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...
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...
Understanding and coping with anxiety
I think most of us would agree that anxiety is quite common among the dystonia population. It is not a feature or symptom of dystonia, but given the major...
Our mind: As powerful as any drug
Did you know that we have chemicals in the brain as powerful as drugs for pain, depression, anxiety, and other conditions? Among them are neurotransmitters called endorphins, serotonin, oxytocin,...
From severe chronic pain and morbid obesity to a joyful bike rider!
When you look at the picture below, you see a regular guy riding a bicycle; and that would be correct. I am pretty much just a regular guy doing...
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...
Never give up!
I recently found this obese picture of me from 10 years ago with my nephew. I then recreated it last week to see a comparison. My nephew grew and...
You can’t fix dystonia with a cast
This title is a relatively poor attempt at a creative way to illustrate how so many people confuse dystonia with temporary ailments like the flu, other short-term health issues,...
Preparing for doctor visits
It is so important to be prepared for doctor visits. This can’t be stressed enough. Dystonia is a complex disorder and our symptoms are very specific to us, making...
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,...What does dystonia feel like?
Unless you live with dystonia, it is very hard to understand how it physically feels, let alone the mental and emotional challenges that come with it. For some people,...
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....
Be your best health advocate
Living well with dystonia and other chronic conditions requires that we be disciplined in taking good care of ourselves. Some people rely solely on their doctors for care. Unfortunately,...
