Tag: medical marijuana
Top Ways to Get Out of a Funk
Everyone from time to time gets in a funk. Personally, I used to often. Here are some tips to stay positive and to keep your mind happy:
1) Supplement or Go Herbal
Going herbal is a healthier option for your mind and body. Besides CBD, Valerian Root is my favorite. It helps with insomnia and anxiety. I like to think of it as a natural version if Valium. St. John’s Wort is a natural antidepressant and for mood disorders. Chamomile and Kava Kava are very calming and help take the edge off. You can take these in herbal teas or capsules. I get mine from Mrs. Mango’s. If you are in a legal state, look into medical marijuana.
CBD oil has many benefits. It is legal as long as it doesn’t contain more than 0.3% THC. Anxiety and sleep disorders can be treated with CBD. It also helps with pain, inflammation, headaches, IBS and several other ailments.
*I started selling CBD oil over a year ago since I have a retail license. If you have any questions or want to purchase a bottle, email me at mistibludream@gmail.com
Vitamin deficiencies can also cause depression or anxiety. Vitamin D deficiencies cause depression, hair loss, bone pain and can contribute to cancer. Vitamin B deficiencies can cause anxiety, headaches, tingling sensations and fatigue. Most doctors don’t test for these unless you specifically request it. Doctors tend to prescribe rather than find the cause.
The beauty of herbs and supplements is that they are all natural and they are not addictive. Having a healthy diet without preservatives, dyes, and artificial anything is also crucial to your health as a whole. Make sure you stay hydrated and take care of your body and it will also help with your mental health.
One of the best things I have ever done for my depression, which changed my life, was when I started taking l-methylfolate after discovering I had the MTHFR mutation.
If you can’t get a doctor to test you, you can actually get the test (along with several others) with 23andMe
2) Get a Pet
Many studies have shown that getting a pet can reduce stress in your life. Think about service dogs for PTSD patients or bringing a puppy into a nursing home or hospital, for example. They put a smile on everyone’s face and provide a sense of calm. It is a different kind of love and without complications. It gives you a sense of responsibility. Plus, who does not want a cuddle buddy?
3) Words of Affirmation
I regularly need friendly reminders to stay positive and motivated. When I lack the drive or feel lost, I will browse words of affirmations and quotes until I feel motivated again.
Go to google images and type “positive quotes” and click the search button and browse away! I also search Buddhist quotes or Carl Jung, Walt Disney and Ralph Waldo Emerson.
4) Get a Hobby
There is no such thing as too many hobbies. For some, art can be very therapeutic. For others, going to the gym, hiking or playing soccer and being physically active are helpful for their mental health. Everyone knows that exercise releases endorphins. You can still do physical activity even if you are not a very active person. There are many ways to exercise even just sitting in a chair or using a pool to relieve joint pain.
Having a hobby is something to look forward to. Like learning to play guitar, you have goals: Learn chords, learn a song, start a band! Find a passion and a productive outlet.
5) Volunteer
The world always needs volunteers. The options are endless in your community and it feels great to help others and give back. It also humbles you and can make you grateful for what you do have.
Personally, I volunteer at Brevard Humane Society and I walk dogs and pet cats. It is amazing. I leave feeling renewed.
6) Hygiene
When you are in a funk, you are probably in bed, have not brushed your hair and feel like a mess. Get your ass in the shower and wash your hair. Blast some upbeat music, get dressed, brush your teeth and put on a nice outfit. Then, go outside and see the sunshine. It is the best way to start your day. There is something about feeling fresh and looking good that can lift your spirit.
You don’t even have to go anywhere. Sometimes, just freshening up with change your mood. Try opening the blinds or curtains at least.
If you still aren’t feeling it then get a hair cut. Changing you hair up boosts your self esteem and for some, it can be therapeutic.
“A woman who cuts her hair is about to change her life” – Coco Chanel
- If you still can’t get out of your funk, talk to a friend. You can also check your local resources online and find out about counseling or therapy. Many local colleges offer free services.
National Suicide Prevention Lifeline
Call 1-800-273-8255
Denver Colorado Honeymoon
Blake and I decided on Denver as our honeymoon. While most couples go somewhere tropical, we live in Florida and for us that was not so appealing. I need to see mountains once a year for my mental health and we wanted to go somewhere legal so Denver was a win-win. I had never been to Colorado and it was always on my bucket list. We flew Southwest and had an amazing flight.
I found hotel in the heart of downtown Denver and when we checked in, they told us congratulations and treated us like family. They went above and beyond and set us up with a city view on the 6th floor and surprised us with a bottle of champagne. I absolutely recommend Aloft Downtown Denver!
Of course we went to a dispensary! Euflora was right in downtown and a quick walk and our favorite and first stop to check out legal marijuana. I scored some CBD muscle freeze by Arcanum that helped with muscle aches from walking around all day. I also found some local honey from Colorado Hemp Honey with CBD. We also tried out Mary’s Medicinal transdermal patches.
We had dinner at Downtown Aquarium and did the tour after. The food was delicious and it was a beautiful date night for our first evening in Denver.
I loved walking around Denver. There were so many different sides to see. Being an art nerd, I enjoyed the street art.
We checked out the Denver Art Museum and also saw the Degas exhibition while we were there.
Blake and I went to the Denver Zoo and the weather was absolutely perfect. This zoo was so huge that we didn’t even get to see it all. I was in love with the tulips and bright flowers everywhere and of course my favorite, orangutans! They even had pineapple whip, my favorite!
We could not have asked for more perfect weather! We had a few recommendations for Snooze Eatery and it did not disappoint. We sat outside for brunch. We checked out the shops inside Union Station and then played checkers until our table was ready. The food was so delicious and the staff was friendly and gave us recommendations on places to see.
Denver has so much to do and there is so much to see. My husband and I are not drinkers so it was important for us to find a honeymoon destination that would allow for us to sight see, hike and hang out without revolving around bars. Of course, there are plenty here but there is so much more.
We made a side trip to Boulder, Colorado and I literally could not believe my eyes. It was absolutely gorgeous. Dawn Honsky Photography picked us up and gave us a tour. She was so friendly and made us feel like family. She captured some beautiful shots of us which I will share in an upcoming blog post. Boulder gave us butterflies!
My husband and I left Denver with a piece of it in our hearts. The warm sun, cool crisp air and horizon lined with mountains is something I always daydream of. We will be back!
CBD Oil: Who, When, Where, Why, How?
Who?
Anyone can try CBD oil. Even kids and pets! CBD oil is safe and has been used medicinally for decades. CBD provides the medical benefits of the marijuana plant without the psychoactive effects and high produced by THC.
Here is an example of a case study of a young girl with PTSD from sexual abuse: Pediatric Anxiety And Insomnia
CBD can be used for PTSD, insomnia, anxiety, menstrual pain, migraines, nausea, inflammation, IBS, Chron’s, autoimmune disease, arthritis, fibromyalgia, and much more. It is my go to for all of my ailments.
What?
Cannabidiol, also known as CBD, is a cannabinoid in cannabis. CBD makes up 40% of the plant extract. It is the second most medically beneficial cannabinoid, after THC. CBD can actually counteract the psychoactive effects of THC.
When?
What I love about CBD is that I feel like I am in control of my symptoms instead of my symptoms controlling me. Most medication are taken every 6-8 hours, have side effects, can be addictive, cause withdrawals or long term effects such as damage to your liver. With CBD I can take it whenever and as needed. For example, the other day was very rough for me. I had a splitting headache, intense nausea, felt like I had just fallen from a three story building and increased heart rate. I felt aweful. I had doses every few hours or so and made it theough the day. Some doses even back to back. You could NEVER do that with pain medication or most medications. Then, I have days that are not so bad and might just skip doses all day and have one dose in the evening.
Where?
CBD is legal in all 50 states as long as it meets the requirement of containing no more than 0.3% THC.
Follow Blu Dream Health Collective on Facebook for more information or subscribe to this blog for updates and how to purchase CBD oil.
Why?
There is a High Times article on 10 Little-Known Uses For CBD states that CBD can curb nicotine addiction and also help with acne. CBD is a huge anti inflammatory! Washington Post has plenty of doctors stating the anti-cancer properties and powerful positive effects for epileptic patients. Cannabis can suppress a hyperactive immune system and lower inflammation, which are two important concerns in Autoimmune Diseases.
CBD is safer than aspirin. There are overwhelming studies that prove just that. Medical cannabis has never killed a single patient.
How?
CBD can be vaped, ingested transdermally, sublingual or in edibles. There are capsules, creams, salves and so on. I strongly suggest that you do your research and get the best product available. I only use Fountain of Health CBD because it is Colorado grown, non-GMO, vegetarian, alcohol-free and coconut oil base. Many companies do not even list their ingredients. This is also the highest strength for the best price available on the market. I carry the 1/2oz size in my shop and online store [link available soon] and it is 1,000mgs. You only need 2-5 small droplets under your tongue (sublingual) and it takes effect within minutes.
What is normal?
Throughout my entire life, I have been living with chronic ailments. I remember being in grade school screaming in pain from stomach issues.
I remember when I was 7 years old, running around and my heart felt like it a hummingbird and I would get dizzy. The adults said that it was normal to have your heart rate increase when you run around. My softball coach in 4th grade would tell me to keep going. What they did not know is that my heart was in the 250 beats per minute range. When I was 15, the school nurse finally caught on. Supraventricular Tachycardia. They said I would outgrow it but it got worse and more frequent. It would happen 20 times a day. It was exhausting. But, this was my normal.
I have always suffered from migraines, chronic pain, depression and fatigue. Every day I had a complaint and after years of being told I was just a hypochondriac, I stopped bitching about it. This was my normal. Normal was insomnia. Normal was waking up at 4am every morning in pain. Normal hurts. I’m normal. Suck it up, Misti!
I discovered CBD Oil after a recent two month long streak in and out of ambulance rides, ERs and hospital admissions. “Everything is fine”, they said. “This is anxiety”, they laughed. I never felt worse and I thought my life was coming to an end. I went back to the hospitals I had been to, down to the the medical records department and got copies of every single record from the last two months. No, I was not having anxiety attacks. My neutrophils were dangerously low, lymphocytes high, my bun/creatinine was very elevated… to name a few. My 30 day heart rhythm monitor was a scary mess. The nurses and doctor mocked me out the door, dismissing my concerns. “Everything is normal.” Needless to say, my third electrophysiologist is the one. Third one is a charm, I guess. Everything was not normal. My body was giving up on me. I was withering away and living in fear of each day being my last day on Earth. I have three amazing children and the love of my life by my side to fight for.
*Photo by Arlene Jacobs
After countless hours of research and second and third opinions, I demanded to get my ANA tested, which determines if you have an autoimmune disease. Though, they thought it was excessive and unnecessary, they placed the lab orders anyway. It was positive.
Had I known this 15 years ago, before 4 cardiac ablations, one open heart surgery, preterm pregnancies, endometrial ablation, hysterectomy consults, years of self medicating with marijuana and wine, chronic episodes of depression, decades of minimal sleep to the point where I had sleep paralysis, endless pain and so on…. I could have gotten the right treatment and care and changed my diet and learned how to manage my health conditions.
I should not be here. If I listened to my doctors and did not put up a fight, I could be dead. If I did not take aspirin each time I began heart attack symptoms, I may have not made it. I was having vasospasms, spasms of the arteries and vascular system, which was constricting blood flow to my heart and extremities. I was going into circulatory shock from sinus node dysfunction. And to think, they suggested Xanax and sent me out the door!
I have not been back to the ER in a month, since my last hospital admission, which lasted 5 days of no answers. I imagine it is a number of reasons: new heart medications, CBD oil, bedside essential oil diffuser, removing sugar and preservatives from my diet, finding out my allergies and triggers. CBD is a huge anti-inflammatory and helps with pain, nauseous, spasms, and sleep disorders, which are a few of my medical issues. I sleep so much better! I can keep my heart rate down and blood pressure lowered and stay calm and relaxed. My menstrual cycle is no big deal now. Leg cramps and pain throughout my body is now managed and I am in much better spirits! CBD oil is such an important alternative to the slew of pharmaceutical drugs that have been pushed my way.
Every day is a new day. I take each day at a time, treat my body right and eat healthy. I still have a lot of pain and now need a pacemaker but at least I am getting answer. I even got genetic testing for Elhers Danlos Syndrome which is also something I pushed during my endless research since I fit the criteria very well.
Doctors look and me and say I look great. I look healthy. I look fine.
I cannot stress enough how important it is to be your own advocate and educate yourself. Put up a fight! Take care of your body.
