Category Archives: Health

iOS App, Moodivator, Motivates and Helps Patients as they Manage Depression

December 5, 2016Healthapp, Depression, ios, MoodivatorAlicia

This post was developed in partnership with Pfizer as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

As with a large percent of the parenting population, and population in general, my iPhone is like a third hand. There are few times you’ll find me walking through my home without my iPhone in my hand or pocket. It embarrasses me a bit to say that, but not too much. I don’t carry my iPhone around so I can check Facebook, Instagram or Pinterest, instead, I use my phone as a productivity and quality of life enhancement tool. For just about every task I do throughout the day, I use an app that corresponds with the task or activity. From setting a timer for laundry to looking up a recipe for dinner, there’s an app for that. I use a workout app to guide me through my exercise routine and an audiobook app to listen to a book while I’m folding laundry or cleaning. I recently added one more app to my daily routine called Moodivator.

Having struggled with depression since high school, I’ve tried many ways to cope. One coping mechanism that’s stuck with me is mood tracking. Situational experiences often have the most significant effect on my mood. These experiences include trying to give both kids attention at the same time, having dinner ready at a reasonable time while finishing my workday, and vacuuming the floor for the 3rd time in one day.

Tracking my mood with Moodivator™, a free iOS app from Pfizer, allows me to see patterns in my mood that I might not notice otherwise. For example, consistent use of Moodivator the last couple of weeks showed me that I felt ‘not so good’ in the evening hours. This is likely due to both kids wanting attention at the same time and I feel like a ping-pong ball bouncing off the walls from child to child. Seeing this pattern in the palm of my hand, made me think about how to best remedy the situation. It’s hard to ignore something that’s in your face like that. Moodivator motivated me to make a couple of small changes that have had a significant impact on my life including spending time with each of the kids separately so I can give him or her my undivided attention. You’re probably thinking duh, but it just didn’t click until I saw the pattern in front of me.

I will show my therapist my Moodivator™ report so she can help walk me through steps I can take to reduce the feelings of stress, anxiety, and depression I occasionally feel. Showing my therapist my Moodivator report gives her the opportunity to put the puzzle pieces together in a way that I may not have the know-how to do, which may enhance my and my family’s quality of life significantly.

You don’t have to suffer from depression to experience mood changes, so using Moodivator is not just a great tool for those who have been diagnosed with depression but, in my opinion, a great app for everyone.

See how Moodivator™, in the palm of your hands, can help you as you as you manage your depression in the Mooditavor video.

Download the free Moodivator app in the iOS App Store to set adjustable and customized goals and track your mood over time. You can also share your progress with your care team via the app.

The Moodivator app is not a treatment for depression and does not take the place of your doctor’s care or advice. This app also includes information about a prescription treatment option for depression.

Back To School with Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin, an Essential Part of My Kids Morning Routine

August 28, 2016HealthKids Health, Nature Made, vitaminsAlicia

This post was sponsored by Nature Made® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

School is in full swing for my kids and while their morning getting-ready-for-school routine may not be perfect yet, there are a few things they do without question. (1) Brush teeth (2) Brush hair (3) Eat breakfast (4) Take a vitamin.

According to Madelyn, Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin gummies are “so delicious” and I need to “buy all of them off the shelf at Target so she never runs out”. Apparently not every gummy vitamin is created equal. Some are too chewy and some are too chalky but Nature Made® gummies are just right for Madelyn. It wasn’t always so easy to get her to take a vitamin so finding ‘the one’ was pretty great. Even though she eats a healthy variety of fruits and vegetables every day, I worry she’s not eating enough of them. Knowing she’s getting the essential daily nutritional support that she may be lacking from her diet, in a delicious, easy-to-chew gummy, is reassuring.

Madelyn enjoys a Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin gummy every morning. We’ve tried several gummy multivitamins but this one is the keeper for a few reasons.

Yummy, true-to-the-fruit favors (according to Madelyn)
12 age-appropriate essential vitamins and minerals
Colors are from natural sources, not synthetic dyes
Preservatives and yeast are not found in Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin gummies

I was thrilled that when shopping for school supplies at Target earlier this month, Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamins were on sale. Madelyn’s dream came true and I practically emptied the shelf of the vitamins.

A variety of Nature Made® vitamins are available at Target including KIDS FIRST® Vitamin C Gummies, KIDS FIRST® Fiber Gummies and KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin with Omega-3 Gummies. Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® Multivitamin Gummies come in great-tasting all- natural fruit flavors that Madelyn and Sebastian love, like Orange, Cherry & Mixed Berry. Not only do they taste great, they help fill many of the key nutrient gaps from their diet, and support overall health. †

I recently had a meeting with a contractor who is going remodel our kitchen and when he asked what direction I wanted to go in, I handed him the nearby Nature Made® KIDS FIRST® multivitamin bottle and said “this is what I’m going for because inside this vitamin supplement is extreme goodness and that’s what I want in my next kitchen.” Granted, that was a dream, but Madelyn did wake me shortly after asking me to open her vitamins for her. 🙂

It’s time for school!

Follow Nature Made® and Target to learn about new products,and find more information:

†These statements have not been evaluated by the Food and Drug Administration. These products are not intended to diagnose, treat, cure, or prevent any disease.

Getting To My Vacation Destination & Enjoying Vacation Is Easier with Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals

August 22, 2016Health, TravelDramamine, Motion Sickness, TravelAlicia

This post was sponsored by Dramamine® as part of an Influencer Activation for Influence Central.

Read my post about Dramamine® for Kids here

I love being outdoors and as I’ve gotten older I’ve realized that my love for the outdoors likely came from my mom. Not that my dad doesn’t enjoy being outside but my mom purposefully goes bird watching, hiking, volunteers at the nature center, and draws and photographs nature. When my sister and I were about 11 and 13, she would drive us to a beautiful place called Snowbird Mountain Lodge in the smoky mountains of North Carolina. While the scenic, beautiful destination was something to look forward to, the road trip was not.

This is a view of just a small portion of the drive to Snowbird but you can see how someone prone to motion sickness might not enjoy that ride.

I quickly learned what motion sickness was and some ways to manage it, not knowing Dramamine® existed when I was so young; but nothing knocked it entirely on those road trips. My mom couldn’t relate to motion sickness and I didn’t know there was a medication to alleviate the nausea, so I went on road trips for years as a child without relief.

During my teen and young adult years I drove myself everywhere so I didn’t experience motion sickness again for years. A car accident in 2000 left me injured and in physical therapy for months, and scared to drive. I was a passenger again after years of being the driver. My motion sickness was noticeable almost immediately after getting in a car. I thought maybe it was my husband’s driving or anxiety from being in a car but it quickly became apparent that it wasn’t. I really got nauseous. During a road trip to Florida I got so car sick after being in the car for about an hour that we pulled off the highway and into a gas station where I could buy Dramamine®. Within about 15 minutes of taking Dramamine® I felt like a different person. I was able to pay better attention to my son, then a toddler, and talk to my husband.

Another time Dramamine® recently came in very handy for the four of us was on our cruise. I won’t go on a cruise without Dramamine®!

I rely on natural remedies for most ailments, including motion sickness. Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals is the first non-drowsy solution for motion sickness from Dramamine®, the leaders in motion sickness relief and that’s what I take when I’m going to be a passenger on a road trip. Motion sickness sufferers frequently try ginger ale, ginger candy or gum. But unlike many other sources of ginger that motion sickness sufferers frequently try, Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals contains the clinically-tested ginger dosage required for preventing and treating motion sickness. Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals helps prevent and relieve motion sickness symptoms nausea and vomiting, which products like antacids and upset stomach relievers do not. And since it’s made from natural ginger, it is safe to use every day you travel.

These days, the thought of getting car sick on an upcoming road trip doesn’t consume me like it used to. Being a passenger on a road trip is not uncomfortable anymore. Unfortunately, my daughter ‘inherited’ my motion sickness trait and also must take Dramamine® before road trips, on cruises, and at amusement parks. Stay tuned for my post about Dramamine® for Kids.

These are just a few of my road trip essentials. Dramamine® for myself and daughter, lip balm, and my headset so everyone in the car does’nt have to listen to my calls. Road trips should be fun and easy, not stomach-churning and miserable. Keep Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals in your car so you never forget it on road trips. Always take Dramamine® before embarking on your road trip. While it may still be effective if you take it during a spell of motion sickness, it will prevent it from happening if you take it before starting your trip.

Dramamine® Non-Drowsy Naturals is also great for cruises, flights and amusement parks.

Get $1.00 off Dramamine® products with this coupon.

When Shut-Eye Strategies Fail To Kick Insomnia To The Curb

September 16, 2015Health, New postsHealth, Insomnia, sleep, SponsoredAlicia

Every year when Sebastian and Madelyn start school after summer break, they seem to adjust to the change in schedule quicker and easier than I do. They’ve been back in school for almost 6 weeks (WHAT?) and I’m still trying to figure out how to get through the days without feeling like I’m going to split into thirds from going three different directions at once. Our days, probably like yours, are made up of carpool, attending school events, after-school activities, work, and keeping up with the house – all the while trying to communicate and keep good relationships with friends and family. With so much going on, I feel like I’m running 90 miles-an-hour, 18 hours a day. I know you can relate. It’s the life we chose when deciding to become parents, and I wouldn’t change it for the world, but you’d think that after 16 years I would have it down. Tell me please – when exactly did parenting become normal and consistent for you?

In order to calm my mind and body, and hopefully get to sleep before 1AM, I’ve been practicing the healthy shut-eye strategies I shared with you a couple weeks ago – including signing off from social media at least one hour before bedtime. I also stopped exercising after 3PM. My heart rate is naturally high and since having an Apple Watch I can actually see that it stays slightly elevated for up to a few hours after I exercise, which doesn’t make it easier for me to wind down in the evening. As surprising as it seems to me, turning off all lights, even small nightlights, in and near our bedroom is the shut-eye strategy that’s made the biggest difference in how quickly I fall asleep. Studies have shown that even our small lights emit enough light to miscue the brain and promote wakefulness. Maybe nightlights aren’t such a great idea afterall?

What if going to sleep isn’t the issue for you, but staying asleep is?
I can relate. Staying asleep is a battle I fight almost every night. I was diagnosed with insomnia in 2004 and I get a little riled up when I hear someone say they only got 5-6 hours of sleep the night before. I empathize, I really do.. but I can go 48-36 hours without sleeping. This can happen every few weeks and it’s very unhealthy. That is why I take a prescription sleep aid nights I really need to get a good night’s sleep, such as before having to drive an 8-hour road trip or leaving for a business trip.

Not getting enough sleep, or any sleep, results in me being completely unproductive and irritable the next day. The insomnia conquering strategies I’ve shared with you help me fall asleep but staying asleep longer than 45 minutes to an hour is another story. If you too have insomnia, practicing shut-eye strategies alone may not be enough to help you get a good night’s sleep.

You’ll be happy to know there are effective treatment options available for those of us who suffer with insomnia, including SILENOR^®,a prescription sleep aid used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Most sleep medications work on the sleep-promoting system, helping patients fall asleep, while SILENOR^®works with the wake-promoting mechanism of the body’s natural sleep-wake cycle, helping patients stay asleep throughout the night and early morning. Perhaps most important, it can be used regularly and it’s not associated with a risk of abuse or physical dependence. If you have trouble sleeping through the night, have a conversation with your doctor about your routine, lifestyle and symptoms to determine the best option for you.

To learn more about how to achieve a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep visit Wanttosleepmore.com.

SILENOR® is a prescription sleep medicine that is used to treat people with insomnia who have trouble staying asleep. Call your doctor if your insomnia worsens or is not better within 7 to 10 days. This may mean that there is another condition causing your sleep problem. Be sure that you are able to devote 7 to 8 hours to sleep before being active again. SILENOR® should be taken within 30 minutes of bedtime. Do not take with alcohol or with other medicines that can make you sleepy. If you are on a monoamine oxidase inhibitor (MAOI) or have taken a MAOI within the past two weeks, you should not take SILENOR®. You should not take SILENOR® if you have an eye problem called narrow angle glaucoma that is not being treated, if you have severe urinary retention, or if you are allergic to any of the ingredients in SILENOR®. You should not drive or operate machinery at night after taking SILENOR®. Until you know how you will react to SILENOR®, you should be careful in performing such activities during the day following taking SILENOR®. Before you take SILENOR®, tell your doctor if you have a history of depression, mental illness or suicidal thoughts. You should call your doctor right away if after taking SILENOR® you walk, drive, eat or engage in other activities while asleep. Drowsiness is the most common adverse event observed in clinical trials. For more information, please see the complete Prescribing Information, including the Medication Guide, at https://www.silenor.com/Content/pdf/prescribing-information.pdf. You are encouraged to report negative side effects of prescription drugs to the FDA. Visit www.fda.gov/medwatch or call 1-800-FDA-1088.

Get A Good Night’s Sleep With These 4 Shut-Eye Strategies

August 24, 2015HealthInsomnia Nation, SponsoredAlicia

With the exception of last night, during which I slept 0 minutes, I have been sleeping better since I implemented a few insomnia-conquering habits including turning off my iPhone 30 minutes before bedtime and not worrying about getting to sleep. In a previous post I discussed that with nearly 4 million Americans suffering from insomnia, we have a huge sleep problem in this country. In today’s post, I am going to expand on some ways to help achieve a good night’s sleep – like practicing healthy shut-eye strategies.

GET ACTIVE EARLY
Getting a good night’s sleep doesn’t just start when the sun sets. Exercising early in the day can strengthen your circadian rhythm, helping to bring on sleepiness at night. I try to get my treadmill time in by noon, otherwise, there’s no way my body will calm down enough to go to sleep before midnight. It’s like some people can’t drink coffee after 1pm, I can’t exercise after about noon.

GO DARK
Block out the light. Light and darkness are natural reminders that tell your body when it’s time to rest. Light during the night can send messages to the brain telling you to “wake up!” before you’re ready. If when I wake up during the night, I see light from the hallway or bathroom, it’s like my body jolts into a state of complete awakeness. If one would stay on, I’d wear a sleep mask every night to avoid light at all costs but I can’t find one that stays on all night.

GET COMFORTABLE
Remind your body that it’s time to wind down. Relaxing activities, like taking a warm bath, can help transition you from daytime to bedtime. I sit in my massage chair for about 20 minutes every night before bed. This helps me relax and relieve muscle tension allowing me to further relax once I get in bed.

SIGN OFF
Put away your electronic devices one hour before you head to bed. LED lights from mobile phones and tablets can activate the brain, keeping you from falling and staying asleep at night. This is the toughest one, right? There’s always something I *need* to look at online like one last look at email (why do I do that to myself?) or tomorrow’s calendar. Bad idea.

Knowing that getting a full, uninterrupted night’s sleep has many benefits that make me more productive and a better mom and wife on a daily basis, I will continue adopting these and other shut-eye strategies to help me get a good night’s sleep.

Specifically, I am committing to signing off from social media at least one hour before bedtime. I am a little hesitant to sign off from social media an hour before bedtime because when I get into bed is typically when I catch up on life. I am well aware that social media platforms eat time though. It never fails that when I sign on to look at a friend’s update, the next thing I know I’ve been on the social network for three hours and posted 19 photos of my kids. I’m speaking from personal experience.. your experience may not be the same. 🙂 If you are hesitant to sign off social media an hour or so before you go to bed you might want to consider putting your phone on its charger at least an hour BEFORE you go to bed, rendering your phone useless to you for the last hour you’re up and about. Just don’t be tempted to sign on to FB or Twitter once you get in bed. If you have an Apple Watch, also put it on the charger an hour before you go to bed to avoid the distraction of notifications on your wrist.

I encourage you to practice these healthy shut-eye strategies along with me and to check out WantToSleepMore.com to learn more about how to get a full, uninterrupted night of sleep.