Today’s a bad day ….

Last night totally sucked. Actually, yesterday morning, too, but throughout the night things got much worse. I barely got any sleep. No matter how I laid in bed, my body fought with me. From my left hip all the way down to my toes, the pain and tingling sensation wouldn’t stop. And if I laid on my right side, then my right hip started throbbing. My neck was also against me. The pins and needles numbing pain was relentless… it was shooting up into my head and down to my shoulders…. Then to both my hands… And let’s not forget about my lower back that throbbed with its own aching pain. When I say that I hurt from head to toe, I literally mean that!

With all that going on, I did what I could mentally to hold back the panic attack that was trying to happen. Sometimes the pain gets so bad that I can’t fight the anxiety. It sucks!

It’s barely 8 a. m. and I’ve already had four pieces of chocolate… some homemade Christmas candy… But hey, it’s healthy right?! I mean, after all, it does have mixed raisins, cranberries and dried cherries with peanuts in it. Lol… At least I’m telling myself that it’s healthy candy. Yeah, I’m a stress eater…. Goes well with the second pot of coffee I’ve already made.

The reason why I’m writing all this isn’t to get sympathy points, but to hopefully raise more awareness of chronic pains and diseases.

A few months ago I was diagnosed with even more debilitating conditions that make my prior ones even more of a living hell. (Degenerative Disc Disease in both my neck and lower back, foraminal stenosis in my neck and lower spine, cervical stenosis in my neck, straightening of the cervical lordosis in my neck…. on top of what I was already diagnosed with…. bilateral carpal tunnel syndrome, depression, anxiety, insomnia and fibromyalgia.) So yeah, daily life is a challenge. The mobility issues, constant pain, stiffness, mental state…. the list goes on… Sometimes to crack a smile literally takes all my strength.

I know a lot of you out there live with chronic pains and diseases as well, and my heart goes out to you all. Stay strong and remember, life is what we make it…. One day at a time!

A BIG THANK YOU to each and every single one of you for always being so amazing! Much love and light to you!

~ Sheila πŸ’‹

Advertisement

Here to say, “Hi!!”…. on YouTube

Promote Love – Not Hate!

Happy Monday, everyone!! It has been far too long since my last post back in February! Hope you all have been well during this pandemic. What a crazy time we are in….. Phew!

With that being said, just a simple reminder as I write this post that each and every single one of you are so very important. You rock in your own unique way! Life really is a blessing. Even though there are times that we go through that may seem otherwise, we need to remind ourselves that those moments, as difficult as they can be, can be used as catalysts to make us stronger. Trust me, I know from experience. I’m not always smiles and positive vibes. However, I do try my very best to promote “feel good energy”. πŸ™‚

We all have our darkness and that’s perfectly ok. As long as we are constructive with our emotions and never destructive. We must construct learning experiences and grow from them, rising ever so high and graciously like the soaring Phoenixes that we all are!!

Remember when you look in the mirror…. you are looking at someone amazing! There is an insurmountable greatness within you! The ability that you have to achieve your dreams is something phenomenal! Anything is possible and you own the key to your future, no one else does. Let no one ever dim the light that resides deep within your beautiful heart. Shine your magnificence for all the world to see!!!

With all the negativity that’s out there, let’s negate those bad, nasty vibes by overcoming adversity. Stand tall, shoulders back with heads held high. Inhale a deep, engaging breath in through the nose… hold for a count of five…. then slowly exhale that breath out through the mouth. Continue that simple breathing technique periodically as you carry out your day. And guess what?! You’ve got this!!!! Go on with your awesome self!!! Rock those positive vibes! Love yourself and love others! Promote Love – Not Hate!

 

Massive Love & Light! ~ Sheila ❀

 

 

Sheila Renee Parker ~ Author. Artist. Empath.

 

 

 

 

“I have Rosacea”

“Rosacea (roe-ZAY-she-uh) is a common skin condition that causes redness and visible blood vessels in your face. It may also produce small, red, pus-filled bumps. These signs and symptoms may flare up for a period of weeks to months and then diminish for a while. Rosacea can be mistaken for acne, an allergic reaction or other skin problems.

Rosacea can occur in anyone. But it most commonly affects middle-aged women who have fair skin. While there’s no cure for rosacea, treatments can control and reduce the signs and symptoms. If you experience persistent redness of your face, see your doctor for a diagnosis and proper treatment.” ~ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/symptoms-causes/syc-20353815

 

 

 

Sounds so simple doesn’t it? To many it might be, but not for me. More than 16 million Americans are reported to have rosacea.

What causes rosacea? Excellent question! According to the Mayo Clinic, “The cause of rosacea is unknown, but it could be due to a combination of hereditary and environmental factors.” ~ https://www.mayoclinic.org/diseases-conditions/rosacea/symptoms-causes/syc-20353815

Back in October, just before Halloween I noticed some irritation on my chin, tiny little bumps that oozed clear fluid and my skin had become quite sensitive, itchy and somewhat tender. The redness was embarrassing, looked like I had a red beard of inflammation. Unfortunately, I recognized it from something I had years ago on a couple of different occasions. I scheduled an appointment with my dermatologist and got my diagnosis. It was perioral dermatitis which “is a facial rash that tends to occur around the mouth. Most often it is red and slightly scaly or bumpy. Any itching or burning is mild. It may spread up around the nose, and occasionally the eyes while avoiding the skin adjacent to the lips.” ~ https://www.aocd.org/page/PerioralDermatitis

This was the third time in twenty years that I had perioral dermatitis. UGH….. Anyway, this time I went to a new dermatologist, a different clinic than the one I had previously gone to from years ago only because I had moved to a different state.

The dermatologist this time prescribed me a steroidal cream and two weeks worth of doxycycline. Sounds good, right? I would have thought so, too until when I was finished with my doxycycline I noticed that my condition wasn’t improving. It actually was getting worse. So, I went back to the clinic, but saw a different dermatologist this time. He assessed the condition, confirming it was still indeed perioral dermatitis. He looked at my record from my prior visit and told me that I shouldn’t have been prescribed a steroidal cream at all and advised me to stop using it. He then told me that I should have actually been prescribed an anti-steroidal cream instead and my prescription of doxycycline needed to be a stronger dose lasting for a month instead of the two weeks, unlike what his colleague had previously recommended for me to do. (Which has made me never want to see his colleague again. Anywho…)

I followed his advice, took the medication exactly like I was supposed to do and applied the anti-steroidal cream daily. Guess what?! My skin was starting to improve! YES, thank goodness!! Finally the tiny, itchy bumps were going away and the minor oozing had stopped.

…… BUT THEN…… I noticed that my skin was still having problems. Even though I could tell that the perorial dermatitis was going away, I was having skin issues of a different sort. On my face, not just on my chin this time, I was getting more bumps and redness. I could tell that it wasn’t from the previous condition, it was something else. There were these pustule nodules forming and they were painful and very red. It was getting to the point where people were starting to ask me, “what’s going on with your face?”Β Talk about the embarrassment! Here I am 42 years old and dealing with the face of a pubescent teenager, or so I felt. I was completely aggravated… mortified! I tried natural remedies like making my own facial scrub using lemon and sugar…. I also tried witch hazel… store bought masks…. OTC products… nothing worked! I was trying not to have to go back to the dermatologist. I was getting so discouraged and didn’t want to be seen publicly anywhere. All I wanted to do was hide in the darkest corner away from everyone. It’s been that embarrassing for me! Was I being a tad bit dramatic? I don’t think so because for anyone who’s dealt with these issues, then they unfortunately know exactly what I’m talking about.

So, finally after weeks of dealing with ongoing skin problems that were continually getting worse, I bit the bullet and scheduled another appointment (the third one since October) with my dermatologist. I saw the same dermatologist as I did the second time because I felt confident with him. He walked into the room and immediately started listening to all I had to say. He confirmed that the perorial dermatitis had in fact cleared up, but took a deeper look at my face. He then pointed out the flushing on my cheeks and the visible small blood vessels that are on both sides of my nose, along with my redness and bumps. That’s when he said the dreaded words….. “You have rosacea.”. I was like, “what?!” My dermatologist then continued that it was nothing to worry about and that he has rosacea as well.

He gave me a short list of some triggers that can cause rosacea flare-ups, plus he advised me on skincare tips to help prevent any worsening of this condition. He also prescribed me Soolantra, which is a cream that helps reduce rosacea bumps and blemishes. So far, so good…. it’s been three weeks since my last appointment and things are improving, slowly but surely.

Upon my research of rosacea, it is a skin condition with no cure, meaning that anyone who has it will have it for the rest of their lives. Treatment is available, the sooner the better because untreated rosacea can worsen greatly over time, causing permanent skin damage, including skin thickening of the nose making it appear bulbous and swollen. “Phymatous rosacea is more common in men than women, and although the thickened skin and irregular surface nodules may affect other areas of the face, it is most often involves the nose. Mild cases may be treated with medications, but more severe cases of rhinophyma typically require surgery.” ~ https://www.rosacea.org/blog/2017/february/tvs-the-doctors-shows-life-changing-surgery-for-rosacea

“Rosacea can cause eyelids to become red, swollen, and sties may develop. The area around the eyelid may develop a crust or scaling and, much like the nose and cheeks, blood vessels may become visible.” ~ https://www.mdlive.com/7-signs-rosacea/ Which can eventually lead to eye irritation and vision problems.

“Rosacea is more common in women than men, but in men, the symptoms can be more severe. It can also become progressively worse. Leaving it untreated can cause significant damage, not only to the skin, but to the eyes as well. That’s why it’s so important to visit a dermatologist at the earliest sign of these symptoms.” ~ https://www.mdlive.com/7-signs-rosacea/

I am extremely grateful that I went back to the dermatologist, which led to the diagnosis of my rosacea. Knowing what I know now has answered so many questions that I’ve had for a while regarding my face…. like the sensitivity to certain products… the random breakouts which I now know are flare-ups…. why even things including atmospheric conditions like humidity, hot or cold temperatures, and wind will often irritate my skin. However, I will say that I’ve been noticing the flushing on my cheeks and the visible blood vessels around my nose for a long time, but never thought much about it until my skin worsened.

This has definitely been an eye-opener for me. Learning what can trigger flare-ups is something that I am steadily reading about. What kinds of foods to eat, being wise about what kind of facial products to use to cleanse my face (I recommend Neutrogena Ultra Gentle Daily Cleanser. “It’s formulated with a hypoallergenic fragrance that’s free of known skin allergens and irritating essential oils. It’s been clinically proven to be gentle for cleansing sensitive skin, including acne-prone skin, eczema, rosacea and atopic dermatitis.

So far the cleanser has proven to be fantastic for my skin! Not using a washcloth to wash my face has helped a great deal, too! I have read that people with rosacea have to be careful even with doing so because the cloth and facial sponges can be too aggressive on our skin. And getting facials, sitting in saunas and other things like that are not necessarily the best idea for people with this skin condition. Also, modifying my exercise routine. Wait, why that?! Because the elevation of body temperature may also bring on the possibility of a flare-up. So I make sure to drink water as I workout to help maintain a cooler body temperature. When going outdoors be sure to always use a sunscreen, especially one that’s made for people with rosacea.

Like I mentioned earlier, being mindful of certain foods that can cause flare-ups like certain spices, spicy foods, citrus, dairy… the list is actually quite lengthy. Even hot beverages such as coffee and teas can be a no-no. I’ve learned to drink my hot beverages at a much lower temperature. (This part has been difficult because I do love my hot coffee and hot herbal teas!)

Other triggers for many people are sunlight, wind, certain kinds of make-up, emotions, alcohol, certain drugs that can dilate blood vessels such as blood pressure medications.

As far as foods go that have been triggers for me that I’ve discovered so far are citrus fruits, tomatoes, chili, pizza, anything with excessive sugar or white flour.. even the cinnamon infused water that I used to drink on a daily basis I’ve had to stop because of the flare-ups. I’ve also had to stop with my vinegar dose that I would take daily as an aid to help with my arthritis. Even things like mustard, strawberries, spinach and chocolate (which I love all) can be triggers. I’ve recently discovered that mouthwash with alcohol as an ingredient even triggers my rosacea. Crazy, huh?! Finding what triggers my rosacea will be a continuing lesson as time goes on. I’ve learned that triggers can be different from one person to the next, meaning that what may cause a flare-up for someone may not necessarily cause a flare-up for someone else.

My research on the topic has been extensive so far, and let me just tell you…. WOW!! But I am learning and I will get my rosacea under control. I understand that it won’t happen overnight, unfortunately, but it will be under control. The important part is that I was diagnosed with it early, thankfully!

And the month of April is known as Rosacea Awareness Month. “The goal of Rosacea Awareness Month is to spread public education on this disease so that more people who may have rosacea seek medical help before it gets worse, and so those whose lives are affected can find greater public acceptance and understanding.” ~ rosacea.org https://www.rosacea.org/patients/rosacea-awareness-month

“Getting treatment is a must, so make sure you see your doctor. If you don’t take care of your rosacea, redness and swelling can get worse and might become permanent.” ~ webMD

 

 

 

Famous people with rosacea:

Bill Clinton (42nd President of the United States)

Renee Zellweger (Actress)

Diana, Princess of Whales

Prince William (Diana’s son)

W.C. Fields (Early film star from the 1920s and 1930s.)

Cameron Diaz (Actress)

Sam Smith (Musician)

Cynthia Nixon (Actress)

Rembrandt van Rijn (17th century Dutch painter)

Dita Von Teese (Model)

Lisa Faulkner (Celebrity chef)

 

 

The following are some really great sites that I’ve discovered regarding rosacea:

National Rosacea Society: https://www.rosacea.org/

American Academy of Dermatology, Inc.: https://www.aad.org/public/diseases/acne-and-rosacea/rosacea

healthline.com Rosacea Diet: Foods to Eat and Foods to Avoid for Calmer Skin: https://www.healthline.com/health/rosacea-diet

webMD: What is Rosacea: https://www.webmd.com/skin-problems-and-treatments/understanding-rosacea-basics#1

 

 

 

So, wow!! A lot of info…. and so much more to learn!! If any of you have rosacea, please feel free to share. What are your triggers and how do you manage any flare-ups?

 

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel,Β The Spirit WithinΒ on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter:Β @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook:Β Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram:Β @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at:Β https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

~ Sheila Renee Parker on YouTube:Β Sheila Renee Parker

 

 

 

 

“Spooky Random Fact: #4”

“Spooky Random Fact: #4”

“Suicide Forest”, full of despair and darkness.

 

Sounds like such a frightening place doesn’t it?Β It’s located at the northwest base of Mount Fuji in Japan and is also known as Aokigahara. This fourteen square mile forest is so thick with trees and other natural formations that it makes it difficult to hear anything that doesn’t belong there.

If anyone wants to visit “Suicide Forest” (also known as the “Sea of Trees”),Β be forewarned for it harbors an egregious reputation. It’s reported to have an association with demons and more than fifty suicides took place among the woods in 2010.

Why the dark history? It’s believed that an old Japanese custom referred to asΒ ubasuteΒ was practiced there until the 1800s and that the victims of this tragic era are to blame for the hauntings.

Read more at Suicide Forest

 

*** Note: Suicide is nothing to take lightly and should be treated as an extremely serious matter. The following is contact information for suicide prevention. ***

National Suicide Prevention LifelineΒ (website) Β  Β  Β  Β  Β 1-800-273-TALK (8255)

 

 

 

 

Get a copy of my novel,Β The Spirit WithinΒ on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter:Β @sheilarparker.

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Facebook:Β Sheila Renee Parker – Author

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Instagram:Β @sheilareneeparker

~ Art by Sheila Renee Parker available at:Β https://fineartamerica.com/profiles/sheilarenee-parker.html

 

 

 

A Cry for Help

This past Thursday the music industry was hit with the devastating news of another death. Fans of the alternative rock band, Linkin Park began mourning the loss of lead singer, Chester Bennington (age 41). His body was discovered in his home located in Palos Verdes Estates, California. Reports say that it was suicide by hanging.

Chester Bennington was close friends with Chris Cornell, who was the frontman of the alternative metal band, Soundgarden. Chris also was found dead, but two months earlier. Cause of his death? Suicide by hanging as well. His body was discovered in his Detroit hotel room. What makes these two talented individuals’ stories even sadder? Chester’s life ended on the day of Chris’s 53rd birthday.

Regardless of their reasoning, or anyone else’s reasoning for wanting to commit suicide, suicide is a very serious matter and it should never be taken lightly. Everyone goes through their moments of hardship; their trials and tribulations. But, there is always light at the end of the tunnel. There is a way out of the darkness. If you or anyone you know is suffering from depression, please reach out to someone…. a family member, a friend, a coworker… it doesn’t matter who, just reach out to someone. There are so many people who care for you and love you more than you could ever imagine! You are not alone, so please talk to someone…. You are strong and you have support!! Within you resides an infinite amount of strength. Keep the faith!!! ~ Love & Light

 

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline:Β https://suicidepreventionlifeline.org/

National Suicide Prevention Lifeline Phone Number:Β 1-800-273-8255

There is also a chat line available on the National Suicide Prevention Lifeline website.

The National Suicide Prevention Lifeline: “WeΒ can all help prevent suicide. The Lifeline provides 24/7, free and confidential support for people in distress, prevention and crisis resources for you or your loved ones, and best practices for professionals.”

 

 

 

 

 

 

Poltergeists: Why are they here?

Now this next topic is something entirely different from the earlier one that was about intelligent and residual hauntings. Previously, I discussed the difference between the two types of hauntings. Intelligent is spirit interaction with a conscious energy and residual is energy that has been “recorded” from the past.

Ok, so what’s a poltergeist you ask? Well, the word “poltergeist” is German and loosely translates to meaning “noisy ghost”. I suppose you could say it’s similar to that of an intelligent haunting because it does interact with the living whereas a residual haunting is composed of “left-over” energy that’s a repetitive playback of itself. Poltergeist activity is quite often thought to be the work of malicious spirits wanting to wreak havoc upon the living. Many people have reported crazy things happening, like personal items being misplaced without plausible reason. Example: Wrist watches being left on a nightstand before falling deep into slumber only to awake to them being mysteriously relocated to another part of the house or lights flickering, television sets turning on by themselves, doors opening and closing, etc. etc. On a more frightening note, poltergeists have been known to be more physical in nature, inflicting pain like hair being pulled, poking or jabbing and even scratching people. The list of poltergeist activity can be very extensive and seem almost “made-up”, but accounts like these and many others date back centuries, coming from stories of old. They are not to be taken lightly and can be quite detrimental for anyone involved. People of all religions and spiritual paths have experienced such encounters.

A common belief claims that poltergeists are demons or “evil ghosts” that possibly are here to torment the living. An alternate belief claims that the origin of poltergeists actually derives from the individual experiencing it. For instance, a severely depressed person who harbors a lot of pinned up pain and frustration. Unfortunately, the saddened individual can often get so wrapped up in their own depression, that whatever negative energies they have can unconsciously project outward, out of the person’s psyche and body and manifest into something malevolent, thus taking on it’s own consciousness. And by this happening, this newly formed entity can form what is known as a spirit attachment to the living individual who is being haunted.

Parapsychologists believe that poltergeist activity can be explained by a phenomenon known as psychokinesis which is an alleged psychic ability that allows an individual to influence a physical system without physical interaction. However, there is no proven evidence that validates the existence of psychokinesis.

 

Get a copy of my novel, The Spirit Within on Amazon!

~ Sheila Renee Parker on Twitter @sheilarparker.