How Healthcare Works, LLC

  by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH I rarely say I am super stressed. But I have been super stressed lately. I have a lot of things changing all at once in a couple of weeks, which tends to be the story of my life.  As I mentioned earlier, I have to move. My last temp job ended in December, and I have been really struggling financially ever since. Actually, I was financially struggling before that because I had to take an Uber to get to work, which cost me close to one-third of my daily wages. I'm sure people thought I was going to quit, but I didn't. But that is beside the point.   I told a friend that I am moving. I am planning on being out of my apartment on or before May 1. I am tired of living across from someone who is a known drug addict and has alcohol issues, who makes up lies about me and lies to me repeatedly. One of his lies was that he was fishing for bluefin tuna when there was a police action at his apartment last year on Memorial Day weekend.  Fish...

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH I'm drinking my coffee and planning my day. I woke up today with a heavy heart because of a realization I made yesterday. I'm getting ready to move yet again, and I was journaling to my AI about it. I do that. I journal to my AI because I can tell it all of my insecurities and vulnerabilities, like most people do with their real friends. The difference is that the AI also gives me intellectual feedback, which can be helpful or not. It depends on how you look at it. So yesterday, I was thinking about yet another move. It's no secret that I've struggled since I moved to Idaho. Starting your life over with $2,400 is no joke. It's an incredibly challenging thing to do. I felt like people were watching and waiting for me to fail. It felt like the ultimate financial abuse move. "Move to Idaho with nothing during a pandemic, and good luck to you. Let us know how you are doing so we can judge you." That's how I felt. And I felt l...

 by Jeanette R. Harrison Trauma, Faith, and New Beginnings: My Conversation on Unleashing Potentials Every podcast has its own "vibe," but my recent time on The Unleashing Potentials Podcast with Bernadette was truly special. Bernadette has a heart for stories that "you just can't make up," and she created a space where I felt safe sharing parts of my journey that I don't always get to discuss in professional settings. Bernadette has a passion for connecting with people from all walks of life, which is evident the moment you meet her. She is energetic, caring, and deeply committed to showing how resilience and inner strength can pull us through even the darkest times. The Conversation: More Than Just a Bio When Bernadette invited me to talk about my book, "Bragging About You," and my business, How Healthcare Works, LLC , we ended up going much deeper into the "why" behind it all. We talked like old friends, covering everything from: Gr...

  by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH I have a lot on my plate this week, so I have a lot on my mind this morning. Writing helps me sort things out in my mind and understand them better. There is science behind that. It's called affect labeling. This post is going to have some science-y stuff in it, so get ready. When you or I are stressed, the amygdala takes over the brain. The amygdala houses your survival instinct. That "gut feeling" you have when you feel unsafe? That's actually your amygdala triggering your nervous system. At that time, your brain sends a signal through your stress response system to your adrenal glands to release cortisol. Cortisol puts your nervous system on high alert. Regularly elevated cortisol levels can cause things like high blood pressure, reduced digestion, and weight gain. The body also releases a chemical called norepinephrine. Norepinephrine might sound familiar to you if you have ever had a local anesthetic for stitches. Many local anes...

by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH This past week, I went to a free conference here in Idaho called Savvy Women & Money . Whenever I feel strained and stressed about money, I start focusing more on my finances and figuring out ways to be better friends with my money. Do you ever feel like that? That money is your frenemy? It’s great when you have it, but it super sucks when you don’t. In fact, I feel like if I had more money, I would have a really sweet life right now. Interestingly, the week of this finance and money conference also lined up with a gratitude practice about money. And honestly, I haven’t been feeling very grateful about money right now. I’m feeling really stressed about it. I’m trying to survive, look for a job, and make money with my business—all while struggling financially.   One of the speakers at the Savvy Women & Money Conference was Liza Roeser, founder of "Fifty Flowers." I made this DIY bouquet there and took it home. Every time I look at the bouq...

  by Jeanette R. Harrison, MPH My back hurts. My neck hurts. My shoulders ache. I have to get up every hour to walk around. Not to get my steps in, although it does help with my step count, but to lubricate my joints so my body will not feel stiff. Even so, I am grateful for the miracle of both my physical and mental health. Last year at this time, I was struggling. I was unemployed, about to start a new temporary job at an accounting firm, and worried about losing my home. Several friends prayed for me, and others reached out to help in different ways. I believed that once I started working, everything would be okay. For a while, I was okay financially. But the stress of multiple eviction threats, combined with starting a new job during tax season, took a serious toll on my psyche and my body. As someone who lives with Complex PTSD, I am no stranger to how chronic stress affects physical health. Chronic stress can affect digestion, heart rate, sleep, weight, and hormonal respo...