Rock and Roll Saved My Soul

How to deal with coworkers you dislike that want to hang out with you outside of work: Aisling:  Politely say no.  If they are persistent even after that explain that you are too busy for a social life right now. Sandy:  Best thing would be up front with them. Let them know that at work you don't mind being around them, but that you don't think your relationship outside of work would be good for either of you. Better to be up front then try to make up reasons why you can't hang out or lie. Because in time it will all come out and it will make things even worse at work. Kate: I think this in part goes hand in hand with last week's post about being assertive. It's hard to do, but you have to be honest about it, without being rude. If they persist and are making you uncomfortable at work, talk to someone in management about it, because it could be considered harassment. 

The term hydrocephalus is derived from the Greek words "hydro" meaning water and "cephalus" meaning head. As the name implies, it is a condition in which the primary characteristic is excessive accumulation of fluid in the brain. Although hydrocephalus was once known as "water on the brain," the "water" is actually cerebrospinal fluid (CSF) — a clear fluid that surrounds the brain and spinal cord. The excessive accumulation of CSF results in an abnormal widening of spaces in the brain called ventricles. This widening creates potentially harmful pressure on the tissues of the brain. The ventricular system is made up of four ventricles connected by narrow passages. Normally, CSF flows through the ventricles, exits into cisterns (closed spaces that serve as reservoirs) at the base of the brain, bathes the surfaces of the brain and spinal cord, and then reabsorbs into the bloodstream. CSF has three important life-sustaining functions: 1

Gina:  I don't really think I have one to describe my life at this moment. Kate:   I Still Believe by Frank Turner or Photosynthesis or We Shall Not Overcome Sandy:  It changes all the time! It just depends on what is going on in my life. Melissa:   Emily's Song-Moody Blues. Giving the impending arrival of our daughter Lily in November, it really describes how we feel. Lily hears that song a lot because we constantly listen to the Moody Blues, so she'll recognize it after she's born!!! Renee:   Both Sides of The Story by Phil Collins Aisling:  What a Wonderful World Twinkle:   Numb, Little Girl Sid:  Oh man, hmm. Possibly Coffee shop Soundtrack by All Time Low. I've read that it's about the lead singer's affair with a married woman, and having to accept that he would always come second to her husband. However when I listened to it I always connected to it by seeing as it being about giving someone countless chances but n

How to be assertive without being a bitch: Aisling:  Be firm but respectful. Don't lose your temper or make any snide remarks no matter how tempting.  Sandy:  Anyone can be confident in themselves. The best way to be assertive is know you are confident, but also show others that they can be the same. That is what will make you not seem like a bitch to others. Kate: Found this article that I think might be helpful. It gave some great tips!  1. Start small. You wouldn’t try to scale a mountain before reading a manual, practicing on a rock wall and then moving on to bigger peaks. Going in unprepared just sets you up for failure. Paterson suggested trying to be assertive in mildly tense situations, such as requesting to be seated at a different spot at a restaurant. Then gently work up to tougher situations such as talking to your spouse about infidelity issues, he said. 2. Learn to say no. People worry that saying no is selfish. It’s not. Rather, setting

Periodic fever syndrome does not refer to a single disease, nor is it a specific diagnosis, but rather a general term, a classification of a group of diseases. The term “periodic fever syndrome” refers to several different autoinflammatory diseases that have similar symptoms–the primary symptom being a recurrent fever for which no infectious cause can be found. The patient just keeps getting fevers, often accompanied by a range of other symptoms. These are primarily genetic conditions and are not contagious. Autoinflammatory diseases are caused by a malfunction in the innate immune system. Common Periodic Fever Syndrome Symptoms: Fever (recurrent, and accompanied by some of the following symptoms) Rash  Headache  Vomiting  Diarrhea  Constipation  Conjunctivitis  Mouth ulcers  Swollen lymph nodes  Abdominal pain  Joint pains, or arthritis Fatigue  Abnormal blood test results during flares of symptoms, including: high white blood count (WBC) and hi

Gina: I'm not sure  Kate:  Fight Song by Rachel Platten Melissa:   I don't think that there's a song that best describes my feelings, currently. Renee:  Both Sides of The Story by Phil Collins Aisling:  Hanging by a Moment by Lifehouse Twinkle:   I Hate You, I Love You by Gnash Sid:  7 Years by Lukas Graham. Arminta:  Kiss It by Dev Lori:   Don't Stop Believing by Journey Radeyah:  Sit Still, Look Pretty by Daya. Listen to it!!

Please welcome guest blogger, Sid Scott Lee. He is one of the co-founders of the Real Love Campaign and one of the volunteers for Rock & Roll Saved My Soul, co-running our Tumblr account.  Please be advised that this article discusses sensitive subject matter. If you are easily upset, or triggered by discussions of abuse, please proceed with caution or click away from this article.  What is a healthy relationship?  It's a simple enough question but many people struggle to find the answer to that. My friend and I wanted to to share our experiences with this question. My friend, we’ll call her Becca. Becca grew up with parents in an unhealthy relationship. She witnessed her mother being abusive to her father and to her.  I was born just a few years before my parents’ marriage started to fall apart. I don't remember many times where they had positive interactions, and as I got older. I also was in my fair share of abusive, toxic, and potentially dangerous r

Pain management skills: Aisling:  Try to move around some everyday. It's been said a body at rest tends to stay at rest & a body in motion tends to stay in motion. Moving around will help keep your body healthy.  Medicate when needed & be sure to drink plenty of water. Also eat healthy so your body is getting the nutrients that it needs.  If the pain is unmanageable see your doctor. Sandy:  Depending on the pain start with Advil, tylenol or something like that. Try that for a day and see how you feel, if that doesn't work you can talk to your Dr to see if he can suggest something else to help. If the pain is bad enough, you should seek medical attention. Kate: This hits home for me on a very personal level, living with chronic pain due to nerve damage. It is a struggle on the daily just to cope with it. Here's a list of tips and tricks to try. Altered focus:  This is a favorite technique for demonstrating how powerfully the mind can alter s

PTSD is a disorder that develops in some people who have experienced a shocking, scary, or dangerous event. It is natural to feel afraid during and after a traumatic situation. Fear triggers many split-second changes in the body to help defend against danger or to avoid it. This “fight-or-flight” response is a typical reaction meant to protect a person from harm. Nearly everyone will experience a range of reactions after trauma, yet most people recover from initial symptoms naturally. Those who continue to experience problems may be diagnosed with PTSD. People who have PTSD may feel stressed or frightened even when they are not in danger. Signs and Symptoms: Not every traumatized person develops ongoing (chronic) or even short-term (acute) PTSD. Not everyone with PTSD has been through a dangerous event. Some experiences, like the sudden, unexpected death of a loved one, can also cause PTSD. Symptoms usually begin early, within 3 months of the traumatic incident, but

Gina: No Kate:   My great uncle was in a band, he played the drums. I'm also friends with several musicians. Sandy:  Not that I know of, would be cool though. Melissa:  My girl Jenn can sing and belongs singing. It kills me that she hasn't been discovered yet. Renee:  I have some friends that are local musicians but not touring level for the most part Aisling:  One of my cousins plays a few instruments. He's currently attending college for music. Twinkle: Yes Sid:  My boyfriend sings and plays guitar. Arminta: No Heather: Yes Lori: Nope Radeyah:  Yes. My cousin in law was in a band a few years ago. He still plays the guitar. Jen: My boyfriend

How can we open up about our own depression, so that we don't let these feelings overtake us? Aisling:  Talk to someone you trust. They will listen. Setting aside time to write out what you're feeling in a journal may help also. Also try not to let feelings build up on top of each other. Learn to let your feelings out when you need to. Some time alone and a good cry can help. Sandy:  I know it took me a long time before I was able to be open about my depression. I have come to know what signs to look for that are red flags I need to do something to fix it. First thing though is I have someone I can talk to no matter what. I know they will not judge me for how I feel or why I might even feel that way. They will listen to everything I have to say. I think that is most important, having that person you can always turn to. Kate: It's different for everyone. Some people have a much harder time opening up to people, especially when it comes to emotions. Emotio

Schizophrenia is a chronic and severe mental disorder that affects how a person thinks, feels, and behaves. People with schizophrenia may seem like they have lost touch with reality. Although schizophrenia is not as common as other mental disorders, the symptoms can be very disabling. Signs and Symptoms: Symptoms of schizophrenia usually start between ages 16 and 30. In rare cases, children have schizophrenia too. The symptoms of schizophrenia fall into three categories: positive, negative, and cognitive. Positive symptoms: “Positive” symptoms are psychotic behaviors not generally seen in healthy people. People with positive symptoms may “lose touch” with some aspects of reality. Symptoms include: Hallucinations Delusions Thought disorders (unusual or dysfunctional ways of thinking) Movement disorders (agitated body movements) Negative symptoms: “Negative” symptoms are associated with disruptions to normal emotions and behaviors. Symptoms include:

The Backstreet Boys (often abbreviated as BSB) are an American vocal group, formed in Orlando, Florida in 1993. The group consists of A. J. McLean, Howie D., Nick Carter, Kevin Richardson, and Brian Littrell. The group rose to fame with their debut international album, Backstreet Boys (1996). In the following year they released their second international album Backstreet's Back (1997), and their U.S. debut album which continued the group's success worldwide. They rose to superstardom with their third studio album Millennium (1999) and its follow-up album, Black & Blue (2000). After a two-year hiatus, they regrouped and released a comeback album Never Gone (2005). After the conclusion of the Never Gone Tour in 2006, Richardson left the group to pursue other interests. The group then released two albums as a quartet: Unbreakable (2007) and This Is Us (2009). In 2012, the group announced that Richardson had rejoined them permanently. In the following year the