Wednesday, June 19, 2013

Arthritis and Depression...and Some Deer!

Hello everyone!  Welcome!  I know that I don't make many posts where I share about myself, but there are times where I just want to share things and this is one of those times.

For those of you who have been readers of my blog for a long time, you will know that I have osteoarthritis and that I struggle with depression.  Although I don't suffer with arthritis pain very often, (thank God), there are days when I do, and Monday was one of those days.  I had pain in my joints in my hands, my wrists and shoulders, and this pain lasted a good part of the day.  It was a rainy day and I find that when I have a day of pain like this I am very tired the next day...so today I was pretty tired.  

As far as depression goes, I have been prescribed meds for it and have found that what works for me and helps me a lot is this blog.  See, when I go on my walks and am in nature, I find it very therapeutic, as well as being able to think and talk about my feelings right here with you all.  The friends that I have made through blogging....I cannot describe how good this is and how much I appreciate you all!  

When I make my posts and see the responses and read your comments, it makes me feel good to know that what I share here makes people smile, laugh, think, relax, etc.  It helps me to keep going and it takes my mind off my pain (whether that pain be physical or emotional), and thus I find blogging very rewarding and therapeutic.  I find prayer very helpful as well, and being able to pray for others and for myself is very healing.  I also find the videos that I hand pick and share here to be therapeutic...and hope that they help you all as well.

The video I have chosen for this post is a two minute video entitled "Harmony and the Stream."  Enjoy!

The photos I am sharing today are ones I took on my nature park walk a couple of weeks ago.  If you all remember my post entitled "The Deer Whisperer", where I had a day of enjoyment in being able to take some photos of some lovely deer, these are the remainder of those photos.  I was very touched that the deer came so close to me, enabling me to get these photos.  They really touched my heart!  You just need to click on the images to see a larger view.




Thank you all so much for visiting me here!  I always appreciate and enjoy reading your kind thoughts, which you are always welcome to share by clicking on the 'comments' link at the end of my post.

20 comments:

  1. Nice video. I see the deer are gradually losing that shaggy look and getting their reddish summer coat. My wife always aches before a rain comes, and sometimes, I do as well. She also lets rainy weather get her down, but I'm lucky that it doesn't affect me that way. Hope you're back to normal on all counts tomorrow! Bless you.

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  2. Thank you for sharing your thoughts and feelings, Linda. I'm so sorry you have been suffering with the arthritis, and I hope the pain will get better very soon. I, too, suffer from depression, and blogging and connecting with others helps me, too.

    Such a relaxing video! I love the sound of water. And the deer are beautiful!

    Thank you for your very kind comment on my blog. I appreciate it!

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  3. I struggle with arthritis as well, and am going to the surgeon all the time for shots to keep me going. But I get the feeling that you are not very old, like I am. I am so sorry you have this at such an early age. YES, it is so good for us to write our feelings, and even better when we have friends to read it. Women really do seem to be helped by being able to talk, while men seem more to jut want to get things done.

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  4. thank you for sharing. it sounds like it's been a very long struggle with these issues, and while i don't really understand the details, i'm glad you know that there are people who read your words and who do wish you all the best. please let us know if there's something further we could do for you.

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  5. Lovely pics, Linda. One of our very well known sportsmen has publicly acknowledged his depression, and says one of the best things for him is daily exercise, and cooking, which is "very therapeutic", look on Google for Sir John Kirwan. Friends here in blogland are so caring, loving and supportive through so much, sadness and joy, illness and happiness, giving and receiving. Down here, snow is falling in large amounts in the South Island, nearer to us it will arrive Friday. Firewood all ready!!! Fond greetings, Jean. p.s. thanks for your lovely comment for me.

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  6. merci pour ces douces photos, j'espère que la santé va aller,
    bises
    Laurence

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  7. Arthritis stinks, doesn't it. I remember my friend's mother, crippled with it, making gnochi. How did she do it? We just get on, don't we.

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  8. So sorry you had the rough days. Many of us can empathize with the OA. I can only imagine it can make the depression a bit worse - - - - but I am very thankful you have found a way to redirect your thoughts away from those two things by blogging! It is definitely an enjoyable diversion from our normal days.

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  9. Creo que la mejor terapia para ambas cosas es dar largos paseos, al aire libre si es posible, con tu cámara fotográfica para fotografiar todo aquello que encuentres y despierte tu interés. La fotografía te obliga a pensar en el encuadre, la luz, el enfoque, etc. distrayendo tu mente y el hecho de caminar tonifica el cuerpo. Un abrazo.

    I think the best therapy is both long walks outdoors if possible, with your camera to photograph everything you find and awaken your interest. Photography forces you to think about the framing, light, focus, etc.. distracting your mind and making walking tones the body. A hug.

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  10. You know what you/your blog mean(s) to me, dear Linda... Thank you.
    Lie(f)s.

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  11. I'm totally with you on the therapeutic value of blogging. We've been on vacation now for some time and access to the Internet isn't as easy as I'd like keeping me from blogging as usual. I can really tell the difference! I admire your fight to keep above physical and emotional challenges and not surrender...kudos to you!

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  12. I think the idea is to keep the mind occupied, be it a blog or something that is of interest to you, Linda you seem to have hit on this, and it shows within your great blog.

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  13. I suffer arthritic pain off and on too. It really drains my energy and takes the joy out of a lot of things. I find that getting sunshine and rest helps. What really lifts my spirits is Nature-watching birds and animals.

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  14. Thanks for coming to my blog a while back. I am way behind reading blogs as we went on a couple of trips. I have arthritis in my knees – the doctor says that they are bone on bone now – so walking down the San Francisco hills was quite painful. I like you music video – love the sound of running water.

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  15. I don't know if this will help.....when I was a child my mother suffered a lot of pain in her hands from arthritis.

    Our then doctor suggested she put packs of ice on her hands and also said she should have two glasses of white wine from burgundy each day...the minerals would dissolve the crystals in her joints.

    She followed his advice and lost the pain in a couple of months.
    Now 96, more than fifty years later she has no problems.

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  16. I just read your post, dear Linda. Let me ask you: why not talk about it? Why not? Most of your readers do care about your health. More than that: as you say yourself, it's part of the healing process, and it's true for many.

    And it helps understanding people, what they are, their work, specially in this case where we don't meet in person.

    I've made several true friendships through the blogs, visiting people in the USA, in France… and that became possible because people care about each other.

    Let me make a stupid joke: I'm pretty sure that you are a good weather woman. One of my friends, from Sept-Îles, has the same type of problem and he can predict weather changes with great accuracy!

    Good luck, Linda. Life will be good for you.

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  17. Love that soothing Video there's something wonderful the sound of a stream .Nature is very relaxing I do find also. Arthritic in my hands and wrists from time to time pain rears it's ugly head.
    Thank you for sharing , best Wishes and hope the pain subsides.

    Sheila :)

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  18. Hey Linda, thanks for sharing how you feel with us, it's good to share the good and bad in life wherever we may be in the world it's nice to know there are caring like minded people. Sending you neighbrays from the muleteers to brighten your day :)

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  19. Your description of your arthritis pains sounds just like mine and most all of my friends. You are in good company.:) The video was so soothing.

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  20. hi linda<3

    such a nice blog u have, with wonderful pictures and words..
    i am also suffering of depression, and have done it for two years now :-(.....it is so cruel!! but i have my strength and must keep having my positive thougts!
    i was happy when i saw a new "face" in here:-)
    warm hug to you over there far away from little sweden;)

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