Let’s Talk Food

I recently posted someone else’s picture showing Cheetos made up like rice crispy treats. The collective comment was “eww gross”, which I agree. Several years ago my curiosity would have gotten the better of me and I would have made a batch just to see if they were good or not. My son actually thought they looked interesting which coming from the Cheeto kid, well I expected that.

I posted another picture comment about what would you give up? Wine, coffee, chocolate or cheese. Most people said wine or coffee. Most people who answered were self-proclaimed Christians who probably don’t drink wine or don’t want you to think they do. Let’s be honest we don’t post who we really are on Facebook.

The truth of the matter is what we put into our body is going to define so much about us that it should take more time to decide what to eat. I asked one lady who constantly talks about eating powdered sugar covered donuts if she might consider giving those up instead of the occasional glass of wine and she said “no”. The truth is sugar is bad for you for many reasons but it is also addictive. See number eight. https://www.healthline.com/…/10-disturbing-reasons-why-suga…

What you put into your body can cause depression, anxiety, pain and a host of other health problems. Please think about your health before you reach for another powdered sugar donut. January of this year when my Papa passed away I was forced to start eating better even though I thought I was. I have lost thirty pounds and my pain levels are going down. Next post, I’ll tell you what I did.

And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew, DTM
(C)copyright 2018

www.danniandrew.com

Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 10, 2018

Trust

I am not the most trusting person. Trust is earned and my distrust of people is not exactly unfounded. When I meet someone who displays trustworthy characteristics it shocks me and I find that a little bit sad. Not that the person is trustworthy, but that more people are not trustworthy themselves. I want to trust more and I have met one such person who has displayed trustworthy characteristics. I am grateful and I am intrigued to know more about this person. Why are not more people like this? Or have I just not met them? I try to be a trustworthy person and am glad to have found someone worthy of my trust. I can count on one hand the people I trust! What a joy! Trust is such an important commodity to have. I have not always been the most trustworthy person and in my younger years my word was not gold. I worked hard to change that part of my life. Trust is very important to me. It’s been an interesting afternoon to say the least.

And that is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018

www.danniandrew.com

Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: April 2, 2018

Confessions of an Introvert

It’s exhausting to love to be around people while at the same time it wears me out. I feel bad when I just want to get away from them all but the sweet smiling faces are exactly what I need in my life. The war between wanting to be around people and the weariness of being around people, well it wears me out. I try to find some kind of balance to this drama like I will go out 3.63794 days out of the week and I will stay home behind closed doors the rest of the week but sadly anymore than that makes my anxiety so incredibly high I almost cannot function. Staying home makes me anxious too... But I have bills to pay so there comes a time when I have no choice but to go out anyway. This idea of becoming filthy rich from my bedroom is not working.

The battle with anxiety and simply being an introvert who loves being home and maybe a touch of some sort of phobia will not stop me from pursuing my goals and my dreams but it makes life rough sometimes.

This is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018

www.danniandrew.com

Originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: March 4, 2018

Food

You take it all too much for granted. Until what you eat is supposed to sustain your life starts making you sick. First it’s sugar and soda pop, next it’s gluten. Now it’s just about everything but salad and grilled chicken. What do I do now? I just keep trying. There was a time when food was the center of my life and I wanted to be a chef. I don’t think this a possibility. No matter what I am faced with I still have talents and I won’t starve to death, there are still things I CAN eat. While it doesn’t make me happy, I will be ok. Life has a funny way of making life interesting.

This is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew

(C)Copyright 2018
www.danniandrew.com

This post was originally on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: February 26, 2018

The Olympic Spirit

Many years ago my Mom, my Papa and my grandma and I used to watch the Olympics. We loved all the sports but ice skating was our favorite. We would choose our favorites and root for the USA. Sadly I am the only one left to watch the Olympics this year but I am reminded of happy times as I choose my favorite skaters and I am reminded of the Olympic spirit and what my mom always said to me “I expect better from you”! So I wipe away a tear and keep moving forward in search of the gold.

And this is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2017

www.danniandrew.com

This was originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: February 17, 2018

My Life's Work

This post was originally posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: on February 10, 2018

I have struggled a lot with ‘what is my life’s work?’ This is a continual merry-go-round. Writing is real work. Painting is real work. My book that I published in September has not exactly taken the world by storm but those who have read it have given me rave reviews. I considered quitting writing and just focusing on painting. Last night I watched the opening ceremonies of the winter games and they were commenting on the drums and the significance of the two-sided drum. We all have a two-sided drum in our life. Everything is important and “real” work. We just need to balance it out. God will help me figure it out I just need to trust Him and I need to trust myself!

This is my MENTAL HEALTH MOMENT

Danni Andrew, DTM

(C)copyright 2018
www.danniandrew.com

My Grief Plan

Originally Posted on my Facebook page Mental Health Moments: January 29, 2018

Grief doesn’t work itself out on its own. You must have a plan!

I have attended griefshare twice and I highly recommend it. Here are a few things I also recommend.

-See a good therapist once a week until you are feeling better and smiling more.
-Go to lunch with a good friend and talk about nothing or something!
-Go for a ride in a convertible with a friend or ride a motorcycle it’s a blast!
-Watch comedy!
-Join a class on something that interests you that meets at least once a week.
-Volunteer doing something helping others.
-Go to church once a week.
-Read books on Spirituality or Christianity or something that interests you. Try not to read books on horror or gore right not... It’s not good for the soul.
-Listen to really good music. I prefer classical music when I’m really feeling down but I have a list of songs that get me going with an up beat when I really need that push. Once again heavy metal doesn’t help me.
-don’t drink too much. A glass of wine now and then is ok but heavy drinking just makes the problem worse.
-Talk to someone!!! After my mom passed away I told everyone I came into contact with that my mom died!! I’m sure there were a few waitresses and grocery clerks who were surprised and not sure how to respond. But it’s ok.
-Keep talking to someone but it’s better to talk to a Pastor, a therapist or a Priest. The waitress and the grocery clerk aren’t qualified. After my mom died I shut down. My boyfriend was tired of hearing it after a few months...
-If the first therapist isn’t right keep looking! I found a “good” Christian therapist or so I thought and he said to me. “you could run my groups, I don’t have anything I could teach you”! I left and felt guilty for not being able to handle my grief. I became so shut down I could not function and became a shell.

Then my Papa died and I became a sobbing mess. It will all come out eventually. Either you will be angry and rage or you will internalize and your emotions will eat your insides out. I began to throw up everything I ate and had very bad sciatica. You will have to deal with your grief eventually. Deal with it proactively.

Grief is a hard road but you can learn to live again. I’m working on it.

Danni Andrew
(C)copyright 2018