Thanksgiving quotes we can apply to our lives 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...

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They Don’t Know What They Don’t Know: Learning to Manage Judgement and Criticism from Others When Living with a Chronic and Debilitating Condition

In my last blog, I talked about the difficulty being understood by others when living with a chronic health condition and the challenges that come with it. You can...

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My review of two new lotions for joint pain and exercise recovery

As many of you know, I have lived with chronic pain from a neurological movement disorder called dystonia since 2001. In my books, blogs, and articles, I talk about many tools for pain I...

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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...

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Managing an overly stimulating environment to protect our health

The other day I read a post in a dystonia support group that is similar to something I see and hear very often. I’m sure you have as well,...

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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...

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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...

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Nature versus nurture when it comes to chronic pain and illness

If you live with a health condition, as I do with a chronic movement disorder called dystonia which is accompanied by pain, I have to be very careful how...

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How to choose better for ourselves when we are suffering

If you have dystonia and chronic pain like I do, or one of many other thousands of health conditions, or just dealing with some tough life situations, you are...

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Try as we may, we can’t hide from our pain forever

Human beings are wired to run away from things that are painful and difficult. I sure as heck did the first 5 years of my dystonia diagnosis. It often...

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Slow down to manage your pain

How many of you find yourself rushing around and it’s causing you stress and pain? And if you already have pain, does it add to your pain? Are you...

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Embrace the suck of life

Most of us are familiar with the Latin term, carpe diem, which means “seize the day.” This phrase became especially popular in the movie Dead Poets Society with the...

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Are you turning your gizmo into a gremlin? Understanding and managing anxiety

When I think of anxiety, I think of the movie, Gremlins (1984). For those of you who have seen this movie, you know that feeding a gremlin after midnight...

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NEW BOOK RELEASE — Beyond Pain and Suffering: Adapting to Adversity and Life Challenges

In 2015, I published my first book, Diagnosis Dystonia: Navigating the Journey. It is a combination autobiography, self-help, education book that provides treatment options, coping strategies, skills for daily...

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My typical day managing my dystonia and chronic pain

I have lived with dystonia and chronic pain for 21 years. The first 5 of those years were the worst of my life. The pain from the involuntary muscle...

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