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About Me
scarletsangria
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About Me
I'm a clinical social worker in Lansing, MI working with children and families as an in-home therapist. It's a stressful job but also very rewarding! I also spend a lot of time volunteering in the community, at a crisis hotline and helping to run a children's grief support group program (so I definitely believe in the power of support from others). I'm here to hopefully learn from others and share my experiences, particularly around depression and my possible new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis (they're still in the midst of diagnosing me with something).
I'm a clinical social worker in Lansing, MI working with children and families as an in-home therapist. It's a stressful job but also very rewarding! I also spend a lot of time volunteering in the community, at a crisis hotline and helping to run a children's grief support group program (so I definitely believe in the power of support from others). I'm here to hopefully learn from others and share my experiences, particularly around depression and my possible new diagnosis of rheumatoid arthritis
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Interests
Volunteering, music, my cats Keiko & Paloma, cats in general, social justice, politics, reading, writing/journaling, going to concerts
Volunteering, music, my cats Keiko & Paloma, cats in general, social justice, politics, reading, writing/journaling,
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Journal
scarletsangria hasn’t written any journal entries yet. -
Hugbook
Hug
Have a good weekend honey. Thinking of you. ((hugs))marcia
Flower
May ure day be touched with ..........SUNSHINE......... Ure HEART overflow with LOVE and ure SOUL sing with HOPE. May everything in ure LIFE SPARKLE with a RADIANCE that only comes from HAPPINESS.
Hug
Sending a hug to let you know that you are loved. I too suffer from depression.
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Hug
Welcome, I haven't been here long, but finding it good to be able to say the things I need to say and not having people question me.
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Photos
scarletsangria hasn’t uploaded any photos yet
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Support Groups
Close Shyness
I'm an only child and have always had a hard time socializing in large groups or meeting new people. I manage to get by well enough but often find myself feeling lonely and getting down on myself for not having it in me to go out and just meet new friends. I also seem to have a hard time making/keeping friends once I meet someone I'm interested in knowing better.
Treatments
- DailyStrength Too Soon to Tell
- Psychotherapy Somewhat Helpful
Close Depression
I think I've been mildly depressed for years, probably since high school. I didn't really recognize it until, oddly enough, I entered the mental health field as a clinical social worker a few years back. Maybe being around others who are struggling helped me to recognize some of the difficulties I've had in terms of mood, energy level, fatigue, and body aches/pains.
Treatments
- Celexa Somewhat Helpful
- Celexa helped get me through a crisis in college when I had a very nasty breakup with my boyfriend of 2 years. I don't know that it had a huge effect on my general depression but it definitely helped me stabilize during that crisis. I noticed a lot of sexual side effects that were difficult to deal with.
- Support from Friends & Family Working / Worked
- I'd really be able to talk myself into some negative and destructive things without friends and family to remind me not to take myself so seriously.
- Writing Working / Worked
- Other than the Celexa, during my really dark times sharing my thoughts and having an outlet through online journaling made a HUGE difference for me.
Open Rheumatoid Arthritis
I haven't officially been diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis yet, but I suspect I may have it. I have had on and off severe pain in my hips and one shoulder, and one finger on my left hand gets swolen and stiff very easily and is very painful.
Treatments
- Celebrex Somewhat Helpful
- Celebrex made a big difference when my middle finger was severely swollen (especially in the middle joint) and reduced some of the pain and stiffness. Side effects were an upset stomach, I always have to take Celebrex along with Maalox or I'm sure to have an acidy/indigestion type feeling soon after taking it.
Open Irritable Bowel Syndrome (IBS)
I've been diagnosed with IBS: constipation type since I was 16 and had a blockage that caused a lot of pain. Many tests later, they had ruled everything else out, and I received a diagnosis of IBS. My symptoms are much better now than they used to be seemingly just with small diet changes (increasing fiber) and time.
Treatments
- Aloe Vera Working / Worked
- It was helpful but can supposedly throw off your potassium levels when used regularly which can cause heart problems... so while it worked well, I don't use it anymore.
- Avoid Certain Foods / Chemicals Working / Worked
- I have to watch my intake of high fat dairy (which is probably something I should limit even without IBS!)... cheese especially aggravates my constipation.
- High Fiber Diet Working / Worked
- Adding fiber has been the biggest help! Avoid things with white flour if you possibly can.
- Oral Contraceptives Working / Worked
- For some reason I can't explain, starting to take the pill was a huge help with my IBS symptoms of consipation, bloating, and cramps. I'm no longer on the pill but still seem to be receiving the positive effects. I took Ortho-Tri-Cyclen 28 for 7 years. I also notice that my symptoms are less severe during my menstrual cycle.
