by author Arielle Haughee Mindset Tricks for Calming Chronic PainI threw out the top of my femur for no good reason. No joke. After three previous procedures on my hip, I finally had a hip replacement. At 37. This had to be the solution for my chronic pain, right? Wrong. I can’t seem to escape living with pain. As an editor who removes overused phrases, I won’t say “constant companion,” but I will say that pain is like a giant leech stuck on me at all times, seemingly sucking the life out of me. There are days when I am completely waylaid by pain, stuck in bed trying not to grit my teeth and pop another crown. Other days I appear normal—smiling, out-and-about—managing an inconvenience so it doesn’t turn into a three-headed beast. The key is to not let pain, that vile leech, control my life entirely. So here are some mindset tricks I’d like to share for anyone else who has to deal with chronic pain. Focus on What you CAN ControlOne of the most frustrating parts of living with chronic pain is how it takes over your life and can completely upend your plans, rendering you “useless” for the rest of the day (or days). It’s immensely infuriating. One thing I’ve learned to do so I don’t lose my mind completely is to focus on what I can control when things feel completely out of control. Make a list in your mind or even on paper of everything you have control over in that moment, even if you are stuck in bed. I always start by telling myself that I control my thoughts and my words. I can decide how to think about the pain and if I want to talk about it to someone. What else can you control in that moment? Even thinking of little things can help your mindset. Some examples include what you’re wearing, the lighting in the room, what you are watching, etc. List as many things as you can in your mind to remind yourself that you are in control of your life, even if it doesn’t feel like it. Use Mindset Mitigating Techniques for PainOne of the biggest blessings in my life has been the amazing therapists that have helped me develop an arsenal of strategies to use to help mitigate the pain. Sometimes little things can make a bigger difference than you might think. People who’ve experienced labor and delivery can attest to the importance of deep, measured breaths. This is usually the number one recommendation for pain, so I’ll skip it. One Object Focus: Pick out one object in the room and focus on it completely. Where did you get it? How do you think it was made? Who do you think made it? And so on...think everything you can about that one particular item. Calming Scents: Lavender is well known for its calming properties, so is bergamot. Try out different candles, essential oils, incense, or even dryer sheets to help provide aromatherapy. PMR: This stands for progressive muscle relaxation. You start at the bottom of your body, clenching your toes and releasing, then to your calves, clenching and releasing, then work all the way up your body to your face. There are some great scripts for this online. I recommend checking out this one. These are just a few strategies to mitigate pain. Try them and others out and see what works best for you. The Link Between Depression and Chronic PainThe National Library of Medicine states that "up to 85% of patients with chronic pain are affected by severe depression." Mayo Clinic further explores the relationship between the two: "Sometimes pain and depression create a vicious cycle in which pain worsens symptoms of depression, and then the resulting depression worsens feelings of pain." So taking care of your mental health can also help in some way with the severity of your chronic pain. If your depression has gotten so bad you feel like you can't live another day in pain, please get help. Play Up Your PositivesOne good strategy to help with your mental health is to play up the positives in your life. What things are going well? What are you grateful for? Think about things that made you smile recently and things that you are proud of. Also think about something that you are looking forward to each day. This helps remind you that there is brightness in the future, even if the current moment seems dark. Set Realistic Goals for YourselfHaving goals for yourself can help keep you focused and working towards something positive. You also have to consider that you may be sidetracked by pain from time to time, so set goals you know you can realistically achieve. Are you looking to try a new hobby? See friends more? Volunteer at church or a community center? Determine what you are interested in achieving and break down your goal into manageable tasks to increase your chances of success. Chronic pain will always be an obnoxious leech, but it doesn’t have to control who you are or how you live your life. You can still be a wonderful, productive version of yourself. Using these strategies will hopefully make life a little easier for you and help with those really tough days. So, pour some salt on that leech and live your life!
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Guest post by B. Lynn Goodwin What To Consider Before Submitting to Writing ContestsYou polish your writing, imagining your audience. You read it over. Out loud. Does it say exactly what you want it to say? You have a friend read it to you. Impressed, she says, “You should submit this to contests. Get some recognition for your work.” Maybe you leap at the idea. Maybe you hesitate. Contests make you feel vulnerable. Besides, there’s almost always a fee and nothing’s guaranteed. Perks of Entering a ContestPlacing in a writing contest is a huge boost to your work, though. Acceptances matter. Here are some other perks you might get:
What Do Judges Look For?Without a rubric, judges look for writing that works, ideas that seem original, and something that touches their hearts. They look for carefully edited pieces free of mechanical glitches and work that either says something new or says something traditional in a new way. Instead of writing a traditional rubric as a contest administrator, I’ve sent the questions below for judges to consider. Put on your editor’s hat and answer them before you send your work.
Looking for a starting place? Take a look at the current contest on Writer Advice, www.writeradvice.com. Research other contests and opportunities by Googling contests + (your genre). Questions? It’s easy to reach me through the contact box at www.writeradvice.com.
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Hello, I’m Andrew Kinnick. A resourceful graphic designer from Wheeling, WV. I design logos, print and packaging materials, and develop brand identities. I have over 4 years of experience working as a graphic designer. Currently, I work as designer at the Times Leader, where my responsibilities include working with sales representatives to create ads for clients at 22 different newspapers. I’m deeply passionate about creating unique and effective designs that engage viewers and achieve the clients design goals. In my free time, I like to keep busy with actives such as recording a video game podcast, and participating in a book club. I also like meeting new people. Feel free to reach out at arkinnick@icloud.com |
Hello, my name is Emily A. Llauro and I am a graphic designer and digital illustrator. I will be graduating from F.I.R.S.T. Institute with my diploma in Graphic Design and Web Development in July, 2022. After graduation, I hope to combine my illustration and graphic design skills to create book covers, posters, and various other things. When I was a child, I participated in traditional drawing classes which sparked my desire to pursue art; however, I am mostly self-taught. I have always had a passion for creating illustrations, and now I can use my love for art to serve others. |
My name is Maryam Amirian. My passion for art developed in my early childhood from my father drawing different cars with chalk on asphalt and reading poems to me. I’ve been learning and studying art since I was seven, starting with drawing, painting, and calligraphy. After that, I went to college for traditional art and studied a wide variety of art. After my master's degree, I started working in the jewelry design field for over a decade. Right now, I am in school for graphic and web design because I was missing the digital aspect of art. All of that made me creative and detail-oriented. |
Timing, traffic, and a little luck
Stephania Thompson is the author of Woven (Orange Blossom Publishing 2022). As a poet and multi-genre author, her work has appeared in a variety of online publications as well as several print anthologies. Formerly a CPA in the corporate world, Stephania now writes from the comfort of a modern day crumbling castle alongside her very own knight in shining armor. Together they have four valiant offspring, a brave aussiedoodle, and one not-so-fire-breathing dragon. When not writing, working, or waiting in a carpool line, she can be found running local trails and escaping in a book at her favorite café, iced latte in hand. She is a sucker for quirky romance, is addicted to audiobooks, and finds herself hopelessly drawn to flawed characters, raw honesty, and life’s cringiest moments. Learn more at www.stephaniathompson.com and find her on Twitter @stephthmpsn and Instagram @stephtwrites |
And that was just the beginning. His fracture would trigger a host of medical issues. We’d spend the next six months traveling back and forth to Children’s Hospital in D.C. A harrowing time, for sure. And a distant memory now, thankfully. So why am I sharing this, and what does it have to do with writing? That’s a good question… |
I began looking forward to our trips to the hospital. Each town along the route, a feast of the senses. Each new person, a mountain of discovery. For the first time in my life, I couldn’t write fast enough. Observations, random words, phrases, dialogue, short stories, poetry…anything. It didn’t matter, as long as I was writing. Many wonderful things came out of those turbulent months, not the least of which was my son’s recovery. He and I formed a tight bond which I will always cherish…and we ate a lot of bacon (side note, the bacon at Children’s Hospital cafeteria is divine). As are the doctors and staff. They were amazing, and I’m so grateful for their attentive care. |
Stephania Thompson is the author of Woven (Orange Blossom Publishing 2022). As a poet and multi-genre author, her work has appeared in a variety of online publications as well as several print anthologies. Formerly a CPA in the corporate world, Stephania now writes from the comfort of a modern day crumbling castle alongside her very own knight in shining armor. Together they have four valiant offspring, a brave aussiedoodle, and one not-so-fire-breathing dragon. When not writing, working, or waiting in a carpool line, she can be found running local trails and escaping in a book at her favorite café, iced latte in hand. She is a sucker for quirky romance, is addicted to audiobooks, and finds herself hopelessly drawn to flawed characters, raw honesty, and life’s cringiest moments. Learn more at www.stephaniathompson.com and find her on Twitter @stephthmpsn and Instagram @stephtwrites |
I have been published in Kappan Magazine (April, 2021), Equestrians of Color (July, 2021) Plaid Horse Magazine (Dec./Jan. 2021) and Language Magazine (January, 2022). Additionally, I am a guest blogger for Orange Blossom Publishing (November, 2021), Black Girl Spoken (December, 2021), Kids World (January, 2022), Young Money Finance (February, 2022) and MommiNation (March, 2022). My husband and I live in Orlando, Florida. I relish my years of teaching children, now I teach adults and parenting our two daughters. My leisure times allows me to help children with disabilities improve the quality of their lives by riding horses in addition to riding myself. Remember: “Words are to the mind and soul as food is to the body.” Bay Collyns |
Robert Detman has published fiction, poetry, and essays in over fifty publications, including Antioch Review, Causeway Lit, New Orleans Review, The Smart Set, The Southampton Review, Tusculum Review and elsewhere. His stories have been finalists for the New Letters Literary Awards and nominated for the Best of the Net, and a story collection was a semifinalist for the Hudson Prize from Black Lawrence Press. rdetman@gmail.com www.robertmdetman.com |
Psychiatrist doctor PhD in Psychiatry Professor at University Potiguar, Brazil Writer @pborbarodrigues https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=100009490189206 |
Michelle Fewer, aka Brayzen Bookwyrm, is a reader, reviewer, blogger, and editor who focuses mainly on books, authors, and topics in Romancelandia. A former high school English teacher, Michelle is a current director for an educational non-profit organization, a martial arts instructor, and most importantly in her life: a wife and mom. She lives in Granite, Maryland with her college sweetheart HEA husband, two teen spawns, and one very large German Shepherd mix who thinks she’s a lapdog. https://direct.me/brayzenbookwyrmblog |
Arielle Haughee is the owner and founder of Orange Blossom Publishing.
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