I keep passing my hand over my face as if to close the door to my sadness.

I am not mourning my old life as it is past.

I am only curious about my future, and I know there will be much work to do.

I am unable to do for anyone else now, in order to heal, and that makes me sad.

I am so sad.

I push the tears back and turn my head to watch a clock that sits squarely in front of me.

The seconds keep moving around the numbers and the hands of the clock slowly circle over and over again.

I am so sad I feel I have lost my joy for now.  I will have to pretend and be strong until God finds my heart and works on it again.

I just want to curl up in bed and cry.  Not for me.  Not for anyone else.

I just want to cry and not think.   In bed, I prayed .The flood gates opened.

I awakened and the waters have passed through.

I am no longer sad.  I am a woman in a cocoon anticipating what I will create for my new life, with God’s great help. Where I shall go from here will be a new journey of mountains and valleys.

My life is just beginning again.  I am glad I allowed myself to release the sadness.  I am glad I prayed. I am glad I breathed in new thoughts and good oxygen, and allowed the tears to flow.  I am only human. 

If you need to cry – cry.  Then begin again.    God bless you.

The post This is stress management magic working…..read all of the post! appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

Now is the time, you will read, the theme of this website come to life.

Put in to practice by the author of this website – who now, more than ever must use and apply all the techniques I have shared, and will share with you.  They work and I will be living proof, if you choose to follow my challenges and see my suggestions and posts are not just words…I will  live my words.

From a minor compression fracture in my back, to two major emergencies on my back, from no fault of my own, I am now facing a new life.  A new challenge, and I will move onward and upward – if only in baby steps.

As I sit in the wheelchair in the hospital, I know I will face hills and valleys.

I must be braced for months and every aspect of my life has changed.  I will not be driving or doing the majority of tasks that have made up my life to this point.

I must learn to walk again.  Both my feet are totally numb, and my left foot is rather like a fish flopping out of water.  Useless for the timebeing, but it’s still attached and I will be using visualization, prayers, and exercises that are hopefully going to bring my foot to life again.  Various parts of my body are numb.

I am in the hands of CNA’s, LVN’s and nurses and doctors.  All modesty has been ripped from me as strangers must take care of business that has been mine my entire life.  It is very humbling.

I am allowing myself brief periods of “mourning” my old life disappearing, and cry sometimes for no “apparent” reason at all.  But I am in charge of my mind, and with prayer I plan of creating the best I can with what is available.

My first “personal” exercises are breathing – which is life-saving and a great help in relaxing that in my body, which needs to relax.  I am getting good oxygen to the areas that need healing, and with the exhalations I am visualizing all the fear and negativity fly from my fingertips into oblivion.

So with this brief post I must ring the nurses to help me retire.  Can’t walk so I need help in all areas.  I have been wearing my huge brace all day, so it will be good to have it off and stretch out.

Please think of me when you feel stressed, and all the folks who may be injured or in need of help.  Be grateful for each moment you are able to do anything on your own…even if it’s just washing the car or cooking a meal.

Treasure your moments and I hope and pray they will be healthy and safe.

I want to mention too that I am grateful for all those who work in the hospital n any capacity.  It’s not an easy place to be, and they see and hear things – and perform jobs that you and I probably would think unbelievably difficult, with not nearly enough money or benefits.  Don’t be mad at your help if you are hospitalized….be grateful, because the majority REALLY have to are to be so tender and kind, in doing such difficult tasks.

Sleep well, and wake up and enjoy your day!

The post CHANGED FOREVER IN A BREATH appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

I must finish what I have begun, before my life finishes me. I thought my time here on planet earth, though short in the eyes of many others, was still unlimited.

Ah, but in the blink of an eye, all has changed. My plans, my life, my world has become smaller and to a far larger degree this human body I reside in will become permanently less pliable and some strengths and freedoms will be gone forever. I will be unable to reach those mountains I had hoped to climb. But there will be other challenges ahead, and adventures in learning and growing, and perhaps my enlightenment in the new world I am approaching, will lend steadfast help to others…and there will be other mountains!

There is good news. Hope is alive. I am assured through my knowledge of the truth that though the pain I must suffer is increasing and will be limiting, I will be able to have the opportunity to work to rise above it in spirit and in love. So in the realm of the most important “things” in life – my freedom to gain wisdom and maturity is alive and well.

The circumstances surrounding my physical challenges will bring family and friends together, and those in the circle my life will reiterate what to me, is most important – loving God, thanking Jesus for His sacrifices, and loving one another. When your own mortality stands face to face with you, your test of faith must stand.

I love you all, and the only things I ask of you, are these things:
1. Please say a prayer for me – God’s will be done in my healing.
2. Don’t forget to FORGIVE each other and pray for one another.
3. Love God as you know Him, and if He is still “in question”, your mind and heart, keep seeking answers. He will find you.
4. Have a family hug and try to be kind to each other. Love is the easiest emotion of all. Let’s start an epidemic of love!

I will write later today, or  tomorrow and update you on what is happening to me. Thanks for your patience in this unexpected new challenge in my life. God bless you

The post Need to accomplish unexpected tasks that have totally changed your life? Tasks that can be met, but still your life is changed forever….. appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

IT COULD BE WORSE!

Now take a breath and try to relax a bit.  Thank God for blessings large and small, and pray for others!  CREATE your time here on planet earth.

The post If you are OVERWHELMED and feel you can’t handle the stress…….. appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

YOU CAN’T ALWAYS perform a “home repair” on wounds. But you can do more than you think.

If you have a twist or sprain, “rice” – Rest, ice, compress, and elevate.
If you have a cut – elevate so the blood flow will lessen, use compression to stop the bleeding. Take stitches (not with cotton thread-but nylon thread) – and of course clean thoroughly.

In the 1800’s babies were delivered at home. Many women have births at home these days too.

Just remember COMMON SENSE. If you, or someone you love is in dire straits, CALL 911. Get help.

Don’t run to a clinic or emergency room for a cold or stuffed up nose.
Our emergency rooms are “overbooked” and sometimes you wind up with the flu when you went in for a cold!

Get a good book of home first aid, and remember sometimes there will be no doctor available. Also remember that we have been given survival skills built in….we just have been so dependent on others sometimes we forget.

The miracles of medicine are many – but be selective when using them as hospitals can be breeding grounds for “super bugs”, and even medical people can make mistakes.

Be wise in your choices. Be safe. Be informed. I’ll bet you can find a good website on home first aid right on line!  Have a beautiful and restful weekend,  and don’t forget to breathe!

The post A Quick Post appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

A couple of days ago I got out a paring knife that we had just gotten sharpened. I guess I am so used to dull knives; I just didn’t pay too much attention to what I was doing.

I sliced a very deep cut right on the knuckle of my middle finger.  Just a peek – didn’t
want to show depth of cut.

I immediately applied pressure and elevated my hand to slow the blood flow.
I had blood everywhere!  This was just gently closed with hand elevated.

After the bleeding slowed I washed it (no chance of tetanus as the knife was clean), and I put the hand back up to decide if I should take stitches or just what I was going to do!

I sat quietly for a couple of minutes, applying pressure with hand elevated.  I took several calming breaths to relax me, and to begin the healing process.  The oxygen intake will actually also create internal pain killers!

I have taken my own stitches a couple of times. You have to use nylon thread so the thread doesn’t come apart and get into the open area. You also
need to freeze the area if you don’t want the full pain of the needle going through the skin.

No alcohol (to drink).  That doesn’t really help!

My husband cringed as he hates needles and there was a small part of the skin that only lifted the first layer of skin, the epidermis. So he suggested
super glue.

I first called the company to make sure the super glue was non-toxic. It was.
I decided to glue because of the area right over the bend of my finger.

So I covered that little area of epidermis with glue and bent my finger enough to manually hold the cut together. Then I lathered the area with glue and held it until it dried.  It actually worked beautifully!

There was quite a bit of blood so I just took a small piece of gauze and gently wiped the area. Then I made a homemade butterfly bandage to give it extra strength to hold together, and finally put a good bandage around it, just in case I accidentally banged it on something.

It hurt for a day or so – throbbed.  But it’s been four days now and it is healing quite nicely and no infection at all.  No pain either.  I will keep it wrapped during the day for a week or two, but let it get air to it at night.  I’ve only reinforced it once with the glue.

DON’T DO THIS IF YOU ARE INSECURE ABOUT DOING IT, OR IF YOU GET QUEASY OR THINK IT ABSOLUTELY NEEDS MEDICAL ATTENTION.  But if you are able to be calm and take care of it, you may save unnecessary medical expense by doing it yourself!  And when there is no doctor, it may be urgent.  Always remember to compress the wound and elevate it so the blood flow slows…. particularly if it is a deep wound.

Better yet is to just be careful!

The post You might think this is disgusting, so if you have a weak stomach, don’t look! appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

When most tissues, such as those of the skin, muscles, and internal organs, become injured, they tend to mend by having scar tissue replace the healthy tissue. The scar tissue often compromises the tissue’s appearance or function in some way. In contrast, bone is unique in that it heals with its own tissue—bone—rather than with scar tissue. New bone made by the body to repair a fracture is called callus, and its formation and progress can be seen on x-rays. This unusual capacity for regeneration enables a mending bone to heal itself after a fracture, often so that the fracture eventually becomes virtually undetectable. Even shattered fragments of bone, with proper treatment, can often be restored to their normal function.
Fractures heal in three overlapping phases: inflammation, repair, and remodeling. Healing begins immediately with the inflammatory phase. In this phase, damaged soft tissue, bone fragments, and lost blood caused by the injury are removed by cells of the immune system. The region around the fracture becomes swollen and tender as cell activity and blood flow increase. The inflammatory phase reaches peak activity in a couple of days, but it takes weeks to subside. This process accounts for most of the early pain people experience with fractures.
The repair phase begins within days of the injury and lasts for weeks to months. New repaired bone, called the external callus, is formed during this phase. When first produced, the callus has no calcium. It is soft and rubbery and cannot be seen on an x-ray. This new bone is neither strong nor stable, so that during this period the fractured bone can easily collapse and become displaced (that is, slip out of its proper place). After 3 to 6 weeks, the callus calcifies and becomes much stiffer and stronger and becomes visible on x-rays.
The remodeling phase (in which the bone is built back to its normal state) lasts many months. The bulky external callus is slowly reabsorbed and replaced by stronger bone. During this phase, the normal contours and architecture of the bone are restored. It is not likely that the bone will fracture again during this phase. However, people may experience mild pain when pressure is applied to the bone that is rebuilding.

The post How a Bone Heals appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

Recently though I have learned several HUGE lessons and they will probably cost me dearly in added risk when returning to normality, time, and extra energy to heal…but maybe not – I am full of hope and positive thoughts!

I want to share what I have learned with you, and hopefully you will never have to use the information for yourself (or anyone near you).

IF YOU EVER HAVE AN ACCIDENT OF ANY TYPE AND FEEL THAT YOU MAY HAVE INJURED YOUR BACK OR NECK, STAY STILL UNTIL HELP ARRIVES, AND I MEAN THE PARAMEDICS!

If I had suffered a SLIGHTLY different injury just just moving could have paralyzed me.

I waited twenty minutes until I got up, praying the entire time.  I knew to roll to my side and get up gently with a straight back and neck.  I used my dog by making her stay and putting my hand on her to help, and used my arm muscles and legs instead of bending to rise.

I actually thought I was just badly bruised, so the first forty-eight hours I “iced”. After that initial time, you can alternate ice and heat for periods of twenty minutes or so, but always only ice to begin with when injured.

Homemade ice bag:  Two large freezer bags, 1 cup rubbing alcohol and two cups water.  Freeze and you will have a very nice soft ice bag that will form to the area you are icing.  You can refreeze it.  Just be sure you double bag and firmly close.

Homemade heating bag:  It can be any shape but I find a long noodle about one and one half feet long is best for the neck and low back.  Cotton is good, but you can use any material.  Sew all sides except leave an opening to put a mix of rice and flaxseeds…then close.  Put in microwave for a minute, and then for fifteen to twenty seconds at a time to heat.  Be careful it gets hot quickly.  It can be used many times.

Here is another caveat.  Though I always get copies of my reports and if I ever have an x-ray or anything like that, I also get copies.  Where I failed myself was putting two and two together.  A broken bone usually warrants a brace of some kind.  My report said, “Show to doctor right away.  Acute.”

Duh! I came home and my husband was surprised no brace.  He was also surprised I had to wait two weeks to see a neurosurgeon. This guy was on vacation.  I should have made some demands.  This is the only body I have to live in!

I did what I knew to be correct.  I slept with my legs elevated at my knees to take pressure off of low back.  When I turned I put a pillow between my legs.  I put on ice and heat regularly and tried to be easy on my back.  I took an anti-inflammatory and initially some pretty stiff pain pills. (I don’t like taking pills so I limited myself to one a day IF NECESSARY…) Don’t try to use alcohol.  It doesn’t work!

Again, when I finally saw the next doctor he looked at x-ray and MRI results and told me he would set me up with an interventional radiologist MD.  If

That wasn’t “satisfactory” he would see me again.

Once again the MD was on vacation and I had to wait two weeks.  To take this from a book to a post, I will just shorten up what happened.

During the month I had no brace my injury went from a fifteen to twenty percent compression fracture – to a forty to fifty percent one.  Now my injury is much more serious.  He told me upon looking at my MRI – I want you in a brace today, get a CT scan today and I will see you at 8:00AM tomorrow morning.  Stunned, to say the least, I did what he prescribed.

Now I am awaiting an appointment with another neurosurgeon because he told me there is a possibility that more than a vertebroplasty or kyphoplasty, I will need to have a surgeon standing by in case they have to do an open surgery on my back!  Sweet stuff!

The doctor said I have a piece of fragmented bone that is being held by muscle and ligament, and that if it moves into the spine there could be BIG trouble.  Now I am hearing words like laminectomy.  I haven’t heard fusion yet and that’s good because I think I’d turn around and run away!

My best friends mom died last year from a heart problem combining with four or five surgeries that left her worse after suffering a compression fracture of the lower lumbar.  She was four years younger than I am and she wasn’t ill.  First a stroke and then the heart problem and then……

Of course I am a tad wiser now. I have been wearing my new “skeleton brace” – that doesn’t mean it’s small – it’s just supporting my skeleton where I need it.  Actually hurts less a bit.

One thing I know for sure, and that is IF this guy or gal says the worst.

Scenario (open back surgery) – I am going to get a second, and perhaps third opinion.  I only have one place to live, and that is my body!

Lastly for this post, know that I am happy and handling this with very little stress.  I live what I teach.  I am breathing specifically.  I am doing everything I can to accommodate and accelerate healing.  I have the choice to be happy and use this time wisely – because it is what it is – and I am doing just that!

It’s all an education in meeting and rising above challenges.  I hope you have a wonderful day because I am going to do so.  (Oh, I never want to forget, I do pray throughout the day.  I just love God and trust Him to guide and help heal me.)

Okay, I am adding an addendum.  I decided it’s been the weekend and three days and I haven’t heard from the next doctor,  I just called mine and asked if he’d spoken with him.  The receptionist said yes.   I asked for his number and have left two (nice messages) on the answering machine in hopes it will prod him to set me up for an appointment right away.

Keep your chins up and stay on top of these professionals.  Not all of them care – though many do!  Don’t forget to use your oxygen  to help keep the shoulders loose, and to help with the pain.

The post Back or Neck Injury? Even if not – please read to be aware. Knowledge is power. appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

NOROVIRUS is EXTREMELY CONTAGIOUS and has no cure except TIME!  This is a new strain, unseen before.

The best way to avoid the norovirus is to wash your hands often using soap and water. Alcohol-based hand cleansers are not effective against this virus.

Noroviruses are the leading cause of foodborne disease outbreaks worldwide, and may soon eclipse rotaviruses as the most common cause of severe pediatric …

Norovirus is a highly contagious viral illness that thrives in colder weather. Sometimes called the stomach flu, it begins suddenly and usually causes stomach cramps and nausea in addition to vomiting and diarrhea. Some people may also experience low-grade fever, chills, headache, body aches and fatigue.

The vomiting can be projectile, and the diarrhea severe, so please remember the virus stays alive for a long period of time – even after normal cleaning.

It can be on an elevator button, a railing on an elevator, salt and pepper shakers in a restaurant…even on dishes that have been watched by a thorough “normal cleaning”.

Most people recover quickly, but serious complications can occur, including death.

Small children and the elderly are highest at risk groups. Spread the word. Make sure nursery schools and school officials are aware of these facts.

Those infected with norovirus are contagious from the moment they begin to feel sick until as long as two weeks after recovery.

There is no vaccine to prevent norovirus infection, and there is no drug to treat it; antibiotics are ineffective.

THESE ARE THE best ways to reduce the risk of getting norovirus:

Practice good hand hygiene. Wash your hands with soap and water, especially after using the bathroom and changing diapers. Teach your children – and monitor them – to wash with soap and water for a full thirty seconds (the length of many short children’s songs). Tell them to wash heartily until they finish singing the song!

Clean and disinfect contaminated surfaces. After throwing up or having diarrhea, immediately clean surfaces by using bleach-based household cleaner as directed on the product label or a diluted bleach solution (5-25 tablespoons of household bleach per gallon of water). Never use undiluted bleach, but remember bleach is dangerous for children so use good judgement.

Remove and wash clothing and linens that may be contaminated with vomit or stool. Handle soiled items carefully to avoid spreading the virus. If available, wear rubber, disposable gloves while handling soiled clothing or linens and wash your hands after handling. Items should be washed with detergent at the maximum cycle length and machine dried.

Do not prepare food while infected or while you have symptoms of norovirus.

Anyone with knowledge of an outbreak should report it to their local health department.

Noroviruses are the most common cause of gastroenteritis in the U.S. It is estimated that each year, more than 20 million cases of gastroenteritis are caused by norovirus, but this years virus is a new strain. That means that 1 in every 15 Americans will become ill from norovirus each year.

Noroviruses can spread quickly from person to person in crowded, closed places such as long-term care facilities, day care centers, schools, hotels, hospitals, family dinners, student housing, restaurants and cruise ships.

Noroviruses are found in the stool and vomit of infected people.

People can become infected by:

Eating food or drinking liquids that are contaminated with norovirus.

Touching surfaces or objects that are contaminated with norovirus, and then placing a hand in the mouth.

Having direct contact with an infected person; for example, by exposure to the virus when caring for or when sharing food, drinks, or eating utensils with an infected person. This makes teenagers at high risk too because of growing attraction to the opposite sex, groups gathering for football games, parties, etc. BE CAREFUL!

Though most people recover – there have been about eight hundred deaths a year…prior to this new strain. Pay attention and be well! Share this information.

The post IMPORTANT – CONTAGIOUS – VIRUS – NEW STRAIN appeared first on Stress Management Magic.

Sometimes I think a post is worth re-posting!
This is one of those posts. If you don’t want to spend thousands of dollars on doctors, therapists, health consultants, and other “healing” techniques – you need to begin your own program with this relaxation.

More important than beginning – you need to COMMIT TO PRACTICE AT LEAST 10 minutes every day!

Are you sick of feeling the way you do – then take this step and CHANGE! I could charge you my fee as a consultant, but I would rather present you with help for the sake of LOVE! Come on. Do it for you and for your family.

It works! (BTY – just because I am not charging a huge fee doesn’t mean I haven’t or couldn’t)…I just believe we have a right to be happy and have our stress under our own control; and I believe there should be gifts of love shared between us to keep us strong and healthy! So there! ☺

If you want to pay a donation I will charge you if you would feel better! I can use the money. Let me know and I’ll put a pay pal connection up! ☺

Progressive Muscle Relaxation for Stress Management

Progressive muscle is a very effective and widely used strategy for stress relief. The wonderful thing about this particular management technique is that it is really not difficult at all.

It involves systematically tensing and then relaxing different muscle groups in the body. The preferred method for this relaxation is to be in an area where you can be laying down, preferably in a darkened area, and undisturbed for at least fifteen-twenty minutes.

With regular practice (as with any relaxation technique) it becomes easier to achieve the desired results. Progressive muscle relaxation will give you an intimate familiarity with what tension really is, as well as what it feels like to completely relax your muscles.

This awareness helps you spot and counteract the first signs of the muscular tension that accompanies stress. As your body relaxes, so will your mind. You should always combine deep breathing with progressive muscle relaxation for an additional level of relief from stress, and to aid the muscles to relax further.
The most wonderful thing this relaxation teaches you is this: You will become cognizant of the “feeling” when muscles begin to tense from stress. You will find yourself feeling the change and be able to reverse the effects of stress taking a toll on you by breathing into the muscles consciously.

Most everyone has a tendency to restrict their breathing when they are frightened, anxious, or feeling overwhelmed. It is not “natural” to restrict one’s breathing at such times, but for most of us it is a default habit nonetheless. Mindful breathing with this relaxation will reawaken you to the process of breathing, and help you to reverse degenerative breathing habits.

You can relieve neck tension and tight shoulders through this awareness, and the beautiful thing is you can do “mini-progressive relaxations anywhere and any time you choose!

Progressive muscle relaxation begins at the feet and works up to the face. It is preferable to have a practitioner if you are a novice.
HOWEVER, you can learn to do this simple relaxation on your own, if you are motivated to change your life, and willing to be patient in reaping the rewards as you practice.

Concentrate on these areas for the relaxation:
Right foot
Left foot
Right calf
Left calf
Right thigh
Left thigh
Hips and buttocks
Stomach
Chest
Back
Right arm and hand
Left arm and hand
Neck and shoulders
Face

Loosen your clothing, take off your shoes, and get comfortable.

Take a few minutes to relax, breathing in and out in slow, deep breaths. This will begin to provide your muscles with abundant oxygen. When we get “stressed out” our breathing becomes shallow.

When you are relaxed and ready to start, shift your attention to your right foot. Focus on the way it feels.

Slowly tense the muscles in your right foot, squeezing at tightly as you can. Hold for a count of 10.

Relax your right foot. Focus on the tension flowing away and the way your foot feels as it becomes limp and loose.

Stay in this relaxed state for a moment, breathing deeply and slowly. Visualize the oxygen permeating your body. When you exhale visualize the carbon dioxide carrying tension outside your body and vaporizing into infinity, leaving no trace in your “expression” of life.

When you are ready, shift your attention to your left foot. Follow the same sequence of muscle tension and release.

Move slowly up through your body – legs, abdomen, back, neck, face – contracting and relaxing the muscle groups.

To close the relaxation, tighten muscles progressively from the feet to the face and hold the entire body taut for a few seconds. Release and command the muscles to relax, and actually feel them relax. Wait a few minutes, stretch and return to the outer world you live in – more relaxed and feeling better. Smile.

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