HealthCareTips blog

Hundreds of scientists say coronavirus is airborne, ask WHO to revise recommendations

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source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/hlush5/hundreds_of_scientists_say_coronavirus_is/

China Dominates Medical Supplies, in This Outbreak and the Next

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source https://www.reddit.com/r/Health/comments/hltyu9/china_dominates_medical_supplies_in_this_outbreak/

China Dominates Medical Supplies, in This Outbreak and the Next

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How to Release Worry and Embrace Uncertainty

“Fear, uncertainty, and discomfort are your compasses toward growth.” ~ Celestine Chua

Uncertainty can be the glue for anxiety if you allow it. One thing can snowball into another and soon you are looking at the road ahead, absolutely dumbfounded about which way to go. It shakes us to our core; it disrupts our security, our stable foundation and makes us feel unsettled, even a bit lost.

But can our lives change without uncertainty?

I don’t believe they can.

Two years ago, I found myself wondering: Is this all there is? The road I’ve been on is where I’ll stay; no passionate youthful ambitions, no joyful exuberance; just working and paying the bills, day in and day out. That’s being an adult, isn’t it?

At least I have a comfortable life, I told myself, with little disruptions, no drama, and nice friends that I have trouble feeling close to.

There must be something better, I told myself.

I searched everywhere.

Then I found my passion. It was buried deep. I dusted the cobwebs off. I wondered why I had abandoned such a beautiful passion. Then I remembered, convincing myself decades ago, that my passion had no real use, especially in a world that valued money above everything else.

But it made me happy, so I worked at my passion twice a week in the evenings when I had time. It was a very busy time. I had little space left for my distant friends, superficial dating, or any of the other things that were slowly draining my soul.

Miraculously, my passion had quickly filled my cup in a way nothing else could, not dating, not friends, and definitely not work. I made a choice to give it all I’ve got; to make a big change.

This was happiness! I had found it!

I sold my business and pursued change. I chased it, shedding the old chains that bound me, blazing my own path. Then something happened that I didn’t fully expect.

Uncertainty.

It shook me to the core.

Here I was, with little money, a fixed income, and no clear path ahead of me. Do I turn right or left? Do I go straight or take this side road? Which path is the best path? Will I succeed or become a failure?

Anxiety gripped me, threatening to choke the air out of my lungs. What have I done? How could this be? I’ve ruined everything.

I put all my heart and soul into my passion, continuing tirelessly. The negative thoughts tugged at my brain at night, raising my anxiety levels. My sleep was disturbed, and my life was in chaos. Nothing was for certain anymore.

I analyzed every direction. One direction must be better than the other! But they all seemed the same, fraught with obstacles and inconsistences.

I started making plans to move but froze. I felt unable to make a decision.

I mulled things over and over in my mind until I could no longer think about anything. My path was so wide, and the waters were unchartered. I felt like I had absolutely no idea what I was doing or where I was going.

How could this be? How could the path to happiness be so rough and riddled with peril?

Then I forced myself to breathe. It was going to be alright, I told myself. Exercise and take care of things every day but accept that there will be mistakes. You are human after all.

I began talking myself out of the crippling anxiety and came up with a list of positive messages to counter the worry:

You are intelligent; you make good choices. You always have. Look at all your past achievements. They are tangible proof.
Trust yourself. You’ll make it.
Change is better than going back to where you were before.
Release your power over things if you want them to evolve.
Go ahead, analyze your situation, but leave many margins for error.
Take a break sometimes and focus your mind on other things that have absolutely nothing to do with your decisions.
If you don’t know the right path, just start swimming in the right direction. The river will eventually take you there.

So, I started swimming. The river slowed down along the rocks a few times, but I found clever ways to get around them. Sometimes the water was freezing cold and I learned if I kicked my legs faster, I would stay warm. A few times, I just waded in the water, enjoying the scenery.

While I was admiring the scenery, I wondered if maybe the journey was more important than the destination. Those moments were precious.

I still have crippling anxiety often, but I have grown an impressive amount of faith in myself. I believe things will work out; they always do somehow eventually.

Every day I wake up with uncertainty hovering over my head. I wonder how I could rid myself of this unwelcome guest.

Then I had an epiphany.

If you want change in your life, you must open the door to Uncertainty. He might stay awhile, so be sure to invite him in and shake his hand. It’s okay, he’s not the bad guy. Uncertainty is actually the guy that’ll introduce you to Future.

Oh, and that guy Anxiety? Don’t listen to a thing he says; better yet, tell him he’s not welcome and slam the door in his face.

And remember, you’ll be okay.

This post courtesy of Tiny Buddha.

Surviving Your Family by Setting Boundaries

This year is different. Disagreements, misunderstandings, and stress combine as political, economic, social, and health-related concerns merge to make this one of the most challenging years any of us have faced. If you are grieving on top of everything else, your pain and griefwork have been interrupted by isolation, fear, anxiety and, possibly, numbness. Now it is summer. Upcoming special days can be difficult enough to endure anytime, but trips and gatherings of families and friends this year are sure to be challenging even if they are virtual.

Everyone needs a guide and a little concrete advice because everyone knows someone who has a habit of doing or saying just what “pushes buttons” that are better left un-pushed. You probably already know who believes what in your circle.

Take time to think about what you want to do over the next few months and even into the holiday season. It would be nice if you could choose what interests you, get plenty of rest, eat good food and stay hydrated. Aim for those things. Write them down. But, as you design your own guide, you’ll need a category for “when things go wrong” and for “obligations.”

You have options. Think ahead and even write down different scenarios. Imagine how you might feel if your uncle tells you one more time that you’ve got to get over x, y, or z. Try different responses. Find one that doesn’t make your blood pressure head skyward. When you encounter these situations in real time, you’ll have your best suggestions prepared. Come back after the first interaction and evaluate. What helped? What didn’t? Did you think of other things that allowed you to focus more on healing, budgeting, or your children than on arguments?

Dealing with family members, friends, and coworkers is not easy in the best of times. If you are having a difficult time communicating, you are not alone. Everyone is worried now and may not understand what you are going through. People you care about may want you to “get back to normal” or they may even blame you for the friction. Something as small as word choice may be taken out of context when people think they know what you mean without listening to what you are saying. Decide what is important to you. Look for ways to compromise on everything else.

So, to that concrete advice … set boundaries. This might mean skipping the traditional July 4th picnic or sending a card and gift instead of attending a birthday party or wedding. Think carefully about the relationships in your life. Think carefully about the still rampant pandemic as well. What safety precautions are you able to take if you decide to attend an event or even your child’s baseball practice?

Setting boundaries does not always mean physical separation. Expecting disagreements and having your thoughts prepared ahead of time can help you keep your temper in check. It’s difficult to carry on a one-sided argument for long. Besides, in all probability, these are the people you care about, aren’t they? How do you feel about letting them express their thoughts?

Boundaries can assist you in many circumstances. Too much rough teasing that is upsetting your child is too much to allow. Mocking or bullying anyone crosses a very important line. Timeouts or early departures give breaks when a few words fail to calm situations. Use your own judgement as to what is acceptable behavior and what is not. Don’t settle for less.

Being prepared and thinking ahead are useful even if it turns out you don’t need those ideas. Friendly gatherings and celebrations can be enjoyed even this year.

Do you have something difficult to say to someone else who attends? Perhaps you owe an apology for something you said the last time the family gathered. Maybe this is the first time you’ve been out with friends since losing someone very important to you. Rehearse what you want to say until you find the best way to say it. Keep it short and meaningful.

It always helps to practice. First, you get used to the sound of the words. They lose the biggest part of their shock value. Second, knowing what you will say makes it easier to say it without stumbling for words and forgetting the most important part.

This season will pass. Changes will be made, hopefully, to make us safer, stronger, happier. But the issues we face now are not ones that will end when the calendar turns to a new year. We are in this together. And we are in it for the long haul. On every front with every one of us.

Pacing — and boundaries — make surviving these hurdles alongside friends and family something we can do.