💊Coping With Chronic Pain💊

“If you can’t fly then run, if you can’t run then walk, if you can’t walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward.”

–Martin Luther King Jr.

What is Chronic Pain?

Chronic pain, is a pain that either comes from an injury or an ongoing illness. “Living with chronic pain can feel unbearable.”(J.E.2018). Chronic pain NEVER goes away. Medications may help but often doesn’t. There are other alternative coping skills that can be used to help alleviate some of the pain.

What can cause Chronic Pain?

Some causes of chronic pain are:

  • Nerve Damage
  • Disc Disease
  • Arthritis
  • Burns
  • Pelvic Infections
  • Scarring
  • Cancer and Chemotherapy Pain
  • Infections
  • Bursitis
  • Multiple Sclerosis
  • Fibromyalgia
  • Scoliosis
  • Whiplash
  • Stress
  • Anxiety
  • Depression
  • Neck Pain
  • Back Pain

“Living with a chronic pain limits your ability to work, take care of yourself, and even playing with your children.”(J.E.). You may also notice psychological affects as well such as; irritability, anger, depression, and difficulty concentrating. When you are in pain, you may also feel sad and hopelessness and or despair. This anxiety, depression, and suicidal thoughts plague those living with chronic pain. This is because researchers have found that their brain cells have been damaged.(abc.net)

Stress and lack of sleep are also contributors to added pain for those living with chronic pain. Stress causes muscle tension and INCREASES the pain you feel. It is imperative to learn new coping techniques to lower the stress, and to try and get a goods night of sleep.

How Can One Cope With Chronic Pain?

  • Dr. Visit, Discuss Your Options
  • Join Support Groups
  • Journal or Diary of pain episodes and causation
  • Research: The American Chronic Pain Association, The American Pain Society, and The National Pain Foundation
  • Medications, Pain Killers, Herbal Medicines, and Nutritional Supplements
  • Muscle Relaxers
  • Chiropractic Treatments
  • Massage Therapy
  • Acupuncture
  • Tens, Electrical Nerve Stimulation Therapy
  • Physical Therapy, Stretching, and Exercise
  • Meditation and Yoga
  • Breathing Techniques and other Relaxation Techniques
  • Sleep
  • Other alternative therapies such as magnetic therapy and more

Works Cited

Jacques, Erica, Sept 6, 2018. 8 Ways To Cope With Side Effects of Chronic Pain. https://www.verywellhealth.com

Lynne, Malcom, Willis, Olivia, March 21, 2016. What Chronic Pain Does To Your Brain. https://www.abc.net.av

Chronic Pain: Does It Ever Go Away? Sept. 2, 2013. https://lasvegasrecovery.com

Pain Management: Treatment Overview https://webmd.com

Photo Credit

Unsplash: Rados, Jonathan

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🖤WOUNDED WOMEN🖤

I can’t sleep.

I’m thinking about WHY people commit suicide.

I have thought about suicide in much detail, but never have attempted it. I have a plan in place and a phone number to call before I would ever contemplate actually going through with it.

I can’t say why other people feel hopeless enough to go through with it or why they attempt it.

But I know for me, it’s not the problems in life that gets me down. Because we all have problems, and we’ll have them until the day we die.

For me, it’s the cold, hatred of humanity. The lack of care for others. The feeling that there’s just no good left in this world. The feeling that no one REALLY cares.

I watched a video last night about a social media influencer. She does Christian Inspirational videos in Spanish right beside her husband. They’re the greatest couple really. I try to support all of their videos when I see them.

This powerful and influential woman was very discouraged and disheartened by the ugly comments people were leaving on her videos. Things such as, “Your makeup is awful and you look like a clown.” They left so many rude comments. All of these comments made intentionally for the sole purpose of causing hurt and pain to this woman and her family.

To add salt to injury, these cyber bullies began to attack and ridicule her children. Leaving comments like, “Why are your children so ugly, when you’re so beautiful?”

She was near tears and said she felt like giving up Facebook entirely and giving up doing these positive, Christian videos (her God given ministry) with her husband.

She mentioned that the ugliest and most vile comments came from women. Perplexed, she wondered “How can it be that WOMEN would behave this way, and speak in this manner of callousness with no remorse about hurting another woman/person?”

I have asked myself this same question from my earliest memory of a woman doing this to me. It was in my early 20’s, and a Christian girl that first made me ask, “How can she WANT to hurt me?” And, “Why? What have I done to deserve this?”

Despite these evil commentors on her page and videos, her husband convinced her, that she has a purpose and a calling on her life. I agree with him. I am inspired at this woman’s transparency and vulnerability.

I am in awe of the grace she exudes. As she instructs us by her character, how women should be and should behave! I’m going to pray for her, her marriage, her family, her ministry, and her wellbeing!

” Therefore encourage one another with these words.”(1 Thessalonians 4:18)

Powerfully, and passionately she demonstrates how we should stop the hatred, the ugliness, the bullying, and return to LOVE. We should love one another. I agree with her. I hope to be a person who cares, and to start seeing more women who care.

Scripture From The Word Of God

“The tongue has the power of

life and death, and those who

love it will eat its

fruit.”(Proverbs 18:21)

“Those who guard their lips

preserve their lives, but those

who speak rashly will come to

ruin.”(Proverbs 13:3)

“I tell you, on the day of

judgment people will give

account for every careless word

they speak, for by your words

you will be justified, and by

your words you will be

condemned.”(Matthew 12: 36-37)

Photo credit: Unsplash, Matthew Henry

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🌹Valentine Blues🌹

“The most important thing a father can do for his children is to love their mother.”

Quips & Quotes

E.C.McKenzie

This morning I went to Kroger’s to buy some ice cream, to go with the fudge cupcakes that I baked for my coworkers. Along the way, I saw several vendors. They were selling Valentine’s baskets, flowers, balloons, and gifts galore.

As I entered the store, there were people all around in checkout lines holding flowers and bouquets in their hands.

I personally love Valentine’s Day!

But I understand that some people have jaded perspectives because of heartbreaks they experienced in their past, or just the commercialism of the day, irritates them.

I had a very lovely Valentine’s day, but that’s because I love, LOVE!😍

But…throughout the day, God was laying some things on my mind. My heart and spirit was heavy today. In particular, my mom. She’s a widow. And I know that recently she’s been feeling a mixture of emotions; Hopelessness, Discouragement, and Unimaginable Pain.

Try to imagine what it feels like to have had the love of your life for over 40+ years, and suddenly they’re gone. FOREVER. You have to adjust to living the rest of your life, without that person that you have been loving for so long.😭

I know my mami is in another phase of her life. I can see that it’s challenging for her, and that breaks my heart. 💔 I pray that God fills the emptiness she feels, in the way ONLY HE knows how. I pray that God can give her a reason to smile again and to believe God still has a purpose for her.

My thoughts and prayers are for all the lonely widows, and all the broken hearts to be comforted by the Holy Spirit. For myself, I still pray to find A Love Like Their’s one day! A love like my parents had.

Rest In Love Papi!❤ Our Guardian Angel, Watch Over Mami, And Us!💋

“Works, not words, are the proof of love.”

-Quips & Quotes

E.C.McKenzie

Photo Credit: Unsplash, Ksenia Makagonova

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Never Let Anyone Dim Your Light

I’m reading Joyce Meyer’s #1 New York Times Bestseller Book Healing the Soul of a Woman .

In her book she references a movie called, The Lady in The Van. And it’s a movie that’s based on a true story about a homeless woman named Miss Shepherd.

I’m just gonna share a snippet of the excerpt, along with some of my thoughts.

Miss Shepherd was once a gifted and sought-after concert pianist. She felt that she wanted to serve God with her life, and the only way she knew to do that was to enter a convent and become a nun. The convent had a piano, and she enjoyed and was fulfilled in playing it in the evenings. However, the Mother Superior for some reason didn’t like Miss Shepherd, or perhaps she was jealous of her talent, and she told her that she loved playing too much and that God was requiring her to sacrifice the piano to prove her love for Him. She obeyed, but it broke her heart. She was wounded in her soul, and the wounds caused her to withdraw from other people, as well as demonstrate other unique behaviors. She ultimately had to leave the convent feeling rejected,abandoned, and alone.

The pain of these events ate at her

mental and emotional health until

she eventually was placed in a

mental health facility. After being

released from there, she ended up

living in her old, worn out van,

which she painted yellow. After

parking it various places and

eventually being asked to move

from each one of them, she talked

Alan Bennett into letting her park

in his driveway for what was

supposed to be a short while, but

she never left. And fifteen years

later, she died where she parked.

So, Joyce Meyer’s message goes on to convey that we shouldn’t “park where our pain is”. We shouldn’t allow the pains and wounds to deter us or immobilize us. And all of that is fine and dandy, BUUUUUUUUUTTT…. the part that has me bent out of shape is, the actions and behaviors of the Mother Superior.

Why, if she held the title of “Mother Superior”, would she purposely hinder the success of another individual? Why are so many people afraid to let another, shine their own light? Why do they project their pain onto others? We are all unique individuals with our own God given talents.

I marvel at women who can slay their makeup and fashion. And I look up to powerful women who are lawyers, judges, and doctors! I respect working moms and am delighted by creative and resourceful stay at home moms. I smile when a woman can sing like an angel and give me goosebumps. It brings me joy when a woman loves to dance, and I am happy when I see another woman being blessed with Gods goodness. And although I know that all I am is……….”a writer”, and perhaps a lousy one at that, I am perfectly content with that!

I do not aspire to be in a medical or political profession which are two of the most elite and rigorous careers in my opinion. I aspire to teach Reading to Jr.High students, and to publish my own childrens books and to become a master storyteller, and to start a small business. My dreams are MY OWN, and God gave them to ME! I am not ashamed of who God made me to be. And a simple life is all I covet. A life with plenty of books to read, and fabulous friends to fellowship with.

There is always going to be someone who knows more and has more. Therefore, I worry about improving my own self for me. My own career for me. My own health for me. My own education for me. My own financial stability for me. My own romantic life for me.

Yeah, there are thousands, millions of women who are more beautiful, more talented, more patient, more elegant, more sophisticated, more creative, etc, etc….

But…….even then….there’s only one of me. There’s only one of you too. Life is meant to be enjoyed. Let me say that again, “LIFE IS MEANT TO BE ENJOYED!” So begin to encourage everyone to let their light shine bright. Never intend to dim another’s light. But most importantly, never allow anyone to dim your light.

“Hapiness is not perfected until it is shared with others.”

–E.C.McKenzie,Quips & Quotes

Works Cited

E.C. McKenzie, 14,000 Quips & Quotes for Writers & Speakers.1980.

Galvez,Luis (Photo Credit, Unsplash)

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The Rainbow After The Storm, Happy Veterans Day!🇺🇸

I AM ABSOLUTELY AMAZED AT GOD!

THIS YEAR HAS BEEN TOUGH. LEAVING THE ABUSIVE RELATIONSHIP/MARRIAGE. THEN LIVING IN A SAFE HOME, AND TRYING TO START ALL OVER WITH NOTHING.

I WAS RIDING THE BUS RELIGIOUSLY TO THE WORKFORCE TO FIND EMPLOYMENT.

AT THE WORKFORCE I MET KATASHA GRAY, THE VA REP FOR THE WORKFORCE FROM TEXAS VETERANS COMMISSIONS. IMMEDIATELY, SHE BEGAN TO HELP ME WITH INFORMATION ON RESUMES, LINKEDIN, FILLING OUT APPLICATIONS THAT WILL PASS THE SCANNERS, ETC..

SOME DAYS I HAD MY BABY WITH ME. AND SHE KNEW THAT I WAS RIDING THE BUS AS WELL. ONE DAY SHE HANDED ME AN APPLICATION FOR A CAR GIVEAWAY TO VETERAN’S IN NEED. EVERY DAY SHE WOULD ASK ME,”HAVE YOU FILLED OUT THAT APPLICATION?” BUT I WAS SO CONCERNED WITH MY URGENCY TO FIND EMPLOYMENT THAT I DIDN’T FILL OUT THE APPLICATION RIGHT AWAY. PLUS I THOUGHT, WHAT ARE THE ODDS THAT I WOULD GET SELECTED ANYWAYS? THERE’S PROBABLY THOUSANDS OF DESERVING APPLICANTS IN MORE DIRE NEED, IS WHAT I THOUGHT.

FINALLY THOUGH, KATASHA ASKED ME AGAIN IF I HAD SUBMITTED THE APPLICATION, AND I TOLD HER, OK, OK I’M GOING TO FILL IT OUT RIGHT NOW. AND THANKFULLY I DID. BECAUSE GOD HAS BLESSED ME IN A GARGANTUAN (THAT’S FOR YOU BRANDY MY LOVE)😉WAY!

PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE COMPANY HAS GIVEN AWAY 100 CARS ALL ACROSS THE UNITED STATES, ANNUALLY FOR THE LAST 6 YEARS, TO VETERANS IN NEED WITH THEIR “KEYS TO PROGRESS” PROGRAM.

I KNOW THAT I HAD LOTS OF PEOPLE PRAYING FOR ME AND THAT MY PAPI IN HEAVEN IS WATCHING OUT FOR ME STILL.

THANK YOU PROGRESSIVE INSURANCE FOR EVERYTHING! I

I WAS BLESSED WITH

  • 2016 CHEVY TRAVERSE (SUV)
  • 6 MONTHS FREE INSURANCE (THANKS TO RENT A CAR)
  • A $500 GIFT CARD
  • A $25 QT GAS CARD

I received my new gift/car/blessings on Nov 8th. I am still in awe of God and this company’s benevolence.

I break down crying when I’m driving because I still don’t believe that they picked me.

THIS IS THE VERY BEST THANKSGIVING AND VETERANS DAY HOLIDAY EVER. I AM BROUGHT DOWN TO MY KNEES AT GOD’S GREATNESS!!!

HAPPY THANKSGIVING! HAPPY VETERANS DAY!

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God’s Not Through With Me Yet!

Candid Chicana

“FAITH IS THE DARING OF THE SOUL TO GO FARTHER THAN IT CAN SEE”

-QUIPS & QUOTES

Hello again blogging family, friends, and readers! I haven’t blogged or left an update in a really long time.

I’m struggling and can’t really write about anything yet. I have divorce court October 5th 2018. So I hope I can count on your prayers from all over the world. I need the good vibes. Plus I have a job interview tomorrow. Wish me luck!!!

But right now I’m trying to cure my blues through musical therapy. Check it out! Click the link below.

You Haven’t Seen The Last Of Me

If you have any good song recommendations, please leave them in the comments. I can’t wait to get back into a natural rythem again and resume with my blogging again. I have some content updates coming soon for my Candid Chicana blog. And I’ve been working on one of my children’s books during my days away from the blogging world.

I MISS YA’LL, AND I HOPE YA’LL STILL SUPPORT AND FOLLOW ME.

XOXOXOXO CANDID CHICANA💋🐺❤

“IT’S BETTER TO LOOK WHERE YOU’RE GOING THAN TO SEE WHERE YOU’VE BEEN. “

-QUIPS & QUOTES

Quotes Taken From: 14,000 Quips & Quotes for Writers & Speakers, E.C. McKenzie, 1980 by Baker Book House Company

Video Credits: YouTube Mika Hovhannisyan, Song by: Cher

Photo Illustration/Image: Jason Shonk Founder of Phat Beauties

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