Headache

We are growing fast …just passed 2,200 members a few months ago and are at 2,222 today and growing strong! (If you are not a member yet please consider joining us!) This is really exciting to me, we have all put in the effort and as a community we have grown, flourished and have built a sacred place where I hope you all feel at home! You have shown you care for each other, are there for each other and trust each other. This makes me very happy and proud. I envisioned the group would be a place where members would empathize with each other, ask for support, and offer support to others. When we are operating smoothly this experience is so exciting to watch spread & expand.

However, to be honest, I have been very frustrated that there is less activity recently and as our membership grows steadily the number of comments & replies has actually diminished. Our old co-leader Chris is no longer with the group and we need to have others step up and make up for her commitment to regularly respond to posts and comments. This means a collective effort from everyone in the group! I have had numerous layers of serious physical & mental health challenges recently and have had to step back and focus on self-care. This is a time when you can all help me by checking in here and see if there are new posts and hopefully respond.

My last post about hobbies with the image of all the colorful people doing different fun things only got ONE response. And Laura made a great post about disability after that and it got only two responses. When new members have the courage to open up and introduce themselves we want them to feel welcome and supported. Please especially respond if you share some similar health challenges and hopefully offer acknowledgement and encouragement!

This is OUR group everybody and it functions best when members support other members. We all have our varied health histories and with them the knowledge and wisdom we’ve garnered along the way! PLEASE let’s share these with each other. This communal empathy and understanding makes us strong.

Offering your own posts provides more content for the group and can generate great conversations. Write about if you are struggling and need support, encouragement and/or information. Write about how great things are going and share things that are helping you. Pose a question to the group which can excite others to chip in. Or just share a great meme you have found. It can be really powerful for others to see your post as they can then empathize and relate! I would be happy to support your effort if you want to run things by me before you post, I can help finding memes or images if you like, and I will comment on your posts to get the responses going to best support your efforts. I’m here for you and really enjoy the whole process, so please reach out to me if you need assistance or encouragement. I have made well over 100 posts since I started the group and learned a lot along the way! (Please scroll down back in time to find my other posts, you might find some of them helpful😉)

I believe in the power we have as a group and the community we have built. I am so thankful you have joined us and we are all on this journey together!

In service,

Moshe Adler
@moshe222mhc
🙏💥🫶💜🤗💥🙏

P.S. ✡️Happy Rosh Hashanah✡️ -The Jewish New Year. May today mark a time of new beginnings for us all.🌦️⛅️🌤️☀️

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Selflove #Selfcare #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #BipolarDepression #ADHD #PTSD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #RareDisease #HIVAIDS #PeripheralNeuropathy #BackPain #neckpain #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #CheckInWithMe #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether #DistractMe #TheMighty #MightyMinute #MightyQuestions #Concussion #BrainInjury

@laurascardigno @texassonrisa @xokat @sparklywartanks

Three things you can expect from the new episode of Health & (un)Wellness:

🗑️ @skyeg talking about feeling like a little piece of garbage

🚫 Canceling plans when you’re chronically ill

🧳 Tips for navigating vacations, trips, and holidays

🎧 Listen on Spotify: spoti.fi/487GXuW

🍎 Listen on Apple: apple.co/3sT6msk

📗 Read the transcript: themighty.com/topic/migraine/mighty-with-migraine-podcast-ti...

#Migraine #DistractMe #Spoonie #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #Fibromyalgia #CheckInWithMe #EDS #POTS #Endometriosis #Headache

Sometimes I think “what will life throw at me next?”;
Will I receive a call from a family member or a friendly text?;
Since I became chronically ill I don’t hear from friends anymore;
It feels like – no matter how hard I tried to keep up – they showed me the door;
Maybe they couldn’t handle me being fine one minute and then convulsing on the floor?;
The fact that they unfriended me left with an open hole in my core;
Every morning I think: “what will chronic illness life throw at me today?”;
Will I have a debilitating headache or had it miraculously gone away?;
How many seizures will I have and how many falls will I endure?;
I pray that I’ll still be alive when the find that “magic’ cure;
How many dizzy spells will plague me – causing me to walk into walls?;
How many times will I lose my balance and take a hard fall?;
Will I be able to stand for longer than 5 minutes – or maybe less?;
Sometimes I want to stay in my bed all day – I must confess;
Will I have another IBS flare or will I experience terrible pain in my stomach?;
Or will I end up standing too long and feel my blood pressure plummet;
How many times will I feel like I can’t take in air enough to breathe?;
Will I have “internal tremors” or will you notice the flushing and hives on me?;
What will Dysautonomia surprise me with this day?;
Will my heart rate come down or is my heart rate of 170bpm be here to stay?;
Will I be able to remain standing long enough to make my lunch or will I collapse to the ground?;
Will my body cooperate enough to function and get me out of bed or will I again be bedbound?;
Can I find the strength to walk today or will I have to crawl on the floor like a child?;
Will my chronic pain feel like I’m being crushed or will it remain mostly mild?;
I wonder: what has my chronic illness had in store for me?;
If I stand will I be okay or will I lose my vision and temporally be unable to see?;
Will I be able to eat dinner without having terrible abdominal pain?;
Sometimes it feels as if I am stuck and that life has left me with nothing else to gain;
Today – will I be able to get a good night’s rest or will I be up gagging and in pain all night?;
Sometimes I feel like I want to give up and succumb to this unbeatable fight;
What will happen today – will I have enough energy to leave my house for awhile;
I’ll be in a wheelchair wearing AFOs and compression stockings like it’s come out of style;
Will I experience vertigo and severe nausea in the middle of the store?;
Sometimes I get dirty looks if I have to lay there on the Walmart floor;
How will my chronic illnesses affect me today – you may ask?;
For me – walking around without a mobility aide is no easy task;
What does Ehlers Danlos Syndrome have in store for me?;
Will my current visual issues cause my nerves to deteriorate – could I lose my ability to see?;
How many times will I dislocate my joints and partially dislocate my wrist;
Or will I be walking around slowly and have my knee cap randomly shift?;
Will my faulty collagen cause numerous joint issues and debilitating pain?;
Why does my opthmatologist say that my visual issues aren’t from my eyes – but from my brain?;
Will I be able to stand today and not cause every joint in my body to crack?;
Could I end up with an allergic reaction similar to one in a Mast Cell attack?;
What do my seizure-like episodes have is store for me today?;
When I convulse on the floor and people stare – it’s not some child’s play;
Will I end up with an injury or even have numerous “episodes” by this evening?;
Sometimes it looks like my lungs don’t work, I turn blue, and it feels like I’m not breathing;
Will I end up having one in public and being taken in an ambulance to the ER?;
Or will my aunt get me up into my wheelchair and take me to the car?;
Will I hear doctors say that there is nothing wrong and it’s all in my head?;
Will I be labeled as a hypochondriac or an attention seeker until I am dead?;
People don’t seem to realize that chronic illness can affect you in more than one way;
And it is often easier to hide behind a mask and pretend you’re okay;
Everyone seems to judge you because you don’t look sick on the outside;
But they need to not judge a book by its cover – I confide;
Not every disability is visible and not everyone with an invisible illness are lying;
But the more you put us down with your rude opinions – the more we want to stop trying;
Believe it or not – not everyone in a wheelchair can’t walk;
Just like not everyone who is deaf can’t talk;
Not everyone doing chemotherapy has cancer;
And not everyone with hypermobile joints is a ballet dancer;
Not everyone with chronic pain are in their older years;
What makes you think it’s okay to judge someone till they are in tears?;
People from all walks of life – both young and old – can have illnesses that are visible;
But what about those of us who’s chronic illnesses are invisible?;
Sometimes – when I get judgment from people – it’s empathy I seek;
So - before you say anything or judge someone – think before you speak

We are currently looking for a new Co-Leader for the Multiple Health Challenges group. We are growning fast and just passed 2,200 members. This is really exciting to me, however to be honest, I have been very frustrated that there is less activity recently and as our membership grows steadily the number of comments & replies has actually diminished. Our old co-leader Chris is no longer with the group and we need to have others step up and make up for her commitment to regularly respond to posts and comments. This means a collective effort from everyone in the group! I have had numerous layers of serious physical & mental health challenges recently and not been as active as I would like in order to step back and focus on self-care. This is a time having another co-leader to pick up the slack is essential!

My last post about hobbies was actually first posted 16 months ago (when we had at least 1,000 less members) and it got over 200 ❤️ & 👍and 100 comments then! It got only ONE this time. And Laura made a great post about disability after that and it got only two responses as well. When new members open up and post to introduce themselves and then get very little response that is even worse. I fear that new members will see this and not be active moving forward. This is OUR group everybody and it functions best when members support other members. We all have our varied health histories and with them the knowledge and wisdom we’ve garnered along the way! PLEASE let’s share these with each other. Without this empathy and understanding this group is falling short of what I first envisioned when I started the group and what it’s capable of.

For a co-leader I am looking for someone to welcome new members, comment or respond to posts and other comments & replies, and make new posts to the group. It is important for the group to have distinctly different voices to support people because people might relate more to either of us. What is a really good situation is if we both respond to the same posts, welcome new members from different perspectives and provide voices for people that are accessible and relatable. There is a commitment needed that you monitor activities on the group regularly and can respond pretty quickly.

Offering your own posts provides more content for the group. I can assist and support by offering to look at your new posts for feedback and editing before you post if you would like, will comment on your posts to get the responses going to best support your efforts, and I can help finding memes or images.

I look at potential leaders' history of posts and/or comments that have helped and supported others in the past. Willingness to be honest and open about your own health challenges is crucial to best support people.

You will get access to the Community Leaders group and your name will have a “Group Leader” tab next to it up top on your comments and responses so I think people pay attention especially to your activity and wisdom shared from your personal experience. Would you consider joining me on this journey? Let’s have a DM chat to discuss this! Thanks for considering taking on this role!

In service,
Moshe
@moshemhc

#Depression #Anxiety #MentalHealth #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Chronicpainwarrior #Disability #BipolarDisorder #BipolarDepression #BipolarIIDisorder #Bipolar1Disorder
#ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Schizophrenia #AspergersSyndrome #Autism #Dementia #Concussion #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #Cancers #TraumaticBrainInjury #BrainInjury #LossOfAParent #Grief #Suicide #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #DistractMe #HIVAIDS #MightyQuestions #DownSyndrome #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #Deafness #neckpain #BackPain #CongestiveHeartFailure #Migraine #COVID19 #PeripheralNeuropathy #LymeDisease #Diabetes #EatingDisorder #Headache #Stroke #Cancer #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Disability #thankful #grateful #CocaineDependence #drugaddiction #Alcoholism #PTSD #EmotionalHealth #physicalhealth #PainAcceptance #Acceptance #relief #Selflove #Selfcare #MentalHealthHero #TheMighty #RareDisease #MightyTogether #RareDisease

Typically when people think of self-care, they think of: getting enough sleep, exercising, eating well, taking a nap, meditating, taking a bath or shower, or even going to a spa. But what if a rock concert is more your speed? Or Rockclimbing? Bowling? Backpacking? Fishing? Gardening? Deep cleaning? We are each our own person. What works for you may not work for others, or vice versa. There is no “right” answer as to what hobbies can and do improve our mental health. By sharing what helps you, hopefully other members will be inspired to explore those or other new activities!

I like listening to or making music on my drum. Recently I’ve found listening to podcasts can be very enthralling…entertaining and even educating! At the beginning of Covid Stay at Home I got some Legos and making things with them was fun and a great distraction…so it was a new creative hobby …and using colored pencils filling in mandalas and tattoo flash in adult coloring books (yes, they have these! They can be quite intricate and challenging …or simple) These were surprisingly therapuetc and calming! I love taking the time to create something, finish it, step back, and see the end result of my efforts. It can make me feel really good…proud, accomplished and empowered!

What have you found works for you?

Here’s a quick check-in for if you’re feeling self-conscious about your preferences…

Q: Does [insert hobby here] help you when you’re down?
A: Yes!

Conclusion: Then you’re doing it right, my friends! I am so glad you have found things that help you. Keep exploring to find new hobbies to expand your possibilities and new ways that you can turn to when you’re down or need a boost!

Please share those hobbies activities below — let’s see who has similar ones, or maybe ideas people haven’t thought about but will help them too!

#MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Disability #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Selflove #Selfcare #BipolarDisorder #Bipolar1 #Bipolar2 #BipolarDepression #ADHD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #COVID19 #Migraine #Headache #RareDisease #HIVAIDS #PeripheralNeuropathy #BackPain #neckpain #Addiction #AddictionRecovery #IfYouFeelHopeless #Hope #CheckInWithMe #InsideTheMighty #MightyTogether #DistractMe #mighty #MightyMinute #MightyQuestions #BrainInjury #Concussion #BrainFog #MemoryLoss

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It can be intimidating to ask for help, especially when it comes to requesting accommodations for work or school. While there are laws and procedures in place that are supposed to help the process, it’s exhausting to jump through so many hoops while already dealing with a health condition. And, unfortunately, not all supervisors and educators are as understanding or helpful as they could and should be.

While not everyone is able to request accommodations — or they might have had a challenging time trying to request them in the past — several members of our migraine community shared the best work or school accommodation they’ve ever had for migraine.

We hope that these ideas help you advocate for yourself at school or in the workplace. You deserve to have your needs met and you are not a burden when you ask for help.

🍎 To hear what a headache specialist has to say about accommodating migraine in the workplace (spoiler alert: it’s good!), listen to the most recent episode of Health and (un)Wellness on Spotify: open.spotify.com/episode/57vyjqje5EAykfctZe86D5

#Migraine #Work #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #School #MentalHealth #RareDisease #Fibromyalgia #Anxiety #Depression

'Nevertheless, She Persisted!'

It just gives me great strength and satisfaction that when others would have given up, I keep going.

One mini step at a time, keeping the faith and hope in the future.-no matter what! 💪🏻💪🏻💪🏻

When a great treatment or cure comes along, I will be ready!!!

#AmplifiedMusculoskeletalPainSyndrome #Arthritis #Asthma #Anxiety #ChronicFatigueSyndrome #CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Depression #Disability #DistractMe #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #Endometriosis #Fibromyalgia #GastroesophagealRefluxDisease #HypothyroidismUnderactiveThyroidDisease #Insomnia #Lupus #Lymphedema #MightyTogether #PosturalOrthostaticTachycardiaSyndrome #RareDisease #SuicidalThoughts #MentalHealth #MemoryLoss #Headache #PTSD #Psoriasis #Migraine #ComplexRegionalPainSyndrome #JuvenileRheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidArthritis