The following two videos are incredibly informative, and detail the tactics which narcissists employ to manipulate and control their victims. If you are in a relationship with a narcissist (romantic, family, work), please subscribe to Angie Atkinson’s YouTube channel, watch her videos, and start the healing process.
Narcissistic Deflection: A Hidden Torture Tactic Narcissists Use to Abuse You
10 Steps to Become Immune to Narcissistic Hoovering
I am sharing this video from Angie Atkinson to reveal to you all that this was how my weekends were for years, all because I was under the spell of a narcissist. I’ve actually been in TWO relationships with narcissists who made sure that every weekend was torture, filled with emotional land mines. I would relish the advent of a new week so that I could immerse myself in my own life, and have limited exposure to the narcissist. Even at the tail end of my most recent relationship with a narcissist, my heart would sink when he would unexpectedly show up during the week, because that meant that I could not relax, I couldn’t be myself, and I had to walk on eggshells, never knowing when he would cause me to trip and fall into his web of craziness.
For those of you who are in a relationship with a narcissist, and who can relate to this video from Angie Atkinson, pay attention! You can also subscribe to her fantastic channel, which has helped me tremendously in my own healing and recovery. She’s @Angie Atkinson on YouTube.
Last month, I ran into a fellow aerial arts classmate whom I hadn’t seen for a while. She and I engaged in pleasant chat for a couple of minutes, and she revealed to me that she had to take some time off from aerial due to adhesive capsulitis (frozen shoulder). I told her that the rest would serve her well, and that if she did gentle stretching and range of motion work, that she would be able to ease back into aerial before too long.
Then she asked me if I was still lifting weights at the gym, to which I replied that I was indeed still lifting 5 to 6 days per week. She reacted with surprise and stated, “Why do you still work out at the gym when you don’t compete anymore? I don’t understand! You don’t need to exercise at the gym!” It was so strange for me to hear her reaction, because she had just finished telling me about her desire to return to a form of exercise which she loved. Well, I too love lifting weights. I work out because I love it. I train with weights to maintain bone density and muscle mass. I lift so that I can have escape from the stressors in my life. And though I don’t do the crazy double workouts I used to perform right before an event, I still faithfully show up to the gym five to six days per week, every week.
Working out at the gym isn’t something I do to achieve a certain goal, but rather, to maintain what I already have, to combat the aging process, and to provide ME time. I’ve lifted weights for THIRTY YEARS and I will not stop until I am six feet under. In addition to weightlifting, my love of aerial arts isn’t likely to dissipate anytime soon either.
Copyright: robwilson39 / 123RF Stock Photo
The chances of you being in a position in which you can no longer take care of yourself are staggering. Seventy percent of people over the age of 5 will need some type of long-term care at some point, with 20 percent of them requiring it for a period of more than five years. If you have disability insurance, that doesn’t cover long-term care. I have heard some people grumble about the cost of long-term care insurance, which averages about $2,000 for a healthy, single 55-year old. The policy I have had in place since 2004 has premiums which will total $2,700 for 2017, and the premiums will increase to almost $2,900 next year. However, that’s a fraction of what I would have to pay if I didn’t have the insurance. The Genworth (the company I have my policy under) 2016 Cost of Care Survey reported that median annual cost of an assisted living facility is almost $44,000, and the median monthly cost of a private nursing home room is over $90,000.
I signed up for my policy shortly after my mother suffered from, and survived, a brain aneurysm in 2004. She was in a skilled nursing facility from 2006 until 2013, then was transferred into an assisted living facility. In a way, luck was on her side, because she had no financial resources and qualified for Medicaid and Medicare. She is now a participant in the ALW program. However, the bulk of her monthly Social Security benefit (less than $1,200) goes to the facility in which she resides. In no way was I willing to take the chance of relying on a government agency to rescue me in my elderly years if I find myself in need of long-term care.
I HIGHLY recommend securing long-term care insurance if you are over the age of 30. You cannot rely on the government to come to your aid if you end up requiring long-term care, and it’s unfair of you to expect loved ones to carry the financial burden of your care.
According to a recent New Mexico study in which beards were swabbed for cultures, it was determined that beards contain just as much fecal matter as a toilet. To be fair, some beards had normal amounts and strains of bacteria which were consistent with what a microbiologist would expect from swabbing facial hair, but a few had
enough enteric bacteria (bacteria found in excrement) to cause illness in humans.
Ewwwwwwwwww.
Do yourself and others a favor and make sure to wash your hands frequently, scrub your beard clean at least once a day, and avoid touching your beard.
Copyright: artitcom / 123RF Stock Photo
I’m sure you know that feeling when a very full bladder prompts you to secure the nearest restroom facility so that you can relieve yourself from the pressure. Now imagine having that feeling throughout the day, every day. People with overactive bladder have to use the restroom constantly, and at times may have urine leakage. They deal with signals from the brain which erroneously tell the bladder to empty itself when the bladder isn’t even full. The result is that the bladder contracts, creating a strong urge to urinate.
People who suffer from overactive bladder urinate much more than normal (which is up to 8 times per day), and may urinate up to 30 or more times per day. Even when a sufferer urinates, he or she may feel as if the bladder still has urine in it. Restroom visits may be stacked together, sometimes within 10 to 15 minutes of each other.
Two-thirds of people who have overactive bladder experience the dry type, while the remaining third have the wet variety, which is characterized by leakage of urine. Advancing age is a primary risk factor for development of this condition, but the following also play a role:
Presence of urinary tract infection
Nerve damage from surgery
Trauma
Neurological diseases such as multiple sclerosis, Parkinson’s or stroke
History of bladder stones
History of bladder or prostate cancer
Post-menopausal
Consumption of spicy foods, caffeine and alcohol
If you have any of the following symptoms, you should seek medical evaluation and treatment:
Use the restroom more than eight times a day
Cannot sleep through the night without waking up at least 1 or 2 times to urinate
A sudden and intense urge to urinate
Urine leakage
Some lifestyle modifications can lessen the symptoms of overactive bladder. They include maintaining a normal weight, drinking less fluid in the evening, smoking cessation, and limiting the consumption of alcohol and caffeine. Pelvic floor exercises can be incorporated to strengthen the supporting muscles and provide some relief. As a last resort, a number of prescription medications exist to treat overactive bladder.
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I just ran across an article which I was compelled to share. This should serve as a major wake-up call for those of you who assume that you will be able to support yourselves completely with Social Security benefits when you become old enough to draw those benefits. I have included the link to the article, as well as copied and pasted the body of Barbara Friedberg’s article here.
The sad reality is that though the person in this example is able to make ends meet with her Social Security check, people who live in cities like Los Angeles will probably spend the bulk of their Social Security check on rent alone, with very little money left for groceries and healthcare.
Regardless of where you live, put money aside for retirement so that you don’t find yourself in a precarious financial situation when you are older. Roth IRA’s are an excellent way to set aside funds for your retirement, and they grow tax-free over the years.
https://www.gobankingrates.com/retirement/buy-average-social-security-check/
By Barbara Friedberg | September 26, 2016
Somewhere, an older American — let’s call her Alison — is going to retire soon. She anticipates a Social Security check of $1,349.59, the national average as of July. She regrets not saving more for retirement, but has accepted the reality of her situation.
If you’re like Alison — facing retirement without a cash cushion — you’re in good company. In January, GOBankingRates.com surveyed a representative sample of Americans and found that among people 60 and older, just 26 percent felt they were financially on track for retirement. The remaining 74 percent within this age group lacked sufficient retirement savings. And among Americans of all age groups, a sobering 33 percent had nothing saved for retirement.
Anyone who tries to get by on Social Security income faces a lean retirement lifestyle. Here are questions to ask yourself before trying to stretch benefits as far as possible — and what you’ll realistically be able to afford.
1. How Much Home Can You Afford on Social Security?
Your Social Security check will stretch further if you find a cheap place to retire. Housing is the biggest expense most Americans face, according to BLS statistics.
Sun-loving Alison hopes to retire to an apartment in Tucson, Ariz. The median rent for a one-bedroom apartment is $575, according to Zillow. But let’s say Alison lucks out and finds an apartment for $540. She will spend 40 percent of her check on rent and will need to kick in a few extra bucks for utilities. So, rounding up, her monthly housing cost to $600 — leaving her with $749.59 of her Social Security check.
2. What Can You Eat on Social Security?
Dining at four-star restaurants is out if you’re living on Social Security. On average, roughly 12.5 percent of a consumer unit’s spending money goes toward food. In Phoenix — close enough to Tucson for our purposes — the average family spent $594 per month to eat in 2013-14, the most recent figures available from the BLS.
Phoenix averages 2.6 members per household, so we can estimate that the average person spends $228 per month to eat. Although Alison can splurge occasionally at a modest restaurant, living on Social Security means she will be eating at home most of the time.
Add up housing costs of $600 and $228 for food, and Alison is left with $521.59 of her Social Security check — a small sum for the remaining spending categories.
3. Can You Afford Healthcare on Social Security?
Alison might qualify for assistance in paying for her Medicare Part B premiums. Such aid would help her cover medical expenses, the No. 1 financial burden in the U.S. According to the government’s Medicare website, Alison’s monthly $1,349.59 check is beneath the income ceiling of $1,357 that qualifies her for assistance.
Medicare assistance benefits vary by state, so Alison should visit Medicare.gov and sign up for a conversation with someone from her state.
It will help if Alison can find ways to save on healthcare costs, such as purchasing generic drugs and using walk-in clinics instead of visiting emergency rooms. Assuming Alison qualifies for government help and is diligent about her medical spending, she can budget $150 per month toward medical costs. Alison now has $371.59 left in her budget.
4. What Type of Transportation Can You Afford While on Social Security?
Owning a car is expensive, especially on Social Security. The cost of operating a car can easily run into hundreds of dollars a month. With that price tag in mind, Alison has joined many other retirees by giving up her car.
Alison relies on public transportation services to get to doctor appointments. When going to the grocery store or meeting with friends, Alison uses the bus. On rare occasions, she splurges for a cab. She chose an apartment located near shops and restaurants. As long as her health holds out, she can walk to the grocery store and pharmacy.
Alison keeps transportation costs low at $100 per month. So, she’s now down to $271.59.
5. Can You Afford to Travel on Social Security?
After paying for necessities, Alison has $271.59 left for extras, which we describe in the next two categories. As you can already see, it is not easy to live on the average Social Security check.
With a tight budget, Alison and other retirees living on Social Security aren’t going on lavish vacations. Maybe Alison can afford a train or bus ticket to visit family, but cruises are out.
If travel is important to you, there are ways to squeeze it into the budget. Pairing up with family and friends can make travel a possibility. Camping vacations in state parks are economical. There are also many free events across the country.
6. Will You Earn Enough in Social Security to Cover Other Costs?
Remember, after spending for necessities, Alison was left with just $271.59 in her monthly budget. The amount of money she can spend in this final category — which includes entertainment — will largely depend on how much cash she earmarks for travel. She might be able to afford the occasional $1 movie at Redbox, but it’s unlikely she’ll be able to pay for the newest iPhone 7.
Finally, Alison will need a small cash cushion to cover emergencies. If she’s especially frugal, she might even have a little money left over to give to her favorite charity.
While Alison can make ends meet on her Social Security check, it won’t be easy. So, if you are a little younger than Alison, try to learn from her mistakes. Save a bit more today so you will have a greater sense of financial security in retirement.
Kybella (deoxycholic acid) is an exciting treatment from Allergan for reduction of excess fat under the chin. The treatment is performed in series, in an average of two to four treatment sessions. Results are permanent.
If you are in the Los Angeles area and are interested in a Kybella treatment, please contact me at stacey@staceynaito.com for pricing and to schedule a consultation.
Have you been looking for an injectable filler which lasts years instead of months? Consider getting a Bellafill treatment. Unlike hyaluronic acid based fillers like Juvederm and Restylane which dissipate within nine months to a year on average, the polymethylmethacrylate (PMMA) microspheres found in Bellafill are permanent implants which stimulate cells in the skin to produce collagen over an extended period of time. The FDA has granted approval to the makers of Bellafill to claim that the effects last 5 years or more. This approval was based on the response to treatments, which were then monitored over a five-year period, in more than 1,000 subjects treated with Bellafill.
Bellafill also contains bovine collagen, which has very low chance of reactivity in patients. Nevertheless, a skin test (very similar to a tuberculin skin test) is performed during a Bellafill consultation and the patient is instructed to report any skin changes from the test. Once Bellafill is injected, the bovine collagen provides a temporary and immediate fill which persists for approximately 6 weeks. By the time the bovine collagen wears off, the body has already begun producing its own collagen to replace it.
If you are in the Los Angeles area, please contact me at stacey@staceynaito.com for pricing, and to schedule an appointment for a consultation and treatment.
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