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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Chronic Pain Doesn’t Need to Take Over Your Life

Many Americans suffer from chronic pain. A study by doctors from Massachusetts reveals that 50.2 million adults experience it on a daily basis. Their pain often appears in the back, hips,...

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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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Self-nurturing for better health: My recovery from a recent breakdown

As many of you know reading this, I have lived with a chronic neurological movement disorder called dystonia, as well as chronic pain, for over 20 years. I use...

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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...

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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...

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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,...

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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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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...

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Isolating ourselves to feel less alone

This may sound like a strange title so let me explain. I live with a health condition called dystonia, which is a neurological movement disorder. It is the third...

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How life before and after chronic pain from dystonia changed my entire world

For most of my 21 years with chronic pain and other symptoms from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, I viewed it as a curse; an evil intruder that ruined...

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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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Turning suffering upside down

Having lived for over 20 years with chronic pain and persistent involuntary muscle contractions from dystonia, a neurological movement disorder, I have experienced a lot of suffering. If you...

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Trying to put pain into perspective

This year marks the 21st anniversary when devastating chronic pain from dystonia took over my life. Within months after my first symptoms, I went from a very active, social,...

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Tips for becoming more self-empowered when living with a chronic health condition

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...

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