Work

The Ever Changing Work Environment


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Do you get up in the morning, get dressed up and drive to work everyday? The chances are you are among the 35% whose work environment changed as a result of the COVID-19 pandemic. Today, I will talk to you about the ever changing work environment.

Work Environment Before COVID

Work

Before this global pandemic swept the world and upheaved our lives, only 7% of civilian workers in the US or around 9.8 million of this nation’s 140 million civilian benefits had some sort of telework benefits, according to the PEW Research. Those who had access to that privileges were largely managers, other white-collar professionals, and the highly paid. If you are not part of the group, the odds are that you wake up in the morning everyday, get dressed, and endure long commute to start your workday.

Telework, or working remotely, was a benefit available mostly in the private sectors than in the state or local government. According to the Phew Research group, about 7% of private sector workers, and 4% of local and state government workers have access to telework benefits. Their date does not include the federal government, the country’s largest employer with about 2.9 million civilian workers.

However, majority of us had to go to work everyday. Some jobs such as restaurant servers, plumbers, electricians, stylists, grocery workers, delivery men/women, police officers, healthcare workers by nature are difficult or impossible to do away from the standard worksite. Nevertheless, you are more likely not to have the privilege of working remotely.

Work Environment Since COVID-19

work

Major public health measure placed to combat the pandemic has been social distancing, leading to more people working from home, while kids joining school remotely. You may have guessed that the number of people working from home since the pandemic has increased to 50%. However, according to the Atlantic, 21% of Americans were still teleworking as of March 2021, while other 79% were leaving home like the old days. At it’s highest point, about 35% American were teleworking while the number dropped to only 13.4% in the final days of summer. This is mostly due to the availability of the vaccine.

Nonetheless, what the pandemic taught us is many jobs that were not thought to be feasible done without loss of productivity are being done from home, or at least it’s very much feasible. Whether you are seeing your doctor virtually, or doing virtual conferences, applications like Zoom, Google Hangout, Microsoft Team, or WebEx, working remotely has become more feasible.

So how will the work environment change due the pandemic, moving forward? Only time will tell. According to the World Economic Forum, two-thirds of people around the world want to work flexibly when the COVID-19 pandemic is over, while almost a third are prepared to quit their job if the boss makes them go back to the office fulltime. The need for flexibility was strongest among women, parents of school are children, adults under 35 and those with higher level of education and income. Finally, 64% workers in 29 countries said that they are more productive with a flexible work schedule, and only a third complained of burn out.

Since the pandemic, tech companies such as Microsoft, Twitter, Square, Spotify, Shopify, and Amazon are increasingly adopting extended work-from-home policies. Facebook is allowing certain employees to working remotely full time. According to CNBC article from March 2021, vaccinated or not, more than half of employees said that, if given the option, they would want to keep working from home even after the crisis from the pandemic subsides.

Whether we work on site, remotely, or have a hybrid work schedule, the way we view the work environment have changed since the pandemic started. What COVID has taught has that life is short and we need flexible job environment and will be productive and allow us to take care of ourselves and priorities. The emphasis on work-life balance has increased. However, you don’t build the same connection you would seeing your co-workers face-to-face than working remotely. This is specially true when starting a new position. What I want? I would prefer a more flexible hybrid schedule, which will allow me to keep my stronger connection, a social capital that money can buy, and have the flexibility work have a work life balance.

My beautiful lovelies! I would love to hear about your current and preferred work environment. I will be looking forward to your comments and feedbacks.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

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CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

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anxiety

Growing Up With Anxiety


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Mental health has been at the forefront of today’s culture. Whether watching Simon Biles bravely stepping away from the Olympic friend to focus on her mental health or watching Michael Phelps or Prince Henry talking about their struggles with mental health, more people are talking about their struggles. How was it for me to live with mental health issues? Today you will hear my story growing up with anxiety.

The stigma of Mental Health

Feeling Down

I have told you about growing up with ADHD. Besides that, I also had to fight a monster that I couldn’t see or control. It was my anxiety. I always felt that there was something wrong with me. I always had a knot in my heart and pressure on my chest like a shadow I could not shake. I couldn’t talk to anyone. Mental health problem is something you don’t talk about. There is a huge stigma about talking about mental health, especially in Southeast Asia. The stigma of mental health in those communities is real. I grew up hearing “it’s all in your head”. An extended family member who I now know had schizophrenia, was isolated and away from everyone else. No one took her seriously. She tried committing suicide. It was her plea for help that no one heard.

Growing Up With Anxiety

I was always anxious about everything. I didn’t like the person I was and felt like a small fish in the big ocean, getting crushed by the big waves and unable to swim. I was laughed at at school for being a scary cat. My anxiety made me susceptible to being bullied and shattered my self-esteem. I had separation anxiety (was called a big baby), social anxiety (called too shy), and very low self-esteem. I hated going to school or going out. No one heard my cry for help. Well, being a middle and high school in the 90s and early 2000s was no fun either. The pressure of school, to excel academically, dealing with teenage life was overwhelming. I still remember throwing up before school, not knowing what caused it but was always told it’s because I was too skinny.

In college, I went from the upper 90s to low 90s weight, with the pressure of the added load of college, and then 9/11. Having panic attacks became the norm in my college life. It was not until I started working, I learned the issue I was facing, the enemy within. I was introduced to mindfulness-based medication and I finally saw light at the end of a very long and dark tunnel. I still have my ups and downs, but my support system is more aware and open to mental health, and that made all the difference.

My dear lovelies! I would love to hear about your struggles and triumph with mental health. I look forward to your wonderful feedback and stories.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

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Relaxation Techniques

How Do I Relax After A Long Day


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Do you get a chance to recharge after a long stressful day of meetings, and deadlines? Today, I want to talk to you about how I relax and unwind after a long day of work.

Working Hard

Like you, my day involves a multitude of works that keeps my brain busy. There are days when my brain is so fried that I can focus on anything else. My head and eyes keep pounding so bad that I can’t even feel like looking anywhere or talk. My day starts at 3 am in the morning and ends at 4:00 pm. There are even some days when I am so wired that I can’t even close my eyes.

How Do I Address My Daily Long Day Blues?

My friends, I have taken some natural steps to recharge at the end of a long day. One thing that I have learned from the pandemic, is that life is short. In a span of a year, I have lost loved ones and seen others fight for their lives. Well, I saw my mom getting sicker during the pandemic since she couldn’t get the proper treatment on time. I am going to go through that. Life is too short to lose on bad health and stress. It’s time to relax and recharge.

Hence, after work, I give myself just five minutes. That time is just for me and I don’t share it with anyone. Every day after coming home I spend at least 5 minutes doing breathing exercises and guided meditations to bring myself to the present moment. So, what does it mean to be being in the present moment? Being Present means being fully conscious of the moment and free from the noise of internal dialogue. It’s often associated with feelings of stillness and peace. Sensations often seem sharper.

As Dalai Lala said, “There are only two days in the year that nothing can be done. One is called yesterday and the other is called tomorrow, so today is the right day to love, believe, do, and mostly live.” My friends, just a few minutes help me bring myself to the present moment, relax, and focus on what is in front of me and that made all the difference.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

Prime Video: Sign Up for Prime Video

never mix

Ingredients You Should Never Mix In Skincare


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about ingredients that you should never mix in your skincare products. If you have very sensitive skin like mine, it will be detrimental to your face skin.

Never Mix

Ipsy September Glam Bag Ultimate Subscription Box Review

Benzoyl Peroxide and Retinol: While these ingredients are both used to fight acne, they can cause irritation when layered. They can, however, be used on the same day. Benzoyl peroxide and salicylic acid are the biggest acne-fighting ingredient on the over-the-counter market, usually found in cleansers and spot treatments. Using benzoyl peroxide with retinol can lead to them deactivating each other’s potency. On the other hand, salicylic acid and retinol can cause dryness and flaking. Instead, use these acne products in the morning or on opposite nights that you use retinol.

Vitamin C and Alpha Hydroxy Acids: This acidity in these two ingredients can cause an irregular pH balance on the skin, rendering the products ineffective. Although vitamin C is labeled as a vitamin, it still is technically an acid (L-ascorbic), and combining two acidic ingredients can lead to irritations like peeling and dryness. It can also cause vitamin C’s low pH to be altered, leading to redness and inflammation. A good rule of thumb is to use acids like AHAs/BHAs at night since they can make your skin more susceptible to sunburn if used in the morning. Again, using vitamin C in the morning can give added benefits to the skin.

Vitamin B3 (niacinamide) and Alpha Hydroxy Acids: The low pH produced by AHAs can cause vitamin B3 to produce nicotinic acid, which can irritate the skin. Vitamin B3 is most effective when the skin has a neutral pH balance. Moreover, niacinamide consists of high pH levels, which go around 5-7, whereas acids have low pH levels of about 3-4. If they are layered together, niacinamide will increase the pH levels of acids that can turn less effective and cause a problem absorbing into the skin. This combination can also result in flushing and redness.

Vitamin C and Retinol: Retinol is a powerful skin care product that can cause drying of the skin. Therefore, some ingredients simply do not work well with retinol and can cause skin irritation. The ingredients in each of these have different purposes (vitamin C’s pH level is lower), which can work against each other and cause irritations. Vitamin C is an antioxidant, it’s best used in the mornings, while retinol, being photosensitive, is best used at night. That way, retinol can work overtime while you sleep, and vitamin C can give you antioxidant protection when you wake up.

Alpha Hydroxy Acids and Retinol: Some ingredients simply do not work well with retinol. Oftentimes, different hydroxy acids will be used in face washes or exfoliators, and while you can use two different products with these ingredients on the same day, it is not recommended to layer one on top of the other. Adding retinol after acidic skincare can increase dryness and lead to extra irritation. If retinol is a part of your everyday routine, skip out on it on days you use AHAs. But this doesn’t mean you can’t have both in your routine. It is recommended to apply your AHA in the morning and retinol at night, but you should always proceed with caution and take it slow. Dermatologists recommend starting with only one, and once you are stable after a few weeks, consider adding the other. Start by using your retinol once a week, and slowly increase your frequency. Then, add the AHA slowly as well. This also depends on what type of AHA you’re using. Using a cleanser with a bit of glycolic acid vs. a 20 percent AHA/BHA treatment is very different; a cleanser is much more easily tolerated, while a high-potency AHA should only be used once or twice a week.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is thank-you.png
Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

Prime Video: Sign Up for Prime Video

rashes

Why Does My Face Break Out With Rashes So Easily?


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about something that has been bothering me for the past 4 months at a higher rate than before. It is have breaking out in red and extremely itchy rashes every easily. It’s called dermatitis.

What is Contact Dermatitis – Rashes?

rashes

According to the Mayo Clinic, contact dermatitis is red, itchy rashes caused by direct contact with a substance or an allergic reaction to it. The rashes are not contagious or life-threatening, but they can be very uncomfortable. Many substances can cause such reactions, including soaps, cosmetics, fragrances, jewelry, and plants.

Symptom of Contact Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis usually occurs on areas of your body that have been directly exposed to the reaction-causing substance — for example, along a calf that brushed against poison ivy or under a watchband. The rash usually develops within minutes to hours of exposure and can last two to four weeks. Other symptoms include,

  • A red rash
  • Itching, which may be severe
  • Dry, cracked, scaly skin
  • Bumps and blisters, sometimes with oozing and crusting
  • Swelling, burning or tenderness

When I first had contact dermatitis, it started out at red, extremely itchy rashes on my cheeks and nose. The biggest I made was use light acne medicine. The rashes turned into burning and itchy crusting. The rash is so uncomfortable that I was losing sleep and was distracted from my daily activities. It was then I realized I needed to go to a dermatologist, given that I did not change my skincare routine before that.

Causes of Dermatitis

Contact dermatitis is caused by a substance you’re exposed to that irritates your skin or triggers an allergic reaction. The substance could be one of thousands of known allergens and irritants. Some of these substances may cause both irritant contact dermatitis and allergic contact dermatitis. Rashes are common symptoms.

Irritant contact dermatitis is the most common type. This nonallergic skin reaction occurs when a substance damages your skin’s outer protective layer.

Some people react to strong irritants after a single exposure. Others may develop signs and symptoms after repeated exposures to even mild irritants. And some people develop a tolerance to the substance over time.

Common irritants include:

  • Solvents
  • Rubbing alcohol
  • Bleach and detergents
  • Shampoos, permanent wave solutions
  • Airborne substances, such as sawdust or wool dust
  • Plants
  • Fertilizers and pesticides

What I suffered from each time is was allergic dermatitis. Allergic dermatitis occurs when a substance to which you’re sensitive (allergen) triggers an immune reaction in your skin. It usually affects only the area that came into contact with the allergen. But it may be triggered by something that enters your body through foods, flavorings, medicine, or medical or dental procedures (systemic contact dermatitis).

One may become sensitized to a strong allergen such as poison ivy after a single exposure. Weaker allergens may require multiple exposures over several years to trigger an allergy. Once you develop an allergy to a substance, even a small amount of it can cause a reaction.

Common allergens include:

  • Nickel, which is used in jewelry, buckles and many other items
  • Medications, such as antibiotic creams and oral antihistamines
  • Balsam of Peru, which is used in many products, such as perfumes, cosmetics, mouth rinses and flavorings
  • Formaldehyde, which is in preservatives, disinfectants and clothing
  • Personal care products, such as deodorants, body washes, hair dyes, cosmetics and nail polish
  • Plants such as poison ivy and mango, which contain a highly allergenic substance called urushiol
  • Airborne substances, such as ragweed pollen and spray insecticides
  • Products that cause a reaction when you’re in the sun (photoallergic contact dermatitis), such as some sunscreens and oral medications

Preventive Measures I Take:

I try to be extra careful about what I put on my skin. I use gentle cleansers and moisturizers. I also try to look for clean products when it comes to makeup and skincare products. I try to identify and avoid substances that irritate your skin or cause an allergic reaction and rashes. I use a mild, fragrance-free soap and warm water, and rinse completely. I also wash any clothing or other items that may have come into contact with a plant and other allergens. Additionally, due to my severe allergy to dust mites, I wear mask when cleaning and furnitures, and home. I also regularly applying moisturizing lotions can help restore your skin’s outermost layer and keep your skin supple.

Treatments

Each time I had allergic dermatitis, I was treated with steroid cream and prednisone. Steroid cream are topically applied creams or ointments help soothe the rashes of dermatitis. A topical steroid may be applied one or two times a day for two to four weeks. Oral corticosteroids are given in severe cases to reduce inflammation, antihistamines to relieve itching or antibiotics to fight a bacterial infection.

The step for me is to go to the dermatology office to do a patch test to see if I am allergic to something. This test can be useful if the cause of the rashes isn’t apparent or if the rash recurs often, which is my case.

During a patch test, small amounts of potential allergens are applied to adhesive patches, which are then placed on the skin. The patches remain on the skin for two to three days, during which time the back is needed to kept dry. The doctor then checks for skin reactions under the patches and determines whether further testing is needed.

My dear beautiful lovelies! Hope you find this post is helpful. I would love to know if you have experienced dermatitis and how did you manage it.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

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CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

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Painting

Step By Step Painting Challenge #4 | Glass of Drink Tutorial | Art Therapy


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. The past months have been nothing but stressful for me. Even meditation did not help with this level of stress. Hence I decided to focus on something I love. I have been painting and drawing for a while now. However, over the past several years, life got in the way. I love to paint.

Nevertheless, the recent stressor has compelled me to stop and take a look at what I am doing and can do to help with my stress. It is then that I decided to take up my sketch pencil and my paints. What I forgot with my busy life, how art has helped me to step back and look at my life and then directly address any issue. Whenever you are consumed in your art, there are times, when it’s very hard to see the big picture. It is then you need to take a break and come back with a new perspective. You will be able to see what you have done so far and where you want to go next.

My paintings have allowed me to take that break and come back with a new perspective about the stressor. That in turn has made it easier for me to find the next step towards mindfulness. My art has become my new mindful meditation. Today I want to share with you step by step tutorial of one such art and I hope you can find it as much therapeutic and it has been for me.

If you enjoy what you see please subscribe to my brand new channel dedicated completely to my artwork. Today, I want to share with you a step-by-step painting replicating the painting of Intagam’s @kebirch. I am no professional artist and I don’t claim to be one. I am an amateur artist who paints for stress relief. I have painted with oil paint before, but have not worked with acrylic paint for long. Hence, I will bring you my amateur step-by-step acrylic paintings of various YouTubers. Hope you enjoy the video.

Materials:

9×12 Canvas Board

Acrylic Paint – Pthalo Blue, Black, Pthalo Green, Titanium White, Orange, Deep Yellow, Brilliant Red, Lemon Yellow, Purple, Olive, Monstaral Green.

Brushes

Flat Brushes (Sizes – 10,12), Filbert Brush (Size 8), Small Round Brush (Size 2), Blending Brush.

Hope you enjoy the video. Please comment with your feedback. It will help me improve my content, and make it more enjoyable for you. Please follow this page and share it with your friends!!! I hope you enjoy the video. Don’t forget to like the video if you find the video helpful, entertaining, and/or informative in any shape or form. Also, don’t forget to share and comment. Most of all, if you have not done so don’t forget to subscribe to the channel! I hope you have a safe, blessed, and wonderful day. From my heart to yours, happy viewing!!!

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATION ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring contents to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

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Facetory: promo code forevernij15Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD

Paint

Step By Step Acrylic Paint Challenge #3 | Dolphin Seascape Painting Tutorial | Art Therapy


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. The past months have been nothing but stressful for me. Even meditation did not help with this level of stress. Hence I decided to focus on something I love. I have been painting and drawing for a while now. However, over the past several years, life got in the way. I love to paint.

Nevertheless, the recent stressor has compelled me to stop and take a look at what I am doing and can do to help with my stress. It is then that I decided to take up my sketch pencil and my paints. What I forgot with my busy life, how art has helped me to step back and look at my life and then directly address any issue. Whenever you are consumed in your art, there are times, when it’s very hard to see the big picture. It is then you need to take a break and come back with a new perspective. You will be able to see what you have done so far and where you want to go next.

My paintings have allowed me to take that break and come back with a new perspective about the stressor. That in turn has made it easier for me to find the next step towards mindfulness. My art has become my new mindful meditation. Today I want to share with you step by step tutorial of one such art and I hope you can find it as much therapeutic and it has been for me.

If you enjoy what you see please subscribe to my brand new channel dedicated completely to my artwork. This is a step-by-step painting replicating the painting of TheArtSherpa. I am no professional artist and I don’t claim to be one. I am an amateur artist who paints for stress relief. I have painted with oil paint before, but have not worked with acrylic paint for long. Hence, I will bring you my amateur step-by-step acrylic paintings of various YouTubers. Hope you enjoy the video.

Materials:

11X14 Canvas Board

Acrylic Paint – Ultramarine Blue, Pthalo Blue, Black, Pthalo Green, Titanium White, Indian Yellow

Brushes

Flat Brushes (Sizes – 10,12), Filbert Brush (Size 8), Small Round Brush (Size 2), Blending Brush.

Hope you enjoy the video. Please comment with your feedback. It will help me improve my content, and make it more enjoyable for you. Please follow this page and share it with your friends!!! I hope you enjoy the video. Don’t forget to like the video if you find the video helpful, entertaining, and/or informative in any shape or form. Also, don’t forget to share and comment. Most of all, if you have not done so don’t forget to subscribe to the channel! I hope you have a safe, blessed, and wonderful day. From my heart to yours, happy viewing!!!

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATION ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring contents to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

Prime Video: Sign Up for Prime Video

Facetory: promo code forevernij15Advertisementsabout:blankREPORT THIS AD

Alopecia

Why Is Androgenic Alopecia Happening to Me?


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. As you know, I have Androgenic Alopecia. I have shared my stories and progress throughout the years. I have also received a lot of questions and comments about your struggles and progress. Have you been asking yourself after being diagnosed with androgenic alopecia, “why me?”, then you are not alone. Today, I will talk to you about some of the causes of androgenic alopecia.

What is Androgenic Alopecia?

androgenic alopecia

Androgenic alopecia in women is due to the action of androgens, male hormones that are typically present in only small amounts. It is a genetic condition that can affect both men and women. Men with this condition, called male pattern baldness, can begin suffering hair loss as early as their teens or early 20s. It’s characterized by a receding hairline and gradual disappearance of hair from the crown and frontal scalp. Women with this condition, called female pattern baldness, don’t experience noticeable thinning until their 40s or later. Women experience a general thinning over the entire scalp, with the most extensive hair loss at the crown. Because the hair loss in androgenetic alopecia is an aberration of the normal hair cycle, it is theoretically reversible. Advanced androgenetic alopecia, however, may not respond to treatment, because the inflammation that surrounds the bulge area of the follicle may irreparably damage the follicular stem cell.

What Causes Androgenic Alopecia In Females?

Androgenic alopecia can be caused by a variety of factors tied to the actions of hormones, including some ovarian cysts, taking high androgen index birth control pills, pregnancy, and menopause. Androgenic alopecia or AGA is caused by androgens in genetically susceptible women and men. The thinning begins between ages 12 and 40 years, the inheritance pattern is polygenic, and the incidence is the same as in men. In susceptible hair follicles, dihydrotestosterone binds to the androgen receptor, and the hormone-receptor complex activates the genes responsible for the gradual transformation of large terminal follicles to miniaturized follicles.

In women, this form of hair loss is associated with an increased risk of polycystic ovary syndrome (PCOS). PCOS is characterized by a hormonal imbalance that can lead to irregular menstruation, acne, excess hair elsewhere on the body (hirsutism), and weight gain. Smoking may also increase the risk of developing female pattern hair loss. Researchers believe that some of these disorders may be associated with elevated androgen levels, which may help explain why they tend to occur with androgen-related hair loss. Other hormonal, environmental, and genetic factors that have not been identified also may be involved.

A variety of genetic and environmental factors likely play a role in causing androgenetic alopecia. Although researchers are studying risk factors that may contribute to this condition, most of these factors remain unknown. Researchers have determined that this form of hair loss is related to hormones called androgens, particularly an androgen called dihydrotestosterone. Androgens are important for normal male sexual development before birth and during puberty. Androgens also have other important functions in both males and females, such as regulating hair growth and sex drive.

Other causes of hair loss include:

  • Hair style: The style of hair can cause hair loss when hair is arranged in ways that pull on the roots, like tight ponytails, braids, or corn rows. This type of hair loss is called traction alopecia. If hair follicles are damaged, the loss can be permanent.
  • Over and Under Active Thyroid
  • Vitamin deficiency.
  • Dieting (rapid weight loss).
  • Restrictive diets.
  • Over processed scalp hair (breakage).

My dear beautiful lovelies! I hope I was able to answer some of the questions about your hair loss cause. Hair loss can be frustrated in men and women. However, for females, the psychological impact is even more dire, due to social expectations. I would love to hear about your experience with AGA and what did and did not work for you. Please respond in the comment section.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

Prime Video: Sign Up for Prime Video

biggest critics

Have You Been Feeling Down the Past Year? You are Not Alone


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Have you been feeling down the past year? You are now alone. COVID has made people feeling down. Today I will talk to you about the mental health impact of the pandemic.

The Pandemic and Feeling Down

Feeling Down

A year of staying home and Zooming in, teleworking, economic and social upheaval, and steady scientific progress has not been easy. Looking back to last March, we knew this would be difficult. However, what we didn’t know was how difficult. And we certainly didn’t know that the challenge of the pandemic would last this long. For many of us, this challenge has been overwhelming, affecting our mental health.

What Does Research Tell Us?

What research tell us is that in the immediate wake of a traumatic experience or event, large numbers of affected people report distress, including new or worsening symptoms of depression, anxiety, and insomnia. Most of these people will recover though that recovery can take some time. However, a fraction of the people will develop a more prolonged symptom, such as post-traumatic stress disorder or PTSD, and will need intervention. So, was that the case during the COVID-19 pandemic? A CDC survey from last year showed that 31% of respondents reported symptoms of anxiety or depression, 13% reported having started or increased substance use, 26% reported stress-related symptoms, and 11% reported having serious thoughts of suicide in the past 30 days. These numbers are nearly double the rates expected before the pandemic.

According to the National Institute of Mental Health or NIMH, the pandemic affected minority communities more. Per NIMH, “the most vulnerable among us are also feeling the mental health effects most intensely. Job loss, housing instability, food insecurity, and other risk factors for poor outcomes have disproportionately hit minority communities. And while overall suicide rates may have remained steady, data from states such as Maryland and Connecticut suggest that, early in the pandemic, the number of African Americans dying by suicide increased.” Data showed that deaths due to opioid overdose rose substantially in the context of the pandemic. 

CDC Survey from last year found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. Similarly, a Kaiser Family Foundation Health Tracking Poll from last year found that many adults are reporting specific negative impacts on their mental health and well-being, such as difficulty sleeping (36%) or eating (32%), increases in alcohol consumption or substance use (12%), and worsening chronic conditions (12%), due to worry and stress over the coronavirus. Additionally, Non-Hispanic Black adults (48%) and Hispanic or Latino adults (46%) are more likely to report symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder than Non-Hispanic White adults (41%). Historically, these communities of color have faced challenges accessing mental health care.

Mental distress during the pandemic is occurring against a backdrop of high rates of mental illness and substance use that existed prior to the current crisis. Prior to the pandemic, one in ten adults reported symptoms of anxiety and/or depressive disorder. Nearly one in five U.S. adults (47 million) reported having any mental illness. 

Am I Feeling Down?

Like many, I too have been feeling blue since the pandemic. I have a generalized anxiety disorder. The pandemic did not make things easy. When the country lockdown, I worked from home for about two months. During that time, my mom became very sick. Being already immunocompromised and having underlying lung disease, she stayed home. My vibrant funny mom spent the next three to four months in bed, quiet and breathless. Watching her deteriorate unable to get the thorough care she needed broke me. I couldn’t sleep, had severe migraine attacks, and gaining weight. Yes, my friends, overwhelming stress made me gain weight because I wasn’t taking care of myself. I stopped going out completely because I did not want to bring any disease home with me. Even with the extra precaution we all took, I still was always afraid of making my mom sick.

However, within about a couple of months after the pandemic started, I was physically started going to work. My anxiety rose 10 folds after that, but when my mom got hospitalized with sepsis, it was too much for me. My mental health issues started to manifest in my health. I got sick and decided to take a month off from work to take care of myself. I am fortunate enough to have that benefit from work. My time off gave me the chance to really take care of myself. AfterI got the vaccine, my anxiety went down even further. When we found that my mom did not produce any antibody from the vaccine was hospitalized again with another infection, I went back to my previous level of anxiety. Now going to work full time while the delta variant running havoc on the country is a nightmare for me every day.

My friends! I do mindful-based meditation, I paint but I still feel down. It’s better than before, but it will not go down significantly until the pandemic goes away. I do sleep every night, not much, but still better than before.

My dear beautiful lovelies! Hope you find this post helpful. I would love to know how the pandemic affected you mentally. I would love to hear about your experience. Please comment with your feedback.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

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Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

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CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

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beneficial

The Most Beneficial Thing I learned Last Year


Hi there my beautiful lovelies! Hope you guys are doing well and staying safe. Today, I want to talk to you about the most beneficial thing that I have learned in the past year. I mentioned this before, and I am mentioning it now, the pandemic caught us off guard and turned our lives upside down. Our view of what is normal has changed dramatically. The pandemic has taught us to rethink our lives. How has the pandemic changed your view of your life?

The Lesson of the Pandemic – Is it Beneficial?

beneficial
Photo by David Cliff/NurPhoto via Getty Images

The COVID-19 pandemic swept our lives apart fast and quickly. Even as a trained public health person I studied about pandemics, but did not expect to experience one during my lifetime, and that we will not be prepared to handle it at all. It turned my life upside down and I wasn’t prepared for that. However, one beneficial thing that I have learned from the pandemic has reinforced some of my core values. Let me explain what I mean.

Life is short – With the death of over 674,000 lives lost and over 42 million in the US, and 4.55 million death and over 219 million worldwide, one thing that we all learned for your is that life is short. In the pandemic, I have love ones who were infected, on the ventilator, survived, and died. People who were there last year are not here now. The pandemic has hit us without any warning. For the past year and a half, I have focused on the saying, “life is short” a lot. I believed in the saying, “yesterday was history, tomorrow is a mystery, and today is a gift. That’s why it’s called the present”. However, the pandemic reinforced that view. It made me take a step back and rethink life.

It has made me realize the most important thing in my life and make that the priority. My friends, tomorrow is not promised to everyone and I am fortunate to have had the privilege to be live my life. I will not waste that time, creating regrets and negativity. Every step I take I keep that in mind and that has made all the difference. Do I have any anxiety? Of course, I do, but I have learned to acknowledge it and treat myself with kindness. What can be more beneficial than that? The pandemic took a lot but it has given me to reinforce my values and that is the most beneficial lesson for me.

Heroes are Among Us – Another thing that we have seen during the pandemic is that there are ordinary heroes everywhere. Watching these extraordinary heroes inspires me every day. We have seen the healthcare worker, the essential workers, who worked hard every day, kept us safe. We have been ordinary people who stepped forward and do incredible, and extraordinary work to help those affecting and suffering. That lesson is nothing but beneficial.

My dear lovelies! Hope the horrible pandemic has taught you something beneficial. I look forward to hearing your thoughts.

Please subscribe to this blog or follow me if you have a WordPress account.  Don’t forget to check out my Facebook Page and follow me on Instagram @forevernijAre you on BloglovinAlso please subscribe to my YouTube channel. Let’s support each other. Please follow me and comment below with your information so that I can follow you back.

——————————–   Happy Reading ———————————-

This image has an empty alt attribute; its file name is thank-you.png
Thank you2

Follow my Instagram page on @forevernij

Follow my Facebook Page on @forevernij

Subscribe to my YouTube channels (two)

Follow my Twitter account @allaboutme3181

Buy From My Closet

Shop from my closet at Poshmark

Shop from my closet at Ebay

CAUSES CLOSE TO MY HEART

PLEASE DONATE DIRECTLY TO THE ORGANIZATIONS THROUGH MY FUNDRAISING LINKS:

I consider myself fortunate to have good health, a full-time job, and a roof over my head. However, there are still so many people who are struggling to put food on their tables. Please join me to help those who are struggling. If you have good health, full-time jobs, and a roof over your head, please join me to help those who are struggling. Whether you donate $5 or $500, you will make a huge difference in someone’s life.

No Kid Hungry:

America’s kids need us. The coronavirus is closing schools nationwide, and millions of vulnerable children are losing the school meals they depend on. For some, it’s the only food they’ll receive on a given day. We have a plan to feed kids, but we need your help today to continue our work to ensure every kid gets three meals a day. You can click above to donate to my gofundme page donation going directly to the organization, or you can click on the direct link to the site.

Food Bank of Maryland:

PLEASE DONATE ANY AMOUNT YOU CAN AND SHARE THE POST WITH EVERYONE YOU KNOW.

Manna Food Center, a nonprofit organization, strives to eliminate hunger in Montgomery County through food distribution, education, and advocacy. Millions of children go to bed hungry in America every year, sadly it’s worse now! Today, 14 million children regularly miss meals — three times more than during the Great Recession and five times more than before the pandemic.

Many parents have lost their job during the pandemic. Sadly, that shows no sign of stopping. Your donation can bring relief to the millions worried about where their next meal will come from. It’s even worse for Latino and Black families, whose rates of nutrition insecurity have spiked to 25% and 30%. In the world’s wealthiest country, this is unconscionable.

Even before the pandemic, the U.S. Department of Agriculture estimated 37 million people in America struggled with hunger and nutrition. The Centers for Disease Control reports 76% of people killed by COVID-19 had at least one underlying condition, most of which were diet-related. Diet-related diseases also fuel skyrocketing health care costs, which rose from 5% to 28% of the federal budget in the past 50 years.

Let’s make the world better, kinder, brighter. Every dollar you give will create real change. $1 will feed 5 hungry children here in the US, but $1,000 will feed 50,000 starving children overseas. Be the good in the lives of many by giving right now.

SUPPORT ME

Your generous support will help me continue to bring content to you.

AFFILIATION LINKS & COUPON

Toms: Get $20 off your first order at TOMS!

Door Dash: Get $30 off ($10 off each of your first 3 orders)

Uber: Sign Up to Ride. Use promo code
ic0b9 and get a free ride.

Lyft: Get your free ride.

Grubhub: Sign Up and Enjoy. Get $10 off your first order

Ipsy: Sign Up to Get Curated Products to Your Door Step

Boxy Charm: Use referral code Munziba-VDPRPCII

Cause Box: Get $10 Off Your First Subscription Box

Singles Swag: Receive $15 Off Your First Subscription Box

Amazon Store: Check Out My Amazon Store Front with My Favorite Products

Prime Video: Sign Up for Prime Video