I'm done milking each of these
Until next time...
Michelle H Smith is a stress and pain management professional,
published author and New York Wellness Examiner.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 26, 2010 at 7:02 PM under
• 0 comments 
I'll bet that one caught your attention huh?
It's
no secret that us women can do a hundred different things and sex not
even cross the brain.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 17, 2010 at 11:56 AM under
• 0 comments
Awakening after sleeping in a poor position and spending long hours
in front of a computer can all result in neck strain. Neck strain is a
result of your muscle tensing up due to being in the same position for
an extended period of time.
Here are some tips to reduce neck strain when you arise in the morning:
- Sleep
on a firm mattress and a pillow that is not too firm and not too soft.
It should conform to the natural contours of your neck. A good option
is a magnetic therapy pillow.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 11, 2010 at 7:00 PM under
• 0 commentsSinus pressure is major cause of headaches, dizziness and tenderness
to the sinus area. The cause of sinus pain  could be a bacterial
infection, the common cold or something more serious. If you don't
have any sinus pain relief after a week or so, you should consult a doctor to rule out more serious problems.
In the meantime, treating sinus pain is relatively easy and in most instances, it can be done right in your own home.
There a number of remedies for sinus pain relief:
- Steam water with added peppermint essential oil and inhale the vapor
- Take pharmaceutical drugs to relieve the pressure
- Apply a sinus pain relief pillow
to the affected area.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 8, 2010 at 7:00 PM under
• 0 comments Pain in the neck and shoulders is often a result of stress to
the area. Maybe it's due to long work hours or just plain pore posture,
if you keep your neck and spine aligned you will notice a serious reduction in neck pain.
The Result: Reduced instances of headaches and migraines, resting more comfortably, and overall feeling of wellness
There
are many products available on the market to reduce neck pain and
strain but I'd like to introduce you to one that many people are not
aware of...Buckwheat.
Buckwheat therapy products like buckwheat hull pillows
are so beneficial because the buckwheat hulls in the pillow encourage
natural circulation of air between the hulls and the pillow. Combined
with aromatherapy within the pillow, the gentle scent of lavender
reduces mental and physical fatigue.
Learn more about Buckwheat hull pillows
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 5, 2010 at 7:00 PM under
• 0 comments While we will enjoy warmer temperatures in a couple of months, there's nothing like cold hands and feet to damper a mood!
If you are stuck indoors, there's a tendency to start feeling down. I was thinking about my last post about The Weather Affecting Your Mood and thought of some more ways to help you keep your spirits up why the weather is funky outdoors.
If
you live in a place where you have no control over your own heat,
there's a chance you won't get satisfactory heat when you want it.
Even if you live in your own house, there could be times where you
don't want to crank up the heat due to the rising costs of fuel. In
either event, the first thing that's affected is your hands and feet
and if you are anything like me, you hate having cold hands and feet!
So, how can you warm up those cold hands and feet?
Here are a couple of ways:
*
Microwave 2 clean pair of socks on high for 10 seconds. Run hands and
feet under warm (not hot) water and then moisturize with a thick cream
to seal in moisture. Immediately after, put one pair of the warmed
socks and one pair on your feet.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 4, 2010 at 11:25 AM under
• 0 comments With all of the nasty weather we've been having here in New York,
it's easy to get "under the weather" and stay there for a bit. However,
the weather doesn't have to affect your mood unless you allow it to.
It
doesn't matter if you are in the snowy, cold New York City area or in a
town that's normally got great weather but has fallen prey to a dismal
climate. There are things you can do to keep yourself or get yourself
out of a funk:
* For one, don't stay indoors
with the lights dim.
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Posted by Michelle Howard on March 1, 2010 at 1:38 PM under
• 0 commentsI wanted to introduce you to the new blog platform that I will be using to communicate information, sales and other topics of related interest.
The current blog for this site is located at www.stressreliefbyrv.blogspot.com but in an effort to streamline the communication, I will be migrating the blog posts to the same server as this website over time and the new blog address (and website address) will be www.antistressandpain.com/blog
I want to make the process seamless so I will continue to post content in both locations: www.stressrelief.blogspot.com and right here at www.antistressandpain.com/blog with a May 1st target date for completely posting.
Stay Tuned!
Michelle
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