Stress and Illness it's connected

    Today I would like to talk about dealing with stress so we can be a little healthier and keep our immunity in better shape to avoid illness. 

    We have all heard about it. We all deal with it. Some better than others. Sometimes I can handle things that would put someone else in a coma. It still bothers me but maybe not as much as someone else.  

    Many of you probably know all about this stuff called stress. If nothing else maybe this will remind some of us that are deep into the stress / can't see the forest for the trees mode that we really can make things better. Maybe it's a reminder to stop and make changes to make your life and everyone around you happier. Happy really does = healthier most of the time. 

Here are some things I found on the net and a few things I added. 

What is stress What can stress do to a person physically What causes stress Make your Sh**t List
Make your battle plan
Get it off your chest
What is the best definition of stress?
Stress: In a medical or biological context stress is a physical, mental, or emotional factor that causes bodily or mental tension. Stresses can be external (from the environment, psychological, or social situations) or internal (illness, or from a medical procedure).
    The physical effects of prolonged stress are numerous, including a greater susceptibility to ILLNESS, a lack of ENERGY, problems with SLEEP, HEADACHES, poor JUDGEMENT, WEIGHT gain, DEPRESSION, ANXIETY, and a host of other ills. Stress may also contribute to physical illness such as HEART disease. You can literally worry yourself sick.
   When my son Jon died at 21 yo. It was a few days after the funeral. I was running a business at the time and it was time to get back to my new normal without my son. I was in Dollar General shopping with my brother that was in town for the funeral. I suddenly started having chest pains. It was scary. I just stood in one place hanging onto the cart waiting for the chest pains to hopefully go away. Thankfully they did and went home took some tylenol to not only calm down but to thin the blood just in case. I rested a lot. I had no clue about blood pressure at the time so I have no clue what that was.
You can stress yourself out just by worrying about things. All of these factors can lead to stress:
    Fear and uncertainty. When you regularly hear about the threat of terrorist attacks, global warming, and toxic chemicals on the news, it can cause you to feel stressed, especially because you feel like you have no control over those events. And even though disasters are typically very rare events, their vivid coverage in the media may make them seem as if they are more likely to occur than they really are. Fears can also hit closer to home, such as being worried that you won't finish a project at work or won't have enough money to pay your bills this month.  
        Oh I have one for this one. It was about 10?? years maybe more after Jon died. We needed to make some repairs in his ceiling since the fireplace next his room leaked. I decided to put in a new floor, paint the room and re-texture the whole ceiling. As I started to move things around and out I got weak and shaky. I was totally wiped out. I took my blood pressure and it had dropped to something really low like 100 over 69. I had to quit after just moving 2 or 3 things around. I went out and sat down with a Mt Dew to get my BP back up. After several more attempts in his room I realized I was just upset with making changes in his room. It took me over a week of do a little something. Go sit down with a dew and rest then try it again the next day. Finally I found a way to deal with it. Jon had some big bags of clothes in the room that Nikki had brought up from their house. I put this in the closet leaving it in the room technically. Somehow that helped me get through the changes and my body adjusted to getting the room repaired and in order. I never would have thought his room would have caused me that kind of stress to the point I couldn't even stand and function. I thought it was a great idea but I guess my heart didn't.
The three main causes of stress today are: Money, Work, Poor health
( I want to insert TV, Internet News )
 Look at this list below. How many check marks do you have stressing you out? You can probably add a few they don't have on there. Go ahead list them all.... all the little and big things bugging you. I call it making a Sh**t list.  Maybe it's something little like not putting the toilet seat down, or not taking out the trash when you ask someone to do it, something you have been wanting to do but never have the time. Whatever it is put it on your list. If you want some real fun you can have to whole family do it but I don't think I would advise showing it to each other. You may create a whole new category of stress !
Here is a list from Webmd. https://www.webmd.com/balance/guide/causes-of-stress#1

__ Being unhappy in your job ( maybe change jobs or get training for a better one?)

__ Having a heavy workload or too much responsibility (this goes for home also. Delegate !)

__ Working long hours ( if it is damaging your health or family life make the change)

__ Having poor management, unclear expectations of your work, or no say in the decision-making process

__ Working under dangerous conditions ( some folks just love the excitement )

__ Being insecure about your chance for advancement or risk of termination ( usually if you have these worries it's time to make a change)

__ Having to give speeches in front of colleagues

__ Facing discrimination or harassment at work, especially if your company isn't supportive ( in todays market they say there are plenty of other jobs to be had in better conditions)

Life stresses can also have a big impact. Examples of life stresses are: __ The death of a loved one

__ Divorce ( oh good grief, pick your fights, somethings are just not worth it )

__ Loss of a job ( all the more reason to stock up on food and try to save loot in the house for the bad times)

__ Increase in financial obligations

__ Getting married ( at least it's a happy stress ! )

__ Moving to a new home ( oh come on! It's a nice stress ! Enjoy!)

__ Chronic illness or injury

__ Emotional problems (depression, anxiety, anger, grief, guilt, low self-esteem)

__ Taking care of an elderly or sick family member

__ Traumatic event, such as a natural disaster, theft, rape, or violence against you or a loved one
How to fix your stresses. Make your battle plan   Good grief, wouldn't it be nice if we could just fix them all ?!! The best thing to do is to go down the list and see if there are some little quick fixes you can knock off the list. It's like making a daily to do list. It just feels good when you can mark it off. Some of them maybe you can let some of the other members of your family or in your life help with if you let them know what's bugging you. I didn't say argue about these things that have caused wars before.... skip those.... we are trying to fix what can be fixed not bring up old ammo to sling at the other folks.
   It is easy to suggest things for a person but everyone is different and at a different place in life. Maybe on your Sh**t list make a note of how you would like to attempt to make it better beside the item bugging you. Maybe you don't tackle it today. Maybe you look at it next week and see the opportunity to knock another off the list.
   The thing is ...... it can't get better if you don't try. Some things may take longer than others like debt. Ok it sucks. Make a plan. Put it on paper so you can see it in your head how to tackle it.
    When you know where you are and where your going and what road your going to take to get out of any mess it's on it's way off your !!@# list.  It's amazing how sometimes just having a plan can make you feel sooo much better!
   Don't keep things bottled up.
  That doesn't mean go yell at the people you love either.
   Find someone to talk to that you can talk to.
   Write things down in a diary or write a letter and send it to Santa Clause.
   Write the letter burn it and let the smoke carry the troubles away.
   I know some of those things sound crazy but find something that works for you.
  Sometimes you just have to get it out of your system.
   If your desperate you can even email me. I've had a few folks do that before I don't mind. Don't put your name or any contact info in it if you do. If you want me to answer you let me know.
I hope some of this helps and you can knock some things off your list.
Love
Ranchmama

Prepper Care

    Sounds like Medi Care or some kind of insurance. LOL Next time someone asks what kind of insurance you have tell them you have PREPPER CARE ! Your doctor is Dr. Mom / Dr. Dad. I need to start a blog on Prepper Care .    

    I've been thinking and trying to analyze a lot of health stuff. Not only for myself but other folks I come in contact with. I don't have any medical training so I would say I would be pretty clueless in many areas. Maybe not AS CLUELESS as many blindly functioning people out there but for sure not properly trained.
    I would think there are many preppers that are aware of health issues in a emergency sense of things. But are they aware and knowledgeable in the common ever day health issues that you can run across in just plain living. Not war time extreme or disaster extreme. Just if things are for some reason not as easy living and comfy as we are today even. Lots of poor people are living that way now. Medical insurance is just not working or available for some people.
   I know we talk about prepping and stocking up on meds which is always good, But can you take care of you, yours, family and friends without going to the doctor? There are so many methods to learn or be aware of for treating the people around you. The list starts with :
Common sense
Nutrition
Standard pharmaceuticals
Herbal
Essential Oils
Homeopathic
TCM Traditional Chinese Medicine 
Ayurvedic medicine
   
    Use what works for you, what is comfortable for you to learn how to use and understand. Be aware of other methods because your method may be wonderful but you may run across someone it doesn't work for and need to pull a different rabbit out of your medical hat.
   Don't forget massage, simple safe chiropractic and a big dose in counseling people.
     We have so many currant health issues. Some is due to what we call old age. But I am thinking it's more due to lack of knowledge. We are soo busy with life we don't stop to see what is really happening until we can't wiggle or in pretty miserable health. Then we run to the doctor and listen to the PROFESSIONALS that in many cases mess up more than they fix up! The naturalist / organic folks are getting a clue some of us too late but it's a start.
    If the SHTF some day many will die like we are finding out in the hurricanes. Anyone over 60 is in extreme danger of dying. I am seeing so many health issues that go back to missing something in the body's chemistry that in the chain of events the link gets broken and starts a cascade of health problems.
   Modern foods are not supplying our bodies with what we need in general due to the lack of nutrients in our production of those foods. Be it the soil lacking or just the way things are processed to be stored on the shelves in many cases. Most of these issue still goes back to our own choices in the food we eat and enjoy. If it isn't that it is the contaminants in not only the food but the world around us we live in. We have all heard this stuff before.
   So lets get back to basics. If your not a medically trained person you need to be aware and able to assist, fix, recognize common everyday issues and how to deal with them. Be the Dr. Mom or Dr. Dad in your family or group of friends. Here is a list of health problems you can check off to see what you think you can handle without modern day pharmaceuticals and maybe what you may need to learn more about. 

 

Love

Ranchmama

The 11 most common reasons for emergency department visits:  

   1. Chest pain
    2. Shortness of breath / difficulty breathing
    3. Abdominal pain
    4. Headache
    5. Vomiting
    6. Fractures / sprains
    7. Syncope or fainting
    8. Motor vehicle accidents
    9. Fever
    10. Cough
    11. Infections such as a cold or the flu

    ___ Acute Anticipatory Anxiety                             ___ Laryngitis

    ___ Allergies                                                        ___ Mononucleosis

    ___ Anaphylaxis                                                   ___ Muscle Aches

    ___ Athlete's Foot                                                ___ Nasal Congestion

    ___ Back Pain                                                      ___ Oral / Mouth Sores

    ___ Bladder Infections (UTI)                                   ___ Pink Eye / Styes

   ___ Blisters                                                            ___ Poison Ivy / Poison Oak

   ___ Blood Loss                                                      ___ Post-Surgical Complications

   ___ Bronchitis                                                        ___ Ring Worm

   ___ Bruises                                                            ___ Shingles

   ___ Bug Bites / Stings                                           ___ Shock and Collapse

   ___ Burns / Sun Burns                                           ___ Sinus Infection

   ___ Chicken Pox                                                    ___ Skin Infection

   ___ Cold Sores                                                      ___ Skin Irritation /Rashes /Impetigo

   ___ Common Cold                                                 ___ Sore Throat

   ___ Cough                                                              ___ Splinters

   ___ Cuts / Minor                                                     ___ Sports Injuries

  ___ Dental Emergencies / Infections                         ___ Sprains / Strains

  ___ Diarrhea, Nausea, Vomiting                                 ___ Staple / Suture & Removal

  ___ Ear Infection                                                        ___ Stroke

  ___ Emotional Shock                                                ___ Sunstroke

  ___ Ear Pain                                                             ___ Swimmers Ear

  ___ Fever                                                                  ___ Tetanus

  ___ Fainting                                                              ___ Toenail / Ingrown /Removal

  ___ Flue                                                                    ___ Traumatic Injuries

  ___ Fractures and Assisting Bone Healing                   ___ Upper Respiratory Infection

  ___ Fright                                                                  ___ Vaginal Discharge

  ___ Frostbite                                                             ___ Vaccinations / Flu

  ___ Grief                                                                    ___ Wounds / Abrasions

We are a MESS !

The people I talk to on the email lists on the net pretty much knows as a nation we are a mess! Most of the time we are referring to the nations government and how it is conducted or the people that have no clue just what kind of MESS we are really in.
   What I would like to talk and maybe rant about is the real people at home. The people that actually make up the National MESS as a whole. Those individuals and families out there we encounter every day for some of us.
    I live a fairly sheltered life here on the ranch. Go to town when I have to otherwise about once a week. I don't socialize much. Just don't need to when I am busy and a lot of people don't live like I do so not so much in common sometimes. I do have net friends and keep up with family on the net with emails and FB sometimes after a while I call to hear a voice about every month or so.
   I do encounter folks that we hire to help out around here. I get to know them pretty well either with helping someone with something when they ask or seems like I make a pretty good sounding board.
   What I am seeing isn't all that much political folks but just people trying to survive the day or week. Most of the time it is about money and paying bills but anymore many of these people are having a hard time putting food on the table. I know a couple of hunters that can put meat on the table but then I know some that don't hunt, have a gun in the house and wouldn't know how to either shoot the gun or hunt. Gardens do not seem to be a common thing with these folks. Some of it they don't have the know how. Most of it I think is just too preoccupied struggling with life. Folks say get help with food stamps and all but these folks don't seem to qualify from what they say. If they do it isn't enough to do much good.
   I know one man that works for $50 a day. Hard worker. We pay him $10 a hr. and I try to give him some frozen hamburger meat for a couple of meals. He said they usually eat hot dogs for their meat. An other person I know is the only single mother working in the family of 2 teen girls, a grandmother, a baby and a adult brother in the house. Whatever funds they may get goes really quick!
   All these people are used to tough times and being what a lot of people would call poor. They cope, they cut corners better than I could any day!
   What I am also seeing with other people are problems other than money. We are talking about health issues with pain, addictions with drugs, gambling and who knows what else.
   Then you have people that have survived and gotten away from physical and mental abuse. I know of women that have been put in the hospital by men and lucky enough to get away and change their lives. Still the abuse goes on. They have survived but the mental issues that go along with it are still there. It is amazing some of the little things that can be attributed with abuses. Their reactions to life situations, their thinking isn't clear and although their life is much better they really don't know how to cope and manage to make true progress and not have to struggle not only with money but with the rest of the family and the quirks they may have acquired through the years of abuse.
    We are a nation of broken people. Millions of people are truly broken big time. We are all a little goofy and have cute or just plain weird harmless quirks. I am talking about people that are broken just enough not to have a complete whole moderately happy family out there. Then you have the serious millions of folks that are so broken in the head they are dangerous or generally a useless drain on the government or the community or family around them.
    Some folks just can't be fixed even with good meds. They are such a mess they really one day need to disappear. I know that is brutal but true. Other folks can be fixed. It would take time but it's like they need to start all over from kindergarten on the basics. That is a lot of hand holding for a long time!
    Even if you were to fix folks up with whatever government or charity program out there..... it should be only temporary and I think many of the programs are only to get by a little easier. I'm sure there is counseling to talk to folks to work through whatever but I am not sure (since I have no training or actual experience with that sort of thing) how much of that isn't just a band - aid for something that will never heal enough.
     I just don't know if these damages from folks growing up in continuous drama can acquire enough skills to graduate to total independence of government or private helping hands. They have not been trained or wired that way from childhood many times. It's like getting a plow horse and putting a really well known jockey on top of it and expecting them to win the Kentucky Derby. It AIN'T GONNA HAPPEN. Some folks get a good start in family life but later on they are always behind the 8 ball. Many just flat out get overwhelmed with life and all the things they have to handle. One stressful thing after another, daily sometimes.
   How in the heck do we fix it. I don't think nationwide government programs are the answer.I think it needs to be more of a local thing.
Well that is all for now.
I will think more about how to Clean up or Fix The MESS another time.

Love
Ranchmama

8 Quick Tips for Treating Minor Pet Injuries and Illnesses

 Print this out to add to your home Vet Book. Put it in your vet box and check off the ingredients as you add the items to your supply.
I have a box for me and Nikki for the minor things. It can save you a fortune in Vet bills!
Love
Ranchmama


8 Quick Tips for Treating Minor Pet Injuries and Illnesses

        Problem: Nail injury. Dogs and cats can slice up their nails in a variety of ways – everything from a too-close nail trim that nicks the quick, to running outdoors over sharp rocks.
        Solution: Styptic powder. If you don’t have styptic powder on hand, for minor bleeding grab either cornstarch or flour from your kitchen, pour some into a small bowl, and dip the injured paw into the powder to stop the bleeding.

        Problem: Bee sting. Most bee stings occur on a paw or the face. Not only are bee stings painful, but your pet could also have an allergic reaction.
        Solution: Credit card and quercetin. If you need to remove the bee’s stinger, don’t use tweezers. Use a credit card from your wallet to scrape away the stinger – just make sure the venom sac comes out with it. If your pet has a mild allergic reaction to a bee sting, offer quercetin (I call it “nature’s Benadryl) if you have it, or real Benadryl if you don’t. Serious allergic reactions require an immediate visit to your veterinarian or the closest emergency veterinary clinic.
   
    Problem: Indiscriminate eating. If your pet has very recently ingested something she shouldn’t, for example, antifreeze or another toxin, you may need to induce vomiting. Always call your vet or an animal poison control hotline if you suspect your pet has swallowed a poison.
        Solution: Hydrogen peroxide. I'm talking about 3% hydrogen peroxide – the kind you purchase at any pharmacy. The dose is one teaspoon for every 10 pounds of body weight. Hydrogen peroxide typically induces vomiting within 15 minutes. If your pet doesn't vomit within that time, you can give her a second dose, but if another 15 minutes passes and she still hasn't vomited, it's time to call your veterinarian.
     
  Problem: Cuts and scrapes. Many pets manage to acquire minor cuts and scrapes while running around the backyard or out for a walk.
      Solution: Contact lens saline solution. You can clean dirt and debris from your pet’s minor wound with regular human contact lens saline solution. You can also use it to flush out dirt, sand or other irritants from your pet’s eye.
    
   Problem: Dangerously low blood sugar in a diabetic pet. If your pet has diabetes mellitus, you’ll want to do everything possible to prevent a hypoglycemia attack that can lead to a diabetic coma.
        Solution: Honey. As soon as you see your pet’s lips start to quiver or his body start to shake, you need grab the honey and rub a little on his gums. Make sure to use honey, not corn syrup, which can contain genetically modified and/or allergenic ingredients.

        Problem: Thunderstorm phobia. Many pets, especially dogs, fear thunderstorms. But it’s not just the thunder and lightning that makes your dog anxious, it’s also the static electricity that can accumulate in her coat, giving her little electric zaps that are unnerving.
        Solution: A steamy room. Pets with thunderstorm phobia often feel more comfortable in a steamy/humid space that removes static from their coat, so try putting your dog (or cat) in the bathroom while running hot water in the shower. Alternatively, you can rub your pet’s coat with a non-toxic dryer sheet for the same effect. Many dryer sheets are loaded with chemicals that shouldn’t remain on the fur, so make sure you’re using chemical free dryer sheets.

        Problem: Constipation, diarrhea, hairballs, and other minor digestive issues. Most pets at one time or another experience GI issues that last for a few days and disappear.
        Solution: Canned pumpkin. It’s a good idea to keep a can of 100% pumpkin in your kitchen cabinet for occasional mild tummy upsets. Give a teaspoon of pumpkin for every 10 pounds of body weight, one to two times a day, either in food or as a treat. Pumpkin is rich in soluble fiber that can ease both diarrhea and constipation.
    
  Problem: An injured pet that might bite. If your pet is sick or injured, it’s important to protect yourself and anyone else who is handling or caring for him. Even the most passive, gentle pet can bite in response to fear or pain.
        Solution: A homemade muzzle. Most owners of easy-going pets don’t even own a muzzle, so if you ever find it necessary to prevent your dog (or even your cat) from biting out of fear or pain, you can quickly improvise a muzzle from a pair of hose or tights, a man’s tie, or any available strip of cloth. The make-shift muzzle is lightly looped over your pet’s nose and mouth, then crossed under the chin, and tied behind the ears.
    
   In most cases of even a minor pet injury or illness, after applying a home remedy, it’s still a good idea to follow up with your veterinarian to insure your dog or cat is receiving appropriate care. Chances are you won’t need an appointment, but your vet may want to note the information in your pet’s chart for follow up at your next regularly scheduled visit.

http://healthypets.mercola.com/sites/healthypets/archive/2015/01/12/treating-pet-injuries-illnesses.aspx?e_cid=20150112Z1_PetsNL_art_1&utm_source=petnl&utm_medium=email&utm_content=art1&utm_campaign=20150112Z1&et_cid=DM64683&et_rid=803143170