7 Tips for Restoring Your Self-Worth After Toxic Relationships

By Roz Jones

Well, that didn’t go right.

As Caregivers we tend to walk into relationships with so much enthusiasm. We think what we’ve found is the best thing in the world, which is a heady feeling, while it lasts. Sadly, when a relationship is toxic, we’re frequently the last to know. By the time we decide it’s time to escape, our self-worth has already taken a hefty blow.

So, how do we restore positive feelings about ourselves as Caregivers after toxic relationships?

Release Your Victimhood

The more we focus on what happened, the more we get stuck. So the sooner we can quit revisiting the past and dwelling on perceptions of ill treatment from loved ones and clients, the sooner we can put all of this behind us. This doesn’t mean to say anything was your fault, but obsessing about the ‘shoulds’ and going back over every encounter only hurts us regardless of whether we were in the right or not.

Drop the Blame

Was it your fault? No. The sooner we can let go of any residual guilt or bad feelings about the relationship, the happier we’ll be. This next step should help.

Silence Their Voice

The problem with toxic relationships is we tend to believe what the other person said about us, no matter how outlandish it seemed at the time. Now their voice is there, lurking in our heads to remind us of all of our so-called shortcomings at every opportunity—time to tell them to shut up once and for all!

Embrace the New You

Find joy in the severed relationship. Do the things you would miss doing. Take lessons, build your skill set as you build yourself up. Become your own best friend in a way that doesn’t require validation from any outside source.

Believe Your Friends

You hear the compliments, but they’re going in one ear and out the other. Rather than brushing off the nice things, people around you are saying, start listening. Listen until these words become a part of who you are.

Create Goals You Love

What would you like to do with your life? Too often, our goals reflect the needs and desires of our clients and loved ones. Now is the time to reverse this. Accept you are capable, and your goals are worth fighting for, what do YOU want to do?

Affirmations

Work through the worst offenders of negative self-talk through positive affirmations. Take note of what you’re telling yourself. Rewrite the script and turn these statements around into affirmations that you read to yourself every day.

Remember, this is a process and is likely to take time. By reminding yourself of just how amazing you are, and focusing hard on these steps, eventually, you will start feeling the difference even if you don’t see it yet. Hang in there!

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Are you a Caregiver taking care of two loved ones? Check out my latest podcast to hear from Caregiver, Christine Psalms and how she takes care of both of her parents!

Each of our aging parents is unique.

Some people age so well that they need little help until they are well into their eighties, while others need hands-on care as early as their fifties or sixties.

Adult children are often faced with the task of caring for both parents and this was the case for Christine Psalms.

She shares her story with us in this episode and how she became a caregiver for both her parents.

Listen Now!

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5 Steps for Caregivers to Shift Limiting Beliefs for Good

By Roz Jones

How are you your own worst enemy? As Caregivers, we limit ourselves so much. We live in our heads and come up with all these ways to keep us from getting anything accomplished. Even though deep down we know we’re good enough, and how much we’re fully capable of getting things done.

The only way to get past these self-sabotaging behaviors is to take active, intentional steps to remedy our thinking. Let’s look at 5 steps that will shift Caregivers limiting beliefs for good.

Stop

Wait a minute; what were you thinking? If a thought feels off about something, it’s time to stop and examine this idea much closer. Is this perhaps a self-limiting belief?

Think About What You’re Saying

Where is the lie in this thought? You’ve already figured out there’s something wrong with it, or you wouldn’t be going through this process. This means something about it is not ringing true. When you understand where the lie is, it becomes easier to know how to counter it.

Look for the Proof

Is there any proof this self-limiting thought is true? Let’s examine the part you feel is a lie. Here’s where you need to take a step back from the situation if you can and look very impartially at what’s going on. Is there any grain of truth in what you’re thinking?

Take Control

If what you were thinking is a lie, it’s relatively easy to counter the false aspects of the statement with the truth. But what if this thought was at least partially true? You start by reminding yourself this isn’t always the case. For example, you might be thinking you are always late. Maybe you are, in fact, late sometimes. To perform this step, you would need to recall various instances when you were on time. By countering the lie, you are taking control of the situation, and not allowing the limiting belief to have any sway over you.

Get Help

Sometimes it can be challenging to remove limiting beliefs by yourself. In these instances, it can be beneficial to talk to a friend, or even a counselor, to help you see the truth. There is nothing wrong with getting help, especially from someone who is in a position to be impartial.

Self-limiting beliefs don’t have to control your life. By examining your thoughts, especially those that seem to hold you back, you will find it much easier to move forward toward your goals. Soon you will realize success!

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ATTENTION: INSTAGRAM UPDATE!!!

Thank you for your patience with me as I attempted to gain access to my Instagram account @rozjonesenterprises! Unfortunately, I have been prompted to create a NEW Instagram account.

Be sure to follow my new Instagram page @rozcaregiverconsulting and check out my latest post on the top business mistakes I’ve made as a Business Owner!

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Heart Disease in Men: Signs, Causes and Other Facts About The Disease

By Roz Jones

Heart disease in men is the number one cause of death in the US, and around the world. Every day, you seem to read or hear about men in the sports area or in other noteworthy professions succumbing to heart disease. One of the major diseases is atherosclerosis.

Atherosclerosis increases as one’s diet contain large amounts of cholesterol and saturated fat. If you have high levels of cholesterol in your blood; smoke; have high blood pressure or have diabetes; you are a candidate for this disease.

The symptoms accompanying this disease are not noticeable until the damage has already been done. Whether you have cramps in your legs during exercise; had a stroke; kidney failure; angina; or a heart attack – these are clear signs you are in the stages of atherosclerosis. Once it is confirmed that the plaque has formed and your cholesterol is quite high, you will need to consult your physician as to the best form of treatment. For cholesterol, there are many drugs available that can reduce cholesterol by as much as 50%. Crestor is one of them; Lipitor is another. Cholesterol can be inherent in most people whose families also had this condition. Your doctor will most certainly suggest you cut down or stop smoking; begin a proper diet and exercise regimen, and may want to check your blood on a monthly basis.

Other tests your doctor might decide upon, specifically if your condition worsens, is an electrocardiogram or stress test followed by a heart sonogram; or an arteriogram. Today, there are more procedures available to detect heart problems than ever before. However, not all heart conditions require these types of examinations.

Coronary artery disease affects men more than women. Unlike atherosclerosis, coronary artery disease is more treatable and can be prevented. Drugs or surgery, such as an angioplasty or coronary bypass may be indicated. These types of surgical treatments have been very successful among the male population, however, the threat of heart attacks still exists. Prevention is the key; cease smoking; keep cholesterol levels down, and learn as much as possible about the heart and its function. Also key to preventing a heart attack is to know and understand the early symptoms and warning signs.

Here are the signs of a heart attack: pain in the center of your chest; neck; jaw; arms; and upper abdomen. A heart attack can also be accompanied by dizziness; shortness of breath, sweating; chills; nausea; and fainting. Sometimes, and more frequently among older men; it just happens without warning. For some, it could happen while exercising or under stress; for others, it could happen while at rest. Heart attacks do not distinguish between age and ethnicity; however, it does affect men more often than women.

Are you an Overwhelmed Caregiver? Check out my latest podcast where we discuss ‘The Mindset of a Caregiver’!

We all know caregiving is hard. It is physically, mentally, and emotionally draining. As caregivers, we are constantly being told we need to find time to take care of ourselves.

We know that taking care of ourselves is essential for being a good caregiver. But most of us have a difficult time experiencing the ‘caregiver’ mindset.

In this episode, Dr. Herbert highlights how vital it is to have a positive mindset as a caregiver.

We talk about;
Self-care for caregivers
Focusing on what you can control
Getting over the guilt
Generational Gaps

Listen Now!

Hair Loss in Men: What You Need To Know

By Roz Jones

Why do men lose their hair? In some cases, baldness which occurs naturally in men is genetically inherent in families. While baldness is considered a natural process, it is nonetheless a problem most men have to grapple with. Hair loss in men can be viewed as a sign of aging, however, this is a false assumption.

Today, unlike years ago, men can have their hair replaced using three specific methods.

One is taking a medication such as Propecia, which has been FDA approved. The second option would be to have hair replaced surgically, and the third option is purchasing a hairpiece. Propecia seems to be the method of choice, but it is not for everyone. Sexual side effects of using this drug have been reported.

Surgery would involve shifting sections of the scalp or transplanting plugs of hair. However, an infection may result. The last option, purchasing a hair piece is certainly viable; especially today that advanced technology has made hair pieces more natural and accessible.

Other likely causes for hair loss are stress; alopecia areata; surgery or chemotherapy; poor diet; thyroid disease; certain medications; scalp ringworm; and chemical treatments.

The condition alopecia areata occurs when the immune system shuts down because it assumes the hair follicles are antibodies. This condition usually causes patchy loss.

It is estimated that men typically lose 50 to 100 hairs a day, which is part of the hair renewal process. Fortunately, or unfortunately, as the case may be, most people lose hair at one time. While the loss may be temporary, other losses are more permanent. One of the most common causes of hair loss for men occurs from the front to the crown and is considered a hormonal imbalance. To treat this condition, there are certain medications that can offer a preventative alternative.

Hair loss in men can be devastating; especially when at a young age. For some, the hair grows back; for others, they have to decide whether to take medication, have surgery or buy a hair piece. While there are three options to remedy hair loss in men, it would be a good idea to research each method to determine the best course of action for you. Check with your doctor, especially if you are inclined to take Propecia. While some men view baldness as sexy; others find receding hairlines and loss of hair distasteful. Thankfully, there are choices.

Are you an Overwhelmed Caregiver? Check out my most recent podcast where we discuss ‘The Mindset of a Caregiver’!

Listen now!

How to Prevent Hypertension In Men

By Roz Jones

We are devoting the month of June to the overlooked male caregiver. In our last article, we discussed the signs and symptoms of hypertension. So what are some steps that can reduce your risk as a Caregiver?

How to avoid hypertension in men can be accomplished by first understanding its cause. Just as air pumped into a tire exerts pressure on its lining and surface, your heart pumps blood through your arteries, and the force of the blood flow exerts pressure on the arterial walls. Therefore, just as too much air pressure is bad for the life of a tire, too much blood pressure eventually damages your arteries.

Here are some suggestions on how to avoid hypertension:

While smoking is not a cause of hypertension, it is a contributing factor. We know there is a definite link between smoking and heart disease, thus the combination of smoking and high blood pressure increases the risk of developing a heart attack.

Being overweight is another cause of hypertension. High salt intake increases this condition as well. It is important to find an appropriate diet regimen and exercise program to lose weight and maintain a healthy lifestyle. While there may be a connection between weight and hypertension, research reveals people who are at their ideal weight have less tendency to develop hypertension than those who are overweight.

Type A personalities may be more prone to hypertension than others. Stress is evident in our lives every day, but the key is to not let it take over your life. While we all work hard and try to live comfortably, the pressure to succeed rapidly is taking its toll, physically, emotionally, and mentally. It is also a contributing factor to hypertension. If you have a highly stressed job or find that you cannot fill the demands placed upon you – find another job that is not so stressful. If this is not an option; use meditation to maintain an inner balance. Don’t sweat the small stuff. Your health is more important than the job.

Try not to drink alcohol in excessive amounts. Alcohol increases blood pressure and if you are taking medication; the two can cause severe side effects. Recently, however, an eminent heart surgeon suggested that a glass of red wine a day is preferred for a healthy heart. The debate continues, and while it does, it seems that wine instead of other alcoholic beverages may yield the best results.

Exercise and a good nutritional diet can work wonders, not only in reducing weight but cleansing your body of all of the toxins, as well as purifying your blood. Meditation is another form of self-help therapy that can not only relax you but keep your pressure down. If you find you are becoming excitable over something at work or at home – take a deep breath and go for a walk. These suggestions on how to avoid hypertension in men are necessary components in reducing blood pressure and living a healthy life.