Pain, Pain Go Away...Please Don't Come Back Another Day!

You may have read my blog post on invisible illnesses, that talked about my neurological condition, CRPS (Complex Regional Pain Syndrome) or RSD (Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) as it was previously known. If not, you can click here. 

November is awareness month for the condition and so I wanted to make a post to commemorate that. 

CRPS/RSD is a chronic pain condition that generally affects a limb, but can be present anywhere in the body. The brain receives false pain signals and the body reacts as if it's under attack. It is rated higher on the the McGill Pain Index than childbirth. 

The most common symptoms are:

• Pain
• Swelling
• Changes in skin color or temperature 
• Sensitivity to touch/sensations

The pain can spread to another part of the body and is flared by stress. 

There is no cure, but there are many forms of treatments. 

I'm very into holistic healing and here are some things that help me...

• If you can calm the mind, and relax your body...you may be able to ease some of your pain. I like to meditate in the morning and before bed. Biofeedback is also quite helpful. 

• Regularly doing stretches, to ensure movement. Restricting blood flow only makes it worse. 

• Alternative medicine techniques such as Cranio Sacral, Reiki, and EFT. 

EFT is one of my favorite things to teach people how to do, since it is something    you can learn to do for yourself. 

EFT stands for Emotional Freedom Technique and is commonly referred to as Tapping. By tapping on meridian points, it has been said to help with pain, anxiety, negative thoughts, etc. I like to describe it as a mix of acupressure, self hypnosis, and energy medicine all wrapped into one. 

• I'm a big advocate for essential oils. Some great ones for inflammation and pain are; lavender, eucalyptus, frankincense, and peppermint. 

• If you can handle the sensation, a TENS unit can really help with the pain. 

• Diet plays a major part in our health and well-being. There are certain foods that inflame my body. I recommend staying away from...sugar, caffeine, processed foods, aspartame, and dairy products. Moderation is key! And everyone's body is different...so it may be trial and error for you.  

• I take a lot of natural supplements and I currently am working with a doctor who is the brain child behind Preleve. Preleve is an anti inflammatory supplement that combines six ingredients to help combat inflammation and pain. It contains Turmeric, Chinese Skullcap, Boswellia, Indian Frankincense, Ginger, and Undenatured Collagen Type 2.  

If you're interested in trying this supplement, send me an email (TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com) and I'll tell you more.  

This blog post, I have a random question...What is your favorite candle scent?

As always, if you have any questions, leave a comment below or feel free to email me at TheZenFashionista@Gmail.Com 

To subscribe to my blog, you can click the subscribe tab at the top of this page, comment, or give it to me personally. I really appreciate it!

Until next time,

XOXOTheZenFashionista

Thanksgiving Gratitude

With Thanksgiving being this week, I thought I would write a post on gratitude. 

During the holiday season, we usually feel closer to others. We celebrate the holidays by sharing a meal with family, we pick out presents for our friends, and we give back to our communities through donations and volunteering. 

My challenge to you before the end of 2015 is to enhance you attitude of gratitude. Let's not just be thankful on Thanksgiving and during the holidays, but each and every day. 

Gratitude is a two way street. Have you ever noticed that when you pay someone a compliment or do something nice for another person, that you feel good afterwards as well? 

Studies show that practicing gratitude daily makes us happier. It makes us more optimistic and improves our self esteem and well-being. Being grateful positively impacts the people around you and has the power to improve your own life. 

I'm planning on writing handwritten letters expressing my gratitude for the important people in my life and including the letter in their holiday cards I send out each year. 

Here are some interesting and thought provoking ways that you can show gratitude:

Smile at a stranger in passing. 

Speak kindly to yourself - Look in the mirror and give a compliment. 

Pay for the person's coffee who is in line behind you. 

Begin a gratitude journal- Each night, before you go to sleep, write down five things you are grateful for. 

Make eye contact- When interacting with someone, if you make eye contact, you'll show that you are present and paying attention. 

Volunteer your time- at a soup kitchen, nursing home, a veteran's hospital, library, etc.

Start your day happy- When you wake up, find something positive in your life that you are thankful for.

Embrace your mistakes- We are not perfect. Instead of criticizing, allow yourself to move on and grow from the experience. Ask yourself what wisdom you attained or the lesson you learned. 

Spend quality time with friends and family- Put down the electronics and be present to what's going on around you. 

Help the elderly- Offer to carry their groceries, shovel their driveway, invite them to join you for dinner, pump their gas, etc.

Give compliments to people you hardly know- such as your waiter or someone in the checkout line. And of course, compliment those you know too!

Give a belonging away- Have you ever been complimented on something you were wearing or had an item in your possession that someone admired? A piece of jewelry, a scarf, a writing utensil, etc? Next time that happens, consider giving the item away. It will make their day. Being selfless can enhance your well-being. 

Spend less time speaking negatively and gossiping. Instead, focus on sharing something positive. 

Make a donation- Help those in need or give to those who have made immense personal sacrifices to preserve our freedom. Some examples are: Toys For Tots, Salvation Army, Wounded Warrior Project, The Friendship Circle, a local food bank...The list is endless.

When you become stressed during your holiday dinner or when you're part of the chaos on Black Friday, remember this....Make the best of a "bad" situation. Make the conscious choice to live in gratitude! 

What are you thankful for today? Have you performed a random act of kindness yet this week?

Have a lovely holiday weekend!

XoxoTheZenFashionista