Negative thinking is like a self-induced autoimmune disease that can make life miserable
I need to preface this article by saying that I am not equating an autoimmune disease with how we think. What I am saying is that the way we...
Be kind to your pain. It’s crying for your attention
I have lived with chronic pain from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia for over 20 years. Chronic pain does not follow any rules, and after multiple beatings, we can lose...
Another painful reminder how stress increases pain
The other day I had a water leak in one of my closets that needed immediate attention. While I was cleaning it up, I reached my arm a certain...
Understanding and improving our stress response to reduce pain and suffering
Having lived with chronic pain from dystonia for over 20 years, I spent most of that time focused on treating the physical symptoms. This has been very important and...
Perspective on pain and suffering – Is it all in our head? Powerful words from a fellow patient
As many of you know, I have lived with a painful neurological movement disorder called dystonia for the past 22 years. Utilizing different treatments, therapies, extensive self-care and plenty...
How do we move beyond pain and suffering?
We have all at one time or another experienced pain and suffering of some kind. I sure have, living with dystonia for over 20 years, the first 5 of...
How resilient are you? Probably more than you think and give yourself credit
Having lived with chronic pain and involuntary muscle contractions from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia since 2001, I felt defeated many times. But I am still here battling...
The power of our inner dialogue on our health
I believe very strongly in the power of thoughts and words as it relates to my health. I say this because I have lived with a painful chronic neurological...
Thanksgiving quotes we can use every day
Quotes are some of my favorite things. Some of them I read or hear and they go in one ear and out the other. Then there are some that...
We have to stop beating ourselves up when we are in pain
Chronic pain reminds me of a bully that picks on kids in the schoolyard every day. Like the bully, chronic pain does not follow any rules and after multiple...
How getting lost in physical and mental pain helped me find myself
In the summer of 2001, I developed a neurological movement disorder called dystonia. Dystonia is the third most common movement disorder after Parkinson’s and essential tremor. In the very beginning,...
Are you trying to be positive when you’re miserable? Don’t be. Choose honesty instead
I often hear people with pain and other chronic health conditions say something like the following: “I am really struggling right now and I feel that talking about how...
What can we do to find peace when we are struggling?
If you are struggling with anything in life, a question to ask yourself is, “what can I do on a daily basis that puts me in a position to...
