Podcasts about Yes Yes

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 178:57

Ps Telos Fuller (Year of Yes - Yes to Adventure) 09 May 2021 by Sermon of the week

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Ps Carol Gossman (Year of Yes - Yes to Winning) 02 May 2021

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Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 52:05

Ps Carol Gossman (Year of Yes - Yes to Winning) 02 May 2021 by Sermon of the week

Ps FiFi Formson (Year of Yes - Yes to Passion) 25 April 2021

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 88:38

Ps FiFi Formson (Year of Yes - Yes to Passion) 25 April 2021 by Sermon of the week

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Ps Carol Gossman (Year of Yes - Yes to Change) 18 April 2021

Destiny Foursquare Church

Play Episode Listen Later May 11, 2021 83:46

Ps Carol Gossman (Year of Yes - Yes to Change) 18 April 2021 by Sermon of the week

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Yes, He Can!, Part 4: The Ultimate Yes - Yes, He Can!

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021

Message from Shawn M. Shoup on April 4, 2021

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Episode 166 : How to REPROGRAM your SUBCONSCIOUS mind | 4 steps towards change.

Just Bein' Honest

Play Episode Listen Later Apr 4, 2021 51:39

On this Episode, number 166, of the “Just Bein’ Honest Podcast”, you'll soon discover that through the power of practice in the development of self-awareness - your subconscious mind can be reprogrammed to whatever your sights are set for.We all carry so much baggage implanted from a young age. The question comes back to time and time again to that of, "How did I get here?" "How can I change this?"YES + YES . By first questioning these relative feelings, you are already on your way to personal awareness in subconscious self-discovery. This episode shares just 4 steps towards cultivating a renewed subconscious mind. Because everyone loves a clean slate, right?This is one of the best points are parts of designing one's lifestyle - enjoy building the framework of your newly built home.To learn more about how you can start designing your LIFESTYLE, and for the more show notes + low-toxic approved products, visit: JustBeinHonest.comPlease help support the show's growth by rating + sending it to a friend + family member. We have exclusive offerings coming your way this season, you won't want to miss these opportunities.On the show:WHAT is the SUBCONSCIOUS MIND?HOW to REPROGRAM the SUBCONSCIOUS MIND?4 steps to REPROGRAM.Resources:@JustBeinHonestKB*** Thank you to today's Sponsor! Grab it now :C B D + S E L F C A R E . By PRIMAWellbeing essentials made with broad spectrum hemp CBD and functionally innovative botanicals — and the highest standards of purity, potency and transparency. Use code: "HONEST" for 15% OFF!!!The "Just Bein' Honest" Podcast is a production made from the ♡xoxo KB*Business Inquiries : katherine@justbeinhonest.com*Music : "Alone" by Emmit Fenn // "Bravado" by Rondo Brothers

Yes, He Can!, Part 2: The Best Yes - Yes, He Can!

Destiny Foursquare Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 21, 2021

Message from Shawn M. Shoup on March 21, 2021

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Yes, He Can!, Part 1: The Biggest Yes - Yes, He Can!

Destiny Foursquare Church

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 14, 2021 51:16

Message from Shawn M. Shoup on March 14, 2021

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From No No to Yes Yes (Epi 86)

>Meatheads

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 43:51

Cheyne and Luis discuss ideas, thoughts, approaches, mentalities and other things we thought were bad to do before but actually aren't as bad as previously thought. One of the biggest topics discussed is knees over toes. Every newbie trainer is told to put the body in anatomical alignment from toes to ankles to knees to hips to shoulders when assessing someone and never ever forever and ever allow someone's knees to go over their toes. Turns out that if you've ever gone up a flight of stairs, you know this is malarky. Other topics such as eating fat being bad, cardio before weights, muscle training frequency and no carbs after 7 are also brought up. Listen in and share with everyone you know because >Meatheads has always and will always be a Yes Yes.

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Episode 002 - Can Empathy Heal Racism, Sexism, & All The Bad "isms"? Why Yes. Yes It Can.

FILL IN THE BLANK with Carlos Whittaker

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 11, 2021 48:52

This week on Human Hope we take a deep dive into how one single facet of our emotional intelligence could accelerate the healing of racism, sexism, & other unequal treatment of people around us. Empathy. After discussing how empathy has been void in our culture the last few months... Carlos gives you 4 things to STOP doing and 6 things to START doing if you want to see empathy increase in your life… And in turn see the world through a much more hopeful lens. Follow Carlos @loswhit on Instagram to keep up with more Human Hope.

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Episode 32: How EMDR Can Help You Heal with Melissa Parks, LCSW

Light After Trauma

Play Episode Listen Later Mar 9, 2021 41:46

Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing (EMDR) therapy can sound overwhelming at first, but Melissa Parks, LCSW, breaks everything down on this week's episode. She talks about the benefits of EMDR, expectations during the treatment process, and why she has developed such a passion for this type of therapy. https://www.patreon.com/lightaftertrauma Find out more about Melissa: Melissa on Instagram and TikTok Website: Melissa Parks Therapy - Counseling Couples, Counseling Women Transcript: Alyssa Scolari: [00:00:23] Hey all what's up. Welcome to another episode of the Light After Trauma podcast. I'm your host, Alyssa Scolari. And we have here with us today, Melissa Parks. So you have Melissa and Alyssa, so it's going to be a good time. Melissa is an EMDR therapist, as well as a couples therapist. She is devoted to helping you stop the cycle of conflict in your relationships and to understand your nervous system in order to experience more joy, she has been using her expertiseand her humor on social media to de-stigmatize mental health, you will often hear her use the phrase you make sense. So just a quick side note, I found Melissa on Tik-Tok. She is a bomb Tik-Tok maker. I thoroughly enjoy watching all of your Tik-Tok. So when she says that she uses humor as part of her therapy, she is not kidding. Her Tik-Toks are really funny and I really appreciate them. So, hi, Melissa. Welcome. And thank you for all that you do. Melissa Parks: [00:01:56] Hey, I'm so glad to be here. Thank you so much for having me. It's a true honor. I'm excited. Alyssa Scolari: [00:02:01] I'm so excited for you to be here and to talk about a topic that quite honestly, I don't really know a whole lot about. So this is going to be a major learning experience for me as well as a lot of the listeners. So would you be able to share a little bit more on like what you do, who you are and could you break down that like gigantic acronym? That is EMDR. Melissa Parks: [00:02:26] Yes. Yes, absolutely. Well, like you so beautifully said, I am a therapist, a couples therapists, EMDR therapist. I do coaching. I do consultation. I do lots of things, but I treat clients in the state of South Carolina and I am so passionate about that. I came into the field and have been licensed for 17 years, and I still feel just as passionate, if not, even more passionate than I was when I first started, I really am on fire for all this stuff. In terms of EMDR trauma-focused stuff, attachment focused stuff. It's just my favorite. It's just one of my favorite things. So I'm excited to be able to talk about this today to maybe help bridge the understanding for folks because you know, it can be kind of, you know, intimidating when you just, the acronym, like you said, is a little intimidating: Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing. That's a mouthful. Alyssa Scolari: [00:03:26] Yes, it is. Melissa Parks: [00:03:27] It's like what is Well I'd love to take some time to explain some about it and then. Open up for questions. Definitely. But Eye Movement Desensitization and Reprocessing is an evidence-based treatment model, which just means that it has extensive research and it's been proven .It has proven outcomes and way back when it was only used to treat trauma, but now we know that it can treat trauma, it can treat complex trauma, it can treat a myriad of issues, including distressing symptoms, like chronic depression, anxiety, just a whole host of things. So it's not just trauma. And it's based on a model that theorizes that our current symptoms are a result of unprocessed memories from our past that are showing up in our present. So for example, the brain may have had an experience from the past and it was unable to integrate all the components of that experience. And so what happens is our amazing nervous system comes up for us to protect us, to keep us sane and it fragments that experience into pieces. And that's what we see in our current day are those fragments of the experience as our symptoms. Overwhelming feelings, body sensations, whatever they are. That's what our symptoms are. That's what this EMDR model is based on. It's basically saying our past is in our present. Alyssa Scolari: [00:05:04] I gotcha. And when you say just to, and I don't mean to interrupt, I just had a quick thought, when you say unprocessed memories, do you mean repressed memories that are stored in our subconscious that haven't come to conscious, or could it be both, both repressed memories and suppressed memory. So things that we can recall, but just haven't really digested or integrated. Melissa Parks: [00:05:29] Right, right, right. I would say all the above, I would say all the above and when we're talking, you know, cause I would say all of us have unprocessed memories. So, I mean, we all do, but when it comes to trauma, that's a different story. When it comes to trauma, that's a little bit more in depth, a little bit more intense because with a trauma experience we have an experience that's too much, too soon, too much for too long or too little, for too long. So think like neglect. And in those situations, the signals from the amygdala, the fear center of the brain are so much, are so intense that the top part of our brain, which usually down-regulates and helps soothe that fear is gone. And this experience causes the integrative functions in the brain to fail. And so that's where we have that fragmenting that happens. So this is more of what, where I'm talking about the fragmented pieces as it relates to trauma. But yes, I think we all have unprocessed memories. The research talks about this and we learn about this when we're initially being trained in EMDR. Alyssa Scolari: [00:06:43] Wow. So, so what does that look like in practice? From what I understand, there's lots of, and this could just be one of my own myths or beliefs, there's lots of tapping that happens. Am I right on that one? Melissa Parks: [00:07:01] Yes, that's what EMDR is known for. But so before I go into that, which is really helpful. So with all that, I just said that, you know, we have these fragmented parts, these assimilated parts of a memory that are showing up in our present. This is why EMDR is so awesome because EMDR is a bottom up brain approach. It's a treatment of association. So it helps us associate those dissociated parts. And when, I mean, by bottom up, so a lot of treatments out there spend a lot of time in that top part of our brain, which is our more sophisticated part of our brain, which holds more of our thinking stuff, the way that we rationalize. And we think about things and those are helpful too. But if we have trauma. And if we have all these fragmented pieces that are coming up from our past, we can't think those away. Our body is taking over. And so EMDR comes to help us from the bottom part of the brain to help us associate those things and assimilate those things. And this is why, you know, it's really important to just put that out there and recognize the impact of EMDR from that perspective, how it treats the brain and how we integrate in that way. But that's what EMDR is known for is the tapping, right. Or the eye movements. Alyssa Scolari: [00:08:21] That's what I've always heard. Yeah, I'm sure that's only part of it. Yeah. I do want to just say for the listeners out there, you all won't be able to see this, but as Melissa was saying that, you know, talking about bringing these essentially disassociated or disconnected parts and connecting them, she was almost interlacing her fingers, which I think is a really great portrayal of what you're trying to say, which is we're taking all of these pieces and we're integrating them. It is like the full integration of the brain from a bottom up approach instead of surface level down approach. If I'm understanding that correctly. Melissa Parks: [00:09:01] Yes, you are 100%. And I think it's important to also note here is that EMDR is like a resilience model, which means it believes that we have everything that we need to heal. The clinician is just sort of the conductor and whatnot, but it believes that we are all wired with resilience and that something got in the way, right. Trauma, for example, got in the way and sort of rewired ourselves towards self protection instead of connection or these other things. But EMDR really operates out of this stance that you have what you need, and that resiliency is there and you are adaptive and we're going to work with all that, which is beautiful. And why I particularly love this model and that it's so trauma-informed and resilience based. Alyssa Scolari: [00:09:52] Yeah, that's very empowering. Very empowering. Melissa Parks: [00:09:55] It is very much though. So with the bilateral stimulation is what you're talking about. So the tapping or the eye movements, that's only, you know, that's not an all eight phases of EMDR because this is an eight phase model. So we're doing. Yes. Yes. And some clients come in, when are we going to do EMDR? And I'll say, well, we've been doing it ever since you came in because you know, part of EMDR also involves case conceptualization, taking a history, doing a treatment plan, which we're not doing tapping or bilateral stimulation through that. But that is typically what people think EMDR is moving the eyes and the tapping. And so I'm happy to talk about that piece because it is a pretty important piece. And it's probably what sort of separates EMDR from many of these other therapies, Alyssa Scolari: [00:10:45] Right, right. Because another therapies it's just primarily talk therapy unless you were doing, you know, neurofeedback or something of that sort. But... Melissa Parks: [00:10:53] RIght. Alyssa Scolari: [00:10:54] is more of like a, I don't know, it's like tapping into the brain. It sounds like. Melissa Parks: [00:11:03] No pun intended, right? Alyssa Scolari: [00:11:05] Right. I was going to say no pun intended, but pun fully intended, definitely tapping into the brain. Melissa Parks: [00:11:11] Yes. So treatment of EMDR really involves some procedures where number one, we are activating these old memories. By way of sensations, images, beliefs, feelings. So we want to activate that. And part of that involves this dual attention because we don't want to activate something like that and retraumatize you. We don't want to activate that and get you back into the memory where you're fully immersed in it, and it is overwhelming and it takes you outside of your window of tolerance. That is not what we want to happen, but we want to activate that where we have one foot in that past issue. And then we also have one foot in the present day where you're in the office with the client and or with the clinician. So one foot in the past one foot in the present. So we're activating the memory with all of those components. And then this is where we bring in the bilateral stimulation. And this is rhythmic side to side stimulation. Left ,right, left, right. And this is, by way of eye movements. So the clinician can wave their fingers in front of the eyes of the client that the eyes will pass the midline. We can use hand tapping. I have little buzzers where they hold the little buzzers and it kind of buzzes back and forth. You can do tones in the ears, but either way it's stimulating left, right, left, right. And this activates and integrates information from both sides of the brain. And so we have full brain integration. So we're setting up a state for the system to do what we wanted it to do. Back during the trauma, we're setting up a state for the system to bring those dissociated pieces together, associate them again in a safe way, and sometimes in a titrated way. Meaning we only take a little bit at a time because we don't want to overwhelm the client. And as a result, the old memory ends up being stored properly. The components of the memory are now timestamped appropriately. Cause remember I said, our symptoms are the past and the present. Well now when we set up this state and we help the brain integrate. Those parts can say: "Oh, we belong back here when I was 10, we don't belong here when I'm 30 anymore." So those old parts are now integrated (and) oriented to the correct time. And our distress is reduced about the whole situation. And we also take what is useful in terms of our thoughts about a memory, for example, It's over or unsafe now, or I am good ,or something. And then we can take that into our future and move forward. The results of this are just quite amazing, but ultimately we set up this state and we let the nervous system do its thing. Alyssa Scolari: [00:14:24] That is absolutely fascinating. Melissa Parks: [00:14:27] I know I got chills when I talk about it, even though I've done it so many times. Cause it's just so cool. Alyssa Scolari: [00:14:33] Yes, your passion for it is palpable. And just, as I'm listening to you talk, I think it's such a beautiful description. I have had it explained to me so many times, and I have to be honest. I still am, like, after somebody explains it to me and I'm still like, okay, but I don't get it. The way that you're putting it is incredible because there are so many times that I will say to not only my patients who I treat, but also to myself when I'm triggered is "Okay, are these feelings about the past, or are these feelings about the present?" And what EMDR does is it sounds like it gives your brain and your nervous system, the ability to be like,"Nope, this belongs, you know, for the time that we were enduring the abuse. This is what belongs in the present. This is what we're going to take into the future." Melissa Parks: [00:15:23] That's right. That's right. Alyssa Scolari: [00:15:26] That is incredible. Melissa Parks: [00:15:28] Yes. Yes. And this is what our brain wanted to do at that time. Right. It really did, but it couldn't. It's wired to, because that's part of what the hippocampus does. The hippocampus is the integrating function of the brain, but it couldn't. Because things were too much, too soon, too fast, too little for too long. Alyssa Scolari: [00:15:48] Way too much to process. Melissa Parks: [00:15:48] All those too Yes Yes yes yes And so but how beautiful is it that for our survival and for our sanity it knew something else to do, to fragment these pieces. It's beautiful Like my gosh. Our brains are incredible. That's the part where I love too, is like, You know, instead of looking at it from the pathological lens, it's like, no, this is amazing that our nervous system protected us in this way. Just amazing. Alyssa Scolari: [00:16:22] I love that you are saying this because I have been on such a soap box lately about pathology and how much I loathe it entirely, which I understand, you know, we need the DSM for some things, which for the listeners out there, the DSM is the book with all of the mental health disorders. But I'm just right on board with you where so much of what we experience is a result of our brain, trying to protect us, which is actually so normal and not pathological. Melissa Parks: [00:16:55] That's right. Agreed. 100%. Alyssa Scolari: [00:16:57] I am so passionate, so passionate about that. I'll get off my soap box now. But I have to ask. So what sparked your passion to get into this field and specifically like the EMDR niche? Melissa Parks: [00:17:16] Well, I feel like, so I, you know, I'm thinking like way back when I, you know, went into school, but I feel like for a lot of us clinicians out there, there's some clinicians that go into it because it's in the family or that kind of thing. Like we know somebody close to us that is a therapist or... I went in it to become more self-aware and to search for healing, because of my own childhood experiences and my own difficulties and my own trauma. And so that's probably, if I were to go right back to the brass tacks of it, of why I even started my journey towards becoming a therapist, that's where I would say it began. And I can't discount....I feel like there's a spiritual component there because I went into college when I was an itty-bitty, you know, teenager. And so it's hard to imagine that my teenage brain was like, Oh, let's do all of this. And, you know, cause that's just not the case. My prefrontal cortex wasn't even completely developed. So I feel like there's a spiritual component there for me, at least that there was a pathway for this for me, but I definitely had that passion to want to learn about myself and why I was the way I was and what was happening there. And then turning that around to:I want to help others. I want to help others see, like we just said, this non-pathological lens that there is nothing wrong with you. In fact, you have done the best that you can. And so that's where a lot of my passion comes. And then probably in terms of, EMDR where I was first introduced to that. I was almost fresh out of grad school and my supervisor did EMDR. Now, of course, this was like almost 20 years ago and EMDR has changed a little bit over the years. And so back then it was kind of like this like woo-woo sorta thing, but she just amazed me and the way that she saw these results with her clients. And so my interest was sparked way back then and I started learning little bits and pieces along the way. And of course, once I had my own training and my certification and all that stuff, like, that was it. But I also have a love for attachment. So I'd also do couples therapy too. And that is why I also make attachment a huge part of my EMDR treatment as well. So I do a lot of attachment focused EMDR too. Alyssa Scolari: [00:19:51] You can incorporate EMDR in couples work as well? Melissa Parks: [00:19:56] Okay. I've not treated couples with both of them in the room with EMDR. I think there's probably, maybe some people that do that. But there have been times where I'm working with a couple and we realized that there are some things that are at play here that trace back to trauma that are really impeding our progress in order to create a secure bond. And so in that case, we may branch off and do a little bit of EMDR for each or one of the components of the couple and then return. Alyssa Scolari: [00:20:27] Okay, that makes a lot of sense. Melissa Parks: [00:20:31] But when I say attachment focused EMDR, I'm talking a lot about people that have PTSD, so childhood trauma or developmental trauma, and we really need to bring in that attachment perspective to the EMDR work. Alyssa Scolari: [00:20:46] Yes, because it's almost, you know, if you do have complex PTSD, it is almost impossible. Nothing's impossible, but it is extremely, extremely difficult to be able to have a functional relationship when you have not worked through... Melissa Parks: [00:21:02] yeah. Yeah, Alyssa Scolari: [00:21:03] ...the attachment. You know, even having been in my own treatment for... how many years now? I don't know. Well, multiple years at this point, I still have those triggers that come up about abandonment. And so I can only imagine. Melissa Parks: [00:21:20] Rection. Yeah absolutely. Yes. Alyssa Scolari: [00:21:26] Rejection in what I think other people might feel are just like the silliest ways. That's like, well, what do you mean you're going to go play video games with your friends? Melissa Parks: [00:21:35] And there it is the past and the present. Right? There it is. Alyssa Scolari: [00:21:43] So EMDR I have heard, and maybe you can speak a little bit on this. Somebody had mentioned it in one of my previous podcasts, and then I've had a couple of colleagues talk about this, that it can be a very, very exhausting process. So can you speak a little bit on that? Like how is it draining? Why so draining? What are your thoughts on that? Melissa Parks: [00:22:10] Yeah, I have plenty of clients that will say to me, I have to clear my schedule after our session and or creating our next appointment time, I want to make sure that I'm doing it where I have nothing for the rest of the day. I mean, this can be a common experience. And then often, you know, if I have somebody that comes in that has something to do in that afternoon, we might really talk about whether or not we want to go into that... ...Phase Four, which is the desensitization using the bilateral stimulation because yeah, it can be draining. I mean, I think just the thought of going back into an experience and going back into an experience that our body and our system tries so hard not to, I mean, that alone kind of like speaks to probably the reasons why you might feel so drained afterward. Alyssa Scolari: [00:23:03] Yes cause you are having to actively revisit your trauma. So I suppose that speaks to the importance that like the decision to pursue EMDR is not a decision that one should make sort of like Willy nilly. Like I have 95 other thousand things going on in my life right now. But I'm going to jump into EMDR. Like not a good idea. Melissa Parks: [00:23:30] Yes. Yes. And I would also say that sometimes can be par for the course, but also knowing that if we've spent a lot of time in Phase Two, which is the preparation phase, this is where we're setting ourselves up for how do we deal with the aftermath of this so that we're not pushed out of our window of tolerance after our session. We know. Okay,, I know some things that I can do to help regulate my nervous system. If I start to feel myself kind of getting amped up again or things I can do to help contain it, if I feel triggered and, or sort of distract myself in a healthy way, that's not dissociative or we're working with the parts that might come up and we have identified things that we can do in the event that afterward we do feel really drained or we do fear feel really triggered. And so that can make a huge difference. Alyssa Scolari: [00:24:27] Yes, setting up a before plan and after plan, making sure that the safety and all of the tools are put in place. Melissa Parks: [00:24:40] That's right. That's right. Cause you know, we really have to, we really have to recognize the importance of, and the nature of this work. We are treating very vulnerable parts within the client and we want to really focus on the importance of that and the sensitivity of that. We do not want to re-traumatize or we don't want to you know, so it's really important for the clinician to, you know, take a really good history to really assess the client for all of these things that could potentially be problematic and to empower the client to set up skills if needed, like all of this stuff should be done on the forefront. So it's not all up to the client to say, "Oh, well, I shouldn't choose this" because there are things that we can do together to make sure that in the event it is draining or it is triggering. You can still feel like you have agency over yourself and over the situation. Alyssa Scolari: [00:25:41] I think that what you're saying is so important because it also speaks to I think the significance of finding a therapist who is well equipped to be able to see you through this process. You know, this is not something that you want to walk in. Unfortunately, I do have two clients now who I've ended up seeing after walking into a therapist's office who is certified in EMDR and during the first session, they went into the bilateral stimulation, Melissa Parks: [00:26:19] That's Yeah. Yep. You got it. Alyssa Scolari: [00:26:21] They did that the first session, the first time meeting this person, and as a result, were really, really unraveled is the word I'm lookin for. Melissa Parks: [00:26:30] Oh, sure. For sure. It's concerning to say the least. I'm so sorry that that happened for your client because essentially what that also does too, is the client is not sort of, I don't want to say shutdown, but if the session isn't closed down properly and or if they are pushed outside of their window of tolerance, It's not repaired. It's not corrected. What does that do? That confirms that old experience that you are not safe. And as a result, like I said, kind of an experience of retraumatization and that is really unfortunate. That's really unfortunate. Alyssa Scolari: [00:27:07] Yeah, I think that is very unfortunate and that is not the norm. You know, that is what I'm hearing you say. Melissa Parks: [00:27:15] I would hope so. I would hope so. Alyssa Scolari: [00:27:18] Right. We hope and pray that that's not the norm. It is important, what I hear you say, to be able to establish that rapport with the client, to be able to do a full assessment, to be able to create a sense of safety so that the vulnerability can be there so that the healing process and the integration can begin. Melissa Parks: [00:27:41] So there's things that the client can do, certainly. And when I'm hearing you kind of talk about...the client can ask the questions upfront. When searching for a therapist, the client can find someone that they feel comfortable with. Do like a consultation maybe, and ask the questions. What kind of clients do you treat? What is your specialty? I'm not going to go if I have attachment trauma and I'm an adult and I'm struggling with my current relationships. I might not go to somebody who does EMDR, specially only with maybe children. For example, I would want to know that they've worked with adults with PTSD. So, you know, finding out what are you specialize in. What are your advanced trainings? How long have you been doing this? Are you trained or are you certified? Asking those questions, but ultimately, you know, a lot of this lies on the clinician. And their expertise and their ability to, like I said, get a good assessment. Conceptualize the client's case, attunement t is huge because... Alyssa Scolari: [00:28:47] What do you mean by that? Melissa Parks: [00:28:48] I might come in as a client, gung-ho, saying, "I want to do this EMDR stuff." "I love it so much. I'm ready." And yet the next session, another part of them comes out that is terrified. And sort of step in the presence of the room and is terrified. And yet, instead of asserting, "Hey, I'm scared about this," sort of just uses people-pleasing behaviors with the therapist and the therapist is not attuned to these little shifts of maybe a client's presentation or body movements or tone of voice or anything like that, and just runs with it. Again, we're at the risk of retraumatization or creating an unsafe experience. The clinician's level of attunement is so key and being able to, like I said, taking that full history, Oh, you know what? This client has used fawning, for example, which is like extreme people-pleasing in their relationships in the past. I want to note that for myself, I want to make sure that I'm watching for this in our sessions in the future. Because even if I ask a question, "Would you like to talk about this? "They're going to say "Yeah" all the time, because they fawn and so attunement is so huge, huge, huge, and that's on the clinician and their ability to do that. That's not the client's responsibility because a client who fawns is never going to say,"I'm feeling like I want to people-please, you right now." They're never going to say that. Alyssa Scolari: [00:30:22] No, they're just going to do it. That's part of their trauma response, especially when they're activated. Melissa Parks: [00:30:27] That's right? Alyssa Scolari: [00:30:29] So this is a lot in a very heavy process for both the client and the clinician. Melissa Parks: [00:30:38] Yes. It's a dance. Alyssa Scolari: [00:30:41] Do you ever find that it's exhausting for you as the clinician? Melissa Parks: [00:30:48] It could potentially be, but I have good supervision. I think the best clinicians, even the ones that are, you know, have all the certifications in the world get supervision. And so I get supervision and so I have a place to bring my stuff and I have pretty good self care. I also, you know, do things behind the scenes, like structure my day appropriately. I do not have a huge caseload because of not only the nature of the clients that I see, the majority I'm doing EMDR or couples work, couples work is also very intense because you would have two nervous systems in the room with you. Alyssa Scolari: [00:31:24] Yes. Melissa Parks: [00:31:25] You're trying to navigate that. So I do not see a ton of people. All of that really, I have learned, sets me up to not feel that burnout or that exhaustion. Alyssa Scolari: [00:31:36] You've learned how to take really good care of yourself. Melissa Parks: [00:31:39] Yeah. But there's days, you know, cause I'm a human Alyssa Scolari: [00:31:42] Of course, therapists are human too. Melissa Parks: [00:31:45] Right. Alyssa Scolari: [00:31:47] Absolutely. But I love the comment that you said about having supervision, because my supervisor says this all the time, which is every good clinician has a great mentor, therapist, et cetera. Melissa Parks: [00:32:05] Good. Yes. You need to go to therapy too. I'm a believer in that. Alyssa Scolari: [00:32:09] Yes. I love my therapist. Yup. Yep. Now there's also been some myths, I think about EMDR that it's sort of this like, cure all. So could you speak on that? Like, and I guess maybe this is different for every person, but what is the length of the process and then like, how do you know that you've gotten to a point where like EMDR is no longer needed or is it a lifelong process? Melissa Parks: [00:32:42] I wouldn't say lifelong, but I think it's not a magic thing. It's not magic or a cure-all fix-all kind of thing. No, no, no, no, no, definitely not. But I do think that it can be helpful. Like I said almost all of my individuals that I see I'm doing EMDR with because we have to remember EMDR is not just about the Phase Four desensitization piece. Sometimes with some clients I'm just using resource tapping, which is basically strengthening positive things that they bring into session. To strengthen a positive neural network in their brain. So if someone comes in and says, "Oh, I was a good mom this week, I had such good interactions with my kids." I'll say "You want to tap that in? That sounds like it's really important. Like we really want to strengthen that." Alyssa Scolari: [00:33:32] I saw you make a Tik-Tok about that. Melissa Parks: [00:33:34] That's right. That's part of EMDR too. That's resource tapping and that's a component of EMDR too. And so if we're not doing all eight phases, it's still EMDR. And so I look at it from that perspective. In terms of really targeting a trauma or a series of traumas, if it's complex PTSD, it could take a long time. The research says that EMDR is more of a shorter model than say some other like traditional talk therapies, but I'd hate to put a timeline on it. I mean, I've, I've seen people that have single incident traumas and we've done maybe eight sessions, ten sessions, twelve sessions, and they actually feel like this is so helpful. I'm good now. Thank you. Bye. And that's been great, but typically I'm working with people with complex trauma and we're in it for the long haul. Alyssa Scolari: [00:34:32] Okay. I was just going to say, it sounds more to me like EMDR is a treatment approach, like in its entirety and not something that you decide like... Melissa Parks: [00:34:47] Yes, you get it. Alyssa Scolari: [00:34:49] Does that make sense? Melissa Parks: [00:34:50] Yes. That is exactly how I use it. And how I don't look at it as just an intervention. Alyssa Scolari: [00:34:57] Right? Like it's not a supplement therapy. It is a treatment modality. Melissa Parks: [00:35:02] That is exactly how I approach it and how I incorporate it into my practice. And not everybody is like this. I mean, some clinicians are just trained in it and they just use it here or there occasionally, but that's not how I roll. And maybe it's just because I'm in love with it all, but yeah. I really use it as how a lens that I see my clients through because of all the components of it that we talked about in the beginning, based on the model that the past is in the present, the resiliency aspect of it, the bottom up approach. That's how I see my clients through that lens. And this is why this works for me in terms of a modality. So yes, that's right. It's not just an intervention to me. Alyssa Scolari: [00:35:46] Yeah, this is a treatment lens for you. Which I think is potentially why I bet you have so much success because the treatment of trauma really is recovery is a lifelong process, especially when it comes to trauma survivors. So I would imagine that if we're coining anything in some like eight week or twelve week intervention, it's not going to be as effective. Melissa Parks: [00:36:09] Right. Right. Agreed. Alyssa Scolari: [00:36:12] I love it. I learned so much about EMDR. This actually makes me want to, I don't know. This makes me definitely want to explore more. Melissa Parks: [00:36:21] Nice. Alyssa Scolari: [00:36:22] And so I have to ask because your Tik-Toks are amazing. How did you... Melissa Parks: [00:36:31] I get a little...I'm laughing cause I can get my sense of humor can come out there. I can have a little too much fun on there. Alyssa Scolari: [00:36:38] They're sofunny. I love them. I show them to my husband. Melissa Parks: [00:36:43] Give me an Office audio, and I will roll with it. I will make it into something. I just love The Office. And if there's any audio on The Office, it's happening, it's going down. Alyssa Scolari: [00:36:53] It's going down. I love it so much. How did you get into, like, how did you decide like, Oh, this is what I'm going to do. Melissa Parks: [00:37:03] well, I've been on Instagram a few years probably, and I just decided to take the leap. Alyssa Scolari: [00:37:09] Making those Tik-Toks at the rate that you put them out has got to be a second full-time job for you. I feel like they're hard. Melissa Parks: [00:37:16] Well, they are, I'm pretty, I'm slightly, not slightly. I'm pretty aware of like, not aware, but I can work my phone pretty good. And I'm not doing like major edits, so they don't take me too long. But I think it's just my, I think it's my imagination. I hear something like a sound or, and I'm like, Oh my gosh, this fits so perfectly with this. Or this is how a couple would react or this is what would happen in the brain and how the brain would talk to each other like that. It just comes to me with hearing these sounds. Alyssa Scolari: [00:37:47] Yeah. It's like, it seems looking at your profile and your content, very much of a creative outlet for you. And I would guess a way to also spread awareness. Melissa Parks: [00:38:01] That's right. And I cannot tell you how many emails or messages I've received saying "Because of you. I decided to find a therapist" or "Because of you. I feel like I make sense. And I'm going to talk more about what's happening with my therapist" or" just because of you..." and that gives me fire and motivation to just keep going for sure. You know, I'm going to kind of change up how we see ourselves, how we see mental health and that's important. Alyssa Scolari: [00:38:32] and you are doing that and you very much send the message on your content, on all of your platforms. Cause I believe I also follow you on Instagram that it's not what's wrong with you. It's what happened to you. Melissa Parks: [00:38:48] Yes. Alyssa Scolari: [00:38:50] And I love that you put that vibe out there. Melissa Parks: [00:38:52] Yeah. Yeah. Thank you. Alyssa Scolari: [00:38:54] So healing. Melissa Parks: [00:38:56] Yeah, thank you. Alyssa Scolari: [00:38:57] So your Tik-Tok is...what's your Tik-Tok username? It's melissa_parks_says, right. Melissa Parks: [00:39:06] No, just melissaparkssays, all one (word) and it's the same for my Instagram: melissaparkssays Alyssa Scolari: [00:39:12] and then you have a website as well, right? Melissa Parks: [00:39:15] Yeah, the website, it is for my therapy practice. That's melissaparkstherapy.com. And yeah, I'll be doing some things in terms of more of that coaching piece, probably more towards summertime, and I'll be opening up some opportunities for EMDR therapists that want to be certified to do some consultation under me if they want to. So that would be important to maybe find me on social media for that. And I'm looking at some potentially courses or some kind of like membership sites so that people can work with me outside of that therapy treatment perspective. And of course, that's only for those that do not need the structure of therapy. That's very important to make sure that we delineate that. Alyssa Scolari: [00:40:08] Ooo, you have some exciting things coming up in your future. Melissa Parks: [00:40:12] Yeah. Alyssa Scolari: [00:40:14] I'm excited for you. Oh, that's so fun. Well, I will link all of your socials on the show notes. So to all the listeners out there, you will know exactly where it should go to find more of Melissa's amazing content. Thank you for breaking down the scary beast that is EMDR, because it has really been quite frightening to me, but I feel like I have a really good grasp on it now. And it's not so scary. Melissa Parks: [00:40:46] I'm so glad. I'm so glad. And of course I'd be open to any and all questions for clarifying anything further. I'd be happy to come on again or whatever. It's been such a joy. So thank you for having me.

Effects of Agent Orange

PodcastDX

Play Episode Listen Later Feb 16, 2021 53:24

Tara Parham, the daughter of a disabled USMCS Veteran, eighty-sixed her 6 figure income career in Government Healthcare and Lean Six Sigma, after falling ill with the first of 3 rare diseases that are associated with her dads exposure to Agent Orange, a dioxin used while he was serving in the Vietnam War. Her goal is to shed light on those who are struggling with the many debilitating conditions from Agent Orange and other Rare Diseases; to advocate for those who are struggling to find Help, their voice, and are unable to advocate for themselves. TRANSCRIPT s8e10- PodcastDx- Agent Orange Lita T 00:10 Hello and welcome to another episode of podcast dx. The show that brings you interviews with people just like you, whose lives were forever changed by a medical diagnosis. I'm Lita. Ron 00:22 I'm Ron Jean 00:22 and I'm Jean Marie. Lita T 00:23 Collectively, we're the hosts of podcast dx. Our guest today is Tara. She is the daughter of a disabled US Marine Corps veteran who had to leave her position in government health care after falling ill with the first of three rare diseases that are associated with her dad's exposure to Agent Orange. It's a dioxide, Jean 00:48 dioxin Lita T 00:50 used while he was serving in the Vietnam War. Her goal today is to shed light on those who are struggling with the many disabling or debilitating conditions from Agent Orange and other rare diseases, to advocate for those who are struggling to find help their voice and are unable to advocate for themselves. Jean 01:12 Hi Tara. Hi, Tara, Tara 01:14 Hi, Ron 01:16 Tara to give our audience some background on Agent Orange. Birth defects are showing up in children of veterans who served in America's military during the Vietnam War. The mil, the military actually sprayed more than 20 million gallons of the powerful defoliant in Vietnam, Laos and Cambodia to deny the enemy food sources and cover 10s of 1000s of American military personnel handled, sprayed or were sprayed by the herbicide. The chemicals in Agent Orange are known to cause a variety of illnesses including several types of cancers, among other diseases. The list of illnesses tied to Agent Orange is posted on the Department of Veterans Affairs website, and they include and I may struggle with some of these Lita T 02:09 good luck Ron. Ron 02:12 Al amyloidosis. Chronic B cell leukemia, Jean 02:18 leukemia, Lita T 02:19 leukemia, Ron 02:19 leukemia. Told you I was gonna struggle Lita T 02:24 mmhhmm Ron 02:24 Chloracne, Is that right? Lita T 02:26 Well, we could try. Jean 02:27 And actually I was just watching there's a Netflix series on now about spies. And one of the individuals who they attempt attempted to assassinate with dioxins has this and it's very, very it's a very visual type thing you can really you can definitely discern that. That's what that is. Ron 02:48 Wow! There's also Lita T 02:51 diabetes type 2 Ron 02:52 Yep. Thank you Hodgkin's disease, ischemic heart disease, multiple myeloma, also non Hodgkins lymphoma, Parkinson's disease, peripheral neuropathy, at least the early onset of it. Porphyria Cutanea Tarda. I hope I got that right. It also includes prostate cancer and other respiratory cancers, such as lung cancer, cancer of the larynx, trachea and bronchus. Also soft tissue sarcomas other than osteosarcoma, Chandrosarcoma Kaposi sarcoma, or mesothelioma. And a group of different types of cancers in the body tissues such as muscle fat, I'm sorry, muscle, fat, blood and lymph vessels, and also connective tissue. And it took decades for the Department of Veterans Affairs to admit that the powerful herbicide poisoned 1000s of their military members. Jean 04:00 And that's right, Ron, Tara 04:01 Yes Jean 04:01 and the children of the men and women that served and were effected by Agent Orange have a possibility of being you know, like the children might be born with spina bifida that's quite common. And that's a birth defect that occurs while still in in utero, and where the spinal cord fails to close at the bottom. And then children of women that served in the same situation have a larger set of possible birth defects that the VA does recognize. And that's because women are born with the same number of eggs, you know, they they carry those with them their entire lives, whereas men are constantly producing new sperm. Lita T 04:37 Right. And we are going to get to our guest in a minute. Tara 04:40 I know Lita T 04:40 I hate to put you off, but we're just trying to save you some of the background information here, Tara, According to... Tara 04:48 No, I appreciate it. Lita T 04:49 (laughter) That's okay. According to the VA that covered birth defects for children born to women who served in Vietnam and the Korean demilitarized zone. Include. Okay, now it's my turn. Ron 05:02 Exactly Lita T 05:03 Achondroplasia, cleft lip and cleft palate, congenital heart diseases. congenital talipes equinovarus Oh, that's called clubfoot. Okay, I should have just said clubfoot, esophageal and intestinal atresia, Hallerman-Streif or Steiff? stryfe Hallerman-Streiff syndrome, boy Jack's gonna have fun editing this one Jean 05:30 Or Dom Lita T 05:31 or Dominic, whoever gets lucky, Ron 05:33 Dominic's shaking his head no. Lita T 05:34 (laughter) Hip dysplasia, Hirschsprung's disease which is a congenital mega colon, hydrocephalus due to aqueductal stenosis. Hypose, hypospadias, hypospadias. We'll say hypospadias, imperforte anus, neural tube defects, Poland syndrome pyloric stenosis, syndactyly or fused digits. Oh, that's like webbed feet. Is that right? Okay. tracheoesophageal fistula? I did pretty good on that one, undescended testicle. Williams Syndrome, Jean 06:24 and we laughed at the fact that we can't pronounce these things. Lita T 06:27 Yeah, we're not laughing at the disease. Ron 06:30 the sad part about is this agent orange causes all of this. Lita T 06:33 Yeah, Jean 06:33 Right, right Lita T 06:34 Yeah. Jean 06:34 And I mean, Tara, you must have become like an, you know, you have to know so much and learn so much. Because these are things that people normally Lita T 06:44 normally don't even think about Jean 06:45 haven't even heard. Lita T 06:46 It's not in our everyday vocabulary. No. So, Tara, (laughter) back to you. Thank you for taking the time to speak with us today. We really appreciate it. Now, can you start our listeners out by telling us what conditions are you personally dealing with? Tara 07:01 Yeah, well, thank you for having me. I'm really grateful to have this opportunity to speak about this. Because, as you just mentioned, all of those conditions that I'm gonna put in, quote, air quotes recognized as being caused by Agent Orange, there are a slew of other conditions. And along with medical research out there that support connections between Agent Orange and these conditions, although they're not identified as being recognized. I myself have just in the past three and a half years been diagnosed with three of those. The first is a vascular necrosis, which I have in both knees, both hips and both shoulders. A Vascular Necrosis is the the first that I was diagnosed with, which is technically called multifocal, because I have it all over. There are many citations out there that support the association between Agent Orange and a vascular necrosis. And the second diagnosis that I had was intracranial hypertension, which I actually caused me to go blind, Lita T 08:17 Ohh! Tara 08:17 completely blind, and I was never supposed to, I was never supposed to see again, ended up having to have a brain operation and a VP shunt, but that it's a central nervous system disorder that affects your your ventricles, your vessels, which is linked to the agent, orange dioxin similar to spinal bifida, Chiari, which there's literature out there supporting the connection to that as well. Lita T 08:44 MMhhmm Tara 08:44 And the third that I was diagnosed with last year was interstitial lung disease, which causes doctors to ask if I've been around birds. But it's not just me. My sister also gets it. And there is also a slew of research out there showing the connection between respiratory conditions, not just lung cancer, respiratory cancers that are related to Agent Orange. And as recently as July 21 2020. There was a research article on that by is on the VA website for lung diseases, saying that additional research needs to be done for the veteran. So if all this research still needs to be done for the veterans, there's still so much that has to happen just for their descendants, their offspring Ron 09:41 Right, Lita T 09:41 Right, right, because I've heard that it's also being passed on to the grandchildren. So it must be doing something Tara 09:48 Yes Lita T 09:48 in the genetic links, right? Tara 09:50 Yes. Yes, it's multi generational, and it can lie dormant for years like mine didn't. It didn't show up until I was 40. Ron 10:00 WOW! Tara 10:00 yeah. And and my sister, my sister was actually born with webbed feet, which they recognized as one of the Ron 10:09 conditions? Tara 10:09 things that correct that can be passed on to descendants. That and she also has the same lung condition that I have. But so we both have it. Lita T 10:18 Wow Jean 10:19 and dioxins are also found in other areas. I mean, it's something that if you're, you know, say your your family wasn't exposed to Agent Orange, but you know, you should be aware of it, Lita T 10:30 like landscapers, are you saying? Jean 10:31 No, like on paper mills, Oh, there they are found in other areas in in industry. And this actually does kind of hit close to home because, um, Agent Orange was originally developed at the University of Illinois as a means to help grow soybeans. And it wasn't it used it Lita T 10:38 as a chemical weapon Jean 10:42 originally, very low doses, and then the military Lita T 10:53 weaponized it basically. Jean 10:54 Yeah, yeah Lita T 10:55 Well thank you, Tara. I think our listeners have a better understanding of what we're going to be talking about now. Since we only discuss one one diagnosis per episode, we would like to discuss your battle with multifocal avascular necrosis, also known as AVN. Perhaps you're willing to come back on another episode and talk about the other problems individually? Would that be okay? Tara 11:19 Absolutely. Lita T 11:20 Great. So we could make this into like a mini series? Jean 11:24 Yes Yes. Cuz I mean, it's, it's Tara 11:26 absolutely. Lita T 11:27 That would be really, really great. Jean 11:28 Yeah Well, and yeah, we can kind of understand that when you when you volunteer for the military. You know, there's a lot of things that you're going to be exposed to that normal, civilians... Yeah. Lita T 11:28 And I don't know if you're aware of, but Jean and I are both veterans. And we always support any veteran activity that's out there. Because it's also supporting us. Jean 11:49 Actually we just, you know, we were just saying this morning that, you know, the vaccine for COVID is not mandatory, they can't really make it mandatory. However, in the military, it would be mandatory, because you're giving away your life for your country. Tara 12:04 Yeah! Lita T 12:04 However, does that mean you're giving away your children's lives, your grandchildren's lives, this is where this topic is going to be important. Jean 12:12 And there is there is the onus on them to keep their personal safe. Lita T 12:16 Yeah. Jean 12:16 And whenever possible, prevent, you know, disease and illness Lita T 12:20 Right Jean 12:20 that kind of situation, Lita T 12:21 right Tara 12:22 Yep. I completely agree. And oftentimes, you know, the military families, the sacrifices that they make when their loved ones are off serving, or the sacrifices, in this case, their health. So I completely agree. Lita T 12:39 Well, yeah, we never would have expected this type of a reaction based on Agent Orange, but now we're learning Jean 12:47 Yeah. And Tara 12:48 I know, Jean 12:49 Tara, can you tell us? What is AVN? And which bones? You said that you have it? It's multi Lita T 12:55 shoulders? Jean 12:56 Yeah. Shoulders in everything? Can you tell us which exact which joints are affected in your body? Lita T 13:01 And what is it Jean 13:01 in? What is it? Yeah, Tara 13:04 sure. Well, avascular necrosis is It's the result of reduction of the blood flows to the bone. I, I have it in both knees, both hips, both shoulders, which basically means my bones didn't get enough of the blood, which caused them to start to die. And once the bones start to die, they don't just regenerate themselves. Now, here's an interesting fact. I was diagnosed with this three and a half years ago, my dad, the veter... the Vietnam veteran was just diagnosed with that three months ago. And Jean 13:41 Oh my gosh, Tara 13:42 and there's multiple, like I said, there's multiple citations out there of so many other veterans and their descendants, who have also been diagnosed with avascular necrosis. But what it does is as the bone dies, it brings the entire joint with it. So oftentimes, it's missed. It's not diagnosed until it's until at a later stage, which makes it a lot more complex. And it's very hard to find. Lita T 14:14 Does it start out? Yeah, the symptoms as they start out, is it does it feel like a arthritic type of a feeling or how did the symptoms start with you? Tara 14:24 Well, what started interestingly, I woke up one morning and I thought that I had twisted my knee and my sleep. So it felt like a torn ligament in my knee. And I ended up going to the emergency room and I was misdiagnosed with bone cancer. Because Ron 14:44 Oh Wow, Tara 14:45 it Yeah, it looks like bone like white specks all in my bones. Jean 14:52 Mhhmm Lita T 14:52 Ohhh! Tara 14:52 And that's the dead bone marks. They're called bone infarct. So I have that as well as, as the death on the end of the bone, which is the a vascular necrosis too. So that was the initial diagnosis. And I, it took me all over the country, I ended up going to Mayo Clinic in Rochester, Minnesota to trying to find a diagnosis and help, which ultimately landed me in New York City at New York Presbyterian, where I found a doctor to do a bilateral hip procedure on me to try and slow down the progression. Lita T 15:31 Okay Tara 15:32 So, and maybe I should touch more on, I guess, how do you want me to touch more on the connection between avascular necrosis and Agent Orange? Lita T 15:42 Sure, sure. Tara 15:45 Okay, hold on, let me get let me get there, my notes... Lita T 15:49 she that's what Jean was saying. You have to become a expert. Jean 15:53 Subject matter expert I think there should be honorary doctorates. Lita T 15:56 Yes. Jean 15:57 For patients like you. Yeah Tara 15:59 Yeah, you have to you have to be your own, like advocate. And that's the biggest challenge especially says it's considered rare. There's not a lot of doctors who actually have the knowledge that you need. So you get Misdiagnosed, and you get misinformation, which causes you to lose time, and your options for treatment diminish. Ron 16:25 Absolutely Tara 16:25 So hold on one second. Sorry. Jean 16:29 And I think Mayo Clinic is very interesting in Rochester, Minnesota, because the weather gets so cold there. I like to call it mole city. I don't know if they would agree with me calling it mole city Lita T 16:39 (laughter) the tunnel. Jean 16:39 But there's tunnels underground that connect the hospital to like the hotels, the hospital to the grocery store, to the library. So you don't have to go out there. freezing cold Lita T 16:49 It's very nice. It's very nice Jean 16:50 It's unique. It's it's kind of fun. Lita T 16:52 Right? Jean 16:53 And there's little shops all along the route. Lita T 16:55 Yes. Tara 16:55 Okay. Here we are. So the connection with the a vascular necrosis, and Agent Orange. So Avascular Necrosis, like I said, it's a result of the reduction of the blood flow to the bone. And Agent Orange has an adverse effect on blood vessels. So there's medical literature, literature that support Agent Orange, and the dioxin is capable of lying dormant and the effects that it has on the blood vessels. So it's actually the result? Yeah, hold on one second. Lita T 17:32 I know I read the word stenosis and a couple of the different results. Tara 17:37 By patients? Lita T 17:38 Right. So stenosis is is reducing in size, so possibly, the blood vessel size is reduced at the at the bone. Could that be part of it? Tara 17:49 Yeah. It's because it's not getting because of that the blood is not flowing the way that it needs to. Lita T 17:55 Right. Jean 17:56 And I guess most people don't think of their bones as first of all even needing a blood source. Lita T 18:00 Yeah, yeah Jean 18:01 but you don't realize that the osteocytes and, and everything inside your bone that you know that there's constant growth in bone and that it's still... Tara 18:07 I know. Jean 18:08 Yeah, because you think it's like set in stone. But really, it's, you know, part of your living Lita T 18:14 body, Jean 18:14 it's part of your body that's, you know, it's constantly Lita T 18:16 most people don't think about it Jean 18:17 regenerating, yeah. Lita T 18:17 Right, right Tara 18:19 It is. And a lot of people also kind of confused a vascular necrosis, which is also called osteonecrosis, but they confuse it with osteoporosis. Lita T 18:30 Right, right Tara 18:32 Like, Jean 18:32 ohhhh, Tara 18:32 Oh, they're like, you have Ron 18:34 brittle bones? Tara 18:34 osteoporosis. I'm like, it's not osteoporosis. Lita T 18:37 No, no Tara 18:39 It's osteonecrosis. And it's completely different. I went through that, initially, to once I found out that it was the a vascular necrosis, it was very challenging to explain to people actually, what it was, who had assumed that it was osteoperosis, Ron 18:40 Right Lita T 18:40 Different Ron 18:40 Right, right you know, as we're talking, I just, it reminds me and this is going way back, when I was in college, I had done a paper on the banning of chemicals and Agent Orange. Jean 19:14 Mhhmm Ron 19:14 It was done like in the mid 70s, or something like that, because they knew it was bad. They just didn't know how bad Jean 19:22 Mhhmm Lita T 19:22 Oh Wow. Ron 19:22 And this is where the stuff that we're talking about now is the result of all the research from that but way back in the 80s when I did this paper, they knew that this stuff was bad and that's why they said no more of these chemicals. Jean 19:39 Well, it kind of reminds me of lead in fuel. Ron 19:41 Mhhmm Jean 19:42 And you know, like to prove that it was perfectly fine, which it's not the someone actually dipped their hands into it, and then later on, developed all sorts of cancers in both arms. But you know, like we I guess it takes time and research and, you know, you have to think about the effects down the road. Ron 20:00 The long term Absolutely. Jean 20:01 And it's not. Yeah, it's a challenge, Lita T 20:03 right? Tara 20:04 Yeah. And I remember reading somewhere that the amount of chemical that was used over there covered the span of I think it was like Kentucky and another state combined. And it was actually the the combination of the chemicals in Agent Orange. The thing is tcdd tetrachloride benzodioxine, dioxin tcdd. It's the chemical group of compounds named dioxins. And that's what makes Agent Orange as notorious as it is. And it's actually considered the most toxic of all dioxins, which is saying a lot, because dioxins are notoriously toxic. So, yeah, it's, um, I don't know, if you guys watched Chernobyl, that show? Jean 21:01 I haven't seen that one yet. It's on my list. Tara 21:03 Oh, I'm wondering how come they haven't done something like this for Agent Orange? Jean 21:08 That's interesting Tara 21:09 I'm like, yeah, Jean 21:10 yeah. And I've been to see, oh, what has it done to the population? Lita T 21:13 in Vietnam? Jean 21:14 Yeah, in Vietnam? Because, um, you know, it's a long lasting chemical. And it's, yeah, it's got to have long term effects. Lita T 21:22 Right. Jean 21:22 Yeah. And then it's also in the environment at large. Tara 21:25 Yep. And there is actually I've read a lot of things about the effects of the what's happening in Vietnam because of this. It's still being in the soil, so... Jean 21:37 And, and there's probably, you know, if your going to have does have research and information, that's probably a good source as well, because they have a probably a greater population from the exposure. And actually, I think that takes us to Ron's question... Ron 21:50 exactly. Can you tell us how common is a vascular necrosis? And actually, how is it treated? Tara 22:00 Sure, so a vascular necrosis is probably anywhere from 10 to 20,000 people a year are diagnosed with it. So in order to be considered a rare disease, it's 200,000 or less avascular necrosis is 10, to 20,000. Jean 22:20 Okay Tara 22:20 So to treat a vascular necrosis and I need to give a plug here, because a lot of my information, Dr. Michael Mont, at Lenox Hill, who has, I was scheduled to have surgery on both knees, both hips in both shoulders in September of this time here, but due to COVID, and all of that, a couple of other mishaps, I actually kind of got sick with my lungs, too. We're postponing it, but he is phenomenal. He is a avascular necrosis guru, let me say that. So a lot of what I am speaking to is from literature that I've read that he wrote and talks about. So as far as treatments go for a vascular necrosis. As I mentioned earlier, a lot of people don't get a diagnosis until later in stage three, to give a little background on this, there is different staging, I guess, models that are used, there's ARCAT, then if you use the ARCAT, there's ARCO there's four stages, the first two stages are only identifiable on an MRI. So most people aren't going to be if you go to the doctor and you have knee pain or something they're not they're going to do an X ray. And when they don't see anything, it's like I don't, you're fine. Most, a lot of times, you don't go for an MRI for multiple reasons. So you don't get diagnosed until the pain progressed, and it gets really bad. Well, it's during those first two stages, where you have the less invasive procedures that are options that could help prolong you, possibly your bone completely dying and needing total replacements and it's becoming mobility issues, as well. So Another interesting fact here, too, and I'm kind of all over the board, but you know, Lita T 24:29 yeah, you know, it turns out to be like a spider web, you know, one thing leads to another but go ahead and take your time. Tara 24:35 I know avascular necrosis, there are a couple kind of well known people that had it A-Rod had it in his shoulder, Mike Napoli. Oh, the Red Sox play for the Red Sox, but theirs were caught. It was caught really early because they had to go through rigorous physical. So they had really high success. But I can't stress the importance of especially If somebody has history of Agent Orange, and they're having hip pain or something of that nature and their knees, hips or shoulders or something, especially if they have underlying health issues that prompts them to need prednisone or steroids, cause that contributes to that. It's like a perfect storm, Lita T 25:24 okay Tara 25:24 with the agent orange to cause a vascular necrosis. So did I answer your question?, Lita T 25:32 Yeah that makes sense. That makes sense. Right? Tara 25:35 I didn't finish answering the question though, Lita T 25:37 no, that's okay. But at least that gives some background. Right. Right. Tara 25:41 Okay, Jean 25:42 well, yeah. And I think, you know, if you go to, you know, your orthopedist, and I don't think you know, is it typical for them to ask you? So did your parents, you know, serve in Vietnam? Are they exposed Agent Orange, it's, if it's not on their intake information, you really do have to advocate for yourself. Lita T 25:58 Right? So the treatments again, the the initial treatments are, are what? Tara 26:06 Okay, there you go. See, I didn't even answer it. Ron 26:09 (Laughter) Tara 26:09 So there's a there's, there's quite a few different treatments for the stage. And it's a little bit controversial, too, because, because it's rare, and most people don't get diagnosed until stage three and four. That means that there's not a lot of people to actually do tests that are trials on Lita T 26:35 Oh Okay Tara 26:35 stage one and two, or phase, the earlier stages. But very popular and somewhat controversial, depending on who you talk to is a core decompression, where they use bone marrow efforts that stem cells. So what accordi compression is, is they take and drill holes into your bone. And they inject stem cells into the bone marrow in hopes of regenerating the bone. Lita T 27:10 Would they be your own stem cells? Tara 27:12 Yes Lita T 27:13 Okay? Tara 27:13 Yeah, yes. But I also have for earlier stages. Do they also do PRP for protein rich? The Lita T 27:21 plasma Tara 27:22 stem cells? Lita T 27:23 Okay. Okay. Tara 27:25 But as far as treatment for the later stages, and that so.... So why I said it was controversial is because some orthopedist will say that, if you have a core decompression, you're kind of wasting your time, because it might buy you a little time, but you're still ultimately going, it's still going to collapse in the long run. And you're still going to have to go through all of the other things. So why even do the core de-compression? Lita T 27:58 So it's just it's just a temporary Jean 28:01 stop gap. Lita T 28:01 A stop gap Yeah. Ron 28:03 How much time? Jean 28:04 Yeah, Tara 28:06 it varies. And it's not always, that's not always the case, I had the bilateral hip core decompression in January of 2018. And I mean, I had tremendous relief after I did, and so far, like, it's, it hasn't gotten to the point to where I would need like to have it again. Like the pain hasn't gotten to that point to where it was before I had that surgery. So it's but there's other people who have had success and haven't had to go on and have any further surgery. So it's, it's not a, everyone will will have to it's there might be some that do and some that don't. And so the some that that do ultimately have to go on and have it that causes them to say that not to have it I don't know. So it is controversial. Lita T 29:05 Okay Tara 29:06 If you ask anybody, you'll get mixed reviews on whether you should or shouldn't. But the the guru, Dr. Michael Mont will tell you yes. To do the core compression, and I'm right there with him. Lita T 29:18 Okay. Tara 29:19 A majority of the time, I guess it depends there are things that so so let me just kind of say this. There's it depends on how much of the articular surface though, is covered with it has dead bones. Like if there's 75% or more, that has dead bone or if it's less light, so there's so many different, "if that, then that" Lita T 29:47 Right, right. Tara 29:48 And so Lita T 29:48 like with cancer, you know, they treat cancer based on how much progression there is, are they going to use radio radiation or chemo? So I'm sure that they base it based on like, you're saying how bad it has progressed, right? Tara 30:02 Correct, correct? Yeah. But that's for the first on the stage one and stage two, stage three and four get more complex. Jean 30:14 Okay Tara 30:14 So you have a variety of different options depending on, like I said, how much dead bone there is, as well as where it's at, where the dead bone is at. I have dead bone. It's 75% on one side, 85% on the other, my hip, and my knees are actually stage three. And my, my, my right, left shoulder is stage three, my right is stage two. And what that means is that some of the more less, the less invasive procedures, maybe don't have a high success possibility. It doesn't mean that it wouldn't possibly work, shall I say? Does that make sense? Jean 31:04 It does, but is is like a replacement of the joint possibility. Tara 31:15 Is the what I'm sorry, Jean 31:16 can can they replace the joints? Tara 31:19 Yes. But you wouldn't do that until stage later? Well, it depends on how much pain you're having to and a lot of it is derived by it by that. But yes, replacing it is an option. So and let me just explain this. This is the best explanation that somebody gave me on how to explain a vascular necrosis. So a vascular, a lot of people think that a vascular necrosis is like your joint. Something happened because you get a joint replacement. But what's happening is picture like whenever they lay of road, paver road, they lay sand down first and then they lay asphalt on top of it. But as you get a pothole, what happens is that sand settles and as the sand settles, then it pulls that asphalt down. So that's the same thing that's happening with the bone as the bone is dying because that's what a vascular necrosis is, is the bone dying as the dying is pulling down and that's what pulls your joint down and all of that, and it pulls all your ligaments and cartilage down and that's why you had to have all of it replaced. Jean 32:35 So it's like sinkholes in the bone. Okay. Tara 32:38 Yeah. Because your bones they're dying and they're, they're collapsing. And so as it does, it's taking everything with it. Lita T 32:45 It's not just the not just the bone at the joint itself, but could it occur anywhere along the bone? Tara 32:55 Yes, I I actually have it that called bone infarct, I have a vascular necrosis at the ends of my bones. And then I have bone infarct, which is dead bone patches throughout the long parts of my bones to which is where a lot of the the cancer that's where the cancer misdiagnosis came because it looks like that it shows up white in the images. Lita T 33:25 Okay, Tara 33:26 but yes, Lita T 33:27 wow, Jean 33:28 yeah, Tara 33:28 for stage three and four, they have multiple different options, like there's an OATS procedure, a vascular graft procedure, ultimately, yes, a total replacement would be, I guess, that I want to say worst case scenario, but before the meet at that age, is a replacement for your hip would only last 10 years. Jean 33:55 Okay, so they try to hold off. Tara 33:56 Now it's actually lasting longer. Sometimes I think it's different if you have a vascular necrosis because the bones especially if they continue to kind of die after you've had the replacement, Jean 34:09 right? Like after the bone isn't. Lita T 34:12 Right. Jean 34:13 Okay. I was just gonna say this, the shaft of the bone is supporting that joint. And so eventually, like, you'd have to place the shaft and the joint itself. Lita T 34:20 Right So Jean 34:21 and you're Lita T 34:22 Why can't they get to the point where they're actually just solving the cause Jean 34:27 the, stopping the necrosis. Lita T 34:28 Right So in other words, like, Jean 34:30 right, Lita T 34:30 feeding the bone with the blood Jean 34:32 Right, Lita T 34:33 they can't. They can't come up with something where they can actually Jean 34:36 I'm sure somebody's researching it somewhere. yeah. Lita T 34:38 yeah, Ron 34:38 Yep Lita T 34:40 Wow. Tara 34:40 Yeah. No, Lita T 34:41 sorry. Tara 34:41 Yeah. Lita T 34:42 Yeah. Are they? I hate to interrupt you, Tara. But are there are there things that you could do to relieve the symptoms or improve your quality of life as you're going through this, you know, like as a person, not medical, Jean 34:58 as an individual Lita T 34:58 as an individual thank you Jean 35:00 No I think, I think we do want medical. Lita T 35:02 Okay. Alright Tara 35:02 Yeah. Well, I can tell you. I can tell you from research that I did as far as exercise goes, low impacts. aquatics is really good. Lita T 35:15 Okay, Tara 35:15 yoga. Another good thing that I found actually has been tremendous for me. Is is keto. Lita T 35:22 What is keto? Tara 35:25 What I eat. Lita T 35:26 Oh, I'm sorry. Okay. I thought it was a new. I thought it was like a karate. (laughter). Jean 35:32 Okay, okay, stop. Lita T 35:35 I'm sorry. Tara 35:36 No. Keto. So one of the things of one of the challenges is, you know, with your bones, whenever you have a vascular necrosis, it makes it really challenging to be able to work out and get exercise or to go on a hike or things of that nature. Because it's kind of like a tire your bones are, the more you drive, the more your tire wears down. And so with avascular necrosis, it's the more that you walk, the more the bone collapses. Lita T 36:05 Sure, sure. Right. Tara 36:08 And so previous literature, I'd probably have to say and there might be some orthopedics that still recommend it, although I wouldn't. That say non weight bearing, like Don't, don't walk, try and limit your, your walking and as much as possible, because that will prolong the collapse. But what I found changing my eating too has allowed me to drop 36 pounds last year. And Jean 36:37 congratulations, Tara 36:38 when I wasn't able to work out and do those things that I used to love to do, like running. You know, Jean 36:47 do you still run in your sleep in your dreams? Is that just me? . Tara 36:52 You know what I do sometimes from from scary PTSD doctors that I've had from my experiences, but yeah, yes, I'm running. Lita T 37:02 Okay. I'm sorry. Is it my turn? Jean 37:05 Yeah, it's your turn Lita T 37:06 Oh okay (laughter) Jean 37:07 go fish. Ron 37:07 Yeah. Lita T 37:08 What? Tara, what role have your family and friends played in your health care journey? Jean 37:13 Yeah. Especially your sister. Um, Tara 37:17 okay. So, my family has been tremendous. Um, my dad and my mom have been my rock. I don't, I would not have been able to make it without them, which I'm not going to go into, like, my past or anything. But it's, it's different from how I grew up. You know, my dad was fighting his demons with the war. But now, he's, he's my rock. Luckily, with COVID because he was in a war veterans home for the past 17 years. And then COVID happened. And I found out that they weren't allowing their workers to wear masks. And so I had him. Oh, yeah. Yep. Lita T 38:02 Oh! Ron 38:02 What? Wow. Tara 38:05 in April. Yeah, I have that recorded. But anyway, um, Lita T 38:10 what state are you in? Oh, what state are you in? Tara 38:13 I'm in Louisiana, Louisiana right now. So, um, I had him discharged. And so he's been able to be here with me. Although it's been extremely challenging with my stuff, but we've been able to support each other. Lita T 38:31 Support each other Right. Jean 38:32 And it's nice to meet your parents again, as adults, Lita T 38:36 Yes Jean 38:36 you know, to get to know them again. As an adult. Tara 38:39 Yeah, exactly. Yes. And so it's been, um, my family has been amazing. is I don't even know how to say this and dance around it. I probably should have prepared better for that question. Jean 38:57 You could leave in skip it, you can skip it Tara 39:00 Okay, Lita T 39:00 Whatever is comfortable for you. And if you want us to edit this out, we could also edit that part out Jean 39:05 sure. Tara 39:05 Okay, well, let me just say this. I fell into probably one of the darkest places of my life that I've ever been in. I am honestly lucky to be alive. There were days that I didn't know if I would make it if it wasn't my health, bringing me to the brink. My physical health, it was my mental health. And so every single relationship in my life was affected. I'm currently where we stand. My mom and my dad are my support system. And I'm rebuilding everything else. Jean 39:44 Okay. Lita T 39:45 Okay. Ron 39:45 Gotcha Lita T 39:46 All right. Jean 39:47 Yeah. And I talk about mental health and physical health definitely go hand in hand. Lita T 39:51 Yes, for sure. Definitely. Tara 39:53 Absolutely. And when you're fighting for your life, you don't have like a lot of the energy to use On those relationships, so work on those. Lita T 40:03 We understand that Tara 40:03 And so everything is affected, you know, Lita T 40:06 we understand that, yeah. Jean 40:07 And you're in your friends and family have to be very understanding you're not able to do the things you used to do. And they really do have to make an effort. Lita T 40:14 Right? Right. Tara 40:15 Right Lita T 40:15 And some people just can't really put themselves in the shoes of another person that has a chronic illness. Tara 40:23 Right Yes Lita T 40:24 And it's difficult. And, you might have to just excuse them and say, well, it's just not within their Yeah. purview Jean 40:33 Purview?. Tara 40:33 Yeah, wheelhouse Lita T 40:35 right. Right. Right. Ron 40:36 Look, this isn't really part of the script. But I'm just curious in you don't have to answer if you don't want to. Have you been able to see someone or talk to a therapist? Or? Tara 40:47 Oh I have a yes. Yes, Ron 40:50 Okay Tara 40:50 I have. I've had a therapist for probably, like 10 years. Um, who? I call her my life coach, actually. Jean 40:59 Sure. Sure. Ron 41:00 Right Tara 41:00 She's Wonderful. Lita T 41:01 Yeah. Anybody with a chronic illness? It's causing pain on a non stop basis, I think, personally, should consider a therapist, Right I know, Ron 41:11 but people look, view it differently. That's my opinion, But people dance around the question Tara 41:11 Absolutely Lita T 41:17 but personally, Yeah, yeah. My opinion is that it's needed. Jean 41:20 Yeah. Tara 41:20 Yeah, they're, they're such that there is still a stigma, in many ways about therapy and mental health. But honestly, there isn't, even if you don't think that you have a mental health, you know, reason to seek help. We all have things that we could improve on, Lita T 41:39 Sure Ron 41:39 Certainly Tara 41:40 and why, you know, why wouldn't we want to? Lita T 41:43 Right Tara 41:43 That's exactly what a therapist would help you do? You know? So that's just my thoughts. Jean 41:49 Oh absolutely Ron 41:50 Some people have that thought of, these are my feelings I hate for anybody else to know what I'm feeling. I'll just deal with it internally. Tara 41:59 Yeah. Ron 41:59 And, you know, again, I mean, people look at it, people view it, people process it differently. I'm in total agreement with what Lita and Jean Marie and what you're saying about, it's great to talk with someone. But again, because of the stigma and all that a lot of times there's people out there that say, I don't want anybody, Lita T 42:19 right, Ron 42:20 know what's going on, Jean 42:21 But it is coming into play in more. For example, like with organ transplant, getting counseling is not an option. Ron 42:31 Right Jean 42:31 It's a requirement, Ron 42:32 right? Jean 42:33 And because they realize that you really you, you need assistance, and you need some help. Ron 42:37 Right Jean 42:37 And it's a big deal. And I think the more and more we integrate health and take it in is part of the whole health package, the better it is for everyone. Lita T 42:47 Right. Jean 42:47 And this way it reduces that stigma Lita T 42:48 better. If we would have started that way back when medicine started, Jean 42:52 right, Lita T 42:53 and said, mental health and physical health are hand in hand. And if you go to a doctor, and you're being seen for something that's chronic, I mean, if it's something that's that's short lived, and the doctor fixes you, there's probably but if it's chronic, I think that you should automatically say, well, because of this chronic illness, you automatically, you know, should go to Jean 43:14 it should be included, Lita T 43:14 right? It should be included. Tara 43:16 Yep. No, I was just gonna say I think there needs to be like some type of chronic illness case manager, care manager, and whenever somebody is diagnosed, that they're referred to that person, and there's information that is given to them based especially based off of that condition, and it includes all of what you're saying. Absolutely Lita T 43:34 right, right Tara 43:35 because there is a huge gap, in many ways on in chronic illness, especially rare disease like that. I mean, it takes a good year for somebody just to get their bearings for any condition, Lita T 43:52 right to process it Tara 43:53 You want to make it a rare, a rare disease, and then that it adds to it because there's only a handful of people who actually have the knowledge that you need in order to find the treatment that you need. And oftentimes you have to travel extensively. I've had to travel across the country and figure out financially how you were going to afford it. I've had to get extremely creative. I found a lot of my doctors based off of research articles that I've read, because there wasn't actually an organization for my condition. So it there's so much that needs to be done in this this arena. But all of what you're saying would be great, too. Lita T 44:37 Well, that leads me to my next question. Tara, what is the best advice that you've received for coping with a rare disease and what advice would you give to somebody recently diagnosed with a rare disease? Tara 44:52 The best advice that I received was you have to be kind to yourself and take one day at a time and I know that That really, it really sounds cliche, because you hear, you know, one day at a time, but you get so exhausted, trying to just trying to find the most simplest thing. And all you want to do is like, just find the answers. And you can't even find an answer. That won't even get on people who are misdiagnosed. But it's really easy to get discouraged, and you beat yourself up over things. So I think that that was the best advice that I received for coping, and that to surround yourself with people who will help you see a side of you that you can't see, Lita T 45:43 like to bring out the positive from you. Tara 45:45 Yeah, well, that will remind you of the good in you because you're going to be struggling really hard. You're not going to feel like that person at all. Lita T 45:54 Right. Good advice. Ron 45:56 Yeah absolutely. Tara, how can our listeners learn more about you? And also about AVN? And do you have any, any social media accounts out there that you want to share with us? Tara 46:11 Absolutely. Um, can I go back and answer the rest of the rest of that question though? Lita T 46:17 Oh sure, go back, backtrack! Tara 46:19 Okay. Okay. So, um, because what advice would I give to someone recently diagnosed with a rare disease is, I would say, research online to see if there's a nonprofit for that condition. One of the best places that I have found support is on social media support group. Facebook has so many support groups, and specifically about the a vascular necrosis support group. That's where Dr. Michael Mont, the one that the avascular necrosis guru, every two weeks, he goes on, he does a live q&a, invite anybody on that support group to participate and ask him any question that you want whatsoever? Lita T 47:08 I love that Tara 47:08 Send him your Yep, you can send him your, your, your discs, to look at it, develop a treatment plan for you do all of that for free? Like he is? Yeah, it's amazing. So for any rare disease, I don't know. I wish my other conditions had that type of interaction. But the a vascular necrosis support group does and it's amazing. So I would definitely start with support groups. Social media, look for the nonprofit, associated National Organization for rare disease Nord, is a place to start to, that will lead you to any nonprofits, potentially, to finding help. And another option is research articles. That's how I found a lot of the doctors that I've met and saw, but based off of who wrote the research article, though, but that was my advice. Lita T 48:13 Okay, thank you. How can we learn more about you then? Tara 48:17 More about me, I will, I will send you my social media contact information. And I am actually starting next weekend. I'm going to start documenting my journey. Lita T 48:30 Oh good Ron 48:30 Okay. Lita T 48:31 like a blog. Tara 48:31 Yep Lita T 48:32 And a blog. Okay, great. Tara 48:33 Yeah. Yeah. Yeah, on a blog. Lita T 48:37 Excellent. We'll make sure that we put a link for that in our website. Tara 48:40 Yes. Because I want to hopefully, share and hopefully I can help others that have maybe experienced the same things that I have. Even especially with the surgery that I'm going to have to have too Lita T 48:54 To get ready for, great, excellent idea. Thank you very much. Well, Tara, thank you so much for taking the time to join us today. And we're looking forward to speaking with you in the future about the other issues that you're dealing with. So we'll be scheduling, we'll be scheduling other appointments for you in the future. Tara 49:16 Great, and I'm like, I got my first podcast down and there's nowhere to go, only improve. Right Ron 49:22 (laughter) Tara 49:22 like I'm only gonna get much better. Lita T 49:24 Yes, Ron 49:25 Oh you did fine. Don't worry about it yet fine. Lita T 49:28 We're gonna definitely Tara 49:28 I didn't even Lita T 49:31 we're gonna definitely be pushing this episode into our veterans network so that other veterans and children of veterans will be aware of this as well. Tara 49:42 I'm going to too and that's why I was going to ask you guys for your social all your social media Lita T 49:47 Sure yes Tara 49:48 because I'd already created like the post and I want to post it and Lita T 49:52 Great, great Tara 49:53 report although although I'm really reluctant because I so I wrote down all my answer, like I've rehearsed it. A lot of what I said is not even on what I wrote. Lita T 50:04 Okay, alright Ron 50:06 Maybe we should do that Lita T 50:07 (laughter) Tara 50:07 I don't know what happened. I don't know what happened. And I'm like, what I wrote is probably like, a lot better than what I said. And I was like, Oh my God, why did you do that? Lita T 50:16 It always goes that way? It always goes that way. The only reason we use a script is, well, I think it's because of me, I have early onset Alzheimer's. And if I don't have a script in front of me, I forget where we are. I forget who we're talking to, I forget quite a bit. So it keeps me focused. And I think it helps keep us from talking over each other. Because when there's three of us on this side of the microphone, talking to you, it kind of limits how much we're talking over each other. So it helps us Jean 50:48 And I tend to ramble. Tara 50:49 Okay Lita T 50:51 (laughter) Ron 50:51 And I guess I tend to interrupt. Jean 50:53 Yeah. Tara 50:56 So if I tell you that I had the script in front of me, will that scare you? Lita T 51:00 No, Ron 51:00 not at all Jean 51:01 no, no, no. Tara 51:02 Ok Cause I had it in front of me. And I still rambled and went off topic. And I'm like, and I didn't even do it. And I was like, Oh, my God, Ron 51:09 You're all good. Lita T 51:10 I'm glad you did, because it turned out wonderfully. Ron 51:13 Yeah, Lita T 51:13 Thank you very much. Ron 51:14 And actually, we do appreciate you coming on the show this morning and sharing your story with us. Quite interesting to say the least. Lita T 51:22 Oh yeah! Ron 51:23 And I'm sure that all of our listeners out there, learned a lot from this episode. Lita T 51:27 I learned a lot. Jean 51:28 I did too! Ron 51:28 And we're looking forward to having you come on in the future to talk about some of the other conditions that you had mentioned earlier. Tara 51:36 Yeah. And I have like, so I have so much better documentation that I could provide? Lita T 51:44 Well, you know, what you could do is you could send me those links through email. Jean 51:48 We can add them to our Pinterest Page Lita T 51:50 When I when I build the website, I don't know if you're aware of this, but you'll get your own page on our website. And then I put links for everything that you would like, on our on your website page. And this way people Tara 52:03 Awesome! Lita T 52:03 can go right there. Yes, Jean 52:05 Yeah And then we'll have a Pinterest page for you as well. And it'll have direct links to any research that you'd like to cite or any documents or articles. Lita T 52:13 Right, right. Jean 52:16 Awesome, so good because I have all of those, like, I have the whole slew of medical, even research and citations and everything Lita T 52:26 exactly Tara 52:26 and even stuff about Agent Orange, so. Lita T 52:28 Right Very important to include. Yeah, Ron 52:32 right. Right, right. Okay, well, thank you again. If our listeners have any questions or comments related to today's show, they can contact us at podcast dx@yahoo.com through our website, podcast dx.com on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest, or Instagram. Jean 52:50 And if you have a moment to spare, please give us a review wherever you get your podcast. As always, please keep in mind that this podcast is not intended to be a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. Always seek the advice of your physician or a qualified healthcare provider with any questions you may have regarding medical condition or treatment before undertaking a new health care routine and never disregard professional medical advice or delay in seeking you because of something you've heard on this podcast. Lita T 53:09 Till next week.

Episode 13: Tha Zodiac Lounge

Lone Soldier 's Deepcast ...

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 91:50

Yes Yes..Hope everyone is cool. Continuing the Lockdown sessions with this little gem,Featuring tracks from Jesusdapnk,Wade Watts,The Deep Bandits,Carlo,IntrObeatz and many more...So much good deepness around already this year,and my aim is to showcase it all for your very ears! Massive props and Respect to all the artists & Labels featured. Watch out for the next one coming to a stream near you soon ;-) Peace N' luv Xx

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YES! - "YES to Hope!"

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 24, 2021 22:35

Jesus offers us more hope so that we bring light to the darkness.

YES! - "YES to Love!"

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 17, 2021 26:27

Jesus offers more love by demonstrating what true love looks like.

YES! - "YES to Joy"

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 10, 2021 22:56

Jesus offers us more joy as we remain closely linked to him.

Sanity Sessions for Sisters: Keeping it together when you want to fall apart

Frivolous 5-So that really happened? Yes, yes it did-The insane riots on Capitol Hill

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 8, 2021 6:11

In this Frivolous 5 segment, Dr. Dawn speaks to the mayhem that was allowed to occur on Capitol Hill on Wednesday, January 6, 2021, the stark differences between that event and BLM peaceful protest and the potential impact on mental health.References:Follow Dr. Dawn on IG: www.instagram.com/drdawnontherealAnd join our FB group: The Sane Gang

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YES! - "YES to Life!"

Play Episode Listen Later Jan 3, 2021 29:16

Jesus offers us a more blessed life than we could ever imagine.