Sustainable Self Care

I'm a nurse, a mother of 1 and a zero waster. I'm always looking for new ways to be sustainable whilst also having Fibromyalgia and helping my husband who has cancer. Together, we're looking to help anyone that is interested in making sustainable choices...

[wiitch-craft]

Anti-anxiety Herbs

A list of herbs that help reduce stress & anxiety & how to use them. 

Chamomile: Top of the list because it’s my personal favourite. Chamomile is very calming, & also helps calm the nervous system, reducing physical & emotional tensions & helping to soothe, & calm the mind. Chamomile tea is very effective in relieving anxiety, & can also be used in combination with other herbs as an edible oil to take internally for an instant relief. The smell of Chamomile alone is very calming & for these reasons it can also be used in aromatherapy remedies as incense or facial mists. 

Lavender: Lavender is also very soothing & has a slight sedative effect. Use Lavender alone, or in combination with other herbs to place inside a pillow to aid in a restful sleep. Lavender can also be drunk as a tea to provide relief from emotional tensions & anxieties, & aid in soothing the nervous system, relieving physical stress as well. 

Green Tea: Helps by relieving heart rate, & blood pressure, & cleans & detoxifies the blood at the same time. Provides mental clarity & reduces anxiety whilst improving focus, preventing one from becoming lethargic. 

Hops: Used in sleep pillows, & edible anti-anxiety oils & tinctures. Hops has mild sedative effects.

Valerian: Valerian is a strong sedative herb & can help promote a deep, restful sleep. It produces an unpleasant smell, so is usually taken as a supplement or tincture, but can also be used in combination with other fragrant herbs to drink as tea.Valerian has such strong sedative effects that it is advised only taking this herb in the evening, before bed. A good aid for insomniacs. 

Lemon Balm: Lemon Balm has been used since the middle ages to help reduce stress & anxiety. It is useful in promoting both a calm, & more alert state of mind. Commonly taken as a tea, tincture, or capsule supplement. 

Passionflower: Passionflower has mild sedative properties & helps soothe & calm the nervous system & relieve anxiety. It is also a great aid for insomnia. 

Licorice Root: Helps by stimulating relaxing chemicals in the brain, it helps one in dealing with general stress. Soothes & calms the nervous system. Most commonly drunk in combination with other herbs as a tea, & used in sleep pillows. 

Note: All of these herbs can be used in herbal sachets & other magickal charms to relieve stress & anxiety. 

Remember these are only herbal suggestions, NOT prescribed medicine, if you are already on medication, ask your doctor if it’s ok to use some of these herbs internally as some come can react with medication. Do not take too many sedative supplements at once & consult your doctor before internal use of any herbal supplements if you are pregnant. 

[whatshouldwecallchronicillness]

When I hear about other spoonie’s accomplishments...

Graduating?  Getting out of bed?  Remembering to take all your pills today?  

Here’s some claps!  

[sustainableselfcare]

Make zero waste your spoons and your claps :)

[sustainableselfcare]

Creature Comfort Tuesday

A zero waste life is a life based on experiences rather than the accumulation of stuff. That being said, when chronic illness comes into the mix, going out and experiencing life isn't always the most appealling option. So what's a zero waste spoonie to do? It's not the most zero waste optio but, on top of the amazing tv that's being made these days, I like to play board games. Favourites include Betrayal, Seven Wonders and Settlers. Purchasing these games second hand or buying the demo version in store are the best ways of buying these items zero waste, however more and more games are becoming available online. Like a good book, I can't quite let go of the "real version" for the online alternatives.

[cantcontrolthegay-deactivated20]

“parkour"  I say as I roll to the other side of the bed 

[sustainableselfcare]

"Professional illusionist" I say as I make a bar of chocolate disappear

[sustainableselfcare]

It's onesie day. So in love with pj's as they don't hurt.

[creativeronica]

Does missing out on little things because of your chronic illness and/or disability ever trigger a profound feeling of loss and a heart-wrenching longing to be “normal” and/or healthy?  </3

I’m umm…asking for a friend. 

[sustainableselfcare]

In a nutshell yes.

I am very high functioning, but spoon counting means I've lost parts of what makes me and that my life has lost it's spontaneity. I hate having to factor my illness into every decision I make :(

[clockworkcrow]

interesting comparisons i have come across about living with POTS:

- a potsie’s body reacts to standing the way a healthy person’s body reacts when they’re either a) extremely dehydrated, or b) bleeding out

- the effect of dehydration through the night on how potsies feel when they wake up is the equivalent of a hangover for a healthy person (so basically, we always wake up with hangovers)

- potsies’ heart rates when they stand up are the heart rate a healthy person would have during an extreme cardiovascular workout

[sustainableselfcare]

Omg this is so true... It's so awesome when you find someone that has put something like this into words!

[spoonie-isms]

You might be a spoonie if....

You’ve had to listen to someone talk about how they don’t take meds because they’re “all natural” and had to both keep a straight face and not slap someone

[sustainableselfcare]

There's no shame in needing medication- dabbling around to find natural remedies should come second to making sure that you are as synptom free as possible.

[myinnerlandscape]

[sustainableselfcare]

my blood tests: you're in perfect health and nothing is wrong

me: *looks at body*

me: you lying little shit.

[humansofnewyork]

“I grew up in the suburbs. I used to think that I could write a prescription for a poor man: ‘Get a job, save your money, pull yourself up by the bootstraps.’ I don’t believe that anymore. I was ignorant to the experiences of poor people. I’d invite anyone to come and meet the people who live in this neighborhood. Right now we are surrounded by working poor people. These are the people who sell your tools at Sears, and fix your roofs, and take care of your parents, and mow your lawns, and serve your meals. They’re not getting a living wage. There’s no money left to save. There’s nothing left if they get sick. Nothing left if their car breaks down. And God forbid they make a mistake, because there’s nothing left to pay fines or fees. When you’re down here, the system will continue to kick dirt in your face. You can’t pull yourself up when there’s nothing to grab onto. We aren’t paying our brothers and sisters enough to live. We want them to serve us, but we aren’t serving them.”

[sustainableselfcare]

Never take the NHS for granted. It is the greatest thing about Britain.

[spaceyjules-deactivated20180305]

friendly reminder that not vaccinating your healthy kids endangers disabled and chronically ill kids near them

[sustainableselfcare]

Vaccines save lives!

[sustainablesabs]

When your thanksgiving host composts 😍 • • • • • • • #zerowaste #wastefree #notrash #compost #biodegradable #scraps #thanksgiving #fruit #healthy #ecofriendly #sustainable

[bookishboi]

HEY SO IF YOU HAVE CONCERNS ABOUT DRUG INTERACTIONS, EITHER ABOUT A DRUG THAT YOU ARE CURRENTLY TAKING OR A DRUG YOU PLAN TO TAKE

GO TO DRUGCOCKTAILS.CA (IT’S A CANADIAN SITE)

THIS WEBSITE WILL SHOW YOU COMMON INTERACTIONS ALONG WITH WARNING SIGNS FOR ALCOHOL, TOBACCO, CANNABIS/HASH, UPPERS/DOWNERS, BENZOS, CAFFEINE, TOBACCO, AND WHAT THE EFFECTS USUALLY ARE OF COMBINING ONE OR MORE

REBLOG TO SAVE A LIFE PLEASE

[sustainableselfcare]

High Five Friday

Made an inventory of everything in the freezer and fridge- the best way to keep on top of food waste. I'd put it off for far to long. Next on the to do list is to perfect homemade ketchup and baked beans

[sustainlifestyle-deactivated201]

what happened when i stopped washing my hair

Many will tell you that not washing your hair is unsanitary and gross. However, my hair has never looked better. Ironically enough, it seems like the less I “take care” of my hair, the better it looks. It’s silky, full, healthy-looking, and has regained its natural waves. And it doesn’t smell! I’ve suffered from dry hair ever since I can remember. Last year, I switched to using a bar of olive oil soap once or twice a week instead of using commercial shampoo brands. That has helped a lot, but I always had to add a lot of oil to my ends to make them look healthy. Ceasing to wash my hair as been the only solution thus far that has been fully effective. This solution isn’t for everyone, but I do encourage those with thick, dry hair to give it a go.

I must admit that my hair did look greasier in the first week, but by using dry shampoo (corn starch) and a good brush made of wooden bristles, I was able to spread the hair oil from the scalp to the ends of my hair to give them a healthy glow. Your scalp gets greasy at first because it’s used to overproducing oils from constant washing (thus unnecessarily stripping oils from one’s hair), but by training it with dry shampoo, your scalp learns from your habits and finds a happy middle. This is only made possible with a good brush with natural bristles (boar or wood).  Now my hair isn’t greasy and it looks stronger and healthier.

It’s been a week and a half thus far, and I’m eager to see how far I can push this experiment. If you’re willing to try this, I do discourage you from using baking soda as a dry shampoo, as it damages hair over time. Corn starch (mixed with cacao powder for darker hair) massages into the scalp is incredibly effective. 

[sustainableselfcare]

For the spoonie community washing your hair can sometimes be an extra spoon that you just don't have. Considering going no poo even as an experiment can be very freeing, cheaper and less effort

[friendlyfrankenstein]

So you know how a lot of medical response to chronic pain and fatigue is ‘oh just exercise more and you’ll be less tired!’

well my mom found an article where it turns out basically all of the data supposedly supporting that is complete bullshit whAT DO YOU KNOW. 

TURNS OUT YOU CAN’T EXERCISE OUT OF BEING IN AWFUL PAIN FROM YOUR *NERVES WORKING WRONG*. 

[delcat177]

Can we please please PLEASE get this to as many notes as possible because  you would not freaking believe how important this is (unless you are one of the people going “no shit Sherlock” at aaaaaall of your doctors rn)

[titleknown]

Reblogging because it makes me so fucking mad to see bad science used against disabled folks, and this needs to be boosted to the high fucking heavens…

[sustainableselfcare]

Exercise has helped me but it's only a small part of the story.

It took me years to find the stretches that target the specific muscles that tense up during my fibro pain- note that my fibro pain is completely seperate from the tensing pain i get.

It took me a long time to intergrate normal activities into my life again without it flaring pain like walking or housework.

Every piece of activity from getting up to going to bed is now exercise that I have to plan. Avoiding spontaneity is the curse of fibromyalgia even once you get on top of your symptoms.

So, no, exercise will not cure my condition. Mindfulness about every activity I do is my condition. I know it better than any doctor or specialist and I've invested to much time and effort into improving every area of my life to be told that exercise can cure me by someone who can't recognise that I know what I'm doing.