Insights, Blogs & News
Taking Migraines Seriously: KCBS Reporter, Serene Branson Is!
According to the Migraine Research Foundation, an estimated 10% of the population suffers from migraines and women are 3 times more likely to have them than men. KCBS reporter, Serene Branson, found out the hard way how quickly a migraine can come on and how incapacitating it can be. When Serene was covering the Grammy Awards on 2/13/11, she believed she was battling a bad headache, but suddenly began to slur her words. Serene’s migraine caught on tape is helping bring additional awareness of migraines. See video below. Serene told CBS that the next time this happens she will tell herself, “This is not just a headache, you’re […]
Living with Asperger’s and Tourette’s: James Durbin Contestant on ‘American Idol’
James Durbin Latest News, Videos and Updates Below! 21-year-old James Durbin of Santa Cruz, CA auditioned for American Idol in San Fransisco, which aired on February 9, 2011. James’ back-story told of his long, life journey of struggles. James’ father was a bass player and spent much of his time out on the road, playing in bands. When James was only nine, he lost his father to a drug overdose. James teared up when he said, “It hurt to lose him, cuz I didn’t get a chance to know him.” After his father’s death, James was on medication for a sleep disorder and stress. He […]
Living with TBI: ‘American Idol’ Contestant, Chris Medina, Stands by Fiance
26-year-old Chris Medina auditioned for American Idol in Milwaukee, which aired on Wednesday January, 26, 2011. Before Chris sang, he moved the judges and America to tears with his story. (Photo of Chris Medina and Juliana Ramos before the accident – from their Facebook page). Two years ago Chris proposed to Juliana Ramos, his girlfriend of eight years. Just two months before the wedding, Juliana was in a serious car accident that left her in a coma. The doctors told the family she had suffered a traumatic brain injury (TBI), several fractures to her face and they did not think she would wake. “Her chances of […]
Where to Begin: Finding Help During Chronic Illness
When my husband first got sick, I was honestly just so overwhelmed trying to “maintain,” that finding help for our household was put on the back burner for several weeks. When things finally calmed down, I realized that my family needed help, but I had no idea where to begin looking for it. I am honestly fairly ignorant regarding government assistance programs. I didn’t know what programs were applicable, when I should apply, or who could answer my questions. I asked just about everyone I knew for information and assistance: friends who are suffering from cancer, support groups, doctors, teachers, […]
Managing Your Persistent Fears, Anxieties and Stresses
Written by Stan Popovich Everybody deals with anxiety and depression, however some people have a difficult time in managing it. As a result, here is a brief list of techniques that a person can use to help manage their most persistent fears and every day anxieties. When facing a current or upcoming task that overwhelms you with a lot of anxiety, the first thing you can do is to divide the task into a series of smaller steps. Completing these smaller tasks one at a time will make the stress more manageable and increases your chances of success. Sometimes we […]
What a Wimp
“What a wimp.” It must be bad when you recognize it in yourself. Why is it the older I get, the wimpier I am when it comes to – of all things – needles? Sitting in the lab technician’s chair recently, I found I was distracting myself from her preparations. The rubbery tourniquet thingy, the vials, the – ugh –needles. I was looking everywhere but at the tools of the trade. What’s with that? I’ve noticed over the years I’ve gradually become less comfortable sitting in that hot seat. I never used to give it a thought. For the last […]