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Rough Day but at least I survived #StimulantDependence #Bipolar1 #Hypertension

I truly believe that I have finally hit my "bottom" today with my addiction to crystal meth. I'm really tired of abusing the body that God has blessed me with, It gets old going through the same old cycle over and over again. I'm ready to begin my recovery journey but I have extreme anxiety about attending 12-step meetings and I fear my own chances of a relapse again if I don't start following a program. I have come to this conclusion: If I don't start being proactive about my recovery and health and stay on the path I am currently on, I will end up dead from a heart attack, stroke, etc. I appreciate and value my life more than that so I need to act and live life like I value it.

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Just add it to the list

Ended up in the ER twice a couple weeks ago, and then 2 ER follow-ups with docs. First ER visit i just went to a walk-in clinic for cough meds. Ended up being in respiratory failure and didn't know it and got my first ride in an ambulance. Second time I drove myself there. Both times indicated that I now have high blood pressure and am now on yet another med. yay.

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Sleep Tips: What Helps You Sleep?

What is the purpose and value of sleep?
Without it, it would be impossible to function properly. Sleep is one of the most important activities the body uses to take care of itself. Though the absolute existential and biological reasons for sleep are not fully known, there is mounting evidence that sleep helps us with the following:
* Recuperate physically and mentally
* Conserve energy vital for all basic human functioning
* Maintain equilibrium in all biological processes
* Supports critical brain function
* Deep Sleep = Deep Healing
Scientists have discovered that sleep may be a secret elixir that can cure or reduce risk of dementia. How? Sleep is like a fascinating vacuuming system that clears the brain from toxic protein tangles called beta amyloid, a stronger biological marker for dementia.
How do we sleep?
Your sleep consists of two major phases: non-rapid eye movement sleep (which consists of three stages: Stage 1, 2, and 3) and rapid eye movement (REM) sleep. Each stage is important for several biological processes. Specifically, Stage 3, marked by slow wave sleep, is linked with biological recuperative and restoration processes.
However, your sleep is much more than these biological processes and stages. Don’t just focus on how much sleep you get but rather the quality, timing (when you sleep), efficiency, consistency of sleep time, and how satisfied you are after sleeping—which are all important in determining if you are getting “good, healthy sleep.”
How does sleep affect our overall health and wellness?
It’s no secret that sleep can affect our physical and mental well-being. In fact, healthy sleep duration can reduce risk for:
* Cancer
* Heart disease
* Dementia
* Mental illness
* Respiratory disease
* Inflammation
* Reduced immune function
In addition to our well-being, healthy sleep improves brain function (such as concentration and memory), mood, quality of life, libido, and even your level of attraction. One of the strongest evidence for the benefits of sleep is seen in its ability to reduce the risk for heart disease. Sleep is linked with lowering of blood pressure and glucose levels during the night, reducing risk for hypertension and diabetes.
How can we get better sleep?
While there is no one-size-fits-all sleep routine, there are a few things you can do to set yourself up for better sleep at night.
Tips for preparing for better sleep
* Avoid heavy meals 2 hours before bed.
* Avoid exercise 2-3 hours before bed.
* Avoid bright lights at least 30 minutes before bed. Turn off the TV and other electronic devices, and be mindful of blue light from mobile devices and excessively bright LED lights.
* Try to keep a consistent bedtime routine or schedule. Try to keep both the time you go to sleep and the activities you do before bed the same.
* Avoid any stressful or emotional conversations before going to bed.
* Avoid naps, especially too close to bedtime. Sometimes, a power nap is a great way to recharge your energy during the day. But if it’s the late afternoon or early evening, consider how laying down to rest could impact your ability to fall asleep later in the night.
* Avoid stressful activities 30 minutes before bed. Yes, this includes doing work! Instead, aim to work a calming activity such as reading into your night routine.
* Ensure your sleep environment is conducive and a sanctuary for sleep.
* Take a warm shower before bed. This can be a soothing step of your bedtime routine that may help you feel more restful once you jump into bed.
* Dress in loose clothing. There’s nothing worse than feeling restrained by tight clothing while trying to get comfortable for sleep. Wearing loose clothing for bed promotes better circulation and will allow your skin to breathe at night.
What should we do if we can’t fall asleep at night?
Sometimes, even with a good night routine and sleep preparation, our bodies just won’t let us doze off.
Here are 7 tips that may help you fall asleep
* If you don’t fall asleep within 15-20 minutes, get out of bed. This may seem like a strange recommendation since your bed is the very place where you want to fall asleep. However, get up and try to wind down in other ways before you climb back under the sheets.
* Avoid reaching for your smartphone. As mentioned earlier, blue light from mobile devices and excessively bright LED lights can block natural melatonin production and make it harder for you to fall asleep. Instead of aimlessly scrolling through social media in the middle of the night, try reading a relaxing book for 15-20 minutes instead.
* Drink a cup of hot decaf tea. The soothing effect can help to fall asleep.
* Meditate or practice mindfulness. Breathing exercises can help clear your mind and calm your body.
* Too much ambient noise around? Try a sound machine or soothing sleep story. If you’re having trouble falling asleep due to surrounding noises, you may find sounds like soothing ocean waves or raindrops calming. Research has also shown that sound machines and white noise can help.
* Ensure room temperature is 60 to 67 degrees F. Your body's temperature naturally decreases during sleep. So, a cool but not cold, room will help you better settle into and maintain sleep throughout the night
* Try a hot shower or bath. A hot shower or bath can cool and relax your body, which are ideal to induce sleep.

If you’ve been having a hard time getting to sleep lately, I hope these tips make you feel more ready to crawl into bed and catch some z’s!

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Peaches 🍑

I took a trip out to the orchard and got fresh peaches. Such a healthy snack. Did you know peaches are full of antioxidants (which help against disease and aging) and nutrients? Peaches contain fiber, which contributes to smooth digestion and a lower risk
of gut disorders. Peaches lower risk factors for heart disease, such as high blood pressure and cholesterol levels. Peaches also keep your skin healthy. They also protect against certain types of cancer.

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Hi, I'm new here.

I just wanted to pop on and say Hello. I'm glad to have found this group. #MightyTogether #ADHD #ChronicFatigue #Arthritis #Asthma #ObstructiveSleepApneaHypopnea #Hypertension #Hypersomnia Photo is me in 1970. 🥰

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Tired of Being Dismissed

I try not to complain and don't share my health struggles (disabling depression, anxiety) with many. I went to the psychiatrist yesterday where, thanks to a combination of having elevated blood pressure already and being extremely anxious, my blood pressure was 184/132. The aide who took it relayed that information to my doctor before letting me go home. That scared me even more. But to everyone else, that's not a big deal. They have worse or that's not so bad. I just need a space where I can be frightened and that's a reasonable, valid reaction. I've been prescribed a medication for the anxiety and scheduled an appointment with a general practitioner to get my blood pressure under control. #Anxiety #Depression #HighBloodPressure

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Tired of Being Dismissed

I try not to complain and don't share my health struggles (disabling depression, anxiety) with many. I went to the psychiatrist yesterday where, thanks to a combination of having elevated blood pressure already and being extremely anxious, my blood pressure was 184/132. The aide who took it relayed that information to my doctor before letting me go home. That scared me even more. But to everyone else, that's not a big deal. They have worse or that's not so bad. I just need a space where I can be frightened and that's a reasonable, valid reaction. I've been prescribed a medication for the anxiety and scheduled an appointment with a general practitioner to get my blood pressure under control. #Anxiety #Depression #HighBloodPressure

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So im gonna go by Rosie! Anyone else here have a dx list a mile long w advice on any of them???
Ptsd
Bipolar 1
Borderline personality disorder
Codependant tendencies
Anxiety
Depression
ADD
And to top it off fibromyalgia
PCOS
Panic disorder
High Blood pressure qhich inhibits meds i can take.
Wahoo. Any advice on any of the above… im open
Kindest regards,
rosie

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Yay I got my meds today

Refills of nurtec, which I called for 2 days ago, as well as my losartan and insulin. My head hurts a lot. I'm gonna take a nurtec. I think I'll take a nap today. I don't have anything going on until Monday.#Migraine #Diabetes #Hypertension #CheckInWithMe

Bonus points if you know what this picture is of. I drew this many years ago.

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The “other” opioid crisis?

Does anybody else feel like your chronic pain was caused (or worsened) because your doctors didn’t adequately treat your acute pain after a physical injury?

I was hit by a car 11 years ago. (I was outside the car.) That accident left me with broken bones and a lot of physical tissue damage to my body. But my doctors were scared to prescribe opioids due to the DEA crackdown. They treated me with suspicion, like I was a pill-seeker, even though I had a completely clean record and no history of addiction. I would BEG them to help relieve my pain. It was downright cruel how they treated me. Sure, they would send me to physical therapy (which helped a little, but not nearly enough), perform surgeries (which didn’t work), or do radio frequency nerve ablations on my spine (which often made the pain worse), but opioids were off the table. Opioids were and still are the only reliable treatment I have for my severe pain. Without opioids, I’m bed-bound.

So I was forced to live in a hellish state of constant & severe pain for 2 years without pain meds. (I live in GA, the Bible Belt, so there’s no medical marijuana here.) I would vomit b/c the pain was so bad. I developed high blood pressure and tachycardia because my nervous system was so stressed from the constant severe pain.

FINALLY, 2 years after the accident, I found a reputable pain clinic with a pain management doctor and got the opioids and other pain treatments I needed. Those help me have some semblance of a life. But 11 years after the accident, I still have pain everyday. I’ve been told that my tissue damage has healed and now I have a chronic pain and Central Sensitization—my pain seems to have a life of its own. Parts of my body that were never injured in the accident now hurt like hell. My legs were not injured, but now they burn. My whole body hurts, it seems, and I wince when someone pokes me with only mild pressure.

I can’t help but feel like a victim of the “other” opioid crisis— the crisis where people with severe, legitimate pain from physical tissue damage are denied pain medication when they need it most. I feel like my pain got stuck in the “on” position because I was forced to live with such severe pain for so long. Does anyone else feel like a victim of this “other” opioid crisis? #Pain #ChronicPain #Opioids

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