Moving into the Month of Specific Spoonie Awareness by Celeste Cooper

As April 2014 ends, here is a recap for this month's awareness into conditions and methods of coping and re-energizing our body, mind, and spirit.

From Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain, Spring Devotions

"No man is great enough or wise enough for any of us to surrender our destiny to. 

The only way in which anyone can lead us is to restore to us the belief in our own guidance."

~Henry Miller

Did you know that April is "Qi Gong Awareness"month? by Celeste Cooper

Looking Back at IBS by Celeste Cooper

April is Poetry Recognition Month by Celeste Cooper

As we prepare for one of the biggest awareness month, it's only fitting to share a short but important poem that will provide a bridge from April to May.

Pain Facts of an Advocate© by Celeste Cooper 

Fatigue challenges us,

Action defines us.

Collaboration empowers us,

Tenacity unveils us, 

Spirit enlightens us, 

Pain and illness unites “The Advocate”

Preparing for May...

Ribbon Colors for May Awareness:

• Autoimmune Rare Diseases - Black or orange
• Systemic lupus erythematosus (SLE) - orange
• Fibromyalgia (FM) - Purple
• Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue (ME/CFS) - Blue
• Complex Regional Pain Syndrome (CRPS/RSD - Orange with yellow and red
• Ehler's Danlos Syndrome (EDS) - Blue with Black and white stripes on one side
• Chiari Malformation - Purple
• Arthritis - Navy blue
• Allergy 
• Asthma = Gray
• Food = Teal (I have seen varying colors)
• Allergy-sinusitis - I could not find one ribbon for this most important reaction to environmental triggers so I am going with true green to represent the color of common triggers.
• Lyme Disease - Lime Green
• Osteoporosis (OP) - Blue vs white
• Neuropathy - Purple

For everyone who knows what it's like to live with rare, autoimmune, or poorly understood conditions or disease , spoonies, my greatest hope is that you will take up arms by representing this vast community. Change your profile picture and feel free to use the spoon picture to spread the word for all who endure the many effects of chronic pain and illness. Make the choice to be visible. Support your organizations by sharing information, making a donation, encouraging others to make a donation, or offer up a few words of support. 


Whatever it is you have in your wheelhouse, USE IT!

~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~ • ~

All answers and blogs are based on the author's opinions and writing and are not meant to replace medical advice.  

Celeste Cooper is a retired RN, educator, fibromyalgia patient, and author of books related to chronic pain and illness. You can read more about Celeste and her work on her Amazon Author Profile, here , or look to the right of this blog for direct links to her work.

Did you know that April is "Qi Gong Awareness" month? by Celeste Cooper

The deep meditative breathing practice, Qigong, is shown in the research as a valuable tool for helping us cope with chronic pain. That is because there is a biological effect of this ancient practice. From a scientific approach, we know oxygen is needed in the Krebs cycle for cellular metabolism and without oxygen, cellular damage will occur. We know from the research that oxidative stress is prevalent in both FM and ME/CFS, and has been identified in other chronic pain conditions.  This is why such a gentle approach to movement also has a beneficial physical effect on both the body and the mind.

Read more about Qigong and Tai Chi in an Interview with Bill Douglas by Dr. Andrew Weil, What benefits can Tai chi and Qigong bring to others?, here.

We are privileged that Bill Douglas, author of "TheComplete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and Qigong and inductee to the Internal Arts Hall of Fame in New York, and Founder of World Tai Chi and Qigong Day has written an endorsement of "Spring Devotions"  in the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain Series.

Here is what Bill Douglas had to say:

"Broken Body, Wounded Spirit Balancing the See Saw of Chronic Pain" one of four seasonal daybooks' holistic approach to chronic pain challenges is a powerful tool to everyone dealing with these issues. It is a self-empowerment tool, making you the cartographer in the adventure of your evolving future.

My 20 years of working with people challenged by chronic pain issues have revealed to me just how deeply the mind, heart (emotions), and body are intertwined and how a holistic approach is a powerful one. Often our mind drives us to push, push, push because of old programming in our lives. This habit overrides the body's requirements, and needs to be untangled. This book will support and help you get back in touch with your body', so you can become an 'ally' rather than a brutal taskmaster. You can re-learn how to 'play' with your body, rather than dictating to it. This book's advocacy of Tai Chi is just one of the many insightful and valuable gems it has to offer everyone dealing with chronic pain."

More information on Qigong can be found in Integrative Therapies for Fibromyalgia, Chronic Fatigue Syndrome, and Myofascial Pain: The Mind-Body Connection, and the Broken Body, Wounded Spirit: Balancing the See-Saw of Chronic Pain Series by Celeste Cooper, RN and Jeff Miller, PhD available at all major online retailers in the U.S., Canada, and the U.K.

For "How To" instructions, pick up a copy of "The Complete Idiot's Guide to T'ai Chi and Qigong by Bill Douglas and Angela Wong Douglas, here, and learn more about Bill Douglas and the benefits of Qigong, here.

Available here

Breathe
Relax
Grow
Let Go and Let it Flow

~ Celeste