Just Ended One More ASMP Workshop

There is nothing more invigorating than doing an Arthritis Self-Management Workshop for the Arthritis Society. My husband and I do these workshops once a year or more, depending on the need in our community of Perth County. And we have been leading these workshops for over ten years.

This group was small, but it was probably the most interesting group. I won’t go into any detail about the participants as I want to maintain the participant’s privacy, but just allow me to say that they impressed beyond any group that we have lead before.

But what makes this group so unique? I think it’s the fact that most of them are already self-managers, and it was so easy to explain the main concepts of the workshop. But in addition to that, they are just great people, and since it was a smaller group, we really got to know the participants more.

What makes these workshops great is that I feel that we have worked all of the people in the workshop. But further, it always helps me to rethink the material and how I am doing in managing my own arthritis. I can be a very poor self-manager sometimes. I don’t pace myself and these wonderful participants have encouraged me to do just that through their example and kind words.

So, until we do another ASMP workshop, I will make sure that I am a good self-manager who can pace herself and not overdo it. I will write here once a week to let you know how I do.

I have given each of the participants in our workshop this time this website address. Hopefully, they will also leave comments on this blog and use it as a forum of communication and keeping in touch with other arthritis sufferers.

Until Next Time!

Irene S. Roth

New Book Review

The Essential Arthritis Cookbook
Authored by the Arthritis Center and the Department of Nutrition
Sciences, University of Alabama at Birmingham
Appletree Press, Inc., 2004

This is a wonderful book about Kitchen Basics for arthritis,
fibromyalgia and other chronic pain and fatigue. It presents
recipes that arthritis sufferers can try in order to lead healthier
lives, which are relatively pain free.

The Essential Arthritis Cookbook is an excellent resource for
people with arthritis and other chronic diseases. It includes a
balanced presentation as well as an excellent selection of low-fat,
easy to make recipes. It is like no other book that I have seen for a
long time.

There is also an inclusion of rest breaks and work tips to help
protect joints. This is a terrific addition to this already wonderful
book. It is a must read for all chronic pain sufferers.

Enjoy, eat healthy, and you’ll feel so much better about yourself
and your life!

~ To your good health!
~ Reviewed by Irene S. Roth

Don’t Take Things Too Seriously

It is hard to try and go with the flow all the time,
especially when you’re in pain and stiff all the time.
But unless you cut yourself some slack, you feel
overwhelmed and stressed out at all times.

So many times, when we think things are out of
control, they really aren’t. It just seems that way
because of how we feel about ourselves and the
constant pain levels that we are tolerating. Most
things are not such a big deal really, even if we
think that they are so at the time. We need to take
our time and to realize that its okay to make errors
and its okay to get beyond them. But we don’t need
to beat ourselves up over it.

I know it isn’t easy to put things into perspective
all the time. I have a horrible time doing that
myself on any kind of consistent basis. But it is
essential to actually try to do that. Otherwise, you
always feel out of control and stressed. And that is
bad for your pain levels, fatigue, and overall health.

So, today try not to take things seriously. Try to
breathe a lot and try not to take things so seriously.
You owe it to yourself to have a stress-less life. So,
take the first steps today to achieve this goal.

~ Irene

Don’t Overdo it

There is nothing harder than learning how to not
overdo it. You may feel that you can’t measure up
to the person that you used to be before your
diagnosis. But that doesn’t give you free reign to
overdo it.

In fact, a diagnosis of arthritis means that you
have to take it easy and you have to pace yourself
more than ever before. Instead of overdoing it, you
have to under-do it, so to speak. Or you will feel as
if you’re under-doing it at any rate.

When I was first diagnosed with arthritis, I was
quite upset at how easy it was for me to get tired. I
just couldn’t face being so slow. And the more I
tried to overdo it, the more fatigue I felt, and the
more fatigue I felt, the more pain and stress I felt.

The problem with overdoing it is that your body
will revolt in more ways than one. You will feel out
of place and you’ll feel as if everything is an uphill
battle. But most of all, you will feel stressed out,
you may even have heart palpitations, and you will
feel out of control and unhappy. All of these
emotions will make your arthritis pain a lot worse.

So, take the time today to make sure that you
don’t overdo it. Take your time, smell the roses or
look at the beautiful sky, and don’t forget to
breathe.

~ Irene

Focus on the Present Moment and Create space

We all have to take the time to do things that we
enjoy. And when you have arthritis its no different.
In fact, this is precisely when you should try and do
things that feel good and that you enjoy.

But in order to set up these activities, you should
try and set up some ‘you’ times. These are times
where you give yourself the ‘space’ to just be and do
things that you like to do and that are relaxing.

How can you make space for yourself amongst
your busyness? Here are a few tips.

1. After work, take a few minutes and have a
coffee or take a walk. This will refresh you for other
activities.

2. After dinner, take half an hour to unwind. You
can do this by meditating, or just sitting and
enjoying your favourite music.

3. Realize that your time is precious, and you
must create times that are special in order to feel
good about yourself. You will also feel a lot less
stress when you carve some time for yourself.

4. Take the time to remove yourself from
whatever you’re doing even if it for a few minutes.
You may want to just sit and close your eyes or just
focus on your breath for a few seconds. Do whatever
you need to center and enjoy yourself.

By following these tips, you’ll be making space for
yourself and taking the time to enjoy the present
moment. There is nothing better than this for you.

~ Irene

Don’t Overdo it

There is nothing harder than learning how to not
overdo it. You may feel that you can’t measure up
to the person that you used to be before your
diagnosis. But that doesn’t give you free reign to
overdo it.

In fact, a diagnosis of arthritis means that you
have to take it easy and you have to pace yourself
more than ever before. Instead of overdoing it, you
have to under-do it, so to speak. Or you will feel as
if you’re under-doing it at any rate.

When I was first diagnosed with arthritis, I was
quite upset at how easy it was for me to get tired. I
just couldn’t face being so slow. And the more I
tried to overdo it, the more fatigue I felt, and the
more fatigue I felt, the more pain and stress I felt.

The problem with overdoing it is that your body
will revolt in more ways than one. You will feel out
of place and you’ll feel as if everything is an uphill
battle. But most of all, you will feel stressed out,
you may even have heart palpitations, and you will
feel out of control and unhappy. All of these
emotions will make your arthritis pain a lot worse.

So, take the time today to make sure that you
don’t overdo it. Take your time, smell the roses or
look at the beautiful sky, and don’t forget to
breathe.

~ Irene

Focus on the Present Moment and Create space

                     
           We all have to take the time to do things that we
           enjoy. And when you have arthritis its no different.
           In fact, this is precisely when you should try and do
           things that feel good and that you enjoy.
          
           But in order to set up these activities, you should
           try and set up some ‘you’ times.  These are times
           where you give yourself the ‘space’ to just be and do
           things that you like to do and that are relaxing.
          
           How can you make space for yourself amongst
           your busyness?  Here are a few tips.
          
           1.  After work, take a few minutes and have a
           coffee or take a walk. This will refresh you for other
           activities.
          
           2.  After dinner, take half an hour to unwind. You
           can do this by meditating, or just sitting and
           enjoying your favourite music.
          
           3.  Realize that your time is precious, and you
           must create times that are special in order to feel
           good about yourself.  You will also feel a lot less
           stress when you carve some time for yourself.
          
           4.  Take the time to remove yourself from
           whatever you’re doing even if it for a few minutes.
           You may want to just sit and close your eyes or just
           focus on your breath for a few seconds. Do whatever
           you need to center and enjoy yourself.
          
           By following these tips, you’ll be making space for
           yourself and taking the time to enjoy the present
           moment. There is nothing better than this for you.
          
           ~ Irene