How To Deal With Anger Without Damaging Your Relationships? (+ DOWNLOADABLE FREEBIE PDF JOURNAL) - #LifestyleFriday

When was the last time you were angry? Do you remember why? What made you boil up inside? Was it annoyance? Anxiety? Fear? Was there a mix? Who did you backlash at? What were the consequences? To all these questions I’m going to shed a little light so that we can all start the weekend more peacefully and a bit more calm.

Like all human emotions, anger has been explained on and off by psychologists and regular people alike. Today we’re going to treat it like a result to a perceived threat, as a result of the fight-or-flight response, the mechanism that helps our survival for millenia.

When we are facing some type of danger, our brains have two possible choices: to help us stand and fight or make us run for our lives. Dealing with multiple sclerosis, this gets a bit tricky, and in some cases even impossible. We have to put up with an illness we have no control over, with a danger that we can’t escape from.

Enter frustration. This one is a natural response to the lack of options we have in order to deal with our anger. Therefore, everything begins to anger us: not having a cure, being surprised by a nasty symptom, having a relapse, losing some of our abilities, and so on. We become more sensitive to external stimuli. Who wasn’t annoyed by the simple: “it’s all in your head!”?

The biggest and most widespread human fear is that of the unknown. Life by itself is unpredictable and a stress bringer now and then. But humans adapt. Multiple sclerosis only adds to this uncertainties, making our lives even more stressful. We are all diferent and so are our coping mechanisms, but there will always be a time to snap / vent / melt, call it as you will.

A moment in time when all the uncertainty, fear and expectations get to us and we become Mr. Hyde.

For those of you who don’t know what I’m talking about, Hyde is a novel character, in the book “Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde” by …. It is basically the dark side of each of us, the “monster” that lies within, our deepest and most secret impulses, primal violence and such. When I say that we become Mr. Hyde, I’m describing how we can literally transform from the most kind person to a raging ball of fire, that snaps at people, causing only pain and resentment. 

This is one of the main causes of why people around us get distant, and sometimes leave. Relationships get tared, bonds get cracked. They’re already scared, our anger only adds up to their feeling helpless and more frustrated. Not a happy place to live in. Could you bear this forever? Think about it!

What I’ve learned so far, having my own large dose of being angry, is that you need to deal with it. I went deep within myself and analysed the reasons for getting so angry. Clearly it was an over-the-top reaction, that in other conditions wouldn’t have happened. For me, daily journaling helped put things into perspective. 

We all thing the reasons why we’re angry are so legitimate, others so ignorant and we ourselves so missunderstood. Wrong! In most cases, we overreact. I know I did! When I began accepting it, things gradually got better. Time helps you to better understand your triggers and to catch yourself before you snap. Or help you to snap less, to be honest! 

We all have good days and bad days, we all have ego colisions with other people. MSers tend to become a bit more sensitive that other people. We develop a type of vulnerability that not many people can understand fully.

I chose to transform this vulnerability into something positive. It’s damn hard! It takes a lot of focus and dedication. But when you do it daily, you CAN transform anger into love. Agression into compassion. Frustration into gratefulness. I experience those two opposing forces on a regular basis. 

Of course it’s easier to snap, yell and take some steam off. But is it really worth the effort? Is it really worth the damage? You get dear ones angry, you become stressed, the whole thing could turn into a full blown conflict and for what? For multiple sclerosis? REALLY?

Accept your anger. Let it go and search for the love within. Find reasons to be grateful and happy for your life. Focus on what you can do and do more of that. Capitalize on your strenghts.

There are millions of people who go through the same issues as you do. Of course we are all different, but in the end we all have multiple sclerosis roaming around in our brains. The true secret is the way we choose to react to what’s happening to us. The way we let it get to us. Or not. Accept, adapt and overcome.

I prepared a printable journal to use as a tool for getting to know your triggers and focus on what is good in your life. Download it by clicking this link Accept.Adapt.OvercomeJournal

Let me know your story with anger in the comments below. Subscribe for more articles!

Lots of love,

Alexandra

Flax, Chia & Turmeric. 3 Superfoods That Help You Better Manage Your Multiple Sclerosis - #HealthyThursday

Flax, chia and turmeric. How do these three so-called super-foods help you on the long run? How do they contribute to your wellbeing and help with MS management? Let me tell you my story. Feel free to do your own research and draw your own conclusions.

Nowadays, it’s hard to live a healthy and antiinflammatory diet, given the consumption patterns and all the zero nutrient foods that are mass produced. So, what do we do other than try to eat as healthy and as organic as we possibly can? We add natural helpers. Tiny roots and seeds that are nutrient dense and help digestion and promote healthy functioning of the whole body.

When dealing with multiple sclerosis, doing your best to avoid inflammation and nourish the body naturally are two of the best things you can do to ensure optimal health. To have any result, all the foods, exercise and relaxation measures we may take need to be implemented on the long run. Healthy choices that become habits, that eventually make you stronger.

The trick is finding the right mix that suits your tastes, lifestyle and capabilities. All we do in life is choose on a daily basis. Below are three of my little choices that have made me enjoy experimenting with healthy foods, not thinking that I might become defficient in any essential nutrient.

Flax and chia seeds are the type of products that I wouldn’t normally crave. But stirring them into smoothies or greek yoghurt (if you choose to eat dairy) with honey and I had a lovely dessert, full of calcium, vitamin B6, omega-3 and omega-6, iron, copper and loads of other vitamins and nutrients good for my health. You can also add them in baked goods, replacing flour and / or eggs, as flax contain plant-based fats. 

Since I began using them, my intestinal transit got better, meaning that flushing toxins was a little bit more efficient. Like all things in life, I ate them moderately, as to not upset the stomach or get my body immune to them (pun not intended).

When I first ran into turmeric, a few years back, I didn’t think so much about it, as its bitter taste didn’t make me associate it with something pleasant, as most foods do. So I left it where it was. Little did I know that I will end up making and drinking turmeric tea three times a day. It has become a staple in my morning, afternoon and evening routine.

Turmeric Tea Recipe

I mix ½ tsp of turmeric powder, ¼ tsp of cinnamon powder, 1 tsp raw honey and the juice of half a small lemon. Mix and pour over about half a cup of hot water. I mix again and enjoy! It is known to reduce blood pressure, boosts energy, it protects the liver, reduces inflammation and many more. For me, it has replaced coffee, reduced inflammatory states and made me feel better overall since I started cosuming it more than a year ago.

These three are potent antinflamatory, healthy protein and calcium, fiber and healthy fats dense foods that you can add to your diet tomorrow. Give them a try for at least a month and tell me how you think. We all react differently so just try and see. If it works, and you feel better, keep it. If it doesn’t, just try something else. I’ll be here weekly with other choices on #HealthyThursday.

Tell me your story in the comments below. Maybe you’ve already tried one or all of these foods. Maybe you have an inspiring story about nutrition and MS management that others might like. Don’t forget to subcribe for more articles!

Lots of love,

Alexandra