Thank you.
I'm not doing very well health wise. I accidentally food poisoned myself on black pepper seasoning, something I never use, in a take out meal. This is a food allergy I didn't know I had.. My gerd isn't healing up well as a result . Plus I need to further restrict my diet although I have been more faithful with my diet and I am doing everything I can. I am giving it 2 weeks and then going to see my doctor about treatment options if there isn't more improvement.
I do still feel I can get my arms around this but design flaws with my stomach happened in utero and surgery as a baby has made for a life of gi issues. I might require surgical help. I am working on acceptance if that should happen.
I hope that I can access the healing power within. I am starting to read a book about Healing by Deepak Chopra.
Anya
I am sending light and healing. Gargling with warm salt water , not too much salt, is another aid to healing.
Thank you ghandigirl. I think I mentioned this but some say small amounts of raw potato juice
and/or cabbage juice help heal ulcers. I think the origin is a folk eastern european remedy.
Of course google this and do research and ask MD if it will work well with you.
During winter it's probably best to incorporate these things into well cooked soups or stews,
and as earthangel mentioned, small amounts of fresh ginger can help too.
For me I have to go easy on garlic and onion, and mostly avoid them, even though I really like the flavors.
I can do black garlic in small amounts.
One dish that always makes me feel better is pho. The broth is full of healthy herbs, spices and vegetables that are so warming and comforting to the tummy and the soul. Breathing in the wholesome aroma is delightful!
Making pho from scratch is labor intensive and not something I ever want to do! But I found an amazing kit that I make at home, and have given it as gifts to my children who love it, too.
You can take a look at www.getculturedbox.com or purchase it on Amazon. I always keep a box on hand.
Feel better soon! 🍲🍜❤️
This weekend my sister's house caught fire and suffered significant damage. Thankfully all humans and pets are safe but it will likely take months to rebuild. I would appreciate all energies sent her way for a smooth, timely, and fair negotiation of the insurance claims. And for hiring and working with reputable contractors who will do an ethical and safe rebuild so that the house is even better than before. Thank you ❤️
@gbs What a tragic loss for your sister and her family. May they be guided and protected through all the steps that bring them to their new home, one even better than before. Prayers and healing energies sent to each of them for strength and comfort going forward.
I have no idea where to put this, but since this is really the only off-topic/free-form place on the site, it's going here. For those who may be sensitive to posts that are less than wholly positive, please feel free to ignore this one. You have been warned.
The universe has apparently decided that I am to be forcibly removed from my comfort zone. For most of my life, my bedroom has been a refuge, a place of solace, and a space to recharge. It is obviously my most personal and private space. My computer (which up to now has been my lifeline connection to the world) is there, my cats spend most of their time there with me, and of course, my bed is there.
My bedroom, particularly my desk where the computer sits, is where I go to hide from the world when it gets to be too much. I have sat in front of my computer literally for hours, many times from the time I awoke until I went back to bed, applying for jobs, surfing social media, checking news, playing games, posting in places like this, and generally shutting out the noise of the world. It has been, quite literally, my comfort zone.
Unfortunately, the energy that has recently been coming into my comfort zone from the internet has been anything but comforting. My computer has been bringing me nothing but doom and gloom no matter where I turn. Now when I go into my bedroom, instead of warmth, peace, and comfort, I am met with an almost malevolent energy and I can't stay in there for long. I have stopped surfing social media because I see post after post detailing how bad it's already becoming and how much worse it's likely to get. I have stopped posting on most of the forums for the same reason. Even sleeping has become difficult; my dreams are as tense and full of anxiety as my waking life, and I toss and turn in fitful sleep for the few hours I do manage to get. For as much as I am taking some small amount of perverse pleasure in the zeitgeist of schadenfreude, there's only so much I can take.
I can no longer spend any more time on my computer than I have to in order to take care of necessary personal business. I'm not even typing this on my computer; I'm in the living room on the other side of the house typing on my phone - something I never do - quite literally as far away from that energy as I can get and still be in the same house, and even that's more than a little uncomfortable.
As a result, I have devolved into survival mode once again in my life (not that I was ever far removed from it), carefully watching every penny, foregoing even the simplest pleasures because I don't know when I'm going to need the resources I would normally have used on them. I don't even drive much anymore unless I have to so I can conserve as much as I can.
Yes, it's a scarcity mindset, but it's going to be necessary for the next while. I can't and won't advise others to follow my lead because it may not be right for them, but for me, it's the only way I can see a path forward.
A small silver lining is that I'm walking more and eating less so at least maybe I can drop some of the pounds that have packed on these last two years. 😅
I treated myself to a mid priced dinner the other day for the first time in a very long time.
I have always had to budget but i give myself little bits of the very best every so often to remind myself of how non-scarcity feels.
I purchased a very loud sweater today for five bucks which will help with a dopamine boost every so often.
i'm betting art will become louder as well as more covert in the future.
Glad to hear you are walking more and hopefully seeing some positive physical changes.
As for mental health, if you are noticing the negative energy and associate it with your computer, (I assume a desktop one) I would only use it for things I could ONLY do by computer. No scrolling social media or news, and also no gaming for now).
Consider going to the library (it's free) and check out some light happy reading to do in your room to change the energy there. Or read at the library fro a change of pace. Or at least read somewhere in the house or outside when possible. Bring happy colors into your room (think color therapy) and declutter if it is cluttered. Decluttering helps me feel like I have some positive control in my life.
Consider baking something. My husband loves to bake bread and it smells wonderful. Set an alarm and make sure you move around every hour so you are not sedentary. Watch a comedy movie on tv.Libraries have them as well.
Do you have an indoor mall? Walk the floors. Catch kids being silly. Or notice the weird colors that are trending. (Holiday "pink" is a trend and one which is well... odd to say the least, but it is definitely on trend this year). Notice what animal characters and nature plants are trending in holiday decor or regular decor. (It gives you something different to focus upon). See how many ways a Christmas tree can be decorated or how holiday sales are going by looking at how deeply discounted merchandise is or is not being slashed.
Do you have a Trader Joe's? They offer free samples, Sprouts often does as well. Might as well try something new.
How about volunteering at a food bank on a regular basis or for some other charity?
Wish you lived near me as I am the coordinator for a community Christmas Angel program and also coordinate meals for those same families for Thanksgiving and Christmas. I would love your help! No matter how stressful this activity becomes each year (I always stress trying to make sure everything is thought of, all needs are met and nobody is left out) it is also one of the most rewarding ones I have ever participated in.
I also will have little time over the next month to worry about what 45 is plotting because I will be too busy trying to make the lives of the people he could care less about better than their current circumstances. My goal is to bring light and hope into their lives. And a bonus book for every child.
(Side note, not all these families celebrate Christmas. I actually love that aspect, a true spirit of giving for all. And we help children AND adults, who ever the city sends our way).
Can't wait to hear what you discover in your world, which you hadn't noticed previously.
@lovendures I noticed it very often, which was why I took my refuge. I am apparently no longer allowed to do that.
@tgraf66 I notice both good and not so great as well. I'm working on this, but what I do is imagine a porous sapphire shield protecting my aura. Choose what resonates? You can put sparkles or something on top of it if you like.
You are not incorrect in sensing that current media is stuck at the moment.
I believe the current reality is temporary.
If you are film buff you can do, "How I stopped worrying..." or something like The Princess Bride, or even swing by sephora or your local health food store and try something that smells like rose if you are not allergic. Rose is very soothing. Lavender too.
You could also try chamomile tea if you like it.
I actually bought some new pens on sale and a sketch pad and started doodling when I get annoyed.
You can also focus on taking photographs to document your own reality when you go out.
This is the good news with tech, no overspending of film so if the photo is terrible just delete.
@tgraf66 please know that we all care about you. Your pain feels enormous and unrelenting. If you don't feel relief soon, I hope you are willing to reach out for the help of a medical professional who can offer some remedy for times when pain is unrelenting, and also keep you safe.
@tgraf66 Reading this broke my heart and I want to first and foremost, let you know I'm sending you virtual hugs in the form of white, healing energy that I hope helps to ease a little of your pain and discomfort. I love that you've taken up walking - it's part of my own mental health routines. I won't share all of those because sometimes people need the space to vent and aren't always looking for solutions. If you want me to privately message you (remember we're friends on Spoutible!) some additional ideas I'll gladly do so.
The one piece of advice I will dole out however is in regards to your computer. It is imperative that you have a place you can go in your home that is your safe place, as it sounds like your bedroom has always been. Even if it's temporary, you need the space to heal more than you need both the space and computer in the same place. If you can temporarily take over another part of your house to move the computer to, I recommend highly that you do so. I was a slave to my Apple News notifications and around August I made the decision to highly curate those so i wasn't getting all the drama.
It's no secret that mental health issues have been on the rise since the pandemic in particular - and that's not to say they didn't exist or weren't that high before - we simply started shining the light on them. You have to have your safe place and refuge and if something in said space is taking away the safety, it needs to go. It can come back when you and things have calmed.
The brain has mechanisms for helping us navigate occasional areas of stress, discomfort, and danger, but we're not meant to have it crashing around us like waves 24 hours a day as we've been conditioning ourselves to do so over the last decade. You have to step away from it and allow your mind the chance to regulate what you've already absorbed before you allow it to absorb more. If I've learned anything stepping away from that constant barrage of information is the important stuff will make it to you in other formats.
Huge. HUGE hugs to you friend. ❤️
My heart really goes out to you. When we are being bombarded with so much negativity and fear, it can feel so overwhelming and scary. I am struggling with this myself. I have a lot of friends/family that are his supporters and they don't understand why there is so much panic or worry. Much like you, my home is truly the sanctuary from the world so when it feels like your security/safety/peace is threatened, it makes everything feel worse and heightened. I've found myself pulling away from alot of stuff just to take a breath. The worst in some ways is when people dismiss your very real worries and fears. I've been seeking a lot of comfort in books, music and entertainment. But, I also know how hard it is to find that comfort and get a grip on the fear. Sometimes even the discussions of everything that can or may happen can bring so much anxiety that I have found myself just having to step out conversations with family. I hope you find the things that will bring you some moments of peace and ease back-that you are able to do what you need to help yourself. There are a lot of us that do understand. I'm in the process of changing homes in the near future and with all this new administration this is even a more unknown situation. I had a chance this last week to change but it would have been a more unstable situation---I almost let my fear of what if make me jump at a change that wouldn't have been good for me. It's hard when you don't know where to turn for help or reassurance. I hope you find the ways that will make it easier for you to breathe and find the peace you seek again. As you can see, you have a lot of people that care about you and are routing for you.
Lost my voice completely. High Temp. Saw my doctor. He says I may have another condition. Tests and X ray tomorrow.
@ghandigirl Prayers going up asking Creator to send AA Raphael to oversee your healing and return to health. Asking Creator to bless all hands that touch you to be healing , life affirming and loving hands. Asking Creator to work through your medical team to get the answers you need. I am sending you reiki to comfort and help as you go forward.
@tgraf66 Thinking about you today and wondering how you are.