Accepting change is necessary for coping with chronic pain
In 2001, I developed chronic pain from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia. My life before and after dystonia are as different as night and day. I went from...
The value of a support group
I know many people who would love to go to a local support group, but there either isn’t one in your area or you are not well enough to...
Overcoming fear for a better life
Fear is probably the single most damaging, debilitating, detrimental energy we have. It interferes with our well-being in every area of our life. We cannot thrive when we are...
Overcoming victim mentality
When the pain and muscles contractions from dystonia were at their worst for me (see below), it significantly limited what I could do. For years I characterized dystonia as...
Tips for better sleep
Ahhh… sleep!! It feels so good when we get it. Unfortunately, quality sleep is something that eludes many of us. It seems that more and more of us sleep...
Self-empowerment tips for healthy living
When we are faced with a limiting health issue where performing “simple” everyday activities becomes a challenge, our self-confidence and self-worth can dwindle. This can happen with any health...
After the diagnosis/Self harming thoughts
After being diagnosed with dystonia and learning it is not a temporary problem (or if you have lived with it for years and are feeling fed up), experiencing fear,...
The power of positive thoughts on our health
Most people have probably heard the saying, “change your thoughts, change your life.” There is great truth to this because how we think can significantly impact our mental and...
How do we find ourselves? Get lost!
In the summer of 2001, I developed a neurological movement disorder called Cervical Dystonia (CD). In the very beginning, I saw chiropractors, medical doctors, massage therapists, physical therapists, psychologists,...
The Dystonia Diagnosis and Prognosis
“You have dystonia” are three words that can be very confusing and frightening. Receiving the news that you have any chronic condition can bring out a lot of emotions....
Asking for help when living with dystonia
I have lived with dystonia for over 15 years. For more than half of those years, I had a hard time asking for help. My ego stood in the...
