Holiday Loneliness

A new study [Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences] sheds light on how loneliness triggers physiological responses that can make us sick. Loneliness has been linked to everything from heart disease to Alzheimer's disease. Depression is common among the lonely. Cancers tear through their bodies more rapidly, and viruses hit them harder and more frequently. In the short term, it feels like the loneliness will kill you. The study suggests that's because the pain of loneliness activates the immune pattern of a primordial response commonly known as fight or flight. The human body isn't built to hold a high level of inflammation for years. "That explains very clearly why lonely people fall at increased risk for cancer, neurodegenerative disease and viral infections as well," says Steve Cole, a genomics researcher at the University of California, Los Angeles, and lead author on the study. NPR 

Given the season of the year, thought it was worth posting some quick tips on dealing with loneliness during the holidays as well as link to the post from September 2014- The Loneliness of Chronic Disease.

Consider the following:

• Make the first move, by accepting invitations to social gatherings and reaching out to old friends and family.

• Volunteer to help out with a local charity, school, neighbor. Even if your chronic condition keeps you home bound, you can reach out to others by sending e-mails and making phone calls to check on others.

• Organize an event, such as: caroling, bonfire, watching holiday movies, a walk or hike, potluck supper, cookie swap (or bake) etc. If you are going to use Facebook to invite friends, ask people to message you so if no one is interested, at least it’s not public.

• Limit social media as it can be depressing seeing all the photographs people post of their “fabulous” holidays.

• Smile, as it will make you and those around you feel better.

Holiday Posts from Previous Years

• Traditions: Don’t let them overwhelm your holiday 

• Holidays: Over-Do the Laughter and Under-Do the Stress 

• Holiday songs can be good reminders for people with chronic disease 

• Balancing Giving and Receiving This Holiday Season 

Take a Break: Celebrating Christmas 1930s Paper Chains

Construction paper, scrap, magazines, or pages from old hymnals, Bibles or a book can make beautiful  paper chains, which are so simple, every kid in kindergarten makes them. However, it’s what you can do with the chains that makes people notice.

Making the chains:

1.    Cut strips the same length and width-8 ½ (the standard length of paper) x 1 inch wide would be good to start with. Use a rotary or paper cutter if making lots of links.

2.    Take one piece of the cut paper, hold the ends of the paper together to form a ring and staple, glue or tape the ends together.

3.    Thread another piece of the cut paper through the ring, bring the ends together and secure as in step 2. Continue until you have a desired length

Projects using paper chains

Tree: Figure out where you want the tree to be-wall, back of a door-and make green chains long enough to go from top to bottom. Link the top of the chains together-they’ll be bunched up and let flow to the bottom. Leave room for a paper trunk (made from brown paper) and maybe even some presents.

Tree Option 2

Wreath 

Gifts that Aid in Healing

With the holidays just a few weeks away, do you have someone on your list that is affected by a chronic condition or other type of illness or injury? This post is different from Unique Gifts for Hospital Patients as it focuses on presents that can aid in healing.

Keep in mind that many people are allergic or sensitive to smells and lotions. Therefore, avoid these types of gifts unless you know what the person uses. Check products out using the EWG’s Cosmetics Database to learn how safe and healthy products actually are versus how they are advertised. In general, avoid scented items. Lots of companies sell “healing baskets” that are filled with lotions and aromatherapy products that basically go unused.

Below are a variety of ideas, at various price points, including presents you can make yourself.

Anything that helps them de stress/relax

-       • Nature Sound machine. These come with many different sounds and price ranges. Some people find listening to rain or lapping waves a great way to relax or sleep.

-       • Massage: There are many ways to give the gift of massage including a gift certificate for one.

        Depending on what you can afford to spend, consider various types of massage tools- foot, scalp chair      or seat cushion massager; self massaging stick; stones; oils;  

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       • Inversion table

-      •  Relaxing recliner chairs-These come in a variety of price points including ones that fold up.

-      • Cocoon Chair

-      • Items for a relaxation bath such as a lush towel, bathrobe, an LED candle that is unscented. 

-      • Basket of different types of teas. Include a mug, infuser and other items associated with tea drinking.

-      • Journal/notebook and special pen(s)

-      • Gift certificate to a spa day, pedicure, manicure and/or hair salon

-      • Foot spa

-      • DIY projects such as making a Water feature, Zen garden or calming glitter jar 

-      • Items for a meditation/quiet space and/or items to create a healing space-e.g. candles, DVDs of relaxing music, plants, sitting pillows

-      • “Comfy” items such as throws, slippers, PJs , nightgowns, yoga pants etc.

-      •  Eye pillow or neck pillow

-      • Wind chimes

-      •  Mandala coloring book

-      • Spinner Ring-These were designed for hyperactive children, but can have the same calming effect for adults who are stressed. 

-      •  Plants: Consider indoor as well as outdoor plants, decorative as well as edible. Indoor herb gardens can spark up many a meal, so putting a few herb plants (sage, rosemary, mint, basil etc.) into a planter can be both pleasing to the eye and to the palate.

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     Finances are often a major issue that people with chronic conditions stress about, so paying off a fuel bill, gift cards for the grocery store and pharmacy, making a monthly car payment etc. are a good way to help. If they have children, consider starting a college fund for them. Check out In Lieu of Flowers: Financial Help Please!  for lots of tips.

 “To do’s” that aren’t getting done can be a major source of stress for people. Whether you give the gift of your time, or pay someone to paint a room, re tile a back splash or whatever needs to be done, will be appreciated. Be aware of your abilities and time constraints and don’t “bite off more than you can chew.”  It’s best if you are giving the gift of your time to give them a choice of several dates when you can do the work.

 Items that can help improve sleep: This can include everything from volunteering to babysit kids for a night or a weekend so they can catch up on sleep, or purchasing them a special pillow or bedding. If money is no object, the right mattress can help.

-       • Lark in the Dark or Jawbone Up: Think of these as the Fitbit for sleeping as it tracks how you sleep.

-       • Sound machine: The plus here is that it drowns out intermittent noise, such as a dripping faucet, to allow for better sleep.

-      •  Check out the National Sleep Foundation’s Sleep Alternatives 

Laughter is the best medicine, so books, movies, toys, posters trip to a comedy club or a “laughter yoga” class make terrific gifts.

Food is critical tool for healing so this is a good time to provide a meal or a gift basket of healing foods, such as fruit, veggies, nuts etc. Also consider giving them a share in a local CSA (community sustained agriculture). 

Help to combat loneliness and encourage social connectivity

-       • Create experience gifts: Activities that you will do with them-dinner and a movie; visit to a local museum; picnic and a hike. Keep activities and dates fluid.

-       • Gym membership for a month

-       • Weekend at a retreat center, such as Kripalu 

-      •  Enroll them in a workshop or class on a topic that would be of interest to them

Exercise helps on multiple levels so consider a gym membership for a month or even exercise equipment. Check websites like Freecyle or eBay before purchasing new equipment. Fibits may also be appropriate for some people. Keep in mind that Tai Chi, Yoga and Qigong are not only exercise but contribute to healing, so a gift certificate for such classes is definitely a good option. And then there are the things that encourage exercise-water bottle, DVDs, and various types of gear.

Take a Break: Celebrating Christmas 1930s-Yarn Ornaments

The 1930s were the height of the “Great Depression.” Yet families managed to have a Christmas if for no other reason they needed the day to put the hard times aside. While this was the era that Woolworth's began selling German Glass ornaments, living in rural Vermont, five-and-dime stores were an unknown. Even with access to a store selling such ornaments, many people just used what they had on hand to decorate their tree

With the abundance of pines, swags, wreaths and garlands were popular. Stringing popcorn and paper chains were something children made in the week leading up to Christmas. Popular women’s magazines would have printed patterns to make tree toppers and ornaments. Scraps of tin could be turned into “tinsel” and even tinplate, used in pie pans, could be cut up to make stars, hearts and other shapes.  Another favorite was “tin can keys.”

A number of products (Prince Albert Tobacco and sardines) came with little keys. The key would stick in a tab and turned to pull of a strip of metal and open the can. At the end of this process, the key looked like it was wound up in a watch spring. By pulling the "spring" downward a spiral was created and could be hung on a tree.

Yarn scraps were plentiful since many women knitted. Consequently there were bits and pieces of yarn in Mom’s scrap pile. Try some of the following ways to make yarn ornaments.

Cookie Cutter as Mold

• Take a “cutout” cookie cutter (hearts and stars are easy to use) and place it on a piece of parchment paper. These cookie cutters are made out of copper, tin, stainless steel or even plastic. Any type is fine. Just be sure to wash when finished.

• Cut up yarn into 6-12 inch pieces, it’s easier to use shorter pieces than one long strand.

• Pour Modge Podge glue (can make using equal parts white glue and water) into a container. Can also make cornstarch glue, which is what they would have done in the 1930s.

• Dunk the yarn strands in the liquid.

• Take out the glue soaked yarn and start placing inside the cookie cutter.

• Once you have sufficient glue soaked yarn in place, carefully remove the cookie cutter so it retains its shape.

• Let air dry. I made my own Modge Podge but didn’t measure so it was a bit watery. It took a full day for it to dry but the results were fine.

Yarn star

  Christmas Star: Uses toothpicks to wrap the glue soaked thread. 

Yarn Christmas Trees

Yarn Wrapped Ornament