The Enemy Within: How to Stop Self-Sabotaging Your Success

Self-Sabotage.  Most people have heard this term before in their lives, but what is self-sabotage?!  According to Dictionary.com, self-sabotage is defined as "the act or habit of behaving in a way that interferes directly with one's own goals, well-being, relationships, etc., as by comfort eating, procrastination, or lashing out at others".   In other words, blowing up your entire world yourself lol. 

 Self-sabotage is way more common than people think it is.  All four of my children were active in different sports but one they all had in common, was competitive judo/jujitsu.  My dad, who is 85 years old now, used to go to a whole lot of their tournaments and he'd always tell them right before their match "Now don't go out there and beat yourself. If you lose, lose by making your opponent beat you".  He also said that a LOT to my oldest son Cody, who was also a high-school state wrestler, college wrestler, and MMA cage fighter after his college wrestling days. -Yes, the photo below is from one of his MMA fights, and yes, he's the one on top facing the camera lol.

Although Cody had an amazing overall sports career, even he admits that at times, he was guilty of "beating himself".  Guilty of "self-sabotage".  This phenomenon of self-sabotage can be so common for many different reasons.  Sometimes people self-implode because they're afraid of failure.  Sometimes it's because they're afraid of success.  It can happen if a person has low self-esteem.  Sometimes perfectionism plays into self-sabotage.  It could be, because of past experiences from childhood where a child had received negative messages from caregivers.  Cognitive dissonance, having a conflict between your personal belief and your actions, can lead to self-sabotaging behavior.  Sometimes, it's due to unconscious survival strategies.  There are just so, so many reasons why a person can consciously or unconsciously self-sabotage.   

Do you ever feel like you're a hamster stuck running on a wheel?  If you find that you have that feeling with some aspect of your life, or if you find yourself procrastinating on a task, you may be guilty of self-sabotage.  Do you engage in negative self-talk?  Frequently engaging in self-critical or pessimistic thoughts can undermine confidence and motivation.  If you avoid or "forget" responsibilities, even when they're crucial, it can be a sign of self-sabotage.

Self-sabotage can lead to career and academic setbacks.  It can strain important relationships.  It often exacerbates feelings of anxiety, depression, and low self-esteem.  The constant cycle of setting goals and failing to achieve them can lead to a sense of helplessness and self-doubt.  If you engage in self-destructive behaviors like comfort eating, substance abuse, or neglecting self-care it can cause serious physical health consequences too.  This is especially true for people suffering from chronic pain conditions such as Fibromyalgia.  Self-sabotage also leads to financial difficulties due to poor decision-making and lack of follow-through.  Overall, self-sabotage leads to a reduced quality of life.  It prevents you from reaching your full potential and enjoying a fulfilling and satisfying life.  It creates a vicious cycle of failure and disappointment that is difficult to break.  So there you are, still stuck running on that damn hamster wheel!

There are many strategies that you can use to overcome the self-sabotage cycle though.  You can build self-awareness by utilizing mindful meditation to become more aware of your thoughts and feelings without judgment.  You can journal!  Write down your thoughts and experiences daily.  Then reflect on your actions and emotions to identify recurring themes and triggers.  Set aside time regularly to reflect on your goals, dreams, achievements, and areas for improvement.  Ask yourself questions like, 'What am I avoiding/" or "Why did I react that way?".  You also can seek constructive feedback from trusted friends, family, or colleagues.  They can provide insights into behaviors that you may not even notice yourself!

Cultivate self-compassion by treating yourself with kindness.  Treat yourself with the same kindness and understanding you would offer to a friend!  When you make a mistake, remind yourself that it's OK to be imperfect.  Recognize common humanity within yourself.  Everyone, and I mean EVERYONE, experiences difficulties and setbacks in life.  I think that's the biggest impact that was made within me during the filming of my episode of Dragnificent, on TLC.  There was an emotional moment of me telling a story that negatively impacted my life and self-esteem, and one of those beautiful Queens started crying.  Afterward, she and I had a conversation about how my story dredged up feelings for her, of her going through the exact same experience I had been describing.  My mind was literally exploding at that second!  I was thinking "What?!  Wait!  This beautiful, successful woman has had the exact same feelings and emotions that I've had?".  It was really a huge "Ah-Ha" moment for me.  When everything is cut & dried, no matter how rich or poor or successful or ...how stuck on a hamster wheel we are, we are ALL "just people" at the end of the day.  We all have the same feelings, emotions and fears.  We all want unconditional love and support and acceptance. We all have hopes & dreams. At that point in time, I started using a reference that I remind myself of a lot; "Every person, is a person".  It sounds simple, but really, it's not.  It's deep, yet it's so very true!  You always should try to be mindful of your negative thoughts and emotions, without letting them define you.  Practice deep breathing or gentle self-talk to soothe yourself.  You also can practice loving-kindness meditation.  Engage in meditations that focus on sending love and compassion to yourself and others.  You could also write a self-compassion letter to yourself or visualize a compassionate response to a challenging situation.

Are you ready to break free from your cocoon, and emerge like this beautiful butterfly?  If you're tired of getting in your own way and you're ready to achieve your goals with confidence, I'm here to help!  As a Certified Master Life Coach, I'm also a Confidence Coach, Goal-Setting Coach, and Meditation Facilitator & Coach.  I specialize in helping individuals overcome self-sabotage and unlock their full potential.  You can book a free consultation by DM'ing me on my The Fibro Frog FB Page

And lastly, what's the motto been all of these years on this blog?  -"Never Give Up HOPE.  Without HOPE, you don't have anything".  You ALL have HOPE, and you also have ME in your corner!  You are never, ever alone no matter what is happening in your life.  Please never forget that.  I'm an inclusive, non-judgmental Certified Master Life Coach, Master Mindset Coach, Health & Nutrition Coach, Emotional Intelligence Coach & more!

Insurance Coverage For Help With Chronic Pain

Hey, there Fellow Froggies!!  I'm excited to share with you all that yesterday I finally obtained my NPI number, so that I can bill insurance companies for my health & wellness services!  Does YOUR insurance have coverage for a health & wellness coach, life coach, or meditation facilitator/coach?!  I'll bet, that even if you're not aware of the coverage, that they will cover it.  Most do nowadays after research has proven how very beneficial these services are both physically and mentally for people!

There are SO many coaches out there that are charging high-ticket prices of $5,000-$10,000 a month for their services.  Some even more than that!!  I'm not out here looking for "high-ticket" clients.  I KNOW, firsthand, how hard it is to live trapped in a broken body that looks "fine" on the outside.  I know the mental and physical toll both, this plays on not only US but on our family and friends as well.

I also know how hard it can be to try to live financially when you or someone in your family is sick.  This is why I'm not looking for "high-ticket" clients. I'm looking to actually HELP people live a life with a little less pain and to be able to live life HAPPY!  -Get rid of the low self-esteem that living in a broken body causes many of us.  Help us to recognize that we ARE enough, just as we are.  I'm looking for family & friends that are healthy but has a loved one living in a broken body. I want to help them understand what WE go through on a daily basis and help them to accept the "new normal" that our lives become once we become sick.  

This is why it was so VERY IMPORTANT TO ME, to be able to accept health insurance!  Taking it a step further, it's also very important to me to be approved and provided a Medicaid billing number too.  I needed my application to be processed and approved, and be assigned my NPI billing number for regular health insurance and Medicare first though before I could apply for my Medicaid billing number.   Getting my Medicaid billing number will just be for OHIO Medicaid though at this time (and YES fellow Ohioans, Ohio Medicaid WILL cover a life coach or a health & wellness coach for you!!  At least CareSource will, and I've found if one covers something, most of the others do as well lol).  I've heard tell that as most things in government are concerned, especially Ohio State Government, this process takes quite a while.  I've heard it sometimes takes 3-5 months or even longer.  But at least now, I'm eligible to get the process rolling!

I'm definitely not out to try and take advantage of people, bankrupting them because they're desperate to find help. Insurance doesn't pay that well, and Medicaid pays basically pennies on the dollar!  I could have gone with the "high-ticket" client approach.  There are PLENTY of other coaches out there raking in over $1M a year with "high-ticket" clients.  Yes, I NEED to make a living to support myself, but I want to make my living, helping as many people as I possibly can get to the point I'm finally at 13yrs or so past my diagnosis.  I want to help as many people in general, whether they themselves live with chronic illness or not, live the happiest life they possibly can.  That my friends, means that my business plan doesn't go after the "high-ticket" clients.  It means I keep my prices fair and I accept insurance!!  

It's been really hard being single and sick, for me to get into the position to open this new business.  It's been slow going.  -$10 here, $500 there from the beginning to the endpoint.  Add in what has been going on with my poor Ma, and I am REALLY behind schedule due to financial reasons on fully launching my new career.  Having my application processed and approved, and being assigned my insurance billing number just made a giant leap in the process for me!  Hopefully within a few weeks now, I will have the money to build the website and fully, officially, launch this new business of mine!  That's where YOU ALL come in to play at!  I'll be offering an opportunity for YOU to make a little free cash once I launch this website!  So stay tuned for more info that will be coming soon!!

Like & follow my other social pages so you're ready to go & don't miss out on this opportunity!  Besides here you can find me on this blogs page on FB: @thefiibrofrog  On my self-branded FB page: @Amymullholand70  On IG: @amymullholand On Twitter (....or X I guess now lol): @Amymullholand70 and last but not least, on Pinterest: @jaammull

Remember to always educate and advocate any time you possibly can.  Most importantly remember: Never give up HOPE! -Without HOPE, you don't have anything!!

 

 

Finding Relief: How A Life Coach Can Help With Chronic Pain

 How Can A Life Coach Help With Chronic Pain?

 

Today, I'm going to talk to you a little bit about why I became a Certified Meditation Facilitator & Coach, NLP Practioner, Emotional Intelligence Coach, Life Purpose Coach, Business Coach, Coming Out Specialist, Goal Setting Coach, etc etc to lead to an overall Master Life Coach Certification.  Those who are new here, may not realize that I myself, have struggled with many, many chronic pain conditions.  Like a lot of you, I desperately kept searching, and reading, and analyzing searching for answers.  Well, after working with a world-renouned Rheumatologist at The Cleveland Clinic ….there are no answers.  No answers for a cure.  No answers for a concrete universal treatment plan, that works for everyone.  But what I DID learn, is that if I found the right mixture of techniques to use, I could retrain my brain, and be able to actually live again.  Do I still deal with chronic pain and fatigue daily?  YES.  I do.  But, I now use the techniques I learned becoming a certified master life coach, and I can function again.

 

Anybody can learn the techniques that I learned.  I did it without the help of a life coach.  When I saw that it wasn't just some "touted BS" I honestly was in disbelief!  I knew, that  I had to come up with the money to take as many classes as I could, so that I could help others too.  My blog, at it's core, is still what I intended it to be when I first started it.  A blog trying to educate the public about what it's really like to live with Fibromyalgia, and other chronic pain and fatigue illnesses, so that hopefully that would lead to more research money, to try to find a cure for fibromyalgia, or at the very least, a solid concrete universal treatment plan that helps everyone, not just some as current medications do.  While studying and learning, it would've been so much easier if I had a life coach myself.  Someone who truly understands what it's like to live under debilitating pain and fatigue.  Someone who could hold me accountable.  Someone to help me rewire this brain of mine.  Someone who could help me explain to my family and friends how I really feel and what it's really like to live in this broken, sick, body of mine (and yours!).  Someone that could teach me techniques to help my anxiety levels.  -Because every time I make a promise that I'll go somewhere or do something, I immediately would get anxious. I'd worry non-stop if I'd be able to have the energy to literally force myself to show at the event.  Then someone to help me with the depression I would feel, if I just couldn't  force myself to do whatever it was that I was supposed to do.  I also have taken classes, and researched to put together a seminar that is aimed towards corporations.  It's an EQ (Emotional Intelligence) course that will help company leads learn how to deal with their employees, and specifically those that suffer from chronic pain and fatigue illnesses.  Research has shown that companies who have their top leads trained in EQ, significantly lower their turn over rate!  Plus, it helps those of us who DO live with these conditions.  I'm trying, on every avenue possible, to improve our quality of life.  We deserve to have a life, just as anyone else does.  We just may have to go about it in a different way.

I'm blessed, that over the course of the past 12 years, I've been able to help so many people!! Hundreds upon hundreds of people would seek me out, and DM me thanking me.  It truly humbled me, as I started off 12 years ago, just wanting a little corner in the big ole cyberspace world to vent!  Every blog I'd find, would just be a "rah-rah we've got this, we're warriors" type of cheerleading blog.  I didn't want that!  It literally left  me sitting at my desk in tears when I first was diagnosed and found all of those other blogs.  With tears streaming down my face I said "Why?  No, this is all wrong.  We don't have this.  We don't have a cure.  We don't have a universal treatment plan.  It's HARD to get out of bed and dressed each day. It's hard to force myself to shower, let alone attend a big event.  This is BS!  If people think it's so easy they aren't going to be as inclined to donate for research.  People need to know the truth about what it's like to live with chronic illnesses".  Therefore, The Fibro Frog was born.  Even though I wanted to educate and advocate, I honestly didn't think anyone would ever even see or find my blog.  When I hit 50 followers I couldn't believe it.  I remember the day I woke up and saw I had 100 followers.  I literally was calling my parents, my kids, everyone I knew I was so excited lol.  Fast forward to today, and the blogs FB page is now just under 16,000 followers since FB went through and deleted inactive profiles.  That's ok though, we don't want inactive profiles anyway.  We want people who are active and excited to meet others that suffer with what they do.  We want people who are just as passionate about educating and advocating for a cure or solid treatment plan, as I am.  We want people who are willing to talk to others AND listen to others, to allow them to vent.  In other words, we want one big supportive family of chronic illness people! 

TYPO I didn't notice until RIGHT NOW lol.  DM me on FB at: facebook.com/Amymullholand70  I forgot the 0 I guess lol.

 

I'm going to tell you now, some of what a life coach can do for you, if you have a chronic illness.

 

A life coach can be a valuable support system for individuals dealing with chronic pain. While life coaches are not medical professionals and cannot provide medical advice or treatment, they can offer guidance and assistance in managing the emotional and practical aspects of living with chronic pain. Here are some ways in which a life coach can help:

 

1. Emotional support: Chronic pain can take a toll on a person's emotional well-being. A life coach can provide a safe space for individuals to express their feelings, frustrations, and fears related to their pain. They can offer empathy, active listening, and emotional support to help clients navigate the emotional challenges associated with chronic pain.

2. Goal setting and motivation: Chronic pain can make setting and achieving goals challenging. A life coach can work with individuals to set realistic and achievable goals related to their overall well-being, such as improving daily functioning, managing stress, maintaining relationships, or pursuing hobbies and interests. The coach can provide motivation, accountability, and guidance to help clients take consistent steps toward their goals.

 3. Developing coping strategies: Chronic pain often requires individuals to develop effective coping strategies. A life coach can help clients explore and identify coping mechanisms that work for them. They can provide tools and techniques to manage pain, such as relaxation exercises, breathing techniques, mindfulness practices, and stress reduction strategies. In my packages, I also offer the use of guided meditation, NLP techniques such as anchoring, CBT (cognitive behavioral therapy) techniques, journaling, positive affirmations, vision boards, manifestation, and more.

4. Lifestyle adjustments: Chronic pain may require adjustments to daily routines, habits, and lifestyle choices. A life coach can assist individuals in identifying areas where modifications can be made to accommodate their pain. This may include developing strategies for pacing activities, prioritizing self-care, incorporating stress management techniques, and making necessary adaptations to work or social environments.

5. Communication and advocacy: Communicating about chronic pain can be challenging, especially when it comes to family, friends, employers, or healthcare providers. A life coach can help clients improve their communication skills and provide guidance on how to effectively express their needs, boundaries, and limitations. They can also assist individuals in becoming effective self-advocates within the healthcare system, helping them navigate medical appointments, ask relevant questions, and seek appropriate support and resources.

6. Holistic well-being: A life coach can take a holistic approach to well-being, considering various aspects of a person's life affected by chronic pain. They can explore areas such as nutrition, sleep, exercise, self-care, and social connections, providing guidance on how to optimize these areas to improve overall well-being.

Remember, while a life coach can provide valuable support, they are not a substitute for medical professionals. It's important to work with a multidisciplinary team that may include doctors, pain specialists, therapists, and other healthcare providers to address chronic pain's medical and physical aspects. The old saying "It takes a village" isn't just true when it comes to raising children. When we're trapped in these bodies of ours, I cannot stress enough how important a multidisciplinary team is! In the beginning, it seems like a lot of work. -And it really IS a lot of work. But it is SO worth it in the end when you're able to start truly LIVING again!!

 

Anyone Can Say They're A Life Coach, How Do You Make Sure They Really Have Had Training?

 

Unfortunately, there are NOT strict regulations on being a life coach.  Anyone, yes anyone, can "say" they're a life coach.  No law will stop them!  I could've just said …..Hmm, "life coaching" is what I've basically been doing for all of these years anyway, so I'll just say I'm now a life coach and start taking people's money.  I didn't want that!  If I was going to "say" I was a life coach, I was really going to "BE" a life coach.  I've sunk every penny I could get, into certification classes.  Since there aren't any laws in the U.S. governing life coaches though, here's some tips on finding one that really IS a life coach.

 

 

Validating the training and qualifications of a life coach is essential to ensure you're working with someone who has the necessary skills and expertise.

 

1. Research their background: Start by researching the life coach's background and qualifications. Look for their website, online profiles, or any other information available. They may provide details about their training, certifications, education, and professional affiliations.

2. Ask for credentials: Reach out to the life coach directly and ask about their credentials. Inquire about their specific training programs, certifications, or any relevant qualifications they hold. Legitimate life coaches are typically open to discussing their backgrounds and will provide you with the necessary information.

3. Request references: Ask the life coach for references from previous clients or colleagues who can vouch for their training and expertise. Reach out to these references and ask about their experience working with the coach, the effectiveness of the coaching, and any other relevant details.

 4. Review testimonials and reviews: Look for testimonials or reviews from previous clients. These can often be found on the life coach's website, social media profiles, or other online platforms. While testimonials should be taken with a grain of salt, they can provide some insight into the coach's credibility and effectiveness.

 5. Conduct an interview: If you're still uncertain about a life coach's training, qualifications, or approach, request an initial consultation or interview. This will allow you to ask questions about their background, training, methodology, and experience directly. Pay attention to their responses and assess whether they instill confidence and trust in their abilities.

Remember that while these steps can help you validate a life coach's training, it's also essential to trust your instincts and evaluate how comfortable you feel working with them. A good fit between you and the life coach is crucial for a successful coaching relationship.  The compliment I hear the most is, "Amy, you're just so easy to talk to. I don't know what it is about you, but you just draw people to you".   Make sure you feel THAT way, about any coach you choose to work with.

 

I've also always had a lot of friends from within the LGBTQIA+ community, and even have a man that I consider a son, that's gay.  I've had SO MANY people from within the LGBTQIA+ community that has sought me out, just needing someone to hold their hand and give them some techniques to use, when they come out.  I've had men aged 30-50 find me on FB, that were struggling with gender identity and/or gender dysphoria.  Throughout the life of the blog, I've mentioned how high the suicide rate is within the chronic pain community ….it's just as high, if not higher in the LGBTQIA+ community and this absolutely breaks my heart.  After I was on the tv show Dragnificent, on TLC, I had more and more DM's from people within the LGBTQIA+ community.  As a life coach, I'm capable and equipped to help anyone.  My passion though, will always lie within the chronic illness and LGBTQIA+ communities. 

 

IF anyone feels suicidal though, please don't seek ME out.  Please call 911, a suicide hotline, or go to your nearest emergency room for immediate help.  I say this, because unfortunately twice now someone has contacted me out of the blue only for them to message me again a few weeks later and tell me "Thank you, you literally saved my life.  When I first contacted you I was thinking about just killing myself".  That my friends, scared the living crap out of me lol.  I'm NOT a psychologist or psychiatrist, or someone trained specifically to help those that are in crisis mode contemplating suicide.  But if that IS YOU, PLEASE seek immediate help from someone trained in that specific area. 

As always my friends, Never Give Up HOPE! -Without HOPE, you don't have anything! I TRULY live my life by this motto!

Addiction Vs Dependency In Chronic Pain Patients

 

Can Dependency Turn Into Addiction for Chronic Pain Patients?

The most viewed blog post I ever did was about how easy it is to become addicted to opiods, when one suffers from a chronic pain illness.  How my friend Brenda, who I met due to this blog of mine, was an addict and didn't reach out for help.  Unfortunately, Brenda's son walked into her home one day, to find her dead from an accidental overdose.  All Brenda was trying to do, was to find a little relief from the pain she suffered from 24/7, just like I do. Just like a whole lot of us do.  As a person who is in pain daily, I get the want for pain relief.  Even if it isn't totally gone, just a reduction in pain would be very welcomed most days.  Brenda wasn't trying to feel high, nor did she want to die.  She just wanted to live.  Which it's hard to truly live when you're faced with chronic pain 24hrs a day, 7 days a week.  Chronic pain can affect every aspect of life, from how you sleep to how you interact with people. For many people, managing this pain involves taking some form of medication. But, as with any medication, there’s the potential for dependency and even addiction. So what does this mean for chronic pain patients?  I'm not going super indepth with this blog post, but I want to make people aware of what the difference is, between dependency and addiction.  With chronic pain patients, it's a real thin line sometimes.

What is Dependency?

Dependency is when a person relies too heavily on a medication. They may need higher and higher doses to get the same effect or may develop a tolerance to the drug. Dependency can lead to addiction, but it’s important to note that the two are not the same. Addiction is more than just a reliance on a drug, it’s a compulsive behavior that can be hard to break.

Dependency is a serious concern for chronic pain patients. Many of the medications used to manage pain are highly addictive, and it’s easy to develop a dependency on them. Over time, this can lead to an addiction if the person is not careful.  This right here, is what happened to my beautiful Brenda and to many other chronic pain patients.

Risk Factors for Addiction in Chronic Pain Patients

There are certain risk factors for addiction in people with chronic pain. These include depression, anxiety, family history of addiction, a history of substance abuse, and a lack of support. People who are struggling with addiction are also more likely to develop a dependency on pain medications.

It’s important for chronic pain patients to be aware of these risk factors and talk to their doctor about them. Being open and honest about any concerns can help to prevent the development of an addiction. 

Signs of Addiction in Chronic Pain Patients

Chronic pain patients should be aware of the signs of addiction. These include cravings for the drug, an inability to stop taking it, and withdrawal symptoms when not taking it. Other signs include an increase in dosage or frequency of use, as well as an inability to control the amount taken. If you notice any of these signs, it’s important to talk to your doctor as soon as possible.

It’s also important to be aware of the signs of addiction in friends and family members. If someone you know is struggling with addiction, it’s important to get them help as soon as possible.  They may not even realize themselves that they've crossed that line from dependency to addiction so if you point out to them, their first reaction may not be accepting.  Please though, if you recognize concerning behaviors in someone you know or love, even if they're not receptive to you speaking up please speak up anyway and don't stop until they've been evaluated by a professional.  Their life very well may depend on this!

Preventing Addiction in Chronic Pain Patients

The best way to prevent addiction in chronic pain patients is to be aware of the risk factors and signs of addiction. It’s also important to talk to your doctor about any concerns and to follow their advice. If you’re prescribed a pain medication, be sure to take it as prescribed and to not increase the dosage without consulting your doctor. I know first hand how easy it is once you've built up tolerance to a drug to think "Oh I'll just take one more.  Just one more, will give me a little relief and let me get through this day".  Please, understand it doesn't work that way. Please don't ever take "just one more" without talking to your physician first.  

It’s also important to have a strong support system. Having friends and family to talk to can help to prevent addiction and to manage pain. Exercise and other activities can also help to manage pain in a healthy way.  There really are so many other things you can add into your daily routine, that by themselves alone or in conjunction with prescription meds, can help you cope with your daily pain and help to give you a quality of life back again.  Some of these things I had read about when I was newly diagnosed and thought "no way in HE!!" would that make my pain go away or help me at all.  Whelp, I truly was just uneducated.  I wanted that one magic little pill that I could swallow and it would cure me or at least make my life tolerable again.  I was looking at this stuff all wrong.  I had no idea how powerful of a tool, the mind truly is.  Once I finally stopped being a stubborn mule and gave alternative therapies a try, I knew this was the path I was supposed to take. Not only to help myself, but to be able to help others as well!  My entire life, I've always been that friend everyone would go to with their problems. I was always that friend, that would give the shirt off their back, to help someone else.  Obviously it should've been a no-brainer for me, that helping others with chronic illness is what I was supposed to do with my life.  I believe there's a "why' for everything.  I believe this is the answser to the "why me" question I asked a million times after my diagnosis.  I had to live it and experience it, so that I could help others.  

Dependency and addiction are serious concerns for chronic pain patients. It’s important for patients to be aware of the risk factors and signs of addiction, and to talk to their doctor about any concerns. If you're timid about talking to your doctor straight off, talk to a friend.  If you're timid about talking to a friend about your concerns, call a hotline where they don't know you.  Just make sure you reach out to someone! -Anyone!  Taking the medication as prescribed and having a strong support system can help to prevent addiction and manage pain in a healthy way.

This is a photo of my beautiful Brenda.  Oh how my heart still hurts, losing her.

I'm going to leave you all with the link to my original post about the dangers of taking prescription pain killers.  The story of my poor friend, Brendam, and how she didn't want to die.  You can access that original post by CLICKING HERE

No matter what you're going through, or whatever you're facing what's the  motto here?  Never Give Up HOPE.  Because without HOPE, you don't have anything!  I'm sending gentle butterfly hugs to all of you! -Remember you can reach out to ME via a comment on this blog, On IG, Twitter, this blog's FB Page, Pinterest, or on my Professional FB Page

Let's work together to build a better you!!