Category: Social Support

  • Everyone’s cancer journey is different

    Karen Bell, a retired software engineer living in Petaluma, CA has a conversation with Leslie Krongold, Host of the Glass Half Full Podcast, about her cancer journey. Two years since Karen’s cancer diagnosis and experience with cancer treatments and support groups, she knows “everyone’s cancer journey is different.” Together they share their thoughts about facing mortality.

    Karen Bell talks about how each person’s cancer journey is different.

    Earlier podcast episodes discussed in their conversation are End of life and The Power of Prayer.

  • All the Things I am Grateful for…

    Apparently last year, and the year before, I didn’t blog or do a podcast episode relevant to Thanksgiving. I want to make up for that…because…I am grateful for a lot! I often express gratitude in response to something difficult I’m experiencing.

    Moving to Mendocino in August of 2021 was a huge transition. So much intense preparation with sorting and packing through 20 years of stuff. Saying goodbye to friends, familiar locations, a healthcare infrastructure, and more.

    https://www.mendocinolandtrust.org/beaches-and-bucket-lists/

    There were many obstacles to hurdle. I had a series of falls which led me to become a user of walkers, wheelchairs, and scooters. Emotional upheavals in my personal life. But with all of these I would try my best to tap into the good things…the here & now where I was safe in my new home, surrounded with love from my partner and cat family, and living in a natural paradise of Redwood Forests and Pacific ocean cliffs.

    It is hard, though, to problem-solve a physical and/or emotional challenge and stay in that place of gratitude. Are there really people who have mastered this? Or, have they not been faced with some pretty hefty challenges? I think one of the key skills I’ve learned over my life is to not feel like a victim. Everyone’s got their stuff to work through. Having a sense of humor helps. As does being aware of others and their painful struggles. Developing a sense of empathy. Being a witness to others pain.

    But does this have anything to do with gratitude? In my rambling mind it does. My mind right now is a little different. My mind or brain fog? Big news — after 2.5+ years of being cautious and well-vaccinated and boosted, I tested positive for COVID last weekend. It was surreal.

    Over the last few months we’ve gradually become more carefree by eating in restaurants. We’ve entertained but have made a rapid-testing protocol for visitors to our home. After the third booster I felt like it was okay to unmask at an event with good cross ventilation. I was having fun. I did have fun with all of those Zoom parties back in 2020…but…I missed being with people. So I’ve been rejoicing lately; feeling grateful for new friends here in my new home.

    1960s Dance Party

    On Saturday I received an email from a member of our local Jewish community that several people at a dinner party I had attended, tested positive for COVID. There were close to 100 of us at a restaurant for a closed party; everyone had pre-tested. But, something apparently went wrong. It’s bigger than just our community; the schools on the Coast closed due to the outbreak.

    So here I am with….ssshhhh…COVID. I feel like a pariah walking around the house masked but grateful that my partner tested negative. I’m grateful for the vaccines and boosters because this situation could have been so much worse off for me. Do you remember how many people died? I’m a little miserable yet grateful too. How do I juggle this paradox?

    The doctor quickly prescribed Paxlovid which is free. To my surprise, the 3 pills 2x/day are big and the directions with the medicine and on the Pfizer website stress, “do not chew, break, or crush.” Hello!? What about those of us with dysphagia? Do you know how many people — doctors, friends, strangers — thought they were suggesting a novel concept of “applesauce?” Crushing pills in applesauce helps but my throat muscles aren’t fools; they know a big hunk of hardness from mush.

    And so, I guess I’m grateful to still have a little spunk in me to consider this a new crusade for me and Big Pharma. I posted in a dysphagia support group on Facebook and one woman, who has a feeding tube, shared her story of calling Pfizer; they have no intention of creating a liquid form of the drug. I am grateful to align with others to shed light on this health inequity. Oy!

    I guess this was a bit of a Thanksgiving Rant. Here are a number of things I am TRULY grateful for:

    • My life partner, Jessica, who tries her damnedest to take care of me with wonderful food, nightly foot massages, and a kindness and generosity that is unparalleled.
    • My 87-year old father who has mellowed over time and actually texted me after the Colorado Club Q hate crime warning me to not go to gay clubs because they’re not safe. Ahh, my clubbing days are long over but thanks for thinking I even had that inclination.
    • All of our cats for doing all the cute and annoying things you do. Especially Chiquita who lives to be rubbed only by me.
    • All of the wonderful friends I am making in Mendocino, Fort Bragg, and Ukiah who have helped me feel part of a community. Especially the Jewish community, even though I got COVID. The seed was planted 30 years ago when I made a documentary which brought me up here for the first time. Was it fate? I am just so grateful to be here.
    • My book club friends. I’m in four book clubs but the one I started back in 2009 is the anchor. Although we can no longer meet in person and have amazing potluck meals, I still look forward to our monthly discussions.
    • All of my friends who made their way to Mendocino this past March to help me celebrate my 60th birthday. Thank you so much…I have wonderful memories, and photos to remind me if my memory changes.
    • BORP and the individual online movement instructors who have and continue to have a healthy impact on my mind and body. Especially thanks to those of you who support my annual May Movement Challenge.
    • My fellow myotonic dystrophy friends — those with DM1, DM2, and caregivers — we continue to learn from each other. A special shout out to the DM1 adults who participate in my monthly 50 years and older group. I cherish that we are growing closer with each meeting.
    • The colder climate of this North Coast area. Not only are you beautiful but you’re CHILL!
  • Are you ready for the May Movement Challenge?

    Maybe you were part of last year’s inaugural May Movement Challenge? Here’s a video showing the highlights from a month-long array of free, accessible online movement classes.

    This year we have several of the same movement instructors as well as new instructors — all offering their time and talents to help you get excited about a movement practice. Check out this webpage for class schedules and registration information.

    New this year are Nature Sundays. In the Movement Challenge Facebook Group you’ll be introduced to movement practice out in nature, such as Forest Therapy. If you’re on Facebook, just join the group for further details.

  • “Don’t worry, be happy! It could be worse. It is what it is.” by Toxic Positivity

    “Don’t worry, be happy! It could be worse. It is what it is.” by Toxic Positivity

    I remember years ago when I had a Toyota there was a dealership I’d go to regularly for oil changes and other car repair. You know how you drive into a big open space, like a warehouse? Well, there was a huge banner hanging inside that said SMILE. And maybe it had a smiley face. It kind of pissed me off; like it was a command – come here and spend more money than you need to and dammit, you better have a big fat smile on your face as you wait an inordinate amount of time to be waited on by surly people.

    And maybe Bobby McFerrin’s song was popular around that time or isn’t that song always in vogue – DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY! I’ve liked the song; hey, it got everyone to know who Bobby McFerrin is but people in San Francisco knew of him and his leadership in a 24-hour acapella song event at Grace Cathedral on New Year’s Eve. That was something to be happy about.

    But I digress. No one wants to be forced to smile or be happy.

    A month or so ago I was on a Zoom chat with one of my new Mendocino friends. We’ve bonded over having chronic health conditions. Hopefully you’ll meet her soon. I can’t recall the context, but she used the term toxic positivity. I’d never heard that term before. But I remember it perfectly described what we were talking about.

    And then I started seeing the term in other places. You know how that is, something is unearthed and then all of a sudden, it’s everywhere!

    So, skip forward to a week or so ago. I was telling someone about a virtual support group I had facilitated. We were sharing coping tools for the holidays which can often be so bittersweet. Especially when you have a chronic health condition and you’re around friends and/or family that just don’t get your condition and challenges.

    It was a good meeting. Several of the people in this group have never attended a support group meeting…and are a little shy about sharing. But it was going well until this one gentleman started saying something like how he didn’t understand why people weren’t happy or joyful. He went on to share how his family and friends help him and he’s just jolly jolly jolly. He, I seem to recall, said something to the effect of DON’T BE NEGATIVE, I don’t like all of this negativity.

    In my 23+ years of facilitating support groups I have vast experience of dealing with negative people bringing a vibe down but rarely had I experienced this kind of behavior.

    It wasn’t a downer meeting…just people honestly sharing what seems to be a difficult time for many people. Like, you don’t have to have a debilitating progressive neuromuscular disease to understand how the holidays are bittersweet for many.

    So, as I said, I was sharing this experience with someone in the patient support community, and he said, “you know I think this is an example of toxic positivity.”

    According to the Mental Health Association in Delaware:

    With toxic positivity, people’s negative emotions and experiences are downplayed and disregarded. Instead, only positive feelings and experiences are encouraged.

    Apparently, this has become more of an issue during the pandemic.

    The website goes on to say:

    Toxic positivity statements can be directed towards others, stated by others, and aimed towards oneself. Some signs of toxic positivity statements may be dismissing emotions, minimizing someone’s experience, giving one’s perspective instead of validating someone’s emotions, shaming someone for expressing frustration, and brushing things off. Some examples include:

    • “Just get on with it.”
    • “It could be worse.”
    • “It is what it is.”
    • “Don’t worry, be happy!”
    • “Positive vibes only!”

    Did you hear that one Mr. Bobby McFerrin?

    Okay, I am guilty of using the statement “It is what it is.” But in defense, I’ve used this for minor setbacks like when our cat Abner knocked over our tree and some precious ornaments broke. I was mad for a little bit but my partner was sad and cried. I said It is what it is.

    A more compassionate response, as I’ve learned, would have been:

    • “I see you, and I’m here for you.”
    • “Describe what you’re feeling, I’m listening.”
    • “This is really hard, I’m thinking of you.”
    • “Failure is a part of growth and success.”
    • “I see that you’re stressed, is there anything I can do?”

    But what about the support group? How do I handle the perpetrator of the toxic positivity when it’s not me?

    I think I mentioned to Mr. Positive in Your Face how I’m a big proponent of positivity – after all, I have a podcast called Glass Half Full – but it’s also very common to have a difficult time with the holidays. I cut him off too…because…wouldn’t you know, Mr. Positive attempted to dominate the conversation. I wonder if he listens to my podcast. Hmmm.

    In addition to the website for the Mental Health Association in Delaware another high ranked Google search result was a podcast on KQED. The episode focuses on teachers who have had a particularly rough time during the pandemic – having to change curriculum for remote learning, having a hybrid setup with in-person teaching on one day and remote the next day as well as having real fears of dying and/or separation from their child if exposed.

    In some communities’ teachers were force-fed positive phrases and instructed to do breathing exercises. One woman talks about being shown a TED talk with psychologist Kelly McGonigal talking about making stress your friend. The podcast narrator defines toxic positivity as focusing on the positive and ignoring the negative. This mindset has caused a lot of teachers to feel guilty, stressed, and overwhelmed.

    Ironically, McGonigal is one of the psychologists often featured on one of my favorite websites – the Greater Good Science Center at UC-Berkeley. I decided to see what articles The Center had about toxic positivity. The search results displayed one with the entire phrase; there were many results for “toxic” or “positivity.” The one result was a comment from someone in response to a “Finding Silver Linings” practice. The truncated comment included, “I do wonder how this process starts touching on the territory of toxic positivity. When we’re frustrated and discouraged, how can we own the feelings and…”

    So, toxic positivity has not yet merited much attention from the Greater Good Science Center. Interesting.

    I know how hard it is to hear about someone’s suffering. Even if you are compassionate, you might not know what to say. And often there isn’t any magic phrase to ease their discomfort; maybe they just want to be heard, or witnessed?

    But let’s all agree…when we’re hurting there isn’t anyone that can whisper a few words to snap you out of it. DON’T WORRY, BE HAPPY! Wow, if that worked we’d have no need for psychologists, therapists, counselors, alcohol….You get the point.

    I’m still all about tools and resources to help manage difficult physical and emotional issues. But sometimes you need to sit with something and wait and find the right path out.

    So during this holiday time, please be gentle with yourself as well as others. If someone is hurting, ask them if you can help but don’t assume that what works for you will work for them like a magic pill.

  • Rock Climbing & Acquired Disability Peer Support Group

    Rock Climbing & Acquired Disability Peer Support Group

    Christina Leffmann, or Roma as she prefers to be called, is passionate about indoor and outdoor rock climbing as well as the Acquired Disability Peer Support Group she started. In June Roma traveled to Salt Lake City to participate in Paraclimbing National Championships (you can see Roma climbing at 12:30 in the video).

    In her early 20s Roma experienced a series of strokes and identifies as having an acquired disability which is different than being born with a disability or aging into a disability. Currently she works for the Center for Independent Living and has an active life with a daily stretch routine, swimming, and weekly cycling. And rock climbing, of course.

    Earlier this year Roma shared her movement practice at one of the weekly Zoom meetings as part of the May Movement Challenge.

  • Loneliness: How lonely am I and What can I do about it?

    Loneliness: How lonely am I and What can I do about it?

    Loneliness is a public health issue. It was before the COVID-19 epidemic forced us into social isolation. Former U.S. Surgeon General Vivek Murthy called loneliness a “growing health epidemic,” and even wrote a book about it – Together: Why Social Connection Holds the Key to Better Health, Higher Performance, and Greater Happiness.

    Image of the back of a woman on a city street.

    In the United Kingdom they take this issue very seriously and now have a Minister of Loneliness. Sophie Andrews started an organization called The Silver Line which is a helpline for lonely and isolated seniors.

    Does loneliness impact those with chronic illness and/or disability more than the general population? Curious to know how you rate on the Loneliness Scale or maybe you’d like to take a quick quiz for a less robust assessment.

    In this podcast episode we explore that question as well as the antidotes for loneliness. In this presentation for the University of Utah’s Program for Inherited Neuromuscular Disorders, I discuss how I’ve handled social isolation during the pandemic.

    My friend, David, talks about the Big & Mini online program he’s become involved with as well as Quarantine Chat.

    Although geared toward an older audience, Humana has a toolkit full of ideas on how to combat loneliness.

    Loose Transcript

    This podcast episode is about Loneliness. My interest in this topic was sparked a year ago when I heard a British woman – Sophie Andrews – speak at an event I attended. She had already done a TED Talk two years earlier. Her story is a captivating one, which I won’t go into now; you can check out her 15-miin video online. But due to her early life experiences, she learned how a listening ear can change someone’s life direction. She founded an organization called The Silver Line which is a helpline for lonely and isolated seniors.

    In Sophie’s talk – as well as in subsequent articles and books that have been written – we learn how loneliness is of epidemic proportion. Research studies have found that loneliness and social isolation is often correlated to high mortality rates and deterioration of both physical and mental health. In the UK the concern about this public health issue has launched a new government position – the Minister of Loneliness. Seriously. In 2018, Tracey Crouch became the world’s first person to assume this role.

    The former U.S. Surgeon General, Vivek Murthy, called loneliness a “growing health epidemic,” and this past April his book, Together: Why Social Connection Holds the Key to Better Health, Higher Performance, and Greater Happiness, was published. I have the book, started reading it but unfortunately I’m far from finishing it.

     

    But, earlier this year, I was taking my first-ever class in public health – at a community college in downtown Berkeley —  and decided my final project for the class would focus on loneliness in the chronic illness and/or disability community. I was curious to find out if this was similar to what is explored with older people as well compared to the general population. Is Loneliness more common in our community regardless of age?

     

    On March 1st of this year, I posted a poll in the Glass Half Full Facebook group with 6 responses to the question, “Do you experience a sense of Loneliness?” It’s a small sample but the response, “Yes, I often feel lonely even though I have friends and family” received the most votes followed by “My loneliness is a symptom of being homebound with limited exposure to people outside of my family.” Personally, I don’t know most of the respondents though two of them I do know. They’re both caregivers. And they’re lonely.

     

    And just as I was starting my research, I stopped going to the class due to the pandemic. How ironic to be taking a public health class that is pre-empted by a pandemic that creates an even more powerful experience of loneliness and isolation.

     

    I did have time to gather a few academic research articles relevant to the topic but it is certainly not an exhaustive body of literature. I have no definitive answer to the question – is loneliness greater for those with chronic illness and/or disability? I mean, right now…so many of us have dramatically changed our social networks. Hopefully, many of us have found some solace online; I mean the Zoom stock has skyrocketed. I use Zoom almost daily. But, I digress.

     

    The five research articles I found are from different journals – Cognition and Emotion, Caring Sciences, Social Psychiatry, Social Behavior and Personality, and Community and Applied Social Psychology. Three are European studies – Dutch, Danish, and Norwegian — and one Canadian and one from the U.S.

     

    Most of these article reference Robert Weiss who in 1973 conceptualized loneliness as perceived social isolation and described it as a gnawing, chronic disease without redeeming features. He identified six social human needs that if not satisfactorily met lead to feelings of loneliness. The needs are Attachment, Social Integration, Nurturance, Reassurance of worth, Sense of reliable alliance, and guidance in stressful situations.

     

    So if you start with Weiss and his theory on loneliness from 1973 you can find 47 years’ worth of discussion. But, I didn’t dig deeper and I assume you won’t either.

     

    So…isn’t loneliness normal at different times in our lives? Like, depression is something many of us have experienced from time to time. I’ve gone through brief periods of depression linked to an unfortunate experience but I’m not clinically depressed. I’ve also experienced a sense of loneliness at different times. Although I had many friends throughout grade school, I really didn’t feel heard or understood until my first year of college when I embarked on my first true romantic relationship. That’s a powerful feeling and unfortunately, more rare than I’d care to admit.

     

    Robert Weiss, in fact, does make a distinction between social loneliness and emotional loneliness. Perhaps right now, during the pandemic, many people feel more of a sense of social isolation but still maintain a sense of emotional contact through the phone, internet, or at a six foot distance.

     

    I can remember being at parties, surrounded by friends and acquaintances, and feeling alone. Just not in the groove of connecting with others. And I’ve been in situations where I was surrounded by dogs – at someone’s home when a party was taking place – and finding solace and connectedness with the dogs, rather than the people. Okay, that was a slightly drug-enhanced experience. But, the point is…being alone and lonely are not synonymous. And feeling lonely can be temporary or in some cases, the norm.

     

    Let me get back to these articles I read. Only two of the five were specifically related to people with chronic illness and/or disability. In the Danish study they wanted to find out who were high risk groups for loneliness. They used a self-report survey with over 33,000 Danish citizens and found these factors were associated with a higher risk of severe loneliness – being a member of an ethnic minority group, receiving disability benefits or unemployment, living alone, having a prolonged mental disorder or psychiatric treatment. Severe loneliness was reported for just under 5% of those responding to the survey. Another 16+ % of the group were classified as moderately lonely.

     

    One article teases out the distinction between solitude and loneliness whereas solitude expresses the glory of being alone. This article also briefly examines social isolation among the non-human animal kingdom and cites studies where fruit fly’s lifespan was shortened, obesity and type 2 diabetes developed in mice, the immune system of pigs was impacted, and other negative physical responses in a number of animals – all due to social isolation. The Canadian study compared a group of 274 adults with physical disabilities (MS, osteoporosis, Parkinson’s disease, arthritis, and “other”) with a group of 319 healthy adults without chronic illness. Each participant responded to the Loneliness Questionnaire and sure enough there was a statistically significant difference for people with chronic illness. They had a greater experience of loneliness as compared to the general population.

     

    So…what’s the antidote? What can we do about it?

     

    Before I skip to the brighter side of this theme, are you wondering how lonely you are? I mean, how do you compare the experience of loneliness? We all have different expectations from our varied social networks. And I’m not talking about the movie with Jesse Eisenberg portraying Mark Zukerberg. A social network, or support network, or social circle, essentially refers to humans in your orbit. A network of social interactions and personal relationships. This may include family, work colleagues, friends, or even the barista at the coffee shop you frequented every day…before the pandemic.

     

    I tend to think of my social network as the people in all of my disparate little communities – my life partner, my neighbors whom I tend to see more frequently than most friends now, all of my Zoom buddies from dance and exercise classes, book club, support group, happy hour with my high school graduating class…

     

    I strongly believe that my ever-expanding panoply of small groups helps me combat loneliness, helps me be resilient. Sometimes I don’t feel these connections as deeply intimate; I mean, how close can you be to many people? I’m not saying quantity wins out over quality…but…over time I have re-adjusted my expectations.

     

    But let me get back to the antidote. I hope to shed light on all types of resources and inspirations for you to mitigate some of the loneliness you may experience.

     

    So, how lonely are you? right…that was a question I posed. Considered the Gold Standard, the UCLA Loneliness Scale is a 20-item scale designed to measure one’s subjective feelings of loneliness as well as feelings of social isolation. I’ve provided a link to this in the podcast notes at the Glass Half Full website. There’s also a shorter, and less robust, quiz available at the website. I scored 19 which puts me at average for feelings of loneliness.

     

    But how you score isn’t really important. It’s how you feel.

     

    Last week I received a sample issue of O in the mail with my AARP magazine. O is Oprah Winfrey’s magazine. I was flipping through the magazine and saw an advertisement for a special O supplement called The Power of Connection: Your Guide to overcoming loneliness, building community, and finding joy in every day. Now, I’m not suggesting you go out and buy this. It’s pricey; I got it on Amazon. And I certainly don’t profit from this announcement…no free cars for me. But, it’s pretty good. Far easier to digest than the research journal articles I read and most of the short articles reflect solid research. And there’s stuff in there – antidotes for loneliness — that I’ve talked about – book clubs, exercise classes, support groups. Hell! Maybe Oprah’s been listening to the Glass Half Full?

     

    The antidote is Connection. We are social animals. We need each other. Sure, there are introverts and extroverts. But…whatever dosage you require, we still need each other. And pets are great. We’ve got five cats. I love them. But, I still need to connect with other humans. To laugh. To converse. To listen to and be listened to. Even to argue with.

     

    Sometime last year I listened to a podcast interview with Vivek Murthy, the former U.S. surgeon general I mentioned earlier. I believe he said, “Loneliness is a subjective discrepancy between our actual level of social connection and our desired level of connection.” We’re all different in terms of how much connectivity we require. He spoke of a few antidotes but stressed one solution is serving other people. It shifts the focus away from you and reaffirms that you have value to offer.

     

    In October I spoke at an online conference for the University of Utah’s Program for Inherited Neuromuscular Disorders. The title of my presentation was Making Connections. I spoke about my early experiences of forming social networks and what I’ve been able to cultivate during the pandemic. I invite you to check it out; perhaps it will spark some ideas for you?

     

    One of my friends, David, has found unique ways to connect with others during this period. David lives alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau survey in 2018, 28% of households in the U.S. are occupied by only one person, and this number is increasing. David doesn’t have a chronic illness or disability but, as I said, he lives alone and is a young older person. In one of the research articles I read for this topic the researchers assigned names for different age groups; apparently I’m middle-aged, at least for two more years. And David, who is ten years older than me, is a young, older person.

     

    Anyhow, we had a conversation about two things he’s discovered during the pandemic – Quarantine Chat and Big and Mini.

     

    If you check the Glass Half Full website there’s a link to a video about the Big & Mini program featured on the Today morning show where David makes a cameo appearance.

     

    Another antidote for loneliness that I gleaned from an article in a magazine is to focus on increasing your circle of concerns as opposed to your circle of friends. It helps shift your focus to a collective connectedness where you can feel a part of something bigger than yourself.

    And on that note, I wish you well.

     

     

     

  • Let’s Rant: Unhelpful Advice

    Let’s Rant: Unhelpful Advice

    It’s April Fool’s Day so we’re mixing things up with an unhelpful advice rant. One can’t be positive 100% of the time. Now is the opportunity to share about all of the weird things people have said about our health conditions — whether it was a friend, an aunt, or even a health care professional.

    Perhaps well-intentioned but definitely not insightful nor helpful advice. Most people with some type of chronic health condition have had this experience.

    A panel of three previous podcast guests share their stories — from the hilarious to the frightening. Nancy, Melissa, and Laurel let it all out.

  • No Hugging Allowed: Tales of Covid-19

    How is the threat of Covid-19 (coronavirus) impacting your life? Beyond fierce hand washing, are you changing how you relate to others? Is social distancing keeping you indoors? Are you second-guessing where you go, what you do, and with whom you spend time?

    You’re not alone. People with chronic illness and/or compromised immune systems need to be vigilant as well as mindful.

    For a few practical tips, listen to this podcast episode as well as the earlier episode, The Flu is Not for You. Here’s a recipe to create your own hand sanitizer. And if you’re ready for a little levity, check out this reoccurring segment on The Daily Show.

  • Patient Advocates, Patient Leaders

    What is a Patient Advocate? A patient advocate can be an actual patient with a mental and/or physical health condition, a caregiver for someone with a health condition, or a paid professional advocating on behalf of others with a health condition.

    Andrea L. Klein, of Cleveland, Tennessee, has collagen six intermediate congenital muscular dystrophy. She started a Facebook group, Breathe with MD Support Group, for people with a neuromuscular disease who struggle with respiratory health. Recently, she established a nonprofit organization with the same name.

    Melissa Talwar, of Pasadena, California, has struggled with fibromyalgia since she was 14 years old. Her experiences with different medications and their alarming side effects catapulted her into focused research on the condition and potential treatments. After volunteering with a patient advocacy organization and then traveling around the U.S. to meet others with fibromyalgia, Melissa also established a nonprofit organization.

  • An R.N. Talks about Herbal Relief for Muscle Pain, Anxiety, Insomnia & GI Problems (at a support group meeting)

    An R.N. Talks about Herbal Relief for Muscle Pain, Anxiety, Insomnia & GI Problems (at a support group meeting)

    Registered Nurse and proud septuagenarian, Barbara Blaser, was the guest speaker at my Northern California myotonic dystrophy support group. With her healthcare background and deep knowledge of medicinal herbs, she spoke about the use of herbal tinctures, edibles, and lotions to help relieve muscle pain, anxiety, insomnia, gastrointestinal problems, and more.

    Barbara’s nursing career was predominantly in the mental health field. But at some point in her 60s she had an esophagectomy and due to complications, she developed septicemia. She turned to natural herbal healing to help her pain, anxiety, and GI problems.

    For other podcast episodes about medicinal herbs (medical cannabis), check out DIY Cannabis and Medical Cannabis.

    Handouts that Barbara provided at the support group meeting are culled from this website.