Tag: mental health

TMS treatment day 1

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello ,my bucket list friends . This week I’m getting TMS treatments at Stanford for an OCD study . Today was the first day of my TMS treatment . It’s an interesting topic that I can’t wait to tell all of you about. Here we go !

TMS treatment day 1

My first day of TMS started bright and early . I didn’t sleep well last night so I was already tired but I was ready to begin .First stop was the room where I would be receiving my TMS treatments. I had been in the treatment room before but now was the time for my first official TMS session . A device called a tracker was placed on my head and it would stay there for the rest of the day . It made me feel like I was in a science fiction movie ! I liked the tracker and I took lots of pictures of it . It felt weird when it was first put on but I got used to it very quickly . There were also stickers put on my chest to measure my heart rate thoes stayed there for the rest of the day also . Since the TMS sessions are short and only take place once an hour I had a room to go to in-between treatments . I filled up my down time with different activities but my favorite was doing word searches in my American Girl brain benders book . The treatments themselves were pretty simple I sat in a comfy chair that is similar to a dentist’s chair. Then the heart monitor was connected to the stickers on my chest . After a few sessions I was able to connect the cords to the stickers myself . After that a coil was placed on my head and the treatment begun. TMS is a very interesting feeling and it’s kind of hard to explain but each treatment seemed like it was over before I knew it . I was there until evening with some wonderful supportive staff . It was a long day but I’m so happy to be a part of this research ! Now , on to day two ! Rock On – Christina Epperly

Getting ready for TMS and a trip to the American girl store

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! Next week I’ll be up at Stanford all week for TMS treatment. Today I went for one more appointment before my treatments officially start also I finished my appointment early enough to walk across the street to the Stanford shopping center. It was quite a day and I’m excited to tell you all about it . Here we go !

 

Getting ready for TMS and a trip to the American girl store

I had a two hour appointment scheduled at Stanford today . This appointment took place in a different building then the MRI scan did. ( you can read about my MRI HERE ) I have been to this building before for other appointments related to the study . Today I talked to a doctor about some of my OCD symptoms then it was time to meet the TMS machine . today we were just figuring out the right way to set the machine for my treatments since everyone’s bodies are different . After getting it all sorted out I was done for the day . I still had sometime before my ride came so I walked across the street to the Stanford shopping center . It wasn’t raining when I left my house so I didn’t bring any rain gear but it was raining pretty good by the time I left my appointment . I got a little wet on the walk over to the shopping center but not to bad . I love American girl dolls so I was excited to go shopping at the two story American Girl store. I have been to the store before but it’s been awhile.  I bought two books . The first one I decided to buy was a book about Blair the girl of the year for 2019 . The 2nd book was a brain teaser book filled with fun puzzles. I also got some free stickers . I spent a while walking around the store looking at all the dolls and other items . I really like this store it’s so fun and decorated very nicely . After going to the American Girl store I got some lunch at Starbucks. It was packed day and I’m both nervous and excited for next week . I can’t wait to tell you how it all goes !

Rock On – Christina Epperly

 

 

My first MRI ( OCD research)

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello my bucket list friends ! On Monday I did something pretty exciting,I got my first ever MRI . I was nervous at first but it was an interesting new experience and I can’t wait to share it with you .  Now I’m not sick or anything , I’m lucky enough to be participating in an OCD research study at Stanford. With all that being said here is the story of my first MRI.

 

 

My first MRI

I’ve been doing the pre-screening for this study for a while now but I didn’t want to say anything on this blog until things got going .  The study will be researching TMS treatments for people with OCD. TMS has been used for OCD and other mental health conditions but usually the treatments are done in a time span of 4-6 weeks . For this study I will be doing the treatments for one week . The study will see how effective the treatments are in the span of a week . During the study I will be getting two MRI scans . The first one was completed on Monday and the second one will be done after the TMS treatments are completed. On Monday I went to Stanford University to get my first MRI. I arrived about 45 minutes early so I had some time to explore the beautiful campus . It was raining on and off that day and I had to keep my hair dry for the MRI so I kept my hood on most of the time while I was exploring .  My favorite thing about the campus was this big beautiful fountain I took so many pictures by it . After some exploring it was time for the MRI. I was nervous but it wasn’t that bad at all .  I did some paper work then I got dressed up in some fancy blue scrubs. After putting in some ear plugs it was time to say hello to the MRI machine . I felt nice and cozy in the machine it wasn’t bad at all in there.  It was loud even with ear plugs and you can call me weird if you want but I kind of liked the noise .  I was in there for about 90 minutes I think. When it was done I felt a little dizzy but not bad I was very tired that night but it is all worth it to be apart of this amazing study .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

Living the bucket list life

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, My bucket list friends ! When posting on social media I sometimes use the hashtag bucket list life but what does that really mean ? I thought it would be a good idea to take a further look at this and also to give all of you some suggestions on how to live the bucket list life on a average day .

 

Living the bucket list life

 

To me Living the bucket life life is more then just crossing items off your bucket list, It is an attitude or maybe even a life style . To me a bucket list is not just a list of things to do in your lifetime. It’s the idea that life is really meant to be lived to the fullest .Let’s face it all to often our lives become a retinue of the same things over and over again. We get stressed and grumpy and we often forget to take time to do the things that we really enjoy, the things that make us smile and help us to truly love life . So how do you live the bucket list life ? Simply put you take time for you and the people and things you love . It’s about trying to mix up your routine to keep life exciting ! Yes, I’ll be honest some days are not that great and that’s OK. Living the bucket list life is not a solution to all of life’s problems but it is a way to make life a little happier .  Below I’ve listed a few ways on how to live the bucket list life !

Try something new – Instead of getting the same thing for lunch try something new or wear clothes that you haven’t worn in a while mixing things up just a little bit will add a little bit of excitement to your day .

Do at least one thing you love everyday – It could be something as simple as watching a show you like or listening to your favorite playlist or setting some time aside for a hobby you enjoy like drawing or dancing . Taking time to do something you love will add a little boost of happiness to your day .

Day Dream – OK, I know it sounds a little silly but seriously instead of repeating your to-do list or thinking about all the bills you have to pay have a little fun with your thoughts ! Think about what you want to cross off your list next , your favorite memories , the best vacation you’ve even been on , or the trip you want to take next . Taking some time for positive thoughts will help to put you in a positive mood even if your not crossing an item off your list that day .

 

I hope you enjoyed reading my tips for living the bucket list life ! Have fun crossing off items everyone !

Rock On – Christina Epperly

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I love Lavender ! ( especially when times are tough )

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! I consider myself to be a very open and honest person.  I have talked about my struggle with OCD on this blog before . The truth is things have been hard for me lately . My depression was acting up a few weeks ago . I became exhausted from everyday life. All I wanted to do was sleep . I became more prone to panic attacks .Then things really got bad when a friend of mine died unexpectedly . Since then I’ve had more panic attacks and even some chest pain . There lots of things that I do to help me through a hard times. Such as getting enough sleep,( but not too much) working out , praying , and writing .  Lately I’ve been getting more into essential oils . One of my favorite essential oils is Lavender it is so calming and relaxing . I’ve been using it the past few days or so and it is amazing ! It helps to calm me down very quickly ! I got some in a spray bottle that I can carry with me and use it as needed . I know that there are other kinds of essential oils that can be helpful for stress as well but for now lavender is my go to for stress relief !

Rock on – Christina Epperly

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Life after vacation

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends ! being a bucket lister often means having a love of travel and adventure and boy do I love both of those things ! Well there is something I haven’t really written about before but it happens to me all the time . Most of the time whenever I come back from vacation I get after vacation blues . It’s hard to go from being on an amazing vacation where every day is an adventure to going back to the same old stuff. I know I’m not the only one that has this problem I looked it up . I hope by sharing my experiences with after vacation life I will be able to help some one else who has the same problem . Let’s get to it !

 

 

 

Life after vacation

When a vacation ends I have mixed feelings . On one hand I’m excited to go back home see my friends , family ,cats and sleep in my own bed again but On the other hand I can’t believe it’s over already ! As the saying goes time flies when you’re having fun and that is so true when it comes to vacations. For me though going back home is easy compared to getting back into the everyday routine of life . All throughout the day I keep thinking about how I wish I could just travel and blog all the time but I know that won’t being happening soon . Even though it might some day ! The thing that works best for me is to try to focus on positive things like all the fun stuff I did on vacation ! Lately when I have been feeling upset I replay the moment in my head when I met Alice Cooper and before I know it I’m smiling ! I also like telling other people about my vacation it’s almost like I’m back on vacation . Another thing that can help me cope with after vacation depression is to treat myself  a week ago I bought this really cute stuffed dinosaur at Walgreens ! They are starting to put their Christmas items out so there where a lot of cute animals to choose from ,getting a new stuffed animal gave me a little does of happiness that was much needed . I also try to focus on the everyday things that bring me joy such as watching one of my favorite shows , waking up with cats on my bed , and the yummy soup that I get from the store by my work . It may take some time but before I know it I’m back in the swing of things and looking forward to my next adventure ! To sum all this up I’ve made a list below of my life after vacation tips .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

Tips for getting back to normal life after an amazing vacation

 

  1. Think about positive memories it can be from the vacation you just got from or  from another happy time in your life .
  2. Treat yourself ! Eat your favorite foods or buy yourself something new and exciting like a new outfit or a stuffed dinosaur. 🙂
  3. Make a list of all things you enjoy about every day life .
  4. plan your next adventure.
  5. Tell others about your fun vacation it may just inspire their next trip !

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My crazy heath problems

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, my bucket list friends As I’m sure you all know life is a crazy thing sometimes it’s crazy in a good way sometimes not so much . Right now I’m facing some problems and I know from experience that it is good to talk about both sides of life .  So here we go !

 

My Crazy health problems !

Ok ,bucket list friends I’m not sure how to explain all of this but I’ll do my best .  For as long as I can remember my hormones have been crazy  I always thought it was related to my OCD but now my hormone problems are getting worse.  I’m trying my best to  figure out everything . Since last Thursday I’ve been to the doctors three times . I’ve had a blood test and an Ultrasound . After my doctor goes over everything I should know more . For now What I know is that my Iron is very low and that is causing me to be very dizzy. I’ve been taking Iron to stop the dizziness  but I’ve still been getting dizzy and I get very tired . I have been taking a lot more naps then normal . All of this has caused me to miss work and that does not help me with all doctors bills . It is hard to stay positive in times like this and every little thing that happens like leaving your dad’s Disney World sweat shirt at the doctor’s office or sleeping wrong and waking up with a very painful neck seems to add a whole new layer of stress on to what you already have. The best advice that I give to myself and others that are going through times like this is look backward and forward . I know that may sound a little strange but stay with me . first look back on all the good times that you’ve had and all the blessing you have received now look forward  to all the good things ahead . Think about your dreams and your plans for the future . Focusing on all the good things that have happened and the good things that will happen can be just the dose of positivity that you need . I have faith that I’ll be feeling feeling better soon and I can’t wait for my next adventure .

Rock on – Christina Epperly

 

January 2018 wrap up!

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, bucket list friends since January is ending soon I thought I would do a quick wrap up on the first month of 2018. I’ve been working on somethings this month and I can’t wait to tell you all about it so here we go!

 

 

My life in January 2018

 

January always seems to go by slowly for me. There does not seem to be a lot happening in January and the month just drags on. Also, the gloomy weather can cause me to become depressed. I discovered a long time ago that walking is a great way to improve my mood and that is what I have been doing a lot of this month. I have been on many walks this month and some even on sunny days! Two of my favorite walks that I took this month were the one by the beach and the one to the pond on a trail that had been closed for a long time, It felt good to go on that trail again. I also started working on one of my more long-term bucket list items #195 read 100 books in one year this month I read 8 books, so I’m off to a great start. I’ve also been doing a lot of writing this month I’ve started writing a fiction story The Unschooled Dairy of Aspen Roads (you can read it here

 

). I plan to do a lot more fiction writing this year and I have been working on two other books that I have not posted. I’ve also spent some great times with family and friends this month and as you can tell from my last blog post I dyed my hair green and that was bucket list item #166 I also booked my vacation for this summer and the destination is on my bucket list, I signed up for a 5k next month as well!   To top it all off today a whole box of my little pony toys that I won from eBay arrived today, I had so much fun looking through all the ponies. January might not usually be a very fun month but this time I feel like I turned that around, I mean I crossed off a list item and I had some great friend time! I did face some obstacles month but overall the year is off to a great start .

 

Rock on – Christina Epperly

Surviving the bad days

Posted on by crazydreamsgirl

Hello, bucket list friends! I have found that I really enjoy writing personal blog posts, So I thought I would share with you how I make it through the days when my OCD and anxiety is at a very high level. As with most medical conditions, when you struggle with mental health issues, you have good days and bad days. There are many things that can cause me to have a bad mental health day. Stress is a big culprit it could be anything from a test, to a lack of money, or just having too much to do. Any of those things can cause me to have a bad mental health day. Sometimes I’m just that way for no particular reason. There are days when my brain chemicals just aren’t right and I don’t feel good. There will also be days when my OCD drives me crazy with it’s racing thoughts and even though my medication helps with this problem. There is no way to cure the metal health problems that I have but over time I have learned to manage the bad mental health days. Being aware of what’s going on with me makes all the difference. Just being aware of what happing to me can help me to relax and overcome the negative feelings. Sometimes unfortunately I get caught up in the strong emotions that I’m feeling and I have a very hard time getting myself back to a normal mood. Sometimes It gets frustrating because I’m not sure why it’s all happening. I mean I know I have OCD, anxiety and depression but sometimes I can’t always pinpoint why I’m feeling the way I am. Is it because of mental health or is it because of a lack of sleep or am I truly upset about something? There are different tools I use to help me cope with bad mental health days depending on the situation such as praying, reading, watching TV and making art. Sometimes when I distract myself with the things I love most I can get myself out of a bad mood. Also a self-pep -talk can go a long way. One other thing I do is look back on all the good days I’ve had and look forward to the ones yet to come ! What are some tools you use when you are having a bad mental health day? Let me know in the comments below . Rock on – Christina Epperly