The most important thing to remember

about achieving any goal,

health or otherwise, is that

you can make progress or excuses.  

Choose progress and enjoy success! 

Self-help. 

I won't spend time defining the obvious when there are so many self-help healing modalities that I have explored and wish to share with you in hope that they benefit you in your journey to get yourself back 2 good. 

Due to my preference and success with natural pain management, I do NOT take any of my pain Rx's daily unless my natural methods fail to keep my pain from escalating.

Then I will take them prn (as needed) until pain reduces.  Severe flare ups last an average of 2 weeks but can go longer.

I always start with conservative measures first, they are: prayer, rest, music meditation with Niall's "Earth Angels" or "Total Serenity" CD's.

Epsom salt soaks, ice packs, and/or heating pads, Ultra Strength Tiger Balm, my TENS unit, at home physical therapy exercises and Lidoderm patches.

Acupuncture/acupressure and massage therapy help immensely when applied by a competent licensed practitioner.

When these fail me, then I will resort to my anti-inflammatory and pain pill. 

If those fail me, then I go get a 60mg Toradol injection.  It is the closest thing a dr. has to a non-narcotic magic wand!

It is as important for you to realize before you begin your healing journey, or if you've already begun, to help motivate you further; the fact that you will actually be hindered by others, but only if you let them.  

So don't.  Never give anyone your power or allow them such power over you. 

Think about it, many people form opinions without doing or reading any fact based research.  I call them drama queens and drama kings.  Drama queens and kings then spread their ignorance to others. 

If and when you decide to implement self-help strategies to get yourself back 2 good, you need to make sure that you do not let these close minded clods, interfere with your healing.

"Close your mouth and open your mind." is a good way to stop them in their tracks if and when you are made to feel defensive when you start talking about something that they've never heard of and/or for which they have no true understanding. 

Trust me, mention your 3rd eye experience to someone who doesn't understand and/or believe in chakras and they will look at you like you have three crown chakras!  (Only people who believe in them will find that funny; I am okay with that!)

Bottom line?  NO ONE has to like, understand or approve of your choices but you and God, because it is only through Him that true healing can be attained. 

Look at it like this, you wouldn't allow toxic fumes to consume you because you know that they will harm you; ditto toxic people.  Don't allow them to infect you with their unhealthy mindset.

I am blessed to be thick skinned so someone can look at me like I have three heads, state their negative, uninformed opinion, even tell me that I am dumb and/or nuts, or call me worse, and you know what? 

I could care less about put downs and derisive comments about alternative and self-help healing modalities because I have enjoyed so much success from the majority of my self-help efforts that I know to focus only on what matters:

My indisputably positive results from my healthier choices.

If you are not thick skinned, like any other trait, it can be learned.  Instead of spinning over and over and expdending precious energy and health on the close minded of the world, simply take a deep breath, pray for God to open their minds to learning and being supportive and then forget about them and celebrate your successes with like minded individuals in your life. 

And if you have none, its time to clean house and surround yourself with healthier people; and even, to be alone if need be. 

After all, the only thing worse than being alone and feeling lonely, is being surrounded by the wrong people and feeling lonely. 

If you don't have the luxury of getting out to making new friends due to your disability and chronic pain, it's okay.  I am working on my other much needed site idea:  "Able2Love.org" that is specifically designed for disabled people to meet online to find friendship and love because a lack of physical health and/or ability to enjoy an active life doesn't preclude a person from needing healthy, loving relationships and/or from being able to love. 

Think about it, most able bodied people meet friends and spouses at work, church, sports activities, bars/clubs, parties, and at other social events. 

But when a disabling injury and chronic pain limit your ability to do most and often, all of these things, how does a physically challenged person make friends or meet a potential spouse?  Hence the immense need for Able2Love.

Able2Love will be a much needed source of love, friendship and support and will be free to all who use it since when a person becomes disabled, typically so do ther finances.  Sponsors needed; if interested, please email me.

The Power of Prayer

An undeniable healing modality for me and many. 

I hope that even if you feel like you don't know how to pray, as I did, you will make the effort to just talk to God and work on learning how by signing up for the awesome ministers daily devotionals and newsletters, in addition to watching them on TV (see God page for their data) because they all can and will teach you how to pray to find peace and healing. 

I never understand people who won't try it because, you have nothing to lose and everything to gain!

Merriam-Webster Online Dictionary defines healing as:

heal

verb \ˈhēl\