Think!…a book offering help for chronic head pain {{giveaway}}
How did Thursday get here so fast? Every Thursday I’ll share a new book that I’m reading. I’ll also share interviews with many of the authors. I was glad to interview my guest today for a personal reason.
I have a loved one who is a strong, athletic, jump-in-life kind of guy, but migraines shut him down. That’s why I was excited to read Lisa Morrone’s new book, Overcoming Headaches and Migraines. In it she offers hope and healing with those living with chronic head pain.
She’s a physical therapist. An adjunct professor in a university Doctorate level PT program, she has taught upwards of one thousand of tomorrow’s promising physical therapists, and now shares that information with those suffering with pain, and their loved ones.and shares her method of comprehensive Do-It-Yourself treatment for chronic back and neck pain sufferers.
Lisa joins me today to talk about some of those methods, as well as how chronic pain can sideline those who want to be active. She encourages those who have been told my numerous doctors that they should “just live with it”, to search deeper.
Suzie Eller: Thanks for joining us today, Lisa. . Let’s jump right in. When someone has head pain, they often reach for medication. Can the medication they take actually cause more headaches?
Lisa Morrone, PT: Strangely enough it can! When a person regularly takes medication to keep their head pain under control—whether it is over-the counter-medication, like Excedrin or Tylenol, or doctor-prescribed meds such as Cafergot or Imitrex—their brain actually gets used to the steady diet of those brain-altering chemicals.
In fact it can become addicted to them! So what does an addicted brain do when its chemical diet is running low? It does what it knows will get it some more chemicals—it produces another headache. Very clever, huh?!
(more…)
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6:21 am |
12 days of Christmas – I’m #11!
“Are you through with Christmas shopping yet?” someone asked me last night.
I laughed out loud. “Of course not”, I said to my friend. She laughed with me, knowing that there are SO many days left before Christmas, as far as I’m concerned.
I’m not really a last-minute kind of girl, except for this. I have friends who finish thier shopping by October. I would hate that! I have other friends who have a tidy pile of Christmas gifts under their tree, a result of braving the crowds at bleary-eye inducing hours of the day. (more…)
Posted by Suzie @
9:53 am |
This week on Christian Momlogic
Three amazing bloggers joined me on Christian Momlogic, which means there is a ton more information for moms and women!
Jill Hart is an expert for work-at-home moms. She shares the scoop on how to stay at home with your kids and make an income at the same time. She also deals with issues that come up with being a work-at-home mom.
Carla Williams is the spiritual mom. She’s a grandma (a young one!), mom to many, and best of all she’s a warm, loving human being who loves to mentor other women in parenting and in faith.
Last, but not least, is Takiela Bynum. A pastor’s wife, radio host, and friend, Takiela talks about what it’s like to be a special needs mom. She’s battling lupus and living life large. Her posts reach out to moms who have struggled with sickness, and perhaps just need to connect with another woman who gets it.
Expressions of a Drama Tween
Check out these helpful posts this week on Christian Momlogic:
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11:57 am |
Encouragement for Today
If you are joining me from my devo at Encouragement for Today, welcome!
My devo today was about two things. One, to encourage you that God is working even when we don’t see it. And two, I wanted to share Emily’s story.
Before we begin, I want to explain that this is not an interview about Catholicism vs. Christianity. Many who follow Jesus do so in the Catholic church, but in Em’s case it was more tradition than personal. So when she became an avid follower of Jesus Christ, it changed things. Not just for Emily, but for her family.
Emily is a fun, out-of-the-box, amazing twentysomething who loves Christ, and who runs after God with her whole being. (This is a pic of her w/my daughter at my birthday party.)
If you are around her for just a few moments, you walk away inspired by her faith.
Today Emily joins me as we talk about what it’s like when you live out your faith alone, and how to trust God even when your prayers seem to hit the ceiling.
Suzie Eller: Hey Emily, thanks for joining us! Can you share the story of when and how you became a Christian?
Emily James: Hey Suz! I grew up going to a Catholic school and church but had no personal relationship with Christ. I went to church on Sunday out of obligation and always dreaded going. The summer after my seventh grade year I went to a youth camp with a group of my friends for fun, not knowing I would be forever changed.
The speakers started talked about topics I had never heard of. The last night of camp there was an alter call and the Lord’s convicting presence fell over me so strong I knew it was something I had to do. From that night on I have sought more of God and remained hungry to know about His kingdom.
SE: What did your family think about your conversion?
EJ: When I first became a believer my family did not understand at all because my family was unfamiliar with having a true relationship with Christ.
SE: In today’s devotional I shared how you went to the Christian church alone for a long time, but now you are now wrapped in family that runs after Jesus. Your mom and dad remained in the Catholic church, but took their faith to a personal level. Your brother Adam is just as faith-filled as you, though he was your greatest adversary in the beginning.
What would you say to the person reading this who feels alone in their faith?
EJ: Don’t lose hope, PRAY. I have seen numerous people transformed by the miraculous power of God. My brother was one of the last people I ever thought would come to Christ and now he is one of the most radical believers I have ever met! I know at times it seems impossible but as cliché as it sounds, with God all things are possible!
SE: What did your brother think about your faith?
EJ: My brother was afraid of what he didn’t understand. He mocked and teased me. We would have lengthy conversations about the bible and he could always out talk me because he was older and smarter. When he was 22 the Lord woke him up in the middle of the night and he accepted Christ. He is now a new creation in Christ.
When he first became a believer the Lord told Him to sell everything he had, so he did. He sold his car, all of his furniture and all he kept was his mattress to sleep on. After completing his college education the Lord told him to work at Whataburger, so he did.
He worked as a personal banker for a while and the Lord told him to quit and do full time ministry, so he did. His obedience inspires me to follow the Lord’s leading even if it seems crazy to this world, because He will always prove Himself faithful!
SE: And now?
ER: My brother is so hungry for the things of God and he is continually seeking more of Him. I watch him move from glory to glory, never being satisfied but always seeking more of God. He has taught me to think outside of the box in everything I do. He has taught me to seek the living word of God for answers, not man, doctrines, or traditions made by man. I respect him and want to be more like him.
(This is a pic of Adam leading Emily and her bridesmaids in prayer before Em’s wedding)
SE: You’ve traveled all over the world in missions. Which was your favorite? And why?
EJ: In the summer of 07 I attended a Mission Training school in Mozambique, Africa for two and a half months. Through this experience I was truly ruined for the Kingdom of God. I lived at an orphanage with a little under 100 children that had been renewed and restored by their Heavenly Father. These children came from the worst situations possible, some of them were found in dumps, beaten, raped and filthy. The Lord restores their joy one by one and they become some of the most well mannered, loving, warriors for the Kingdom I have ever seen. I learned so much from the children of Iris.
While in Mozambique we attended classes during the day and on the weekends we would go on outreach trips into the “bush”. We would drive for hours on the back of flat bed trucks into remote villages. We would set up generators to show the Jesus film in their native dialects, share the gospel, pray for healing and leave.
On a typical outreach the majority of the village would come to know Christ, deaf ears would hear, backs would be healed, tumors would disappear, the list goes on and on! Thank you Jesus!
Through this experience the Lord really taught me how to love the unlovely. He taught me the importance of reaching out to those who are not like us. To go to the oppressed, the lonely, the hurting, the sick, the poor, and the dying and try to love them as Jesus did.
SE: What are you and Reed (Emily’s husband) doing now?
EJ: Reed and I are living in Boston, MA. He has one year left to graduate with a Masters of Divinity Degree from Gordon Conwell Theological Seminary. He is interning at the same church I work at and has had opportunities preach, lead small groups, and obtain more of an inside view of what it takes to keep a church running.
I am the Assistant Director for an After School and Summer Day Program called Kids’ Place. I am working with inner city kids, some of which have never heard the gospel before and it has been a tremendous blessing in my life.
GIVEAWAY: Would you like to know what it’s like to run after God, to find Him in your relationships, to understand what it means to be “called”, to know what to do when you are a work in progress (aren’t we all?), then comment today!
Share your thoughts about Em’s story, or a prayer request (I promise I’ll pray with you), and one person will win a copy of The Woman I Am Becoming: Embrace the Chase for Identity, Faith, and Destiny.
Posted by Suzie @
6:00 am |
Encouragement for Today
Perhaps you came over from the Proverbs 31 devo. If you did, welcome! I sat down with Darrin this weekend and talked about what has happened in his life in the last 10 years. This is what he had to say:
Suzie: Darrin, ten years has passed since the day you lost hope. What has taken place in that time?
Darrin: Wow! More than I could have imagined at the time. It was July 2, 1997, when I tried to commit suicide. Since that time, I’ve discovered a real relationship with Christ. God has brought wonderful people into my life who helped me tremendously to get through all the crud and have been there with me ever since. I’ve learned not only how to ask for help but also how to accept it.
I’ve also learned how to help others get through the same things that I experienced. I got married in November of 1999 to my best friend, Sarah. When we first got married we spent some time as youth pastors in Wagoner, OK. Then we moved to Ohio for three and a half years to help start a church. We’ve been on three missions trips to two countries, Ireland and Antigua, and are planning to one day live in Ireland as missionaries.
We have three beautiful children: Abi, Caleb, and Jaxon. If you would have told me all that was going to happen back in 1997, I would have made a different choice.
Suzie: I think that is one of the most powerful truths I’ve learned from you. When life is bleak, hang on. It can and will change.
Suzie: You mentioned Sarah and the kiddos. Tell us more about your family.
Darrin: My wife, Sarah, is the best friend I’ve ever had (which is one of the reasons I married her). She’s also gorgeous (another reason I married her). After I got saved I knew I wanted a woman like Proverbs 31 describes, and that’s exactly what I got. It’s been so much fun being married to her because we have just enough in common to make life fun and interesting, and the differences we do have are areas where we both needed balance. We both feel a definite call to missions and are planning to move to Ireland one day.
Abi is my five year old princess! When she was a baby I used to sing You are my Sunshine to her, and that’s exactly what she is. She is just as beautiful as her mother and has my personality, which is at some times good and other times not so good. She is very charismatic and had a speaking part in our church’s Easter play this year for the first time ever! She loves reading, watching t.v. and movies, and talking on her “cell phone.” She takes every opportunity to tell her brothers what to do and loves thinking she is the boss. She also takes every opportunity to care for her brothers.
Caleb is my tender-hearted three year old little man. He’s definitely a lover and not a fighter. I think he’s got more of his mama in him than the other two. He’s very shy around people he’s not used to, but once you get to know him he’s hilarious! He also looks out for his brother and sister (he was going to hit a kid three times his size at the daycare the other day because that kid hit Abi). One of my favorite things that Caleb does is when I go to tuck him into bed he throws his arms around my neck and says, “Sleep with me!” He’s great!
Jaxon is my 15 month old, and he is a concoction of a little bit of Abi, a little bit of Caleb and a little bit of himself. He’s very charismatic and outgoing like Abi, but he’s also very tender-hearted like Caleb. He’s just now starting to walk, which is a lot of fun because he looks like Frankenstein when he’s walking. It’s hilarious!
Suzie: I wish I could have shared this with you when I sat at your side 10 years ago. Maybe someone is reading this today that feels like you did. You’ve walked in those shoes. What would you say to that person?
Darrin: There are a few things I would say. First, I would tell them that it’s going to get better. Maybe not immediately. (Within the first few months after I got out of the hospital from trying to commit suicide I had my car repossessed, backed into a family member’s car, and had another car’s engine blow up on me in the middle of a thunderstorm), but it will get better! Just remember, if I had known all that was going to happen to me I probably would have chosen differently.
Second, I would tell them to talk to someone they trust that is smarter than them and will help hold them accountable and give them godly counsel. If you’re going to talk to someone, make sure you tell them everything you’re feeling. People can’t help you if you if they don’t know what’s wrong. When I tried to commit suicide I had plenty of people who would have crawled through hell to help me but they didn’t know anything was wrong.
Lastly, I would tell them to make sure they are viewing things as they truly are. Ephesians 6:14 says, “Stand firm then, with the belt of truth buckled around your waist.” This literally means to have your emotions or your mind wrapped in the truth of God. When we start experiencing feelings of depression or hopelessness, we need to compare how we are feeling with what God’s word says.
Suzie: Perhaps a loved one or friend is reading this, and they don’t know how to help. What’s the worst thing someone could say to a person that is struggling?
Darrin: The worst thing you could say is nothing at all. Have you ever saw someone with something in their teeth, or even worse, something in their nose, and you were hesitant to say something to them? That’s what talking to someone about depression is like. It may be uncomfortable telling them that something is wrong, but if you’re their friend you’ll tell them before they make things worse.
Depression and suicide is one of those subjects that nobody likes to talk about. We may either see the signs or have a friend who says they are struggling with depression and our response is that it’s just a phase that they’re going through. It may be just a phase, but what if that person decides that this “phase” isn’t worth going through? When you’re going through a tough time it’s hard to see past the gigantic problem or problems that are staring you right in the face.
A friend that is willing to talk to someone can give some perspective on how things may not be as bad as we think they are.
Suzie: Let’s flip the coin. What is helpful?
Darrin: Knowing that there is someone that you can say absolutely anything to without fear of them judging you or telling your business to the whole world. It’s people like Sarah, Suzie and Richard that make going through a tough time bearable because you know that they will listen when you need somebody to listen and they will tell you the truth when you need to hear the truth (you may not want to hear it but they tell you anyway).
There is one other thing, and this one always throws people off. The best time to help other people is when you’re struggling yourself. Think of it this way, I can hate where I live or the car I drive. I can wish for more expensive clothes or better shoes, but if I get out and help someone who doesn’t have a house or lots of clothes, then that makes me appreciate the things I have even more.
No matter how bad things are for you, there’s somebody out there who is having a lot worse time than you are. That person needs your help! When you do that it takes your focus off of your feelings and lets you see things much more clearly.
Suzie: What’s ahead for you?
Darrin: Sarah and I are working towards getting our affairs in order so that we can move to the next phase in our life.
We are ready to be missionaries but there are a few things left for us to do here. In the mean time, I teach a connect
group at church about evangelism and missions, as well as directing a monthly outreach for our church. I love serving others! Evangelism and missions are my passions and I know I wouldn’t be happy doing anything else. I am already a certified minister and am now working on getting my license. I feel like the plans God has for our family are so big that to the natural eye they seem almost impossible, but I know what God has called us to do and He will take care of us.
Suzie: Thanks, Darrin, for your honesty and your heart to reach out to others.
Posted by Suzie @
7:54 am |
This week on Christian Momlogic
At Christian Momlogic we are at 331 members. Women from all over the US and outside the US are coming together. Real friendships are taking place.
Just last week I received a phone call from one women. She had met three CML members who lived in her city. They met and attended a Bible study together, and are quickly becoming friends. She was estatic!
Last week Sarah Ballard of Muskogee won a $400 diamond designer necklace. Melony Hopfer won a Sane Fitness kit. Susanna B. won an autographed copy of Mary DeMuth’s new book, Daisy Chain. Jean F. won an autographed copy of my book, Real Issues Real Teens, and Jaymie D. won an autographed copy of Mama’s Got a Fake ID.
We just wrapped up the discussion of Last Mango in Texas in our book club. Laura Polk is leading us into the next book, so we hope you’ll join us!
Last of all, women are losing weight in the Christian Momlogic healthy living group and that’s just plain cool.
What can you find in Christian Momlogic this week?
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Blog spotlight: RyleeforLife
- Dawn and her husband of ten years were perfectly happy w
ith their family, but the thought of adoption just wouldn’t go away. Enter beautiful 4-year-old Rylee from China (isn’t she beautiful?). Dawn shares how adoption changed her family and her heart.
- This is Your Brain on Joy! – Review of revolutionary new approach to depression, anger, and other issues. Melding science with faith.
- Mama’s Got a Fake ID - Interview with author Caryn Rivadeniera who says “love the role of motherhood, but still be you!”
- My 3-year-old Refuses to Potty Train – It’s our “ask an expert” Q&A. Childhood expert Brenda Nixon answers this tough question.
- My Teen is Disrespectful - Another “ask an expert” Q&A.
Do you want to join us? It’s kind of like Facebook, but for moms and women of faith. It’s one of 400 communities in Time Warner’s Momlogic, which has 13,000 members who have joined since January. CML is a cozy niche that seems to be growing into something amazing.
Step 1: To join, go to momlogic and check us out. Join! That will make you a momlogic community member.
Step 2: Click on groups and choose “Christian Momlogic” or “Christian Momlogic Healthy Living” or “Christian Momlogic Book Club”. Click on any of those and join right on the page!
Posted by Suzie @
3:23 pm |
