Support For Dystonia

What kind of support do you want? Are you finding support just by reading articles or posts from others with Dystonia, or would you rather speak to a live person who has Dystonia, who can be a sounding board, while giving you support, encouragement, and will celebrate all of your achievements?

I have a Bachelor's in Psychology and I'm certified as a Professional Coach, who also happens to have Dystonia. I can empathize with the mental, physical, and emotional experiences you are going through. Lately I've been reading too many posts from people who are suffering from Dystonia, telling the world how depressed and hopeless they feel. My heart goes out to all of you, and that is why I've been posting about my services...with hopes of helping as many people as I can feel accepted, valued, and understand how they can make a difference to their lives and the lives around them.

Contact me to start your coaching sessions...www.donnaleakeclc.com

I coach over the phone to make it as convenient and comfortable as possible.

Who Do You Reach Out To?

I had an opportunity to speak to and share some concerns to others with Dystonia. Although there are different areas of our bodies where Dystonia has taken control, the fears and concerns are all the same. It's hitting me more and more, as I'm realizing how alone many people who suffer from Dystonia, and their caretakers, are feeling.

I can speak for myself, when I say that I too don't about my everyday body aches and pains to others. I guess I'm just so used to what I'm feeling that it's just a part of my every day life, so I don't think of bringing it up in conversation when someone asks how I'm feeling. I also don't want to talk about it and upset my friends and family by telling them my true thoughts and concerns with Dystonia. In a way, I prefer Dystonia to be a battle that I face every day and not for others to battle for me. However, I do know when to turn to others when my thoughts and feelings are too much for me to handle alone. Do you?

Below are some questions for you to ask yourself, and the reason why I'm throwing these questions out to you, is because I'm finding that there are way too many who are suffering with Dystonia, or who are caretakers for others with Dystonia, who are at their wits end and feel alone, scared, depressed and angry. Creating happiness starts within ourselves. Use your voice to reach out to others who can help you live each day better than the day before.

What concerns do I have about my Dystonia?

Who do I reach out to, when I'm angry, frightened, or sad with my Dystonia?

How well do I take care of my body, to strengthen or relieve the pain I'm feeling?

What one thing can I do, every day, that will make me happy? What prevents me from doing it? How can I create a way for it to happen?

There's A Lady I See Every Week, and I Think She Has Dystonia

 When I was first diagnosed with Dystonia, I was determined to run every doctors, surgeons, chiropractors, acupuncturist, and physical therapy office and tell them what Dystonia is and how they can look for signs in order to diagnose the next person who complains to them about their uncontrollable spasms. As time went by, I created this blog in order to help others with Dystonia know and feel like they're not alone. I also offer life coaching for anyone with Dystonia or other medical conditions, with hopes that I can shed light into any dark areas of what they are emotionally, physically, and mentally going through. At this moment, I can honestly say that I have become completely quiet to the one person that may need to hear what I have to say, and I don't know why I'm so afraid to approach her.

Every week I see the same woman working at the local food market by our house. Her neck is twisted to one side, and she noticeably has uncontrollable spasms in her neck, jaw, and shoulders. My heart goes out to her, and I can feel my own neck and shoulder muscles begin to spasm, just by looking at her and wondering what kind of pain she must be feeling. My mind goes crazy, thinking of how I'm going to approach her and ask if she suffers from Dystonia. If she does have Dystonia, I want to share my story and tell her about the Botox treatments I receive, and how much they've helped me live a "normal" life again. As I gather my bags at the register and walk passed her, we smile at one another and I'm out the door.

What am I so afraid of? As I've gotten older, I've noticed that there are a lot of people who are private and may think that I'm being rude to call them out on something when I don't really know them that well to do so. I, on the other hand, would have LOVED to have had someone come up to me and ask me if I had ever seen a neurologist about the twisting and pain they see me in with my neck, because I may be a disease called Dystonia!!!!  However, I'm not this woman, and I don't know how she will act. So, every week I give her my big smile and walk out to my car. She's always catching me peeking over to her and smiling, I bet she thinks I'm weird! lol  All I know is that this is an older women, who looks like she's in pain and my heart bleeds every time I see her.

Please, if anyone has any suggestions as to how I can approach her, I will welcome them all!

Thanks for your time.

Back In The Studio

I'm back in the yoga studio. Doing yoga at home by myself for too long wasn't such a good idea for me. Without someone watching and giving me direction, I found myself going from a 45 minute routine to a whopping 10 minute routine. I also found my muscles tightening and becoming painful for me throughout the day. So, I'm back in the yoga studio!!!!

The first day was rough! Lol I have been cycling all through the spring and summer months, so I thought my body was in good shape....I realized the way we move our muscles for riding are way different than how we move them in yoga!!!!! So, I'm back to square one in my class. It's all good though. I can feel my body being battered, stretched, and torn...just so it can become stronger, perhaps even stronger than before.






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Poor Diet and Dystonia

The weather has been changing, here in New York, and I've stopped riding my bicycle, walking through the parks, and all the other amazing outdoor activities the warmer weather permits. I also have to add that I've been eating horribly the last two weeks. I'm talking cookies, candies, and any carbs I can get my hands on. I've noticed that my body has been reacting to my poor diet and exercise, but not enough to have me stop doing what I was doing, or start doing what I should be doing...however you want to look at it. :)

Well, today my body is yelling at me to get well! I woke up with my shoulders up to my ears from muscle spasms I must have had during the night, my tremors came back in my hands and neck...jerking motion in my neck, shaking in my hands, and twitching in my shoulder blades.

Today is a new day to start my new routine for the colder months ahead. Yoga! Hydrating! Walking! Put the carbs and sweets down and far away from my reach!!!!!!

How Do You Start Your Mornings?

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During Oprah's weekend, there was a speaker Rob Bell, who mentioned the importance of staying thankful and living in grace. We often question all the bad things that happen to us and carry around all the anger that WE ALLOW to come from it. Only we  are responsible for what we carry with us. Too many times we blame others for what they've done to us...instead of realizing that WE allowed them to do what they've done to us.

When we simply say, "In some strange way, I am thankful for this thing I tried so hard to avoid", we create a switch within and begin thinking of why we are thankful. When we start seeing the beauty that came from it...courage, self-worth, trusting ourselves, strengths, new relationships that were formed, etc...we will begin to release that anger and move forward to the next chapter of our lives. 

www.donnaleakeclc.com