Depression

  Hello dear readers and welcome or welcome back to my blog today I wanna focus on the topic of: depression I personally have walked a long winding road with depression, sometimes winning most time's losing, losing hope, losing time, losing friends, losing family, losing jobs, losing homes, losing myself, losing my grip on life, losing my will to live. I've walked the halls of so many psychiatric facilities I can't count them on my hands and toes and no I am not saying this to brag or to seek out some kind of sympathy I am merely trying to relate and offer guidance through dark turbulent times that happen in life, so if this is something that is affecting you in your everyday life then hopefully this post can help shed some light on this condition.

de-pres-sion

/de'preSH(e)n/

noun

Feelings of severe despondency and dejection.

Examples: Melancholy, misery, sadness, gloom, woe, sorrow, despair.

"self-doubt creeps in and that swiftly turns to depression"

What Causes Depression?

Depression is not a condition that a specific cause. It can happen for many different reasons and have many different triggers usually, depression doesn't doesn't work quickly or suddenly instead, it develops over long periods of time and can lead to a series of "downward spirals" 

 The four major causes of depression are:

*1. Family History | though there are no specific genes that we can look at and trace to depression, if your family members have had depression, you are more likely also to experience depression. The jury is still out on whether, or not this link is due to learned behavior or biology. 

*2. Illness and Health Issues | Physical illnesses or injuries can have a significant impact on your physical health and mental health. Chronic health issues, long term health issues, or physical health issues that drastically change your lifestyle can cause depression. Often, your doctors will understand this and recommend a mental health treatment as a part of your overall treatment. Issues connected to your brain, hormones, menstrual cycle or menopause, low blood sugar or sleep problems can be very impactful. 

*3. Medication. Drugs, and Alcohol | Many different medications can have the unfortunate side effect of depression. If you feel depressed after starting a new medicine or medication, you should research it's side effects or talk to your doctor. There could be a better alternative your doctor could give you alternatively. Additionally, recreational drugs and alcohol use can cause or worsen depression. While they may initially feel like they help symptoms of depression, they will make you feel worse eventually. 

*4. Personality | Some people and personalities are just more apt to experience depression. For example, people who tend to hold in worries, are perfectionists, and are sensitive to criticism are naturally more likely to be depressed. 

Additional causes of depression 

In addition to those causes, two of the more abstract causes of depression can be: 

Life Events | It has been found through research that life events can increase your chance of being depressed. Examples of events like this include:

* Losing your job 

* Being in a dysfunctional relationship 

* Stress at work

* Isolation

* Going through a breakup or divorce 

* Being diagnosed with an illness

* Being unemployed for a long period of time 

* Grieving a loved one (in any way) 

While negative life events or divorce can cause depression, they don't necessarily always cause it. Often, it is more about how you deal with these difficult situations.

And then there's....

Chemicals in the Brain 

Brain chemistry is a vastly complex  and developing field of study. There is much that is still being researched in addition, there are so many other factors besides simple brain chemistry that can lead to depression. Therefore, depression is not merely caused by a lack of certain chemicals, However there are specific processes between nerve cells that can contribute to depression.

Treatments for Depression 

Many of the medications used to treat depression target the brains messaging centers. Some stimulate serotonin or noradrenaline production. In addition, some treatments like transcranial magnetic stimulation (TMS) or electroconvulsive therapy (ECT) are used to treat depression because they also targets the brain's messaging processes. However, these types of treatments are only used when therapy, lifestyle changes, social change and medication have not helped. 

A more definitive list of treatments for depression is;

*Self-Guided changes to your lifestyle | Simply changing things like your sleep cycle, how you spend your time, and other daily habits can do a lot to improve your depression. 

*Therapy | Beginning counseling, therapy or psychotherapy, with a mental health provider can help you better understand, and cope with your feelings while having someone to talk them through with. You can do therapy for a short time or stay in it for extended periods of time, and due to Covid19 a lot places offer telehealth or zoom which is sometimes just easier.

*Alternative Therapies | Many people with mild depression can heighten their therapeutic experience by supplementing it with acupuncture, hypnosis or biofeedback. 

*Brain Stimulation | For people who suffer from severe depression or psychosis brain stimulation can be beneficial. As mentioned before, ECT or TMS are commonly prescribed. However, you can also try vagus nerve stimulation (VNS)

Of course every person's depression is unique to them. Because there is no broad spectrum for how depression can appear. The treatments can also vary person to person. Just know that there is also a wise spectrum for treatment and that it might take a try or two to find the one, or couple of treatments that are right for you. 

Symptoms

Although depression may occur once during your life, people typically have multiple episodes. During these episodes, these symptoms occur most of the day, nearly everyday and may include, but are not limited to: 

* Feelings of sadness, tearfulness, emptiness, or hopelessness

* Angry outbursts, Irritability or frustration, even over small matter

* Loss of interest or pleasure in most or all normal activities, such as sex, hobbies, or sports

* Sleep disturbances, including insomnia or sleeping too much

* Tiredness and lack of energy, so even small tasks take extra effort

* Reduced appetite and eight loss or increased cravings for food and weight gain

* Anxiety, agitation, or restlessness

* Slowed thinking, speaking or body movements

* Feelings of worthlessness or guilt, fixating on past failures or self-blame 

* Trouble thinking, concentrating, making decisions, and remembering things

* Frequent or recurrent thoughts of death, suicidal thoughts, suicide attempts or suicide

* Unexplained physical problems, such as back pain or headaches

15 Celebrities we tragically Lost to Depression / Mental Illness 

#1 Robin Williams 

#2 Marilyn Monroe 

#3 Dana Plato

#4 Kurt Cobain

#5 Chris Cornell

#6 Alexander McQueen

#7 Lee Thompson Young 

#8 Kate Spade 

#9 Anthony Bourdain

#10 Tony Scott 

#11 Don Cornelius 

#12 Mindy McCready

#13 Mac Miller 

#14 Chester Bennington 

#15 Misty Upham 

If you or anyone you know is suffering with depression you are not alone. If you are currently in crisis and need someone to speak with the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline can be reached at (800) 273-TALK (8255) or you can go to Lifeline

I hope you've enjoyed this read. I look forward to researching the next topic for you guys. 

Take good care of yourselves, and each other. 

Cheers, 

A 💕

Ableism

Hello Dear readers, and welcome or welcome back to my blog today I want to talk about ableism, What ableism is, what it looks like, what we can do to recognize it and avert ableism within our own lives so with that being said lets dive in with the definition of ableism. 

a-ble-ism

/'abe,lizem/

noun

discrimination in favor of able-bodied people. 

As social justice, equity, and inclusion permeate our collective consciousness, it's essential for advocates to remember another 'ism,' one that is frequently left out of conversations.

Ableism.

The world wasn't built with people with disabilities in mind, and because of that, the world we live in is inherently "ableist."

What is Ableism?

Ableism is the discrimination of and social prejudice against people with disabilities based on the belief that typical abilities are 'superior.' At it's heart, ableism is rooted in the assumption that disabled people require 'fixing' and defines people by their disability. Like racism and sexism, ableism classifies entire groups of people as 'less than.' and includes harmful stereotypes, misconceptions, and generalizations of people with disabilities. 

What does Ableism look like?

Ableism can take many forms including but not limited to: 

*Lack of compliance with disability rights laws like the ADA

*Segregating students with disabilities into separate schools 

*The use of restraint or seclusion as a means of controlling students with disabilities 

*Segregating adults and children with disabilities in institutions 

*Failing to incorporate accessibility into building design plans

*Buildings without braille on signs, elevator buttons, etc. 

*The assumption that people with disabilities want or need to be 'fixed'

*Using disability as a punchline, or mocking people with disabilities 

*Refusing to provide responsible accommodations 

But...what about 'everyday' or minor ableism? what does that look like? 

*Choosing an inaccessible venue for a meeting or event, therefore excluding some participants

*Using someone else's mobility device as a hand or foot rest

*Framing disability as either tragic or inspirational in news stories, movies and other popular forms of media.

*Casting a non-disabled actor to play a disabled character in a play, movie, TV show or commercial

*Making a movie that doesn't have audio description or closed captioning 

*Using the accessible bathroom stall (I am sooo guilty) when you are able to use the non-accessible stall without pain or risk of injury

*Wearing scented products in a scent-free environment

*Talking to a person with a disability like they are a child, talking about them instead of directly to them, or Speaking for them

*Asking invasive questions about the medical history or personal life of someone with a disability 

*Assuming people have to have a visible disability to actually be disabled 

*Questioning if someone is 'actually' disabled, or 'how much' they are disabled

*Asking, "How did you become disabled"

What are ableist micro-aggressions?

Micro-aggressions are everyday verbal or behavioral expressions that communicate a negative slight or insult in relation to someone's gender identity, race, sex, disability, etc. 

Examples include, but of course are not limited to: 

*"That's so lame"

*"You are so retarded"

*"That guy is crazy!"

*"You're acting so bi-polar right now"

*(my personal favorite)" Are you off your meds?"

*"It's like the blind leading the blind"

*"My ideas fell on deaf ears"

*"She's such a psycho"

*"I'm like, super OCD about how I clean my apartment"

*"Can I pray for you?"

*"I'll pray for you"

*"I don't even think of you as disabled"

Phrases like this imply that a disability makes a person less than, and that disability is bad. Negative, a problem to be fixed, rather than a normal, inevitable part of the human experience. Many people don't mean to even be insulting, most are just uneducated and a lot have good intentions however even well-meant comments and actions can take a serious toll on their recipients.

What can we do to recognize and avert ableism?

*Believe people when they disclose a disability 

*Similarly, don't accuse people of 'faking' their disability

*Listen to people when they request an accommodation

*Don't assume you know what someone needs  

*Never touch a person with a disability or their mobility equipment without their CONSENT

*Keep invasive questions to yourself

*Don't speak on behalf of someone with a disability unless they explicitly ask you to

*Talk about disability with children and young people 

*Incorporate accessibility into your event planning

*Learn more about being a good disability ally at this website #Allies

Thanks for taking your valuable time to sit here with me today and talk about this, while it's not talked about as much as it should be in much of today's media I am always looking for what others are missing, so I can inform you guys and we can continue growing a greater, loving tomorrow together. 

Take good care of yourselves and each other, until next time.

Cheers,

A 💕

Domestic Violence

   Hello Dear readers, and welcome or welcome back. Before I get going on today's topic I would just like to take a moment to recognize Martin Luther King Jr. and all he stood for. As we remember him today as a motivational speaker, a man who was ahead of his time, and someone who cared for the rights of others. I think it's remarkable how one person can spark such a wildfire in the lives of humans, so today let's honor him and remember him for the gentle kind loving person that he was. -- 

 Now with that being said today I would really like to focus on domestic violence. It is an epidemic within our society and it has only gotten worse, and worse as the years continue on. I myself am a victim of domestic violence, I have feared for my life multiple times, but there are ways out and there is help. First things first lets break it down and collect some knowledge on domestic violence.

do-mes-tic vi-o-lence

noun

violent or aggressive behavior within the home, typically involving the violent abuse of a spouse or partner. 

What is Domestic Violence?

Domestic abuse, also called "domestic violence" or "intimate partner violence", can be defined as a pattern of a behavior in any relationship that is used to gain or maintain power and control over an intimate partner. Abuse is physical, sexual, emotional, economic or psychological actions or threats of actions that influence another person. This includes any behaviors that frighten, intimidate, terrorize, manipulate, hurt, humiliate, blame, injure, or wound someone. Domestic violence can happen to anyone of any race, age, sexual orientation, religion, or gender. It can occur within a range of relationships including couples who are married, living together or dating. Domestic violence affects people of all socioeconomic backgrounds and education levels. Anyone can be a victim of domestic violence, regardless of age, race, gender, sexual orientation, faith or class!. Victims of domestic violence may also include a child or other relative, or any other household member. Domestic violence is typically manifested as a pattern of abusive behavior toward an intimate partner in a dating or family relationship, where the abuser exerts power and control over the victim. Domestic violence can be mental, physical, economic or sexual in nature. Incidents are rarely isolated, and usually escalate in frequency and severity. Domestic violence may culminate in serious physical injury or death to the victim or the abuser depending on the severity of the abuse, and the situation. 

Are You Being Abused?

Look over the following questions to think about how you are being treated and how you, yourself treat your partner.

Recognizing the signs of domestic violence:

Does your partner...

*Embarrass or make fun of you in front of your friends or family?

*Put down your accomplishments? 

*Make you feel like you are unable to make decisions?

*Use intimidation or threats to gain compliance?

*Tell you that you are/would be nothing without them?

*Treat you roughly-- grab, push, pinch, shove or hit you?

*Call you several times a night or show up to make sure you are where you said you would be?

*Use drugs or alcohol as an excuse for saying hurtful things or abusing you?

*Blame you for how they feel or act?

*Pressure you sexually for things you aren't ready for?

*Make you feel like there is "no way out" of the relationship?

*Prevent you from doing things you want - like spending time with friends or family?

*Try to keep you from leaving after a fight or leave you somewhere after a fight to "teach you a lesson"?

Do You...

*Sometimes feel scared of how your partner may behave?

*Constantly make excuses to other people for your partner's behavior?

*Believe that you can help your partner change if only you can change something about yourself?

*Try not to do anything that would cause conflict or make your partner upset?

*Always do what your partner wants you to do instead of what you want?

*Stay with your partner because you are afraid of what would happen if you broke up?

If any of these things are happening in your relationship, talk to someone. Without help, the abuse WILL continue. Making that first step is hard, but rewarding. 

For Survivors

No one deserves to be abused. The abuse is not your fault. You are not alone. 

Contact the Critical Incident Stress Management Unit (CISMU) if you are concerned that you may be experiencing any form of abuse or are in fear for the safety of yourself or your children. If English is not your first language, you can request a language you feel more comfortable speaking when contacting CISMU. If you do not feel comfortable speaking on the phone with someone or you are in a situation where you can't there is the The National Domestic Violence Hotline, and you can speak to someone 24/7 seven days a week. Also the thing I like the most about this website is that at pressing the escape key at anytime puts you out of their webpage and back to Google, so in the case that your abuser walks in on you planning you're exit strategy you would easily have a way to make it look like you were just Googling something here is the web link :  https://www.thehotline.org/get-help/

For Abusive Partners 

If you recognize that you are mistreating your partner, there may be resources in your community to assist you to end the abuse. National Domestic Violence Hotline has a number of resources that can assist while this is a US Hotline, the advice and information may be useful no matter where you live. Understand that domestic violence is not only against the United States code of conduct, but you may be subject to criminal prosecution under the law that is applicable. 

If you are surviving in an abusive relationship, or if you are the abuser get help. Talk to someone. No one is worth living your life suffocating in pain.. I know that in this moment you might be thinking that you're in love, but love doesn't look like any of the things we have discussed today. There will come someone that will love you in the way that you deserve to be loved. 

Hopefully with this information I have been able to reach someone hurting, save someone from a painful relationship and allow someone to open their hearts to a new world of love, real love and possibilities. 

Blessings --

A

Emotional Intelligence

  Hello Dear Readers and welcome or welcome back, today I wanna focus on the topic of emotional intelligence and how we can either work on straightening our own or growing new skills to develop the techniques and tools to gain more emotional intelligence. With that being said let's jump back in!.

  Emotional Intelligence

e-mo-tion-al  in-tel-li-gence

noun

the capacity to be aware of, control, and express one's emotions, and to handle interpersonal relationships judiciously and empathetically.

 5 Ways to Boost Your Emotional Intelligence

1. Become aware of and tune into your own emotions. 

one of the first, and perhaps most important steps, is to become more self aware, or to develop the ability to tune into your own emotions. Why? In order to control your emotions you must first be aware of them. Some pointers for becoming self aware include: monitoring your emotions by acknowledging them (a technique I really like is RAINN) knowing yourself is an essential life skill. Practicing mindfulness is also an excellent way to become more self aware and monitor your emotions, By being aware of your own emotions, you are better able to understand and become aware of the emotions of others.

2. Seek to understand the points of view of others. 

Once you have a good appraisal of your own emotions, seek to understand and empathize with others. This is particularly important in the workplace, on committees, or in a group setting where ideas are flowing and being exchanged. To do so, listen attentively, put yourself in another's place and try to imagine what they thinking and feeling and how they may have arrived at their conclusions. You will not only have a broader viewpoint yourself, you will be stretching your own perspective.

3. Communicate Effectively.

Communicating effectively requires both verbal and non-verbal skills. Communication is more than merely exchanging information. Effective communication is about understanding emotions, as well as the intentions behind the information exchanged. It is mutual back and forth that includes conveying a message in the way it is intended and, in turn, making sure it is received as intended.

Non-verbal skills include engage listening, making eye contact, being aware of body language (not standing too close, gestures, facial expressions, etc.)

4. Develop connections with people.

No matter how shy or introverted you think you are, learning to develop connections with others is a huge component of Emotional Intelligence. In fact, even if you are shy, you can begin first by listening, showing interest and making others feel comfortable. Doing so is sometimes easier for shy, introverted people (like myself) than it is for gregarious, extroverts who tend to enjoy speaking first. For both types, showing that you care and are interested in others goes far in building valuable connections.

5. Practice emotional management.

Once you are aware of both your own emotions and those of others, it is important to understand how to keep them and in check. Some ways of practicing emotional management include:

*Stopping to take time to process and understand what is transpiring 

*Diverting your attention until you are more composed - such as going for a walk, exercising, playing with a pet, breathing deeply or using RAINN

*Re-framing the experience, i.e. exploring a new, broader way of looking at the issue.

*Looking at the big picture and determining how important the immediate emotion/reaction is to the overall issue.

There are several ways you can begin to go about boosting, or improving your Emotional Intelligence. Doing so will not only enhance your opportunities for success in the workplace, it will benefit you in your personal and professional relationships. Ultimately, Emotional Intelligence entails understanding yourself and others, effectively interacting with others, and then using those skills to straighten your personal and professional relationships. I hope with this blog, I have been able to inform you of how to boost your own Emotional Intelligence, and reach for your goals this new year with the infinite potential I know that we all have. 

Take good care of yourselves and each other, 

until next time. 

Blessings,

-A

12 Universal Laws

  Hello dear readers, and welcome back today we are going to be talking about the 12 Universal Laws, and when you think the laws of the Universe, your mind may go straight to the Law of Attraction. However, it turns out that there is a whole network of interconnected spiritual laws that can impact every aspect of your life. Oh, even better, although these laws can be used to assist in Law of Attraction work, you don't to be working on any particular manifestation to benefit here. The Twelve Spiritual Laws of the Universe each teach you something unique about wellbeing, happiness, and success. When you develop a solid understanding of these laws then it becomes clearer to picture your own place in this world. Together we will explore all twelve of the laws. Plus, I will summarize every one of them to help you to understand how they influence you and how your awareness of them can lead to a positive change in this coming New Year, and the following years to come-- So let's jump in!. 

      1. The Law of Divine Oneness

Everything in our universe is interconnected. In other words, every choice, word, desire, and belief you have will also have an impact on the world, and on the people in your life. Sometimes this impact will be immediate and obvious, at other times, it may take a while to manifest, or you may never even discover that it occured. Try to think of yourself as part of everything. We are all one, and awareness of this makes us more powerful as well as empathetic.

 

        2. Law of Vibration

Every particle in the universe is in constant movement and constantly carries energy. This applies to enormous parts of the universe, like the planets and stars, oh, and it also applies to that chair underneath you or the table where your computer sits...

In addition, everything has it's own specific energy frequency. High energy particles are naturally attuned to other high energy particles, and the same is true for those that have low energy. If your goal this new year is to live a more poductive and full life, consider what you would need to do to heighten your energy frequencies... Youtube has tons of great free guided meditations, and apps like Calm and Headspace offer a great source for getting started. 

    3. Law of Correspondence

This law is directly related to the foundational law of Divine Oneness. The key idea here is that patterns repeat throughout the universe, and that prominent patterns can also be found repeating on a very small scale. Look for patterns in your own life and in your thinking, and notice how they repeat elsewhere in the world. As you do so, consider the kinds of pattern changes you might be able to make to your in your thinking and life in this upcoming New Year, and how those will create change on a larger scale. 

   4. Law of Attraction

 

The Law of Attraction tells us that like attracts like. So, in order to have the things you desire in life, you have to work out how to vibrate on the same frequency as those things. The more general lesson here is that being positive, proactive and loving attracts more of the same into your life. Meanwhile, pessimism, fear and lethargy will lead you to generate more negative experiences in all aspects of life. By working to live more positively, even just for this moment while you're taking the time to read this today, you're already using the Law of Attraction to create a better more loving existence for yourself and everyone around you!.

   5. Law of Inspired Action

Law of Attraction practitioners regularly say that they wish they had known about the Law of Inspired Action at an earlier stage! these two laws are tightly bound together, and the Inspired Action law tells us that we must actively persue our goals. Many people think that visalizing a goal and developing a positive attitude towards it will be sufficient to exploit the Law of Attraction. However, you also have to take inspired steps that thing you want.

  6. Law of Perpetual Transmutation of Energy

This law states that everything around us is in a state of constant flux. You cant see all these changes because many of them exist at the cellular or atomic level, but they carry on regardless the reason that it's so important to be aware of this law is that it helps you see how you can trigger positive change. Specifically, keep in mind that high vibrations can trigger improvements in low vibrations 

.. So going to visit a high energy friend this coming year when you're feeling particularly low, may be just the thing to boost those energy levels. Or getting out and taking a stroll through nature can also be a good way to recharge.

  7. The Law of Cause and Effect 

One of the most straightforward laws of the universe, this law tells us that all actions have a corresponding reaction your spiritual life can impact the world around you, causing positive or negative reactions. Similarly your physical environments can impact your spirituality whether for good or ill. Ask yourself this coming year what types of relationships you see between the spiritual and the physical and how you might want to change them.

  8. The Law of Compensation

You WILL receive what you put. This law is also similar to the law of Attraction, but with a focus on the idea that compensation can come in many forms, for example: If you win a large amount of money then you might think you're getting a reward. However depending on how you have lived, your vast amount of wealth could lead to a worse life rather than a better one. Essentially, you reap what you sow. This law reminds you to be careful about how you treat others, and indeed Mother Earth. 

9. Law of Relativity

This law is all about the neutrality of things when seen in isolation. So, no particular person, experience, emotion, or action is evaluated as good or bad until you look at it in comparison with something else. For example: you may think you are poor perhaps that's because you have three wealthy aunts. By keeping this law in mind, you remain conscious of the fact that there are always multiple perspectives on anything that happens to you. Trying to slip into these alternate perspectives can make you more grateful, and can also show you where you can make improvements in your daily life in this upcoming year. 

  10. Law of Polarity

When thinking about this law, the most important thing to remember is that absolutely everything has an opposite and it's the very existence of these opposites that allows us to understand our life. Consequently when you go through something difficult, it will be this thing that helps you truly appreciate the good developments that are to come. By regularly reminding yourself of this, you can improve your emotional thinking, and your resilence during troubled times in this upcoming year. 

11. Law of Rhythm

Sometimes called the law of Perpetual Motion, the law of Rhythm is (unsuprisingly) focused on movement. In particular, it refers to the fact that all things come in cycles you can see this in nature e.g., in the seasons, and in the body's aging process. However, it equally applies to a person's life stages, and reflecting on this helps you to gain perspective. Where I am it's freezing , but we are hitting our final days of winter..Nothing is permanent so enjoy whatever whaether you have while you have it! remember that we are in constant flux and this too shall pass, so whichever cycle of your life you may be in right now it may be the very thing that prepares you for a properous change in this upcoming year, so hang tight, and don't give up on the universe or yourself. 

12. Law of Gender

Finally, the law of Gender has very little to with biological sex. Rather, it refers to the fact that there are two major types of energy. You can think of them as masculine and feminine. As yin and yang or as anima and animus. We all contain a certain amount of energy and must find a way to achieve a balance between both types if we are to live authentically and happily. Think about the role each type of energy appears to play in your life, and whether there is an excess or deficit of either. 

I hope you were able to take something from today's reading, if a healing word was all, well I did my job. This will be my final post until January, but come January I will be posting more frequently so check back in with me again next year! I wish you all peace, love and health for this upcoming new year, and always! take good care of yourselves and each other. 

 Words of Enlightenment

In the garden of life, 

gratitude is the nourishment 

we need to water the 

roots of our inner peace 

when we nurture it's growth

we envelop the Earth in 

a forest of love and light 

the Earth

The Sun

The Sky 

A hug from a friend 

A call from a loved one

A smile from a stranger 

Blessed Be 

Eating Disorders

   Hello Dear readers and welcome back, or I guess I should be welcoming myself back...with the hustle and bustle of the Holiday's, my birthday, and other life stressors happenig this month non-stop (like my stove breaking) okay rant over. However with all these things I have found it hard to find my center as of late. Please be patient with me, and know that I am putting my soul into each of these posts and now let's jump into today's topic:

   eating disorder 

    /ediNG di'sorder/

Plural nouns: eating disorders

  any of a range of psychological disorders charecterized by abnormal or disturbed eating habits (such as, but not limited to, anorexia and bulimia nervosa) 

Once upon a time many people liked to believe that bulimia nervosa, anorexia nervosa and binge eating were the only eating disorders affecting individuals luckily with therapy and integrative treatments we have been able to learn so much more about people's eating habits, and what should look healthy or not. With the help of clinicians and phycians alike we have been able to update the DSM5 with 10 Eating disorders and I will list each one here:

Binge eating: Eating large amounts of food over a short period of time

Anorexia athletica: Going to the gym to burn off meals 

Night Eating: Syndrome dieting through the day day, but  eating junk food at night

Orthorexia: Obsessing over the nutritional value of food 

Pica: Eating and chewing on non-food items 

Rummination: Chewing the same food for long periods of time

Drunkorexia: Restricting calories because of planned drinking

Eating Disorder Not Otherwise Specified (ED-NOS): Show signs of disordered eating habits but are a healthy weight.

Anorexia nervosa: Skipping meals 

Bulimia nervosa: Going to the bathroom immediately after meals or during meals 

                                                                                        THE RED FLAGS    

Be alert for eating patterns and beliefs that may signal unhealthy behavior, as well as peer pressure that may trigger eating disorders. RED FLAGS that may indicate an eating disorder include:

-Skipping meals or making excuses for not eating.

-Adopting an overly restrictive vegetarian diet 

-Excessive focus on healthy eating 

-Making own meals rather than eating what the family eats 

-Withdrawing from normal social activities

-Persistent worry or complaining about being 'fat' and talk of losing weight

-Frequent checking in the mirror for perceived flaws 

-Repeatedly eating large amounts of sweets or high fat foods

-Use of dietary supplements, laxatives or herbal products for weight loss. 

-Excessive excercise

-Calluses on the knuckles from inducing vomiting 

-Problems with loss of tooth enamel that may be a sign of repeated vomiting 

-Leaving during meals to use the bathroom 

--Eating much more food in a meal or snack than iis considered normal 

-Expressing depression, disgust, shame, or guilt about eating habits

-Eating in secret 

If you're worried that you, a loved one or your child may have an eating disorder contact your primary care physcian to discuss your concerns. If needed, you can get a referral to a qualified mental health professional with expertise in eating disorders, or if your insurance permits you can contact an expert directly. 

                                                                                                        CAUSES

         The exact cause of eating disorders is unknown. As with any other mental illness there may be many causes, such as: 

Genetics and Biology:  

Certain people may have genes that increase their risk of developing eating disorders. Biological factors, such as changes in brain chemicals, may play a role in eating disorders. 

Psychological and Emotional Health: 

People with eating disorders may have psychological and emotional problems that contribute to the disorder. They may have low self-esteem, perfectionism, impulsive behavior and troubled relationships.

                                                                                               RISK FACTORS 

 Teenage girls and young women are more commonly portrayed as the ones struggling with eating disorders. MALES  can have eating disorders, as well! The illness doesn't descriminate it just finds it's host, and like the parasite it is it feeds off of you until you are nothing left, telling you beautiful lies as every rabbit hole does, but I'm here to say to you young Alice, I've made my way down that  rabbit hole and the trip to wonderland well, it looked all fun and games until the queen ran off with my head. See where was I, oh yes I know where I am going with this one..risk factors (: 

Family History:

Eating disorders are signicantly more likely to occur in people who have parents or siblings who've had an eating disorder

Other Mental Health Disorders:

People with an eating disorder often have a history of anxiety disorder, depression, or obsessive-compulsive disorder

Dieting and Starvation:

Dieting is a risk factor for developing an eating diorder. Starvation affects the brain and influences mood changes, rigidity in thinking, anxiety and reduction in appetite. There is strong evidence taht many of the symptoms of an eating disorder are actually symptoms of starvation. Starvation and weight loss may change the way the brain works in vulnerable individuals, which may perpetuate restrictive eating behaviors and make it difficult to return to normal life. 

Stress:

Whether it's heading off to college, moving, landing a new job, or a family or relationship issue. Stress is scary, lets try to maximize the joy and minimize fear!

                                                                                         COMPLICATIONS

Eating disorders cause a wide variety of complications, some of them life- threatening the more severe or long lasting the eating disorder, the more likely you are to experience serious complications such as:

-Serious health problems 

-Depression and anxiety

-Suicidal thoughts or bahavior

-Problems with growth and development

-Social and relationship problems 

-Substance use disorders 

-Work and school issues 

-Death

                                                                                             PREVENTION

 

Although there's no sure fire way to prevent eating disorders, here are some strategies to help your child, and you develop healthy-eating behaviors together!:

Avoid dieting around your child

Family dining habits may influence the relationships children have with food. Eating meals together gives you an ppurtunity to teach your child about a well balanced diet in resonable portions.

Talk to your child

For example, there are numerous websites that promote ideas, such as anorexia as a "anorexia is a lifestyle choice" other then what it really is: an eating disorder. It's crucial to correct any misperception like this and to talk to your child about the risks of unhealthy choices

Culivate and reinforce a Healthy Body image:

Whatever their shape or size. Talk to your child about self image and offer reassurnce that body shapes vary. Avoid criticizing your own body in front of your child; try not to at all, messages of acceptance and respect can help build healthy self-esteem and resilence that will carry chldren through the rocky periods of the teen years.

Enlist the help of your child's Physcian

At well visits, physcians may be able to indentify early indicators of an eating disorder They can ask children questions about their eatting habits and satisfaction with their appearance during routinemedical appointments, for instance, these visits should include checks of height and weight percentiles and body mass indx which can alert you and your child's doctor to any significant changes. 

                                                                                    ** CRISIS CONTACT**

NEDA - (800)931-2237

call or text                                                      Monday-Thursday: 11am-9pm ET                     National Eating Disorders Association

                                                                                        Friday:11am-5pm ET                            Here's the link to their website. 

                                                                                          

                                                                         HOLIDAY CLOSURE INFORMATION

                                                                   Saturday, January 1 2022 (New Year's Day) 

                                                                Monday, January 17 2022 (Martin Luther King Day) 

                                                                Monday, February 21 2022 (president's Day)

                                                         

Thank you for taking the time to sit here with me and read up on a topic I myself am passionate about, not only because I have struggled with unhealthy and abnormaled eating patterns, but I know other's who have, and are and it it always be so much worse...so I would just like to call back the attention to this one thing.. we all have a warrior, lioness, phoenix, dragon, whatever it is you feeel inside raditate that healing white light into your core and nurture the true and beautiful pure soul that you harness within you, 

   i will do my best to be  back sooner, my husband also did some art for this post so heads up for my art fans! Take good care everyone Merry Christmas!! I'll be back no later then next year. ;P

Diversity

    Hello dear reader, and welcome back to my fellow returning readers. I know it has been some time since my last post, and I do apologize I have been recently dealing with some medical issues, however I'm doing a lot better now; and I'd just like to say thank you to all of the viewers who continued to check my page for updates!. Alright guys lets jump in to what I want to discuss today. The topic of diversity What does diversity mean to you? What makes us diverse, and how can we be more inclusive in our daily lives. I'll be delving into alot of textbook definitions, and giving you the low down on what many professional opinion say, however this is a community and feedback is so important within a community, so feel free to talk about you, your qualities that make you unique, and diverse !. And with that said let's get started. 

   di·ver·si·ty

/dəˈvərsədē,dīˈvərsədē/

noun

1. the state of being diverse; variety.

   "there was considerable diversity in the style of the reports"
2. the practice or quality of including or involving people from a range of different social and ethnic backgrounds and of different genders, sexual orientations, etc.

      Establishing security and a sense of belonging:

    

      In order for any individual to bring their best self forward a sense of security, and belonging must first be established.

Being comfortable within yourself and making connections with an organization or small group of people where you can open, and explore your talents without not only results in better mood, and creativity, but it's also a psylogical need. 

Maximize joy and connection > Minimize fear and isolation:

  The human brain is wired to react with fear, and distrust when someones believes their beliefs or opinions have been challenged;

and fear like we learned in one of my previous blogs can be a powerful motivator, and manipluator it causes people to narrow their prospective. Finding ways to take your challenges, and elevating the power of shared experiences and communication-- we can all create a greater potential for positive change.

Mindful Communications: listen more, talk carefully:

  Communication is the first of many aspects that we can all work on in our daily lives. Often we use our words inappropriately,

and in doing so our words can express wrong intentions or create misunderstandings. 

                                                                    

                                                        Here are some examples:

1. when addressing a group of individuals AVOID using gender specific words such as "ladies" "dudes" "men" "guys" 

appelations may turn out to be misplaced, cause misgendering and cut off group members. 

2.  LISTEN--DONT INTERRUPT.  DONT TALK OVER. Respect the time of the individual in front of you, holding eye 

contact and truly listening is a key factor in a good communcation style. 

3.  Use correct pronouns always ask which pronoun the individual you're getting to know prefers to be called. 

Asking is a sign of care for the individual you are getting to know, and a way to give them a SAFE space to feel comfortable

with their idenitity.

4. AVOID ASSERTIVE OR OFFENSIVE LANGUAGE.  Try to introduce your contribution to the conversation with "according to my experience" or "based on what I've read" and most important rule of all make sure not to lecture when you get involved in a

conversation to maintain the productivity for all individuals involved. 

5. AVOID weird facial expressions-- Making faces while interacting with others may, discourage or make the individual

uncomfortable. Try to remain neutral with your expressions while interacting with others. 

Challenge Stereotypes:

Diversity without inclusion is Tokenism - the risk of losing sight of the word "inclusion" in the acronym "D&I" proactively pursuing 

actions and attitudes that promote not only a culture, but also a sustainable modus operandi for all.

If diversity is a fact, Inclusion is an action. 

                                                  Here are some Question's we can all ask ourselves:

1. What are my expections of the other person?

2. Can I recogize stereotypical or unconciously biased aspects in these expections? 

3. What is the goal of the meeting, confrontation or conversation? 

4. What is a common interest that brings you together? 

  If you can start with these questions in mind to become more vulnerable, and aware of your own 

biasism and try to deconstruct it. In doing so, you will see that it will be easier to interact in a more conscious 

and inclusive way!.

                                                                    *****AVOID ASSUMPTIONS*****

   one of the most commonly made mistakes in day-to-day interactions is to make assumptions here are some examples: 

1. Avoid assuming the gender of the individual and/or group(s) you're speaking with. Try to always use gender 

inclusive language. 

2. Avoid assumptions about one person's identity based on accessories, famaliar relationships or social

economic backgrounds.

3. When meeting someone never assume they are able or not able to do something based on age, sex, gender,

disibility OR race!. 

     Stay curious, don't fear mistakes remember, every process is not immediate, but change and growth are worth 

it's weight in gold. The path to change is not always linear, especially when you're putting in the work remeber its okay 

be afraid to make mistakes, just  don't don't be afraid to accept feedback from trusted friends and supportive members of 

your life their feedback is also important on your journey towards healing, growing and becoming a more inclusive member of society. 

I hope today's blog has informed, moved you, and motivated you to ignite that passion inside that I know we all have.

Take good care of each other, and be kind to not only yourselves but to the ones around you. We never know 

another person's day-to-day fight, so just be nice.. 

---PS I will be editing this with a photo that my husband is working on, the topic inspired him to draw so check back 

for that update!--

Abundant Blessings 

-A