Thank God for Peppermint Tea!

Thursdays are supposed to be all about my coke addiction and things that I’m trying or are helping me kick the habit. So in that spirit, I can’t help but think how grateful I am to have peppermint tea.

Back at the onset of all of this, I got some peppermint tea so that I could have something to drink on my cleanse besides lemonade. When I later discovered that caffeine was having such a detrimental effect on my hands, I used it as a coffee substitute. It has also been immensely helpful to have on the days that I’m trying not to drink coke but desperately need something with flavor.

What is Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder?

I’ve struggled with sleep for nearly as long as I can remember. Since this week’s healthy goal is to get more sleep, I thought it would be appropriate to make an educational post about a specific type of sleep disorder, called delayed sleep phase disorder, that it often misdiagnosed as insomnia.

I was diagnosed with insomnia about 2 ½  years ago and have tried a couple of different medications to manage it. They worked in the beginning, but neither were the real solution I needed for normal, restorative sleep. So I’ve just continued struggling. Save for the nights I take melatonin, I don’t count on getting what you’d call a good night’s sleep.

Delayed Sleep Phase Disorder: An Under-Diagnosed Condition

About four or five years ago, before my insomnia diagnosis, I was researching sleep disorders. It was then that I came across a circadian rhythm disorder called delayed sleep phase disorder. Sitting at my computer around 3:00 a.m. reading an article, I began to cry. It was if the article was written about me! I wasn’t crazy! I wasn’t just stubborn or lazy or insane! There were enough other people with sleep troubles similar to mine for there to be an actual name for the problem.

Vitamin D as a Cure for Dyshidrotic Eczema?

Full disclosure: My new bedtime is looming near and I have melatonin in me. If I make no sense, it’s not my fault. So.

A week or two ago, I promised to tell you guys what I’ve been experimenting with to help my dyshidrotic eczema. So I suppose that’s what I’ll do on this fine dyshidrosis Tuesday. J

I’m Taking Vitamin D Daily

Way down deep in the bellies of a long since forgotten forum, somewhere around page 26 or so of Google’s search results for “dyshidrotic eczema treatment,” I found something I had not read before. This person wasn’t just telling about something he/she had found to help dyshidrosis—he/she was fairly well pleading—begging, even—with fellow sufferers to start taking Vitamin D supplements.

This Week's Health Goal: Get More Sleep!

I was thinking last week that, although I started this blog just to have somewhere to ramble, I could probably do with just a tad more structure than I have. So, I sat down and wrote out a tentative editorial calendar. In thinking about adding structure to my blog, it occurred to me that it might not be such a bad idea to add a little more structure to my life as well. (Not the first time I’ve had this thought, but ya know.) So, in an attempt to kill two birds with one stone, I’ve settled on a few series of sorts.

Every Monday is healthy goal day. Each week, I plan to set a small, attainable goal that will work toward my becoming healthier and changing my lifestyle. And I’m going to share it with all of you! Don’t you feel special? J