Family Wellness

Diagnosed….or just trying to cope!

Posted by Valerie Lopez on

You might have recently been diagnosed with something really scary. It’s okay to be scared, to be uncertain. But we need to use that energy to warrior up to FIGHT THIS THING.

Even if you haven’t been diagnosed with anything scary, consider the below tips to stay healthy and sane during this crazy time. Working on yourself is never a bad thing!

I am not a doctor, or a medical professional in any way… I just play one on TV. haha! Just kidding… But seriously, my advice is based on what I have learned with research, what works for my family members who ARE wellness experts (check out http://www.growwellnesstherapy.com) asking around, and what has worked for me. Always consult your doctor on what’s right for you.

Tip #1 – The Power of Visualization

Picture the thing that you were diagnosed with literally breaking apart. Picture your own anti bodies swooping in and breaking it down until it is no longer there. Do visualization meditation specifically on what you were diagnosed with at least a few times a day.

Picture what you were diagnosed with breaking apart. Picture your antibodies taking it over until it is no longer there.

While you are in quarantine watch these Netflix video’s on just how powerful visualization can be.

Tip # 2 – Keep moving

Of course its hard to keep moving when you have been diagnosed with something devastating. But you HAVE to keep stretching to prevent the illness from being able to sit in one spot and get to comfortable. Try chair yoga with Rodney Yee, a few times a day. PLEASE!

Tip 3 – Your Food IS Your Medicine

You know this, but it’s more important than ever right now as your body prepares to fight. You MUST rid your body of extra toxins! Here are some tips and a carousel of meal ideas.

  • Target Superfoods in most everything you eat! See below for infographic on supergfoods
  • Avoid all processed foods that are boxed or packaged or frozen. Try and eat whole fruits, vegetables and grains only during this time. This includes avoiding tortillas, condiments, cheese, and most all diary.
  • Avoid meat – meat has known carcinogenics that cause cancer and other diseases – its a fact now! So just consume later when you are over this and your body can fight that kind of stuff better. The below documentary changed my dad’s life! He is about to turn 65 and looks better than me! My husband watched it and it has definitely made him so much more mindful. This stuff isn’t for the hippies anymore people! This stuff is REAL and scientifically proven.

Superfood Meal Ideas

Tip #4 – Vitamins and Supplements

I’ve asked a few nurses what to take if you’ve recently been diagnosed with a virus. All unanimously say;

  • B12 Complex and B13
  • Zinc
  • Vitamin C

Here is a helpful resource for vitamins to take when you have a virus https://consultqd.clevelandclinic.org/covid-19-and-supplements-what-we-know-now/

Tip #5 – What to monitor

Here is what the nurses I know say to have on hand to monitor yourself a few times a day as your symptoms

Make sure you start a log to record your results. This is very important! That way you can track your progress.

Tip #6 Meditation

Mediation can come in the form of actually sitting down, closing your eyes and breathing deeply OR it can also be focusing on something… and NO your phone doesn’t count! This is going beyond your PHONE to be in a moment that is only focused on that activity. This is important to relieve stress and anxiety. Here are some ideas that work for me

  • Seated meditation on my patio. I sit in a chair, usually in the morning on the weekend, with my coffee, no phone, and I just breath deeply open and close my eyes, and visualize different things that I am working on.
  • Color therapy – either by doing paint by numbers, painting your own creation or doing a coloring book! Color therapy is so helpful
  • Puzzles! – this is my husbands favorite form of meditation! People don’t think of puzzles as meditation but they are! They are the form of FOCUSED meditation
  • Writing – maybe you like to write poems, or short stories? Get lost in your own imagination.

There are 6 types of meditation – find the one that is right for you! I am a fan of movement meditation. I go on hikes and walks to connect with nature and myself every single day. With a virus you can’t do that…. but you could do Tip #2 – Chair Yoga with Rodney Yee… that TOTALLY counts as movement meditation

There are six popular types of meditation practice:

  • mindfulness meditation
  • spiritual meditation
  • focused meditation
  • movement meditation
  • mantra meditation
  • transcendental meditation

I hope this was helpful! I can’t wait until this is all over and we are all together again. \