LIVING LIFE, OPTIMALLY, WITH CHRONIC ILLNESS &/OR PAIN
WE ARE HERE TO SUPPORT YOU, IN WHATEVER WAY IS POSSIBLE, IN THE NEW LIFE YOU ARE CREATING... ARE ABOUT TO CREATE OR HAVE ALREADY CREATED.
One of the foundational challenges that I believe we have or are dealing with is to learn ACCEPTANCE. What has been interesting to me is that the Five Stages of Grief is foundational to our life experience with Chronic Illness and/or Chronic Pain.
The Five Stages of Grief: (developed by Elizabeth Gubler-Ross)
1) Denial
2) Anger
3) Bargaining
4) Depression
5) Acceptance
Learn more in the link provided below:
http://yourtotalhealth.ivillage.com/grief.html?pageNum=4#4
It is my intention to connect with as many people worldwide, as possible and to grow a network of people to support one another, learn to accept where we 'live' today and to find the ways and means of 'living optimally," based on your interests, talents, abilities and passions.
TOGETHER WE ARE A POWER SOURCE TO CREATING A NEW LIFE!
I have learned so much in the challenging years of living life, shall I say, 'differently.' You will find that we all have many similarities in our life process, even through our unique lives. You are never alone, even when it may feel like it, at times. Reach out, as the answers are available to you. One of our many similarities and a crucial one to share is, the journey to acceptance, where we can begin to truly be productive, happy and at peace with our lives.
Know that whatever challenges are most difficult for you, these challenges will be something we can all relate, in some form or fashion. There may be a variance of degree, yet we are not here to measure or compete in any way. We are here to share and to support and to move toward a life worth living, as each individual defines 'a life worth living' and, definitely, a life worthy of you.
A key to my personal break-through (and, it won't be the same for everyone... although, it might be?!) is to think in terms of Being in service to others. A question to consider is: "How may I Be of service to others?" And, if you are already Being of service to others, share your experiences with us and how it has or is transforming your life. Sharing our successes is a means of Being of service to others, in and of, itself.
Let's link our Minds and Hearts, together and see what unfolds. It costs you nothing to share of yourself and the benefits (blessings) are many.
SEVERAL SERVICE OPTIONS THAT ARE FREE OR BASED ON SLIDING SCALE TO INSURE YOU RECEIVE WHAT YOU ARE WANTING AND NEEDING IN YOUR LIFE. Please C-Below for brief explanation. Detailed agreement will be worked out between us that is in mutual benefit. After all, my life is about service.
Not all services can be free, yet I will promise you this. I will work with you to find a reasonable agreement to insure that you receive all that you need, if at all possible. So, do not be shy. THIS IS YOUR LIFE! Share with me and we will find solutions! I can't and won't do it for you, yet we can do it together. I will work with you. This is my personal promise to you.
COACHING-COUNSELING SERVICES AS DESCRIBED BELOW IN BRIEF.
Are you interested in FREE ONE-ON-ONE E-COACHING? Then please contact me about anything to do with Chronic Illness/Chronic Pain, please see my personal email contact at the bottom of this page. (This includes families and supportive friends. A FREE service. After your intial email contact with me, I will explain the program and we will determine together whether it is right for you.
Would be interested in ONE ON ONE TELE-COACHING? If so, again please make the intial contact via email letting me know of your interest. Please include your phone number, so we may spend 30 minutes together as an initial contact to see if this type of coahing/counseling is what you want and need. Program costs, guidelines, etc., will be shared with you at this point.
IF you are in the DFW area and would like FACE TO FACE coaching-counseling programs, please follow the instructions above. Cost and program specificts will be discussed prior to you deciding as to what is in your best interest at this time.
FINANANCIAL ASSISTANCE--SLIDING SCALE
For anyone who will show proof of being on Medicare Disability due to a Chronic Illness and/or Chronic Pain, please know that there is a sliding scale available to you, based on your net income. Fair! Don't you think? I don't want anyone NOT to receive the support that they need because of a lack of cash flow. Perhaps you have skills that I may need for my business that may service as partial payment, as well. What's important is that you gain the information, coaching/counseling, life options, guidance through the vast information that will be available to you plus the opportunities that will work on your behalf toward the next chapter(s) of your life. WE WILL WORK SOMETHING OUT THAT IS MUTUALLY BENEFICIAL TO ALL INVOLVED!
You will also receive my personal articles, other related articles, videos, webinars, links and much more. They will be updated each week, so stay tuned. All are FREE to you, unless you wish to upgrade now or at a later date. You will be amazed at how much free information and opportunities available to you.
Keep coming back as I welcome you, anytime. Mothers, Fathers, Spouses and others who love someone who is challanged in this way or you want to share a success story, please feel free to join us. You are most welcome.
I also have planned a FREE NEWLETTER FOR YOU, once a month with an opt-in form for your convenience. It's on the horizon. dO CHECK BACK QUITE SOON!
Please be paitient as we are a work in progress... and all that I am proposing can be a valuable tool to begin your life, anew! Lets take the the next step in LIVING YOUR LIFE ABUNDANTLY. It doesn't matter where you begin. It's still a beginning with hope, inspiration and friends awaiting you to join us.
Also, If there is any related subject matter that you want to gain more knowledge or want to learn more about, never hesitate to leave me a message. I will get back with you within a very short time. If there is any way that I may be of service to you in relationship to Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain, please feel free!
YOU WILL RECEIVE SO MUCH FREE CONTENT THAT WILL BE OF VALUE TO YOU, SO DON'T DELAY IN AT LEAST LETTING ME KNOW OF YOUR INTEREST.
SHARE YOUR STORY WITH ME. I WILL READ IT PERSONALLY AND RESPOND, PERSONALLY. THIS IS MY PROMISE TO YOU!
TO LIFE AND THE LIVING OF IT!
Be Blessed As You Are The Blessing!

Anthony J. Hillelson (Jim)
Living Life Healing Center
Chronic Ilness and/or Chronic Pain
Dallas, Texas
ajhillelson@yahoo.com
LET ME HEAR FROM YOU...
ANYTHING RELATED TO CHRONIC ILLNESS/CHRONIC PAIN
Please introduce yourself, then share a little!
We want to listen with our Hearts to what you have to say.
We look forward to getting to know you and sharing the Living Of Our Lives!
Be Inspired As You Are The Inspiration!
Jim
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Reply
- Ladymermaid Ladymermaid Aug 11, 2009 @ 8:16 am
- Great article ...
I will be including it into the arthritis group very shortly. I noticed that one link module title near the bottom of this article is still showing "NEW TEXT MODULE" could you place a title in that spot........then delete this comment and I will place this onto my arthritis site and pop in a new comment to welcome you to the group.
:) thanks and welcome to squidoo
Ladymermaid
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Reply
- LivingLifeHealingCenter LivingLifeHealingCenter Jul 29, 2009 @ 1:10 pm
- We look forward to hearing from you. If there is any way that we are able to be of service to you, please let us know. If it is at all possible, we are there!
An Education in Itself; The National Institute For Neurological Disorders & Stroke
Do You Or A Loved One Have Chronic Pain?
NINDS Chronic Pain Information PageSynonym(s): Pain - Chronic
Condensed from Pain: Hope Through Research
Submitted in part: A. James Hillelson (Jim)
Table of Contents
What is Chronic Pain?
Is there any treatment?
What is the prognosis?
What research is being done?
Clinical Trials
Organizations
What is Chronic Pain?
While acute pain is a normal sensation triggered in the nervous system to alert you to possible injury and the need to take care of yourself, chronic pain is different. Chronic pain persists. Pain signals keep firing in the nervous system for weeks, months, even years. There may have been an initial mishap -- sprained back, serious infection, or there may be an ongoing cause of pain -- arthritis, cancer, ear infection, but some people suffer chronic pain in the absence of any past injury or evidence of body damage. Many chronic pain conditions affect older adults. Common chronic pain complaints include headache, low back pain, cancer pain, arthritis pain, neurogenic pain (pain resulting from damage to the peripheral nerves or to the central nervous system itself), psychogenic pain (pain not due to past disease or injury or any visible sign of damage inside or outside the nervous system).
Is there any treatment?
Medications, acupuncture, local electrical stimulation, and brain stimulation, as well as surgery, are some treatments for chronic pain. Some physicians use placebos, which in some cases has resulted in a lessening or elimination of pain. Psychotherapy, relaxation and medication therapies, biofeedback, and behavior modification may also be employed to treat chronic pain.
What is the prognosis?
Many people with chronic pain can be helped if they understand all the causes of pain and the many and varied steps that can be taken to undo what chronic pain has done. Scientists believe that advances in neuroscience will lead to more and better treatments for chronic pain in the years to come.
What research is being done?
Clinical investigators have tested chronic pain patients and found that they often have lower-than-normal levels of endorphins in their spinal fluid. Investigations of acupuncture include wiring the needles to stimulate nerve endings electrically (electroacupuncture), which some researchers believe activates endorphin systems. Other experiments with acupuncture have shown that there are higher levels of endorphins in cerebrospinal fluid following acupuncture. Investigators are studying the effect of stress on the experience of chronic pain. Chemists are synthesizing new analgesics and discovering painkilling virtues in drugs not normally prescribed for pain.
NIH Patient Recruitment for Chronic Pain Clinical Trials
At NIH Clinical Center
Throughout the U.S. and Worldwide
Organizations
National Institute of Dental and Craniofacial Research (NIDCR)
National Institutes of Health, DHHS
31 Center Drive, Room 5B-55
Bethesda, MD 20892
nidcrinfo@mail.nih.gov
http://www.nidcr.nih.gov
Tel: 301-496-4261
American Chronic Pain Association (ACPA)
P.O. Box 850
Rocklin, CA 95677-0850
ACPA@pacbell.net
http://www.theacpa.org
Tel: 916-632-0922 800-533-3231
Fax: 916-652-8190
American Headache Society Committee for Headache Education (ACHE)
19 Mantua Road
Mt. Royal, NJ 08061
achehq@talley.com
http://www.achenet.org
Tel: 856-423-0043
Fax: 856-423-0082
National Headache Foundation
820 N. Orleans
Suite 217
Chicago, IL 60610-3132
info@headaches.org
http://www.headaches.org
Tel: 312-274-2650 888-NHF-5552 (643-5552)
Fax: 312-640-9049
National Foundation for the Treatment of Pain
P.O. Box 70045
Houston, TX 77270
NFTPain@cwo.com
http://www.paincare.org
Tel: 713-862-9332
Fax: 713-862-9346
Mayday Fund [For Pain Research]
c/o SPG
136 West 21st Street, 6th Floor
New York, NY 10011
mayday@maydayfund.org
http://www.painandhealth.org
Tel: 212-366-6970
Fax: 212-366-6979
American Pain Foundation
201 North Charles Street
Suite 710
Baltimore, MD 21201-4111
info@painfoundation.org
http://www.painfoundation.org
Tel: 888-615-PAIN (7246)
Fax: 410-385-1832
Arthritis Foundation
1330 West Peachtree Street
Suite 100
Atlanta, GA 30309
help@arthritis.org
http://www.arthritis.org
Tel: 800-283-7800 404-872-7100 404-965-7888
Fax: 404-872-0457
Now, let me make an addition to the NINDS Information Page for those of us with Lupus:
Lupus Foundation of America
2000 L Street, N.W.
Suite 710
Washington, DC 20036
Tel: 202-349-1155 800-558-0121
Fax: 202-349-1156
EMail: info@lupus.org
http://www.lupus.org
Description: Nonprofit voluntary health organization working to improve the diagnosis and treatment of lupus, support individuals and families affected by the disease, increase awareness of lupus among health professionals and the public, and find the causes and cure of lupus.
LIVING LIFE HEALING CENTER WAIVER: Sorry Friends, legally I have to share the following. Let it be known that this is a part of the National Institute For Neurological Disorders & Stroke Web site. I am in no way associated with any of these organizations, institutions, foundations, et al., with the exception of information and/or activities related to my own diagnosis. There is no financial gain for sharing this information for myself. I am, therefore, not liable for any of the information given. This is public information. Additionally, I do not have a medical degree and I am not representing myself as such. My two degrees are in Social Work and as an Interfaith Minister from an accredited Christian Seminary and Ordained through a Christian Community Church.
UNDERSTANDING LUPUS; MY PERSONAL HEALTH CHALLENGE
DEFINITIONS AND SYMPTOMS
Since this is my personal chronic illness and has caused a secondary diagnosis of moderate to severe osteoarthitis, I want to offer you information on Lupus. There are various types. My type of Lupus is known as Systemic Lupus or SLE.The source of this information is from thelupusdigest.com and for those who have Lupus or who have loved ones with Lupus, this is a great source for you. And, it's FREE! I am not associated with them in any way, yet find the information has been helpful to me as I hope that it will be for you.
REMEMBER: KNOWLEDGE, SUPPORT GOES A LONG WAY TOWARD A POSITIVE OUTCOME AND LIVING LIFE ABUNDANTLY.
I will be doing a series of modules on Lupus and other chronic illnesses. So, stay tuned. In the mean time, please gain from the information below. And, let me know what you think by sending me a message or go to my Guestbook. Also, if this has been helpful to you, it may be for others, so please "Favorite It." This means more people will have the opportunities that my Lens is offering you. And, please share my Lens with anyone who may be supported in whatever way we may be of service.
Thanks so much and now to the knowledge based information that I am sharing with you today and that you will see below my signature.
Be Blessed!
Jim

What is lupus?
Lupus is a long-lasting autoimmune disease that the immune system becomes hyperactive and attacks the normal tissue for unknown reasons. The attacks cause inflammation in the body and brings about symptoms.
What does autoimmune mean?
This is immune activity directed against the body. Your immune system fights the body itself, auto meaning self. With Autoimmune disease the immune system destroys your own body's tissues in error thinking it is the enemy.
What is inflammation?
Inflammation means setting on fire. It is a protective process in our bodies that use when tissues are injured. The inflammation helps to eliminate a foreign body or organism including viruses and bacteria that will prevent further injury. Many signs of inflammation are the following: swelling, redness, pain and warmth. If the signs of inflammation last over a certain time period as they can with Lupus, damage to tissue can occur and normal function is impaired. Considering the information this is why Lupus is aimed at reducing the inflammation.
What happens in autoimmune diseases like lupus?
The Immune system some think of as a security system for the body, which is designed to keep intruders and foreign matters out defending and protecting the body. The body contains several different types of cells, some function like a security system constantly patrolling looking for foreign invaders such as bacteria and viruses. When one is spotted, they come into action eliminating the intruder. With Lupus, for some reason the immune system loses the ability to differentiate between what is foreign and what is normal tissue and cells. Therefore the security guards make a mistake and identify the wrong cell which is normal in fact instead of foreign which you can call antigens and by doing so it gets eliminated. Part of their response is to bring antibodies to the site that would attach to the antigen. Meaning anything that the immune system recognizes as a non-self or foreign body and form immune complexes. These immune complexes help to set in motion a series of symptoms of inflammation at the site. The immune complexes then travel through ones blood and lodge itself into distant tissues causing inflammation at that spot.
Where did the name come from?
Lupus means wolf in Latin. This term has been associated with the disease since the 10th century. Redness is another word for Erythematosus it was given this name to describe the lesions of the skin that were sore, which are red and some might think looked like the bite of a wolf. Today not everyone with Lupus has rashes or skin lesions, and those who do would suggest they resemble the bite of a wolf.
Who gets lupus?
Anyone can develop Lupus at any age or sex. Research shows nine out of ten people with Lupus are Women. During childbearing years ranging from 15-44 Lupus can strike women 10-15 times more than men.
All races can have Lupus, But African American women have a three times higher incidence and mortality rate then Caucasian women do. Most women tend to develop the disease at a younger age and have more serious complications. Hispanic, Asian and the Native American women are more likely to have Lupus.
Research is focused upon Lupus and the National Institute of Arthritis and Musculoskeletal and Skin Diseases (NIAMS) has developed a strategic plan for reducing health disparities
What are the symptoms of Lupus?
Lupus can have varying degrees of symptoms that depend on the individual case involved and the form of lupus present. People that have lupus do not experience all symptoms. The list is to educate people on the presence of lupus in an undiagnosed person.
· Fever over 100 degrees
· Fatigue that is prolonged
· Rash on the skin
· Deep breathing and pain in the chest
· Anemia
· Protein found in urine
· UV sensitivity
· Hair loss
· Problems with clotting of blood
· Cold fingers where they turn blue and white
· Seizures
· Swollen and or achy joints
And mouth and nose ulcers which last more than a week
New Text module
SymptomsBy Mayo Clinic staff
No two cases of lupus are exactly alike. Signs and symptoms may come on suddenly or develop slowly, may be mild or severe, and may be temporary or permanent. Most people with lupus experience episodes - called "flares" - of worsening signs and symptoms that eventually improve or even disappear completely for a time.
The signs and symptoms of lupus that you experience will depend on which body systems are affected by the disease. But, in general, lupus signs and symptoms may include:
Fatigue
Fever
Weight loss or gain
Joint pain, stiffness and swelling
Butterfly-shaped rash (malar rash) on the face that covers the cheeks and bridge of the nose
Skin lesions that appear or worsen with sun exposure
Mouth sores
Hair loss (alopecia)
Fingers and toes that turn white or blue when exposed to cold or during stressful periods (Raynaud's phenomenon)
Shortness of breath
Chest pain
Dry eyes
Easy bruising
Anxiety
Depression
Memory loss
***In Addition, there is an enormous amount of information regarding many chronic diseases and more on the following site. I have no affiliation of any kind with them, except as a consumer. Check it out...
Http://www.mayoclinic.com
And,
Have you tried Bing yet for even more informative and educational materials on Chronic Illness and Chronic Pain? Again, I have no affiliation of any kind with Bing.com, excpet as a consumer. Check it out, as well.
http://www.bing.com






