I’ve decided to call this month May of Tranquility in the Facebook group. Why? Well, stress is something none of us can escape. It’s a part of life, and we go through seasons of life when the stress is so heavy. The reason that I continue to focus on managing stress and calming our nervous systems is because it can have a dramatic impact on our physical health. I believe strongly that managing our mental and emotional health needs to be part of a larger approach to managing our physical health. It's not just about feeling overwhelmed; it's about how our body reacts to these pressures and how this reaction can affect conditions like lipedema. Let’s look at how stress impacts our nervous system and what we can do to manage it better.
The Stress Response:
Stress can trigger several responses and changes in our bodies, orchestrated through what scientists call the neuroendocrine system. This system can help us handle challenges by kicking our body into 'fight or flight' mode. However, when stress becomes constant, it stops being helpful. Chronic stress can lead to a state where our body’s stress response doesn't fully switch off, causing prolonged inflammation and adversely affecting our health—this is particularly concerning for those of us managing lipedema. We should always be mindful of the impact inflammation is having on us.
The Science of Stress and Lipedema:
Research has shown that stress hormones play a role in regulating our body’s response to stress (Mariotti, 2015). When overstimulated, this system can lead to increased inflammation, which might exacerbate lipedema symptoms.
How Chronic Stress Reshapes Our Brain:
Chronic stress can change our brains. Studies have observed shrinkage in areas of the brain like the prefrontal cortex and limbic system, regions crucial for emotion and memory (Mariotti, 2015). These changes can affect our mood, memory, and even the way we interact with others—making it harder to cope with the emotional challenges of living with lipedema.
So, how do we combat this? Here are some strategies:
Mindfulness and Meditation: Engaging in mindfulness can help calm our nervous system and bring it back to balance.
Physical Activity: Gentle exercises, especially those you enjoy, can significantly modulate stress responses and improve your mood.
Community Support: Never underestimate the power of a supportive community. Sharing and connecting can make our challenges more manageable.
A Call to Action - Embrace Tranquility:
This month, I encourage each of you to join me in focusing on reducing stress by engaging in activities and practices that bring us joy, peace, fun, and relaxation. How do you manage stress? Please comment and share what works for you!
I've been thinking a lot lately about what sparks change. It seems that it usually comes from frustration, anger, or necessity. Inventions are born, technological advances occur, and new methods that work faster or better are developed.
This reflection made me consider lipedema: a condition gaining visibility, yet still fighting for recognition in the medical world.
The Current State of Lipedema Awareness
Awareness of lipedema has increased significantly in recent years. More and more individuals are learning about the condition, recognizing themselves in the stories of brave patients worldwide who share their journeys. It's encouraging to see this growth, but there's still a long way to go.
Why are we still struggling to find doctors who have even heard of lipedema? Why are those treating patients with major hormonal changes—such as pediatricians and OBGYNs—not being educated on a condition significantly impacted by hormones?
This lack of knowledge is unacceptable. While strides have been made in raising awareness and promoting research, many patients are still left diagnosing themselves or scouring for doctors who understand the condition. This can't continue.
The Impact on Patients
To give you a glimpse into the struggle, let me share a personal story. During a recent visit to my gynecologist, he remarked, "You're a lot bigger than the last time I saw you." I replied, "Yes, I am," and attempted to educate him on lipedema. Unfortunately, he dismissed me, showing no interest in learning more about my condition.
I know many others have faced similar dismissals, leading to missed diagnoses and mistreatment. This disheartening reality is why proactive efforts to raise awareness within the medical community are essential.
A Call to Action
It's time for patients and allies to take an active role in raising lipedema awareness in the medical community. What does this look like? I'm not entirely sure, but I'm willing to get "messy"—to ruffle feathers, make mistakes, and figure it out as we go.
Here are a few tangible ideas:
Share Resources: Encourage patients to share educational materials with their doctors.
Engage Support Groups: Join or organize groups that actively engage with the medical community.
Partner with Organizations: Work with groups dedicated to raising awareness to create campaigns targeting medical institutions.
With Lipedema Awareness Month approaching in June, now is the perfect time to start a campaign that targets the medical community, educating them about lipedema and its impact.
Together, we can bring about the change needed, ensuring medical professionals are educated, patients are supported, and lipedema gains the recognition it deserves.
Discovering self-acceptance is a journey that doesn't hinge on the acceptance of others. Many spend years striving to mirror the success and attributes of those around them, mistakenly believing that emulation is the path to personal satisfaction. However, true contentment comes from within, embracing oneself regardless of outsiders' judgments or expectations.
Self-acceptance also doesn't mean loving every aspect of yourself. Contrary to popular belief, it's not about achieving a state of perfect self-love or forcing affection for every part of one's body or personality. Acceptance is realizing that you don't need to adore every inch of yourself to be worthy of self-respect and kindness.
The path to self-acceptance is challenging and requires courage to face one's inner critic and societal pressures. It's not about ticking boxes or meeting external standards but doing the internal work necessary to recognize your intrinsic value. With persistence and bravery, anyone can embark on this journey, finding peace and fulfillment on their own terms, independent of the validation of others.
Read more...We know how challenging the journey of self-acceptance and self-love can be, especially when you're managing a condition like lipedema. It’s so easy to get wrapped up in treatments, medical advice, and symptom management that we sometimes overlook the emotional aspect of our healing journey.
That's why I'm thrilled to share an enlightening conversation I had with Lauren from MindshiftWithLauren.com on Emotional Freedom Technique, or as it's commonly known, "tapping."
Read more...
