Smoking

Hi,
Ok so I’ve never done this before, I suffer with #Anxiety but I can function when it comes to my responsibilities even though I struggle, but there is this side of me I’m like Jekyll and Hyde. I want to say so much and can’t get it out I also have #PTSD I’m on tablet for my anxiety and others for #Depression but even those don’t help me but I’m scared to go doctors I’ve been so many times and nothing is working trust me I try counselling, meds even hypnosis the only thing that came out of that was stopped smoking but when someone loves me I look for ways to #Sabotage and it’s too late I have no control before I realise I’ve already said everything I can to hurt that person and I lose them, it’s like if I am made to feel not worthy then I just switch and I hate that I’ve tried fight it but I swear I feel like I become a different person and even though it gets better there is always that little voice that eventually wins. I am so damaged I don’t think there is any help out there for me and I will end up alone thank you to anyone that reads this.

Hi,
Ok so I’ve never done this before, I suffer with #Anxiety but I can function when it comes to my responsibilities even though I struggle, but there is this side of me I’m like Jekyll and Hyde. I want to say so much and can’t get it out I also have #PTSD I’m on tablet for my anxiety and others for #Depression but even those don’t help me but I’m scared to go doctors I’ve been so many times and nothing is working trust me I try counselling, meds even hypnosis the only thing that came out of that was stopped smoking but when someone loves me I look for ways to #Sabotage and it’s too late I have no control before I realise I’ve already said everything I can to hurt that person and I lose them, it’s like if I am made to feel not worthy then I just switch and I hate that I’ve tried fight it but I swear I feel like I become a different person and even though it gets better there is always that little voice that eventually wins. I am so damaged I don’t think there is any help out there for me and I will end up alone thank you to anyone that reads this.

I've been struggling for a few months in particular and it feels like its just not getting any better. I've got a lot of health stuff going on right now and housing issues too.

My brain is lying to me again. Its saying things like "You're a bad person and all of this is punishment" and "Nobody loves you because you're too broken to be loved" which I know is utter BS but my heart is hurting and starting to believe the lies. I'm trying to rise above the anxiety and pull thru but...

Well, my therapist says I'm doing better. But I relapsed on smoking after 2 and a half months of quitting. He says I'm clinging to maladaptive coping techniques and I know its true but I can't seem to shake it. I don't know what else to do.

What kinds of coping do you use to get thru hard times? Breathing exercises? Mindful eating? Meditation? Breaking things and primal screaming while covered in war paint at night under the full moon?

I listen to music almost all the time. And just to warn you, I’m going to be singing along. (I have a good voice though) My kids complain about it (13,17 both boys and both on the Spectrum but at completely different levels. I suspect that I’m autistic #Autism so I understand why certain things bother them. It doesn’t matter if it’s their favorite song playing, they insist that I turn it down (one seems to have super hearing because he’ll be on the computer (which is between all of the bedrooms and all of the doors are to remain shut) WITH headphones on, and I’ll be on my bed listening to my #Music and possibly singing, and then I’ll hear one of my sons yelling “Turn it down!” And I have to turn it down to where I can barely hear it or put my headphones on. And when I yell to one of my kids from the same place I had been playing music, they yell back “If you’re trying to talk to me then come out here!” Or they knock on the door and I yell “Come in!” And they reply, “What? I can’t understand what you’re saying! Can I open the door?” But my music is WAY TOO LOUD. And then I’m going, but you like Slipknot! And they always say that they don’t want to hear it right now.

So I go out to the porch with a speaker and I can blast my music outside. Music was one of the only things that would calm down our feral #Cat (we’ve had him since he was 5 weeks old and his mother was rejecting him) but he was just amazed at the sounds coming out of my cell phone and stop using his teeth and claws when we had him in the bed. (Side note- no matter how young the feral cat is, and how used to humans they are, they are still wild animals and you have to take time to tame them) His favorite band was #tool . He would actually curl up on the phone and listen.
I have several chronic illnesses and emotional issues—#Ehlers -Danlos Syndrome type 3, #Fibromyalgia , #idiopathic peripheral neuropathy,#Dysautonomia and I’m being evaluated for #Lupus and #rheumatoid arthritis (EDS likes to bring friends), and I have a small cyst on my pancreas that could turn cancerous (my grandfather, great grandmother and my great uncle [my grandfather’s brother and g-grandmother’s son] all died of #pancreatic cancer. I have a bunch of #nodules on my liver and my #thyroid , #Migraines AND #cluster headaches, #hashimotos , and I suspect #Celiac disease since my mother and nephew have it and it would explain a whole lot (right now I’m cutting out dairy, then wheat, then soy-which is difficult because I’m a #Vegetarian ) plus my mental illnesses, #PTSD , #Bipolar disorder,#Anxiety and depression—and those last two are actually a CRITERIA for #EDS .
I have to have my music and be able to listen to it—before I had ear pods, I would just play it on my phone with it stuck upside down in my bra. The music that is played in stores that I have to go to will actually give me a #Migraine so I don’t have any problems with bothering other people by playing my favorite playlist. They need to be exposed to good music anyway.
I loved that I had a Bluetooth radio in my car, and I would have it turned up loud, and when I was smoking (I just quit!) I would have the a/c blasting (I live in #austin #texas , so it’s running year round) and I would have my window down for my cigarette. And this way I could expose people to good music (if I had a chance to say just 5 words to the country, it would be “ STOP LISTENING TO SH*TTY MUSIC”(seriously, what’s with all the smut in popular music today?)) and possibly find another person that enjoyed the bands that I play.
My number one song for my bad days is #invincible by #tool and this song has been my anthem. Also, A Perfect Circle’s #feathers , another #tool song, #thepatient (can you tell that I’m a big fan of Maynard James Keenan? I have everything that he’s released on my phone) and when I’m dealing with my #PTSD , there’s nothing like The (Dixie) Chick’s “Not Ready to Make Nice “and L7’s “Sh*tlist” and a whole lotta Hole.
I’m into a lot of different genres, but mainly #Metal and #Punk (not pop punk! I don’t call that punk. It’s alternative.). And if I’m not in a motorized cart, having a good day, and I can see the security camera, then I’ll start dancing along the aisle (but not with other customers in it unless I can tell that they’re a punky/gothy/metal head/freak and then I’m talking bands with them.
#Music has also been a way for me to meet people with similar tastes. I can’t go to listen to live music or go to a concert because of my #Dysautonomia . I don’t think that they would let me bring in a couple gallons of Gatorade. But I also made a battle vest with band patches and tons of band buttons (mainly punk bands and metal) and people will comment about this or that band, and ask what my favorite album is and my favorite song by that band (I know at least one song by each band and I’ll either name the song that is considered the best or an obscure song by a band that is mainly associated with just one song (like the Sex Pistols—I like the song “Pretty Vacant”) because I don’t just listen to one song, because you’re going to miss out on so many great songs that weren’t played on the radio.
This is what I collect. Music. Musicians. And I’ll research them and tell people obscure things about that musician or band-like that during a Nirvana concert, Kurt Cobain saw a girl being sexually assaulted in the audience and he didn’t say a word but put down his guitar, grabbed the guy and hung him from his belt loop on a prop so everyone could see him and then Kurt went back to his chair and as he was picking up his guitar he said into the microphone while looking towards the guy and said “Now you get to be exposed.” Not the only time a musician has come to the rescue of a fan.
If I’m not listening to my music, that’s a signal that I’m extremely depressed. Because it’s such a part of my coping methods when I’m dealing with pain or exhaustion or anxiety or depression or dehydration or nightmares. I’m not savvy enough to post my parts of my favorite playlist, but for anyone who is dealing with a #chronic illness that has changed their entire life (which one doesn’t?) I highly recommend listening to TOOL’s #invincible from the Fear Inoculum album. And if you’re dealing with #PTSD , listen to A Perfect Circle’s #feathers . That song is like Maynard’s supporting you in your recovery.

I quit smoking for a month and a half and then something stressful happened with a family member and I went and bought a pack. And another and another. I'm starting over tomorrow. I know smoking doesn't help with stress but my bipolar depression has become unmanageable most days and I guess it's a comfort/crutch. I keep telling myself I have things to live for and being healthy will ensure I'm alive for as long as possible. I'm feeling quite defeated today and would really appreciate some encouragement. #quittingsmoking #Smoking #NicotineDependence #Addiction #Bipolar1Disorder #Psychosis #Anxiety #Depression

Hi and thanks for allowing me to join ! I’m 59 y/o single and I’ve been living alone for almost 3 years . My life has been one bad decision after the other and I’m so ready to change the way I think and the way I react. Both of my parents were alcoholics, I became the caretaker at the age of about 6. I experienced relentless bullying from 2 nd to 12 th grade , at 15 I started drinking , smoking weed, taking pills, at 17 I moved in with my BF who was a convicted felon and addict. I started using IV drugs . It’s was a physically and emotionally abusive relationship that lasted 6 years . I had an abortion at this point in my life. I was arrested many times for misdomeanor crimes, mostly drug related. I finally straighten up to a degree when I was about 25, I married an older man and this relationship lasted only 3 years. I continue to use on and off. I married again and that too was a failure . The only thing good was that we adopted my daughter . I became a nurse and practiced for 17 years . My dad died and I had a mental breakdown . I surrendered my liscense and I took a dive into drugs and alcohol. I had two very physivcally abusive relations , the last one lasting 12 years which almost completely destroyed me . He was a textbook narcissist and when I finally got away from him I felt worthless, and dead inside . I lost myself. That was 3 years ago. Finally I’m trying to recover from all the trauma in my life , but I’m not sure how. I’m riddled with extreme anxiety, I can’t sleep, I can’t concentrate , I feel like nothing good is in store for me . I question why I’m even here . I can’t remember the last time I had fun , had anything to look forward to. My dreams have come and gone and I’ve lost the ability to dream new ones. I’m open to any suggestions that may help me learn how to deal with the loneliness and anxiety I’m experiencing. I want to learn the right way to deal with life , problems. I want to learn how to look forward to something and have fun. I’ve been in a state of survival most all of my life and I wonder if it’s too late for me ?

Part 1 of 2 When a chronically suicidal person is diagnosed with a life-threatening disease only to face Medical Inequality coupled with family mobbing

As the scapegoat member of a narcissistic family dynamic, I have been chronically suicidal since the age of 14. With each of my suicide attempts, some of my family members have exhibited anger toward me while others have been deeply saddened and still others showed no emotion either way. At the age of 60, I was diagnosed with a life-threatening, treatment resistant disease. The reactions of family members to this news have been very disturbing; especially, since I am faced with barriers to medical treatment.

Despite providing documentation of lab results, medical visit notes, and citations from medical journals with statistical analyses of the disease and it’s treatment prognosis along with cost-effectiveness practices of medical providers and insurance companies, my family members have expressed to me either their annoyance because they think I’m crying wolf, their satisfaction that they will finally be rid of me, or the usual apathy about anything that relates to my life. The most frustrating of these is being called a liar.

To be clear, I have no fear of death and would welcome it’s arrival sooner than later. What is upsetting to me is the attitude that my life doesn’t matter; which, is being exhibited by family members and medical practitioners. It’s one thing when one chooses death for themselves. It’s quite another when others choose death for an individual.

I have already addressed in previous articles the medical inequality faced by those who are elderly, disabled, low-income, or on Medicare. I have touched on gender bias among medical practitioners. This article is about the experience of being perceived as ‘the boy who cried wolf’ and the bizarre phenomenon of lifestyle bias as it relates to receiving life-saving medical treatment.

Based upon the results of diagnostic tools, there is no doubt in the minds of medical practitioners nor my family members that I have this disease. The seriousness of this disease is being questioned by family members. The problem seems to be their lack of comprehension of the term ‘life-threatening’. The first aspect of this ignorance is the questioning of the fact that pneumonia, a complication of this disease, could be considered life-threatening. The second aspect is the misconception that ‘life-threatening’ is the same as ‘terminal’.

Let’s look at the second part first—the medical definitions of the two terms:

medical-dictionary.thefreedictionary.com/Terminal+illness: “a progressive disease where death as a consequence of that disease can reasonably be expected within 6 months”.

pallipedia.org/life-threatening-condition: “a condition for which curative treatment may be feasible but can fail.”

What makes my life-threatening condition even more serious is that the curative treatment is being denied. An www.verywellhealth.com/curative-care-2615157

states, “With curative care comes hope. Typically, when a patient receives curative care, it is an indication that there is a belief that the patient may potentially recover, or will at least be able to continue living at a reasonable quality. Curative care may take many different forms, but all have the same goals. Aggressive care is a form of curative care and represents a proactive approach to medical treatment. This care aggressively aims to eliminate medical issues, rather than simply minimizing their impact. A patient that is receiving aggressive care will typically receive medication, have access to technology, undergo surgery, and take any other measures that could be considered effective approaches to treat an illness. When it no longer appears that the patient has a legitimate chance to recover or continue to live with a decent quality of life, doctors may suggest ending aggressive care.”

The doctors are already aware that the www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2387295 for my diagnosis is poor. What my family fails to acknowledge is that the prognosis of this disease with treatment failure is even worse with a www.sciencedirect.com/topics/medicine-and-dentistry/fusariosis in certain studies.

As for my family members’ misconception regarding the seriousness of pneumonia, the www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC4612842 The mortality rate of disseminated fusariosis when there is physical interstitial lung capillary blockage www.ncbi.nlm.nih.gov/pmc/articles/PMC2176050 even wit

Part 2 of 2 h treatment.

Part of the hesitance of doctors to treat me for this disease is that I have a treatment resistant tobacco #Addiction . A component of the attitude of my family members is, “If you want the doctors to help you, just quit #Smoking .” I have been on several #Smoking cessation medications and gone through the companion behavioral modification treatment modalities. The prescriptions included the gum, the patch, Welbutrin, Chantix, and Nicotrol spray. I have been cooperative and compliant with the #Smoking cessation treatments to no avail.

My tobacco addition is a symptom of #ComplexPosttraumaticStressDisorder . I am experiencing barriers to treatment for CPTSD in the way of insurance (Medicare does not cover), financial (low, limited income prohibits paying out-of-pocket), and medical transportation (in a semi-rural area with no vehicle, ineligibility for Medicaid, and out of the service area for community resources).

The bizarre aspect of this is that, even if the doctors wish to withhold curative treatment based upon my tobacco use, why are they refusing palliative care? Palliative care is symptom management of a disease to keep a patient comfortable before impending death. It appears I am being punished with a slow miserable death solely because of tobacco bias.

I have never heard of patients being denied curative, much less palliative, care based solely upon their lifestyle choices—not drug or alcohol addicts, not obese patients with #EatingDisorders , not diabetics who refuse dietary changes, not anyone. The only other patients who experience withholding of medical treatment and community judgment such as this are those seeking abortions from doctors with religious objections!

On that note, I repeat the sentiment I expressed above–how disturbing when others, for any reason other than a capital offense, choose death for an individual, a slow miserable one no less! If all the doctors wish to provide me is palliative care under the condition that I quit #Smoking first, from a cost-effectiveness and humanitarian standpoint, which is less expensive and more compassionate? Force me to quit #Smoking , have me go through withdrawals I have no #MentalHealth support for, then give palliative care until I die. Or, give me palliative care now while I smoke and; because I’m a smoker, the length of time I will need palliative care before death will be that much shorter and cost insurance a heck of a lot less.

I’m sry this is a lil long. I am 52 but the baby in my fam. 3 brothers and 1 sister who passed. One of my brothers who is the only married one said they considered me more like their daughter then a sister.
We were extremely close talked on the phone all the time sleep overs & vacations. I then got sick Lyme twice then diagnosed with fibromyalgia.
I unfortunately was not able to work any longer. I had loved working and loved my career. My company ended up laying off 90% of my department. I was absolutely crushed. At the time I had needed back surgery and ended up getting an anterior lumbar fusion.

When I spoke with my brother he felt that I could and should still work. He and my sister in law started saying that I should lose weight (which they had not known I has lost a considerable amount of weight)
Then they went on to say I should stop drinking which again because I had quit smoking due to the surgery I also stopped drinking.
They then said A LOT to me a lot of things that were out of line. They then proceeded to say the most painful thing to me.
Which was they hoped that I wouldn’t get approved for disability. Now at the time my husband was awaiting his disability as he was hurt on the job. So financially we were struggling. (Sry so long).

So fast forward 10 years I have been on disability and my brother and sister in law do not speak. They told my mother they do not know why we’re not speaking or why I’m mad at them. I think my biggest pet peeve of the whole thing is they said they looked at me as a daughter. Yet they never reach out. We have had a few special occassions were my daughter wanted them there, so we invited them.
They have never invited us to anything. I don’t want to be petty and want to do the whole forgive and forget but the question is I am worthy are they worthy of my forgiveness or can as I have my own family my husband and daughter. Write them off as I feel they did me ?
Whatcha ya guys think

#fibromyalgia #fibrowarrior
#fibrofighter #sickofbeingsick
#chroniclymediseaseawareness #lymesucks #LymeWarrior #lyme
#invisibleillness #spoonielife #chronicpainsucks #epsteinbarr
#ra #rheumatoidarthritis #ic/BPS #interstitialcystitis #ptsd #sciatica #pituitarytumor #nervedamage #ankylosingspondylitis #LymeDisease #LymeWarrior #chronicpain #chronicpainsufferer #ddd #migraines
#immunocompromised #forgive #familydisfunction
#InvisibleDisability #DisabilityBenefits #anteriorlumbarfusion
#LymeDisease #ChronicLymeDisease