Every year since 1967 my husband and I have send out a Christmas letter to our friends and aquaintances. At first they were typed on a typewriter, duplicated and posted. Now they are created on a computer, include pictures, and sent by email or made available online. Just a few have to be printed and posted to 'old' friends who still don't have computers! In case any of my blog readers are interested in my family's activities, this year's Christmas letter is here
https://dl.dropboxusercontent.com/u/17459523/Personal/Bernardi_letter_2014.pdf
There's still one more week before Christmas, but I know how busy things get nearer the time! With this in mind the first two links today offer advice on avoiding stress at Christmas.
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WORDz for the WEEK
199. If today were yesterday, would you do anything different for your tomorrow?
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Christmas Stress Management - 6 Tips to Avoid that Festive Panic
Listening to the conversation that two of my girlfriends were having over coffee last week, it dawned on me that they sounded very much like over-worked A Level students about to sit their exams…
“I’ll be glad when it’s all over… I simply don’t have a minute to myself… I don’t see how I can possibly get everything done”.
Get help here: http://www.bigfatballoons.co.uk/pages.php?page=christmas-stress-management
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How to beat stress this Christmas: Top 10 ways to avoid a festive fallout
THE festive period can be a very stressful time, but we've come up with 10 ways to help you stay calm this winter . . . With presents to find and wrap, food to prepare and plans to organise, many people find themselves feeling the strain as Christmas approaches.
We all deal with stress in different ways but there's no doubt it can get in the way of a truly enjoyable holiday.
More help here: http://www.express.co.uk/life-style/life/543562/Guide-avoiding-stress-during-Christmas-Day
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From Adrienne Dellwo, your Guide to Fibromyalgia & Chronic Fatigue Syndrome
The holiday season doesn't just present us with a single challenge. It presents us with ... pretty much all the challenges. Now, you can get everything you need to help you through this time of year in the Ultimate Holiday Resource, below.
Also, looking ahead to the new year, what you need to know about setting - and reaching - goals when you're limited by these illnesses.
Down in Featured Articles, you'll find some selections from the glossary.
Take care of yourself!
http://specials.about.com/service/newsletters/chronicfatigue/30547cc90800011895003234.htm
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Combating Insomnia in Fibromyalgia Patients
Fibromyalgia is a disorder of how the brain interprets pain signals that results in chronic, widespread pain primarily in the muscles and tendons of the body. Fibromyalgia is also associated with high levels of fatigue. One may intuitively think that a person who is extremely fatigued would be able to sleep well because they are so tired all of the time, but fibromyalgia sufferers often experience insomnia . . . . . . . Medication to control pain and lifestyle changes together are a better long-term solution to insomnia in fibromyalgia patients than reliance on sleep aid drugs alone.
Read the whole article: https://www.facebook.com/notes/fibromyalgia-awareness-and-advocacy-forum-ireland/combating-insomnia-in-fibromyalgia-patients/423531124461447
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Official World Record Attempt in aid of Fibromyalgia Association UK
20TH JUNE 2015 TANDEM SKYDIVE GUINNESS WORLD RECORD ATTEMPT
Join us for possibly the biggest ever tandem skydive event and get in the record books by jumping a massive 15,000ft in aid of Fibromyalgia Association UK
https://drive.google.com/file/d/0B2x15mhmsw-bUkNYV1M0bHUwbUU/view
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The ARMA benefits survey.
We need everyone with fibromyalgia who has applied for any benefit to support this survey.
This is a survey undertaken by Arthritis and Musculoskeletal Alliance (ARMA) to identify and further understand the impacts of the changes to disability benefit assessments.
FMA UK is a member of ARMA and supports this survey. Information will be collected for various conditions including fibromyalgia. We need as many responses as possible so that the data can be used to influence the politicians making decisions about not only benefits but the impact of not having effective treatment in place.
The survey will take about 20 minutes to complete and closes on 31 January 2015.
Thank you in advance for your invaluable input which will be used to shape the ARMA response to future consultations on the benefits system.
Go to: https://www.surveymonkey.com/s/ARMABenefits.
Thank you for reading this. If anyone has any questions then please email the office on head.office@fmauk.org.
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Operation Affirmation – by Purple Law Lady
Affirmations are a way for us to harness the mind's power by directing your intentions toward our best selves and our happiest lives. Say this phrase to yourself all day long. Write it down, email it to yourself, and post it where you will see it all day.
Day 7 - People are just waiting to love me and I allow them
Day 8 - I am radiating LOVE
Day 9 - I am happy in my own skin
Day 10 - I express love to all those I meet
Day 11 - I bathe in unconditional love
Day 12 - Love radiates from me at all times
Day 13 - I love myself completely
Love your day, love yourself, love your life!
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5 Supplements Every Fibromyalgia Sufferer Should Take
A wise physician and biochemist once noted, “For every drug that benefits a patient, there is a natural substance that can achieve the same effect.”[1] For many ailments, the key to addressing the underlying cause and restoring some level of peace can be found through natural options like vitamins, minerals or herbs. The same holds true for chronic pain.
There are natural nutrients that can help alleviate many of the symptoms of a chronic illness like fibromyalgia.
http://fibromyalgiatreatmentgroup.com/fibromyalgiatreatment/5-supplements-every-fibromyalgia-sufferer-should-take
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19 Natural Remedies for Anxiety
Proven ways to control the symptoms of anxiety without medication.
No Rx needed
You're anxious, worried, freaked. You're upset about (pick one): money, health, work, family, love. Your heart is beating fast, your breathing is shallow and rapid, your mind is imagining doom, and you wish you could just relax…now! Whether you have a full-blown anxiety disorder or are just freaking out, you may not want to try medication—at least not yet.
There are many safe nondrug remedies for anxiety, from mind-body techniques to supplements to calming teas. Some start working right away, while others may help lessen anxiety over time.
http://ebm.cheetahmail.com/c/tag/hBUh1PYBFYNexB8$JnWNuI7pB1Z/doc.html
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Playing Catch With Your Thoughts – In Mid-Air: The Last Best Cure #VI
“By putting your feelings into words, it’s as if you’re hitting the brakes on your emotional responses.” Mathew Lieberman, UCLA – Leader in social cognitive neurosciences
Donna Jackson Nakazawa is working hard on getting her emotions and mental outlook under control, but she does not have a mood disorder; she has an autoimmune disorder. She’s spending a year incorporating meditation and mindfulness techniques into her life because the research suggests to her that doing so will help her quality of life – and very likely her health.
http://www.cortjohnson.org/blog/2014/12/06/playing-catch-thoughts-mid-air-last-best-cure-vi/
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Is the Immune System Causing the Post-exertional Malaise in Fibromyalgia?
Exercise is a tricky topic in fibromyalgia. Scan the titles of studies touting the positive effects of exercise in FM and you might be excused for entertaining visions of FM patients happily bicycling, running, doing jump jacks, and pumping weights.
That would be a mistake. Yes, exercise studies indicate that regular exercise is helpful but most exercise prescriptions for FM are so limited that, according to the American Heart Association, they still don’t provide enough exercise to protect FM patients from the adverse health consequences of having a sedentary lifestyle. Even after doing the prescribed exercises people with FM would still be described as being sedentary.
http://www.cortjohnson.org/blog/2014/12/08/immune-system-causing-post-exertional-malaise-fibromyalgia/
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Deconstructing Sleep in Fibromyalgia and Chronic Fatigue Syndrome – From Dr. Bateman
The question Dr. Bateman tackled in her recent Solve ME/CFS Initiative video was “Can Fibromyalgia and ME/CFS research help you sleep?”
Sleep, of course, is one of the biggies in ME/CFS and FM — one of the four legs of the table Dr. Bateman focuses on in her practice. She’s gone to great lengths to improve sleep, stating (perhaps with a little sigh), “In the last twenty years I have tried everything possible to help my patients sleep”. It’s a key issue – and Dr. Batemen is talking on it. Why now?
Because as part of her work for the IOM panel, Dr. Bateman dug deeply into a lot of the chronic fatigue syndrome research and that’s prompted some new ideas on these disorders and sleep.
Read more: http://www.cortjohnson.org/blog/2014/12/03/deconstructing-sleep-mecfs-fibromyalgia-sleep-gestalt-dr-bateman/
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Welcome to this week's newsletter
We are pleased to let you know that you can now watch the replay of the latest Secrets to Recovery LIVE, which included an with interview David Bowerman about his recovery story. You can view the video at
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=KNTJ1DH0LYQ&list=UUBNM831wuLhBxvEvFvNm8aw
See rest of article: http://us5.campaign-archive2.com/?u=fcdfb32950f88900216774c4e&id=aad7544d25&e=6252891a01u73
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Energy Breakthrough - One Fibro Patient's Fortuitous Discovery by Karen Lee Richards
A year and a half ago I wrote "How I Found My Long-Lost Energy" - the story of how I learned about the effect high-dose thiamine (vitamin B-1) can have on fatigue. Over that period of time, I learned a couple of new things about taking vitamin B-1 that helped improve its effectiveness so I thought it was time to update my story.
http://www.prohealth.com/ep/EP121014/index.cfm?slvor=12212.1175981.0.1.0.110434
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Welcome to the December 2014 UK Fibromyalgia Research Newsletter
Every month we collect all the relevant fibromyalgia research from around the world so that you can keep informed about your condition but we start with a request for research volunteeers:
Read on: http://ymlp.com/zNqEtU
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Memantine drug shows promise for fibromyalgia
A study from Spain has found that memantine shows promise for treating some fibromyalgia symptoms. The double-blind, randomized, controlled trial of the drug followed patients for six months. The results were encouraging compared to a placebo used in the study, and side effects were limited.
http://www.emaxhealth.com/12410/memantine-drug-shows-promise-fibromyalgia
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A personal note from Vicky
This is a picture of Douglas Heel with me. It is he that created the ‘Be Activated’ programme. Hopefully you will have read last weeks zine and learnt about the theory behind it. I have been activating anyone that I can get my hands on this week and the feedback has been very gratifying. Some people just though couldn’t cope with the activations and these are probably the people that need it the most.
http://us4.campaign-archive1.com/?u=1f0fb2b9eada51a6fa54509ba&id=ef8fbebdbb&e=2a0fc40be9
Also:
Education: The nightmare of Christmas
Video of the week: Roll Down to Pressup
Success Story: Wendy Adams
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Message from Joe Neilson
Here is a link to my new website: www.joeneilson.co.uk
If you could put the message out, it would be a great help.
Hope you have a lovely Christmas,
Joe
Joe's FB page: https://www.facebook.com/joe.neilson.14
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I wish you well as you make your preparations for Christmas.
Remember where it began, not what it has become!
Luv to all
Stella
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N.B. I would like to point out to you that the information in my FMS eNews blog is passed on to you mainly from other sources. Links are given to the original articles. I take no responsibility for their accuracy but freely give them publicity if I think they might be of interest to my readership. Sites I refer you to are for information only. They might conflict in their opinions, they might not even be medically sound, but I merely offer them for you to peruse and make your own judgements, accept or reject as you will. Only by reading widely can we get an overall picture of fibromyalgia syndrome and how we can deal with its symptoms, learn to cope with them and still have a life. Any advice or recommendation of a medical or legal nature should always be discussed with a qualified rofessional. I also include various awareness items, benefits issues, as well as general health considerations. Anyone wishing to reproduce any of the included items in printed form should seek permission from the originators.
Wordz for the Week are from ‘Wordz for the Day’ by Donnie Kuhn, Sr. who died in May 2011.
This eNews is my personal offering to fibromyalgia sufferers and their carers and is not related to any other organisation or charity.
If you don’t already get reminders when each new FMS eNews is posted, please send an email to fmsstella@gmail.com and you will be added to the emailing list.
ME/CFS is a dramatically under-researched condition, and alternative treatments are generally under-researched as well, making it hard to figure out which treatments are worth trying. The tides have turned, however, when it comes to acupuncture for this illness. Acupuncture is so often associated with pain conditions that you may not realize all the other potential benefits it has. Get a look at the body of research that's developed in the past eight years, below.
