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Be Forever Strong

Staying Forever Strong Blog Series With Robert Rehermann

This week on my Staying Forever Strong blog series I interviewed Mental Health warrior Robert Rehermann. We talked all about what he has gone through and how he is overcoming all odds.

What do you suffer from?

Depression, Anxiety, ADHD

When were you diagnosed?

I was diagnosed with ADHD around the age of 5 and diagnosed with Anxiety & Depression around 8th/9th grade

What was it like when you were diagnosed?

I felt like I was different and that all these things made me weird.

Did you know a lot about your condition?

Yes I know quite a bit.

What helps to keep you Forever Strong?

I have a really great support system. I recently started yoga and meditating and that definitely helps clear my mind. Knowing that I’m able to overcome mental health issues makes me really happy.

What was your support system like? What is it like now?

My support system has always been really good, though there’s been times where I felt like I had nobody. My friends & family are extremely supportive.

What is the hardest part about dealing with (issue)?

The hardest part about dealing with my mental health disorders is remembering that it gets better. It can be really hard to stay positive sometimes, but I really do try my best.

What is a piece of advice you have for anyone who is just being diagnosed?

Don’t be afraid to ask for help and talk about your mental health. It’s not healthy to bottle up your emotions. Even if there’s things that are uncomfortable to talk about, it’s much better than not talking at all.

What is a piece of advice you have for someone who doesn’t understand or believe?

Mental health is NOT attention seeking. Even if you don’t understand or believe in mental health, please try to be compassionate because it does exist. If you have nothing nice or insightful to say, I’d rather you say nothing at all.

Staying Forever Strong with Clinical Psychotherapist Diane Levy-Rubinstein

This week for my Staying Forever Strong blog series I talked with Clinical Psychotherapist Diane Levy-Rubinstein. We talked about her career and how she handles the balancing act of helping others v. herself.

Why did you decide to go into (your profession)?

I love to learn about people and how they cope. I knew this was my calling as I love to work with people to help them to find their LIFE WORTH LIVING. I also have a sibling who has a mental illness.

What does mental health mean to you?

Mental health is a wide subject. To me it means having the ability to have psychological and emotional intelligence. And insight to help one self so that you can face what you need to live a healthy life.

What is the best thing about what you do?

Watch people find healthy living skills to improve their life.

What is a day in the life like for you at work?

I love my profession. Work for me is energy synergy and continuation of learning.

How do you separate work from home life, especially if it was a tough day?

I have always been able to separate my work from home. I do after house coaching. I take good care of my health and mental health.

What is some advice you have for those struggling with (mental health, illness and or pain)?

Focus on the positives. Stay in the moment. Find ways to empower yourself so you can find your life worth living. Have a solid support system.

Have you had any experince with (mental health, pain or illness) and has that helped or hindered you with work?

Yes with pain. It has enhanced my ability to provide support empathy acceptance and understanding.

Is there anything else you want us to know about you or the field?

It

Staying Forever Strong with Wallis Hechler

Today’s interview is with Wallis Hechler a student at Kay College and someone who is like a little sister to me. She discussed how she has dealt with her anxiety, depression as well as misophonia and overcoming anorexia. She is a strong warrior and I love hearing how she stays Forever Strong.

What do you suffer from?

Depression, anxiety, misophonia, and (almost five years free) anorexia

When were you diagnosed?

Anxiety: as long as I can remember, depression: 13, misophonia: 15 (though I

5 Ways to Improve The Way You Feel

The way you feel on the inside and on the outside can really matter. It can have a certain degree of impact on your day and to your life. Life is certainly too short to be feeling anything other than happiness and feeling good inside and out. Here are five ways to improve the way you feel so that you can move forward with a bounce in your step.

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How To Thrive With A Chronic Illness

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Living with a chronic illness can sometimes feel like you are enduring invisible pain that no one can see but you. At times this can be really frustrating. Suffering in silence can feel really isolating and asking for assistance remains challenging. If you are living with a chronic illness like glaucoma, age-related macular degeneration or any other type of disorder, there is a way you can not only survive chronic illness but thrive. Here are some tips to help you live your best life with a chronic illness, but before we dive into that let us first look at what is a chronic illness.

What Is A Chronic Illness?

As a rule of thumb, a chronic illness is a health condition that lasts more than a year or more, according to the CDC. This condition also requires continuing medical attention, which can make it challenging to go on about living your daily life. Sometimes it can cause a little of both. These illnesses include things like heart disease, cancer, diabetes or glaucoma. No matter how many times you try to find the best new brand to treat your illness, it will never go away.

Chronic illnesses such as those are known as some of the most leading causes of death and disability in the United States as well as the leading driving force behind health care costs. When you do things like smoke tobacco or expose yourself to second-hand smoke, have a poor diet, do not exercise and drink too much alcohol, you are allowing yourself to be vulnerable to adopting a chronic illness.

Living Your Best Life With A Chronic Illness

Chronic illnesses are very common as six in ten adults in the US have a chronic illness and four in ten adults have two or more chronic illnesses. Now that you have a better understanding of what a chronic illness is, we can finally get to how to thrive with a chronic illness. It is super simple. All you need to do is shift your mindset.

Shift The Blame

Your chronic illness is not your fault. You did not cause this. Avoid blaming yourself for having or developing a chronic illness. To some extent, maintaining healthiness is a common obstacle that most people have to overcome. You are not alone in your feelings. You should also note that your illness is a part of living life.

Let go of your self-blame and you will feel 100 times lighter and happier. You will not longer have to carry around the burden you placed on yourself. You can live freely knowing that everyone has to face health challenges at some point in their lives. That does not make them any better or worse off than you.

Accept Life

Life is unpredictable, unplanned, uncertain and ever-changing. The faster you accept that the faster you can move on to living your best life. Since life is always changing, you can never be sure if something is going to go your way. The best way to prepare for life

Modern Devices Used to Help With Chronic Pain

There are so many people today that suffer from chronic pain and that need management. The typical approach is to use painkillers and adopt cognitive practices, like reframing how to think about it or using mental techniques to shut it out. 

Today, though, many devices promise to improve the quality of life for those living with chronic pain. As technology advances, so too do opportunities to find remedies. 

So what’s out there that could help you better manage your chronic pain?

Electrotherapy Devices

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Electrotherapy has a bit of a bad rap because of the way psychiatrists used it in the past. But it turns out that so-called “microcurrent electrical therapy” or “MET” can help some people. 

Today, you can get handheld prescription devices that look a bit like a pen that you run over painful areas of your body. These pieces of equipment emit a kind of microcurrent that interacts with the body’s tissues, potentially disrupting nerve signals and providing relief.

Sometimes, doctors will prescribe these tools for people with anxiety. Evidence suggests that running them over the head or wearing them as ear clips can help reduce feelings of tension and body pain. 

Heat Therapy Machines

Doctors will often recommend that people with chronic pain hold a warm compress against their bodies. The basic idea here is that the compress’s heat will confuse the pain receptors in the target area, replacing the signal your brain receives. 

Now, a bunch of companies are creating heated devices for things like muscle and joint pain. Patients simply place their hands inside a special mitt and then put them inside the heating chamber to deliver heating action to the rest of the body. 

Posture Monitors

A lot of chronic pain results from poor posture, especially in the neck and back. Now, though, minder for Apple Watch is providing users with a connected tool that they can use to correct the way that they sit or stand. 

The idea behind the tool is pretty simple. You attach a necklace to your Apple Watch, which then tracks your posture. The app on the phone then provides you with information on how you’re sitting and whether your position is correct. If it isn’t, then the app will give you helpful tips and reminders for what to do next. 

Muscle Stimulators

Muscle stimulators work by sending electrical signals into the muscles themselves, causing them to contract involuntarily. Mostly, people use these devices for exercise. But now manufacturers are also making them into massage tools. 

The idea is pretty simple. You place the pads on the areas of the body causing you pain and then the device passes an electric current through them. The muscle will then contract and expand periodically, according to the settings you choose

Some devices have multiple pads, allowing you to place them in several different locations all at once, providing pain relief that way. 

In summary, it is clear that technology is moving forwards and helping to find non-pharmacological ways to relieve pain. Have you tried any of these gadgets?

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