My Review of the Mayv Chronic Pain Management App

On June 3, 2021

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

The following is a review of the Mayv app and chronic pain management program. I received a complimentary bottle of a CBD supplement in exchange for my opinion on this program. All opinions are my own.

Introduction to Mayv

Over the years, I have researched lots of self-care apps to assist in my wellness journey. As a Self-Care Blogger, I am offered opportunities to cover a variety of wellness products and services. I was intrigued by Mayv as soon as I heard about it. It seemed they were taking a different approach to reaching people suffering from chronic health issues. As a person with Fibromyalgia, I am always looking for the next best tool to help in my own battles with chronic pain. Therefore, I knew I had to learn more about this chronic pain management program.

A few months ago, I spoke to the Mayv founder and his staff about what they were trying to accomplish. Their passion for helping others was undeniable and I was drawn to the program that they have developed. Their mission is to reach people who suffer from chronic illness and offer a comprehensive program to help navigate the diagnosis and health journey.

I agreed to use the app for a couple of months and then write a review on it. Turns out that I really enjoyed using this app and was curious about their chronic pain management educational program. It is very much in line with my philosophy on how essential it is to treat the whole body and not just the symptoms.

Below are some details about the Mayv app. After that, I will tell you why I like it and would recommend using it.

What is the Mayv App?

The Mayv app is a unique tool that offers a guided educational program to learn about how to deal with chronic pain and illness. First, this app is unlike any other app I have used. Second, this free app is user-friendly and provides science-based information.

The Mayv Program app features a collection of evidence-based courses and tools designed to show you how to manage chronic pain naturally through the power of mindfulness.

Set up a profile to start learning about this groundbreaking wellness app. Setting aside just a few minutes each day will be enough to get the most out of this immersive experience.

Digital pain management tools, on-demand on your phone.

Inside the Mayv App

Each day you will find a new lesson. It is interactive and will prompt you to move to the next section. Do it at your own pace. The Mayv app has several levels and milestones that you unlock as you move through the program.

Mindfulness practices – Mindful Eating, Yoga, Meditations, Breathing practices

A library of helpful and short audio and video clips is available to enhance the learning and relaxation experience.

Visit the Immersive visuals section to choose from soothing visual videos including beautiful scenery and landscapes as well as adorable animals. For example, pick from the selection of calming sounds including tranquil forest, soothing waves, waterfalls plus more.

Visit the binaural beats section to calm any anxiety or if you are in need of distracting yourself from pain. The beats have an effect on alpha, theta, and delta brain waves. These brain waves assist in the pain response. They are associated with fostering a positive mindset. Therefore, it has similar benefits as meditation which has been proven to be beneficial in providing pain and stress relief.

Listen to binaural beats with headphones or earbuds to get the most benefit.

The breathing section offers 2 relaxing ways of practicing breathing. It seems so simple but knowing how to breathe correctly will calm down your nervous system and will assist in your response to pain and stress.

Why I Like This App

After using this app for a couple of months, I found that it helped me start off my day with a positive mindset. For as much as I know about wellness, it was still a supportive tool that helps me learn more about myself and how I can do better with my health journey. It is always good to have an open mind and be aware of new things that can help with self-care. This app is a great tool for beginners who have not been exposed to self-care practices like meditation and breathing techniques.

The information is presented in an easy-to-learn format that will keep your interest and leave you wanting to learn more. The Mayv team consists of highly qualified and knowledgeable healthcare professionals who care about your healing process. In addition, they also offer CBD-based products for pain management.

Find a few minutes to start your day with this app. It is tremendously helpful for awareness and to set the tone of your day even if you don’t suffer from pain at the moment. After all, the best patient is one who plays an active part in their own healing.

Check out the Mayv app today in the Apple and Google Play stores on your phone! Visit the Mayv website for additional information on products, workshops, and articles written by healthcare practitioners.

Lastly, find them on social media on Instagram, Twitter, Facebook, Pinterest, and LinkedIn.

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and a Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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How I Live With Fibromyalgia

By Jill DeMasi

On May 10, 2021

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

May is Fibromyalgia Awareness Month. So what better time to share what my experience has been with this mysterious health condition. It seems everyone with this condition has similar health issues but the severity of them varies greatly. The following is my brief history with Fibromyalgia and how I live with it.

My Journey

It took a while to be diagnosed with Fibromyalgia. Sometimes, I still don’t even believe I have it. However, it does explain a lot of the symptoms I have experienced over the last 20 years or so. I have had lots of little irritating health issues throughout my life. It started with a low back injury, then Irritable Bowel Syndrome in my twenties.

In addition, I suffered from Depression for a bit and to this day experience Anxiety. I have been on different medications over the years for all of the above. To be honest, I never found much relief from traditional medicine. Not that there’s anything wrong with that but just never seems to work for me. I do prefer to rely on lifestyle habits and healthy living as an alternative.

A few years back, I was diagnosed with Lyme Disease and Rocky Mountain Spotted Fever shortly after. After several rounds of harsh antibiotics, I started to feel somewhat better. However, I still felt the achiness in my muscles and joints as well as fatigue and gut problems. I wondered why I never felt totally healthy and why I was so tender in different spots of my body. So I continued to go about my life and just dealt with the aches, pains, and weird sensations. I saw a couple of different Naturopaths and Nutritionists who helped me tremendously.

The Fibromyalgia Diagnosis

After a stint of really not feeling great again, I decided it was time to get tested again for Lyme Disease and other auto-immune conditions. Nothing came back on the bloodwork results. I was relieved but then I was like — why don’t I feel good? Why do I still feel so horrible? I needed more answers.

My Rheumatologist suggested that it may be Fibromyalgia. I had heard of it before but never understood what it was. I don’t think a lot of people really understand– even the medical community. We discussed how all of my previous symptoms could be related and this would be a catch-all discovery. At the time I was so desperate for answers I allowed my doctor to put me on a prescription to see if it helped decrease any of the issues. She gave me 2 options to choose from – Lyrica or Cymbalta. I knew that I did not want to go on Lyrica right off the bat.

Cymbalta was the option I chose for the antidepressant effects and for pain relief. After 2 months of taking this medicine, I did not like how I felt. Besides gaining 15 pounds, it did not help me to feel any better and made me feel a little strange. After that, I decided to wean off of that medication and work on lifestyle choices.

What is Fibromyalgia?

Per the Mayo Clinic: Fibromyalgia is a disorder characterized by widespread musculoskeletal pain accompanied by fatigue, sleep, memory and mood issues. Researchers believe that fibromyalgia amplifies painful sensations by affecting the way your brain and spinal cord process painful and nonpainful signals.

Symptoms may include:

Pain: constant dull body pain that lasts for more than 3 months
Sleep problems
Cognitive difficulty: it is usually referred to as fibro fog; difficulties in focusing or paying attention
Fatigue: people with this condition often feel tired and weak, sleep for longer periods, and wakes up with pain

Other co-existing symptoms may include:

Insomnia or waking up feeling just as tired as when you went to sleep
Stiffness upon waking or after staying in one position for too long
Abdominal pain, bloating, nausea, and constipation alternating with diarrhea (irritable bowel syndrome)
Tension or migraine headaches
Jaw and facial tenderness
Sensitivity to one or more of the following: odors, noise, bright lights, medications, certain foods, and cold
Feeling anxious or depressed
Numbness or tingling in the face, arms, hands, legs, or feet
Increase in urinary urgency or frequency (irritable bladder)
Reduced tolerance for exercise and muscle pain after exercise

Credit: fibromyalgia symptoms – Bing

Lifestyle Changes to Help Battle Fibromyalgia

It is very true when you hear that nutrition is very powerful in treating health conditions. When I stick to low sugar, low carb, and moderate protein diet without a lot of processed foods, I feel a whole lot better. Staying away from alcohol has helped me as well. When you have a lot of inflammation in your body these changes are necessary to feel a difference. Otherwise, you are really just hurting your chances of healing and optimal health.

Let me be clear, I do believe that prescription medications are helpful for people and are not totally against them. Some people rely on these life-saving medicines in order to function and live a normal life. I am blessed to not have to be one of those people.

Exercise is also very helpful in this battle. However, I have to be careful in how much I work out and need to adjust the intensity because I do suffer from exercise intolerance. This is when you cannot recover from physical activity as a healthy person does. Lots of fatigue ensues as well as soreness that does not go away. Therefore, I have found a good balance between strength and cardio routines.

Here’s an article I wrote 10 Gentle Ways to Stay Active with Chronic Illness that provides some gentle options.

Stress Management is another must when you struggle with a chronic illness. Stress impacts every single part of our body. If you don’t have a good plan to lower your stress you are going to feel worse. Learning about self-care goes a long way in helping to deal with illness.

Areas I Focus On

There are so many other lifestyle remedies for chronic pain. I do occasionally take Advil for pain which is not good for long-term use. I take a multivitamin, Vitamin C, Vitamin D, Fish oil, Zinc, Ashwagandha, some CBD, and charcoal. I have had really good luck with Pure Encapsulations supplements.

My nutrition needs to be buttoned up and I do my best to stay away from gluten. My workouts always depend on how I feel. My goal is to do 3 to 4 days of strength training and cardio or walking the other days. I rest when I need to and don’t push myself too much. Staying active in any way helps me avoid stiffness and I need it for my mental health!

Other areas I focus on to feel my best:

Consistent nights of quality sleep
Positive Mindset – laughing every day is important to me!
Spiritual connection – daily prayer and devotionals lift my spirit
Community connection including loving friends and family
Guided Meditation (very powerful for pain relief!)
Healing my gut with natural supplements- L-Glutamine has helped a lot
Consistent self-care activities – massages, journaling, music

Search for Answers

I have suffered from every single one of the above symptoms at one time or another. However, I am able to deal because of those lifestyle changes I have made for the most part. There continues to be more research on the reality of this health condition. My hope is to continue to find ways to get better or even just stay where I am at and not suffer from any progression of this disorder.

Keep searching for answers in the medical and alternative care community if you are experiencing symptoms that don’t make sense and don’t fit into the typical medical diagnosis. Ask a lot of questions.

Find a community that understands you. There are lots of Facebook groups but be mindful of the ones you join. There are some that have made me feel more anxious and weary. Either way, find what works for you. You are worth it and deserve to live somewhat of a “normal” life!

For more articles on how to deal with chronic pain and illness visit my Resource Library here!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

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5 Key Pieces to Health & Disease

By Jill DeMasi

On April 26, 2021

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

How to Achieve Health and Avoid Disease

The abundance of information about how to achieve health and avoid disease can be quite confusing. In our society, the healthcare trend is to treat illness when it happens instead of preventing it in the first place. In my opinion, we need to change this outdated perspective. Let’s put more focus on prevention and create an abundance of healthy habits.

As a certified Whole Health Educator™, I strive to make things simple to understand and share information from a whole-person perspective. In coaching school, I learned about the “Big Picture of Health® and disease” from the perspective of the following 5 Aspects of Whole Health: Physical, Emotional, Nutritional, Environmental, and Spiritual™©.

Therefore, once you have an understanding of these essential parts of health, it can be life-changing.

The lifestyle choices you make have a huge impact on the outcome of your health. Take the time to discern what type of prevention measures work for you. Make informed healthcare decisions. Let this information empower you to make better choices and help you take back control over your mind and body.

Realistically, we certainly cannot change everything that happens within our bodies. However, it is smart to prepare yourself with the tools to make a difference for the better. Make sense? Allow me to shed some light on the pieces of the health and disease puzzle.

The goal is to achieve health first instead of dealing with illness and disease later.

The 5 Pieces of the Health Puzzle

#1 – The Physical Piece

The physical component of our health is complex and not totally understood. This aspect consists of the brain, spinal cord, bodily systems, organs, muscles, bones, hormones, and neurotransmitters. All these pieces work tirelessly to help us function every minute of the day. They are all interdependent and need each other to work properly.

The central nervous system integrates our brain and spinal cord and controls every function in the body. In other words, if one part is not working correctly it will affect the rest of the body as well. Therefore, taking care of your physical body is necessary!

#2 – The Emotional/Mental Piece

Thoughts and emotions affect the physical body and are part of the Limbic system. This system analyzes all information taken in including conscious and subconscious thoughts.

For every thought we have and each emotion we feel, there is a physiological response within our body.

These internal and external messages are sent to the rest of the body via hormones and other chemical messengers. These neurotransmitters tell the body what to do. This concept explains the mind/body connection. This piece of the puzzle is quite fascinating and immensely powerful when you comprehend how your mindset affects your health.

#3 – The Nutritional Piece

This one is simple. Ever hear the phrase – you are what you eat? In other words, everything we consume has a direct effect on our health and may contribute to disease. This includes food, drinks, and other chemicals like over-the-counter medications, prescriptions, alcohol, tobacco, caffeine, and illegal drugs.

Be mindful when it comes to your nutrition and what you decide to ingest.

# 4- The Environmental Piece

This piece of the puzzle consists of our internal and external environment. The effects of smoke, noise, chemicals, exercise, weather, water, air pollution all have an impact on our health.

The other factor to consider is your home and work dynamics. Think about your home and work environment. Is it unorganized, stressful, negative, demanding? Any type of prolonged stress will affect the state of your health if left untreated and ignored.

Our internal environment is not set in stone and can be altered. Making healthier choices can diminish the chances of disease. Just because there is a disease in your family does not 100% mean you will have to struggle too.

#5 – The Spiritual Piece

Often overlooked, the spiritual aspect of health is extremely powerful in both the prevention and the healing process. This piece consists of an individual’s relationship with self, nature, and others. Our values and belief systems do have an impact on our health as well. What is your philosophy of life? A popular philosophy among many religions is the Golden Rule – treat others as you would want to be treated.

Feeling connected to a greater purpose, community and higher power goes a long way in life and gives a sense of belonging, comfort, security, and safety. Self-love is also very influential in terms of maintaining health and facilitates a greater sense of harmony.

The Influence of Stress on Our Health

Stress has the most profound influence on health. Stressors like lack of sleep, trauma, negative emotions, inadequate nutrition, surgery, lack of exercise, and chronic pain all contribute to the downfall of your health.

We have a choice in how we react to stress.

Short-term stress is easier to recover from. However, if you are stuck in that fight or flight response it will eventually break your body down. The result is fatigue, irritability, and disruption in sleep. This long-term stress also decreases the function of your bodily systems like digestion, reproduction, and immune and will lower your resistance to disease.

What You Can Do About Your Health

The takeaway is that EVERYTHING is connected! So, if one part of your body or mind is suffering, you can be sure something else is being affected. This can be a disaster if allowed to become out of control. Therefore, self-care and stress management is essential and needs to be part of everyone’s wellness plan.

Be an active participant. You have some control over what happens to you. Above all, take care of yourself because you deserve to live a long life filled with health and happiness!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

30 Helpful Self-Care Apps To Explore

By Jill DeMasi

On March 17, 2021

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Emotional Health, Environmental Health, Getting Organized, Lifestyle Blog, Nutritional Health, Physical Health, Spiritual Health, Stress Management

Why you Need Self-Care Apps

Creating and sticking to a realistic self-care plan can be overwhelming and time-consuming. However, these days as busy women, it is necessary to take care of ourselves so we can be at our best for our families. Fill your cup first! We need the strength and energy to raise kids, work, and complete the thousands of other tasks that keep us and our families happy and thriving.

Over the years, I have built a library of self-care apps on my phone that I count on to keep my mind and body healthy and strong. If you have a smartphone, there are plenty of apps that focus on self-care and health. There are a variety of options so you have to try some out to find what works best for you.

30 Self-Care Apps To Explore

Below are some apps on my Android phone that I use frequently. There may be different links for Apple phones but they are usually fairly similar so just do a quick search in your app store. Hope these ideas help you stay sane and cope with the pressures of motherhood and daily life!

Guided Meditations & Soothing Music for Sleep

YouTube
Calm
Breethe
Headspace
Synctuition

Spiritual Guidance & Inspiring Messages

Pray
Joyce Meyer
Bible
Abide

Positive Mindset & Gratitude Practice

Fitness

Stay Organized & Track Habits

Todoist
Sparkle
HabitNow
Planoly

Meal Planning & Recipes

Tasty
Pinterest
Whisk Recipe Saver, Meal Planner & Grocery List
Yummly Recipes & Shipping List

Fun Brain Games

Some of my Brain Games!

Build Your Self-Care App Library

Whatever helps you stay on track with living your best life is worth looking into. Schedule some time for yourself and research self-care apps that would benefit you. Ask around and find out what your friends are using and what works for them too. Check out the app store on your phone and spend some time exploring it!

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.

Subscribe to my Lifestyle Blog!

Top 20 Ways to Recover From Back Pain

By Jill DeMasi

On February 27, 2021

In Anxiety & Depression, Chronic Pain, Lifestyle Blog, Physical Health, Stress Management

This post may contain affiliate links, which means I’ll receive a commission if you purchase through my links, at no extra cost to you. All opinions are my own.

My Journey with Back Pain

If there is one thing I know about, it’s how to find relief from back pain. In my twenties, I suffered from intense low back pain as a result of different traumas that I endured. It was a long road before I found something that helped me recover. After visiting a variety of doctors, I was told that I needed to just live with the pain and that they couldn’t really help me. This was so depressing and frustrating.

The doctors told me that I was just depressed and the pain would be relieved with a combination of medications. I stopped exercising and going out and was not able to enjoy life. At one point, I had to take a leave of absence from my job because it was just too painful to sit all day at my desk. This was back when I was still working in Human Resources.

Chronic pain had taken over my life and it was making me so sad that I was missing out on living a fun and active life. It took about 8 years before I started to find real relief.

The Turning Point

Living with chronic pain affected my relationships and my job. After trying many different therapies, medications, and a variety of doctors, I became desperate to find answers. Then one day my grandmother suggested that I visit a chiropractor. I did not know anything about this modality so I was a little hesitant at first. I had just moved to Connecticut and the chiropractor was located in New Jersey.

So I packed a bag and headed to NJ to see this chiropractor. During my first visit, he took some specific x-rays of my low back and pelvis. Turns out my pelvis was severely rotated and causing intense muscle spasms in my low back. Within a couple of weeks of getting adjusted, I actually started to feel a little better. I was so happy that I had finally found some relief.

After returning back to Connecticut, I continued my care with a local chiropractor. I had no idea how much my life would change. There were plenty of ups and downs but it was definitely a turning point in recovering from the back pain. My experience with pain helped shape my life as it is today.

While visiting this new chiropractor, I was introduced to a Massage Therapist who helped me tremendously. This was how I discovered bodywork. After a couple of years passed, I decided to go to school for massage therapy to help other people in pain. Although it was a difficult time, I discovered many blessings along the way and am grateful to have come out on the other side. Through my struggles with back pain, I ended up finding my passion in life!

How to Recover From Back Pain

Apply Ice and Heat Packs

During the first 24 to 48 hours of an injury, it is recommended to use ice. After that, heat is recommended. I like the gel heat packs more than the dry heating pad. It is also beneficial to alternate ice and heat when it becomes more of a chronic issue.

Get in a Comfortable Position

When sleeping, put a pillow under your knees while lying on your back and then in between your knees when you are on your side. In addition, using pillows while sitting is also helpful to relieve pressure off your back.

Take an Anti-Inflammatory Medication or Pain Relief Supplement

Taking medications is ok in the short term and may just help you get over the hump. I suggest using more natural supplements for long-term use. Magnesium is the natural muscle relaxer mineral. Check with your doctor to see what would work best for you.

Topical Pain Relief

24/7 Relief & Recovery is my go-to and the best pain relief cream I have ever used personally and professionally. Using this cream a few times per day will reduce inflammation and provide quick and natural pain relief. My clients love this cream!

Take a Hot Epsom Salt Bath

There is nothing better than soaking in a hot bath with soothing Epsom salts to provide some muscle relaxation.

Use a Massage Pillow

Move Around and Don’t Sit or Lay Down for Too Long

Gentle Stretching or Foam Rolling

Deep Breathing Exercises

Take a Break from Intense Exercise and Try Going for a Walk

Visit a Doctor

Look for an orthopedic or pain management doctor. Naturopaths and Functional Medicine practitioners are also very helpful when it comes to reducing inflammation in your body.

See a Physical Therapist

Find a Massage Therapist – specializing in orthopedic, medical, or myofascial therapy

Visit a Chiropractor

Discover Acupuncture for pain relief

Distract Your Brain

Meditation is proven to relax the nervous system which in turn will reduce your response to pain. In addition, listening to soothing music and sounds also helps to distract your thoughts.

Work on a Positive Mindset

It is not easy to stay positive while in pain. However, having positive thoughts will help in battling chronic pain. Check out this Positive Mindset Workbook!

Seek out a Supportive Community

Finding like-minded people who understand struggling with pain is helpful. It is always nice to talk with people who know what you are going through and get it. Join us in the Simple Self-Care & Stress Solutions Facebook group and belong to a caring and welcoming community!

Say Healthy Affirmations & Prayers

Proverbs 17:22 “A joyful heart is good medicine, but a crushed spirit dries up the bones.”

Philippians 4:8 “Fix your thoughts on what is true, and honorable, and right, and pure, and lovely, and admirable. Think about things that are excellent and worthy of praise.”

Eat an Anti-Inflammatory Diet

Stay away from processed and sugary foods and drinks. These cause inflammation and will limit your ability to heal. Eating whole healthy foods will help in the healing process. Check out these Healthy Eating Tips.

Looking for food and snack subscription boxes? Click here to find the perfect one for you!

Back Pain Relief Options

There are plenty of options when it comes to relieving back pain. In my experience, it is best to try more than one treatment to find the most relief. However, trying one thing at a time to see what works and what doesn’t is smart. If you continue to have no relief it is best to be checked out by a healthcare professional. There are options to get x-rays and other imaging tests to confirm if there is something more serious going on.

Take care of yourself and find what works for you. Don’t give up and don’t let anyone tell you that you just have to live with pain. There is an answer for you out there! Be an advocate for yourself.

Check out these posts about Healing and Self-Care.

How to Help Yourself Heal

Master Your Self-Care Routine in 8 Simple Steps

xoxo

Jill DeMasi is a Lifestyle Blogger, Licensed Massage Therapist, and Certified Wellness Coach with a passion for helping others manage stress, chronic pain, and anxiety. Learn more about her journey and wellness practice that offers natural solutions to stress at www.AtTheHeartofWellness.com.