You know I suffer from depression anxiety and PTSD what I have noticed it has become worse since the whole Covid thing. What really happened is that there was a great separation that showed how much hatred there was. Also it become more and more comfortable for people to mistake your kindness. The shift is a good one where it will bring things back to the basics. The pendulum always comes back to center.
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When COVID-19 struck in March 2020, I, like many adults living with anxiety and depression, was a wreck. My appetite and sleeping routine were thrown into chaos. Leaving the house felt like walking into the apocalypse—especially given the risk of contagion with my husband and three-year-old son at home, so errands like the library and even grocery shopping came to a halt. As the days turned into weeks, my anxiety intensified and I keenly felt the weight of being in a confined space with my family. To help ease my frantic state and to escape my hellish reality, I decided to return to a childhood activity I loved—playing with dolls. I turned to my American Girl doll, Addy Walker, and the fictional story of her family’s escape from enslavement to start a new life in Philadelphia.
In the 1990s, my mom had bought me the doll, several of her outfits, and some of the furniture that accompanied Addy. Long after I stopped playing with my doll, my mom saved it because of its historical value, since Addy was the first black American Girl doll. When my mom downsized and moved into a smaller house, my Addy Walker doll became my possession. At first, I was ambivalent about having Addy and parts of her clothing, accessories, and furniture collection in my home. However, as I searched for ways to distract myself from the grim news of the COVID-19 pandemic, I decided to revisit the world of Addy Walker by dressing my doll in her clothes and accessories, and posing her on the furniture. Also, I reread the first book in the six-part series about Addy’s life, Meet Addy: An American Girl.
The synopsis of Meet Addy: An American Girl on Goodreads reads, “Addy Walker’s family is planning a dangerous escape from slavery in the summer of 1864. But before they can make the escape, the worst happens—Master Stevens decides to sell some of his slaves, including Poppa and Addy’s brother, Sam. Addy and Momma take the terrible risk of escaping by themselves, hoping that the family eventually will be together again in Philadelphia. Set during America’s own struggle over slavery, the Civil War, Addy’s story is one of great courage and love—love of family and love of freedom.”
Now, you may be wondering, isn’t Addy the slave doll? How did her depressing story help you cope through the first year of the pandemic? My answer for you is this: Addy’s story embodies perseverance, hope, and family. Reconnecting with her story helped me put the pandemic and lockdown into perspective, rely more on my faith, and better appreciate my own family. Addy’s resilience throughout her six books motivated me to discuss my heightened anxiety and panic attacks with my doctor, who then prescribed a higher dose of my anti-anxiety medication. I also became more comfortable discussing my anxiety with my husband and asking for support in caring for our son while his daycare was closed.
Now, I didn’t see any of this coming when I pulled Addy down from storage. I was simply looking for an escape, a distraction from the way the lockdown was affecting my anxiety. Addy and her family’s story provided me with the courage to seek help from my husband and doctor, entertainment as I dressed my doll in outfits and accessories from her books, and the fortitude to navigate the changes this decade has brought to our lives.
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I am looking for stories that the white papers don't tell, that stay between you and your doctor and never get reported. Comment of you have been on #Biologics and experienced neurological symptoms especially new chronic life-changing nerve pain.
1. Which biologic?
2. Related to COVID infection or no?
3. Did you stop taking it?
4. Did the side effect symptoms go away, if so?
I read something about the immune system being like a water bed. Nothing ever gets fully blocked, just displaced.
I am on #Stelara 90mg/4wks. I am concerned that my typical gastrointestinal inflammation just got redirected to neurological problems like neuropathy, autonomic dysregulation, weakness, fatigue and dizziness that made my life even harder than the Crohns did. I have been doing a lot of research and am asking my doctor if we can switch me off of it.
I was on Stelara about 8 months til I got COVID and its been downhill ever since. Went from teaching dance classes to walking with a cane in about a year.
Its hard to find this kind of story online. Maybe the comments on this post will help some confused people who are also having the same symptoms with #immunosuppressants -- hope we all feel better soon.
Also, I'm new to this app. Help me find my people! Say hi!
#AutoimmuneDisease #remicade #Humira #cimzia #rinvoq #anythingumab #RheumatoidArthritis #Psoriasis #PsoriaticArthritis #InflammatoryBowelDiseaseIBD #longcovid #ChronicFatigue #Neuropathy
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Hi guys just have a question about my last neurology appointment. So at my appointment she was doing the lay down and the sit and stand test for dysautonomia. My Primary care doctor did this before and my heart went from 60bpm to 125bpm.. i even did it at the ER and my bp and heart rate changed. But when the neurologist did it when I stood up she couldn't get a read on my heart rate or my blood pressure. (She also didn't wait a minute she took it immediately when I stood up bc I got dizzy) we tried this twice and each time I stood up she couldn't get my BP and my arm was turning like purple/blue so I sat down and everything was normal????? So she told me I passed. But she sent gave me a referral for the table tilt test. Any one else gone through this before???
She was also telling me that we could be catching he beginning/start of an autoimmune disease. I had tested positive for ANA. But my rheumatologist ER doctors and my previous primary care doctor (well my primary care also thinks it might be an auto immune disease and dysautonomia) believed it was dysautonomia. Then the neurologist also kept saying its long covid or some long viral thing after covid. But I don't think so bc this happened in end of November start of December and I was legit fine. Just feeling frustrated and this is indeed a long tiring journey of feeling ill.
#dysautonmia #AutonomicDysfunction #POTS #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #LivingWithPOTS
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We all struggle at some point whether it be with mental illness or physical health problems. This is just a sad fact of life but the good news is that we are stronger than what is in front of us. Sure our health problems may never go away but don't let that discourage you from reaching your goals and dreams. You are just as special as anyone else and just as capable even if you have limitations. There is something that makes each of us unique.
If you're struggling with negative or anxious thoughts like I am then take a breath and acknowledge it. The more you acknowledge it the less power it seems to have over you. Sometimes our thoughts are misleading …. They can only be guided by emotion. This is okay so long as we are willing to work with it. Struggling does not make you less than, it makes you human!
We are all on this journey of life together and our struggles possess the ability to teach us things. Some lessons are hard to face while others come quite easily.
The point is, you are stronger and more capable than you give yourself credit for. I sometimes downplay my accomplishments but I shouldn't. Neither should you. If you got out of bed today-good. If you ate-good. If you went to work-good. Every little accomplishment deserves attention no matter how small. By celebrating our victories we validate ourselves and we deserve that. Our feelings and situations are valid even if others don't think so.
What I am saying is: YOU GOT THIS! Whatever life throws at you is not impossible to deal with. So go out there and shine like the brilliant person you are because that's what the world needs, more people like you. I believe in you…and yes I believe in myself…most of the time, but reading this post really invigorated and empowered me.
As always please stay safe and reach out for help if you need to.
~Amcron
@stillsearching1994
#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #Selfcare #Selflove #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar2Disorder #Bipolar1Disorder #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #RareDisease #HIVAIDS #PeripheralNeuropathy #BackPain #PTSD #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #CheckInWithMe #TheMighty #MightyTogether #MightyMinute #DistractMe #MightyQuestions
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That's the suicide rate, 525600 minutes how do you measure a life, as someone who has SI, worse on the 27th of December, and the 7th of March, extremely important days to me, and someone who seeks help through a counsellor, my church and my anon meetings, I would rather be an advocate than a statistical death, having been publicly s'd 8 years ago and lost my family, and having had the hardest Easter and three days of Victoria day known to man or woman this year, and an extremely hard day before Memorial day due to financial woes and marital strife, I would say this mother who does the best she can raising her family refuses to be a statistic, I have not looked up percentage of women to men, and how many of these are hard working mothers but it would be good to know, Bullying is a huge cause of teen attempts and deaths, and believe me I know this half year..., I believe my elderly were bullied in reference to food and have spoken to their doctor about it, Stay free, try not to live in fear, let go for a little when you have to, call a friend, forgive, try to heal, reunite, never value money over a life, and love and remember those who have lost their lives, due to bullying, army trauma, bullying trauma, grief of others, financial trouble, medical sickness, family under-appreciation, feeling they are a burden (elderly), abuse from authorities, overall exhaustion of life, addiction, over-work, covid financial woes, lack of family support, marital strife, loss of something or someone dear, or just Chronic Disrespect. Life is valued don't miss it or destroy it, Advocate for it, as I am trying to do for myself and my family, and Only Love
Herpes Cure Advocacy (HCA) is a non-profit advocacy organization with the goal of cure, treatment, and prevention for HSV types 1 and 2. The field of herpes has gained momentum in recent years through the efforts of HCA, including an addendum to the US Department of Health and Human Services 2020 Strategic Plan for STIs that will outline a national strategy to cure, treat, and prevent HSV for the first time.
In November 2022, NIH/CDC held a joint workshop on genital herpes - the first federal meeting for HSV in decades.
In collaboration with our partners at Treatment Action Group (TAG) and AVAC, our mission is aligned to address both HSV and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Given the syndemic nature of HSV and HIV, the development of a vaccine for HSV can prevent transmission and reduce the global burden of both HSV and HIV/AIDS.
As of now, Tuberculosis, MonkeyPox, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been designated as diseases relating to HIV, and while also incredibly important, their link to HIV acquisition is not comparable to HSV. Research by Dr. Larry Corey and colleagues indicated that genital herpes infection is associated with a 2 to 4-fold risk of HIV acquisition and that 30% of new HIV cases are directly attributable to new HSV infection.
Currently, there are at least four HSV vaccines in clinical development: a prophylactic vaccine being developed in Harvey Friedman’s laboratory in partnership with BioNTech (BNT163); a therapeutic vaccine by GSK; the live-attenuated product from Rational Vaccines; and a product from the laboratory of Betsy Herold.
Prioritizing HSV vaccine development can help reduce the global health burden of both HSV and HIV infections.
Advocates - stand up for yourself! It is time - we can be silent no more.
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Genital herpes is driving the HIV epidemic - with nearly 30% of new HIV cases directly attributable to herpes. Yet - little is being done to cure treat or prevent herpes globally.
Herpes Cure Advocacy (HCA) is a non-profit advocacy organization with the goal of cure, treatment, and prevention for HSV types 1 and 2. The field of herpes has gained momentum in recent years through the efforts of HCA, including an addendum to the US Department of Health and Human Services 2020 Strategic Plan for STIs that will outline a national strategy to cure, treat, and prevent HSV for the first time.
In November 2022, NIH/CDC held a joint workshop on genital herpes - the first federal meeting for HSV in decades.
In collaboration with our partners at Treatment Action Group (TAG) and AVAC, our mission is aligned to address both HSV and Human Immunodeficiency Virus/Acquired Immunodeficiency Syndrome (HIV/AIDS). Given the syndemic nature of HSV and HIV, the development of a vaccine for HSV can prevent transmission and reduce the global burden of both HSV and HIV/AIDS.
As of now, Tuberculosis, MonkeyPox, and Coronavirus Disease 2019 (COVID-19) have been designated as diseases relating to HIV, and while also incredibly important, their link to HIV acquisition is not comparable to HSV. Research by Dr. Larry Corey and colleagues indicated that genital herpes infection is associated with a 2 to 4-fold risk of HIV acquisition and that 30% of new HIV cases are directly attributable to new HSV infection.
We invite all advocates to be #Silentnomore Join us!
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