Cake is film set in LA following Clare Bennett (played by Jennifer Aniston) and her road through grief and chronic pain. The film was released in 2014, but I didn't come across its existence until earlier this year when it was released on DVD. Claire suffers with chronic pain. I don't want to give any more detail about the story or how it progresses in this post because as the film develops, clues as to how she came to be in chronic pain, what happened to her family and her journey to redemption are played out in a way that makes the film incredibly powerful and spoilers would indeed spoil that experience.
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12th May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Day. It is also the birthdate of Florence Nightingale; a notable figure who it is believed suffered from this condition. There is no part of my life, upon which I can look back without pain Florence Nightingale
I recently came across the Blurt Foundation; an organisation that aims to increase the awareness and understanding of depression. They offer a number of resources and services, but the one that stood out for me was the Buddybox. Subscription boxes have gained popularity over the last few years, but they tend to focus on the beauty products which is something that doesn't really interest me. The Buddybox is designed for people who need to practice self-care, packed full of thoughtful, mood-lifting treats to make you feel good: helping you de-stress, find calm, feel pampered, relax, get creative, or simply have fun. It sounded like something I needed in my life.
At £21.50 a box thought it might be a little steep for my budget, however I decided to order a one-off box and see if what came was worth the investment. Today my May Buddybox arrived. Fibromyalgia tends to be associated with muscle pain, joint pain and fatigue. The truth is that there are numerous other symptoms that also exist. Based on my own experiences, I have compiled a list of another 8 symptoms that are part of my Fibromyalgia. Last year I was at an ultimate low point. I was incredibly overweight, constantly in pain and struggling to get by each day. It all came to a head while on holiday with the children in August 2015. I was out of breath, I looked like a beached whale in all of the photos, I struggled to walk to the beach from the caravan and more importantly I couldn't participate in all the fun stuff the children wanted to do. When I got back from that holiday I knew that I needed to get in control of my condition. I had long suspected that food and exercise were the key to my improved health and I had been doing more exercise through walking, but I had not changed anything about what I was eating. Yesterday, I talked about the salad jars I had made for my work day lunches and how well they had gone. I also promised I would try and make up some more, perhaps with a Mexican theme. This evening I have done just that and it's looking delicious. I find it difficult some days to have the energy to stand in the kitchen and make the healthy lunches I know I should be eating. I am trying to eat more green vegetables and reduce sugar and carb intake, but cheese on toast or a sandwich and crisps is often much easier and much less effort on the days when I am tired or have more pain, even though those sort of meals are contributing to my weight gain, my pain and my fatigue. Relaxation techniques have often been advocated for Fibromyalgia treatment, due to the conditions association with stress and depression. Meditation has been shown to reduce symptom severity, reduce stress and sleep disturbances in Fibromyalgia patients and is certainly a technique that can help you to slow down, to rest and to relax. [Source: Natural Health Advisory] I know that mediation is a powerful tool in assisting with relaxation, but I struggle to get into the right mindset without some form of assistance - or rather guidance. Guided meditation is my solution and although I still find it difficult to ‘get into’, once I allow the guidance to transport me, I find meditation incredibly helpful. |
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