Living With Chronic Pain: How I Got My Life Back August 27, 2018 – Posted in: News

During one of the most stressful years of my life, while I was battling complications from Type II Diabetes, I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Before I had visited the Rheumatologist, I thought it was just joint ailments and a touch of arthritis, since I was entering my 40’s and thought it was to be expected. However, when the pain of violent electric shocks began to affect every part of my body, I sought the help of a professional. It was becoming a debilitating condition that was affecting my personal and professional life. For several years after I was diagnosed with Fibromyalgia, I had been prescribed the following: Gabapentin Cmybalta Piroxicam Lyrica Tramadol Baclofen Steroid shots in the neck and shoulder area And at one point, I was on 3, 4, 5, 6 and 7 at the same time. The pain was still present and the side affects of the… Read More

How I Was Taught NOT to Care About ‘Self-Care’ August 15, 2018 – Posted in: News

by Cheryl Denise Bannerman My brothers had just busted my bedroom’s glass closet doors and put three holes in the hallway walls. Their drug-induced fight started in my bedroom, continued down the hallway, and out the front door to the street in front of our house…until the police arrived. I wondered how my parents endured all these years. Oh yeah, through me. The Savior. Making up for my brother’s disappointing lives, I had to be perfect in everything. I was the perfect Honor Roll student, excelling at everything from track and field to writing award-winning poetry, to hitting the high notes during ‘family performances’. I had retreated to my bedroom with my hands shaking and nose running from crying, when my dad knocked on the door and said Sunday breakfast was ready. I tried to sit at the table like nothing was wrong, but the tears continued to roll down… Read More