Take Your Pill-Xanax-Wishing You All A Healthy New Year, 2023

I just finished watching the Netflix documentary on the ant-anxiety drug, Xanax. It is very informative and I recommend the film to those suffering of anxiety. Here's a brief summary of the film from the article written by Linda Carroll from TODAY and some recommendations from the film producers, Maria Shriver ( former wife of Arnold S) and daughter Christina Scharwzenneger.    

"For years, the rates of anxiety — and the use of a fast-acting prescription drug to alleviate its symptoms — have been on the rise. The pandemic, experts say, has dramatically pumped up those numbers. A new Netflix film “Take Your Pill: Xanax” spotlights the alarming number of Americans using the medication Xanax to calm their anxiety.

Each year an estimated 19.1% of U.S. adults experience some form of anxiety disorder, according to the National Institute of Mental Health. That translates into 40 million American adults, the National Alliance on Mental Illness noted. The National Institute of Mental Health estimates that 31.1% of U.S. adults will experience an anxiety disorder at some point during their lives".

What are some drug-free ways to cope with anxiety?

Rather than drugs, Brown's practice exclusively uses exposure therapy, a "psychological treatment developed to help people confront their fears," according to the American Psychological Association.

“We prefer it because our goal is teaching people that they can be in situations that cause anxiety. They learn the ability to tolerate the anxiety," Brown explains.

“For a lot of people, the anxiety in and of itself becomes intolerable. It’s the fear of the fear. People with panic disorder fear the panic attacks. They’re so terrified that their body will start having anxiety symptoms, and they do all sorts of thing to stifle it,” she says.

Exposure therapy is a type of cognitive behavioral therapy, or CBT.

“CBT, when applied to anxiety, generally provides an understanding of the relation between thoughts, behavior and emotions,” Thea Gallagher, Psy.D., an anxiety specialist and assistant professor at NYU Langone Health, tells TODAY.com.

Taking a medication like Xanax doesn’t help in the long term, she says. “When you stop, you don’t have the skills to tolerate anxiety. With CBT, it gets easier over time to tolerate the fear.”

For those not ready to commit to CBT, there are some ways you can help yourself, Gallagher says. These include:

• Getting enough sleep
• Exercising
• Breath training
• Mindfulness

It's best to practice these skills before you're in a situation where you're experiencing severe anxiety, Gallagher says.

 For complete details read: Article written by Linda Carroll in TODAY

 https://www.today.com/health/mind-body/take-your-pills-xanax-netflix-rcna60645

Meanwhile here are 2 photos of my Dungeness Crabs purchased for my New Years' Eve Dinner to be made into Torta de Cangreo ( Crab Omelet). 

Also Enjoy The David B Katague Clan Water Color Portrait. Christmas Eve, 2022

Thank you to All My Friends and Relatives Who Sent their New Year Wishes and Greetings

 

Stranded in St. Louis on Christmas Day- Driving Adventure on the Way Home

Last December 18 to 25, Ditas and Carenna spent 7 days with me to help celebrate my 88th Birthday on the 20th. Then on the 24th the DBK Clan had an All White Attire ( Diner en blanc) Christmas Eve Party. The party and some photo was described in my recent blogs.

Early morning on Christmas day, Ditas and Carenna left Sacramento to St Louis via Southwest Airlines on their way home to DC. The rest of the story on Southwest Airlines scheduling meltdown has been in the news for the last couple of days and as of today it has not been resolved. The news detailed why SW was the only airline that had a meltdown and the most flight cancellations which affected the travel plans of thousands of passengers, Ditas and Carenna among the frustrated clients. Besides the inclement weather, the outdated schedule computer software and poor management planning was blamed for this hundreds of cancellations which can cause millions of dollars for refunds on meals, hotels and other expenses incurred by the SW airlines passengers during this period. 

Here's what Ditas posted on her FaceBook page with some photos of their unexpected driving adventure from St. Louis, Missouri to Alexandria, Virginia.

" Unexpected road trip courtesy of Southwest Airlines- 4 cancelled flights.  We sure hope they reimburse for 3 nights hotel, car rental with one way drop St Louis to DCA, gas and meals. Oh and 3 extra dog boarding nights, 2 lost luggage. And one fatal car vs big rig wreck on I-70-RIP. But it was an adventure and on our road trip Carenna Katague-Thompson and I figured out Taylor Swifts companion songs to her new Midnights albums. #bondingovertaylor #winterroadtrip"

The divine spirit, God or whatever you call her - was with us tonight. Our car was 75 yards from being crushed by a jackknifed big rig that slid on the icy Interstate 70. The car in front of us was not so lucky. Carenna and I were pretty shaken by what we witnessed but managed to call 911 and get emergency crew there. We are resting safely for the night and will continue our journey home to DC, slowly and cautiously. Keep us in your prayers of protection. Aad Guray Nameh, jugaad guray nameh, Sat guray nameh, Siri guru dev a nameh #ByGodsGrace

 

Ditas and Carenna Safely Home with Carenna's Guest Friend, Laila

Home Sweet Home- Leif was glad to be out of boarding school and Laila is visiting. All is good, tired but glad to sleep in our own bed.

For details on the Southwest Airlines Fiasco read:

https://www.cnn.com/2022/12/29/business/southwest-cancellations-history-charts-dg/index.html

 

The Benefits of Weighted Blankets for Anxiety and Sleep Disorders

One of my latest purchase last Cyber Monday was a weighted blanket(Hush) that was 60% off. It was a queen size and a perfect fit for the guest bedroom. I have never thought of getting a weighted blanket so I did some search and here's what I learned.

How Do Weighted Blankets Work? 

When you’re stressed, your heart beats too quickly. When this happens, it's important to look to stress relief and mindfulness techniques such as deep breathing, meditation to bring down your heart rate. The gentle pressure on your body provided by a weighted blanket can also help to calm you by activating your parasympathetic nervous system, which lowers your heart rate when you’re stressed. 

A weighted blanket uses “pressure therapy”, a calm-inducing amount of pressure on your entire body, similar to the feeling of being hugged, swaddled, stroked, or held. The right size and weight of a weighted blanket depend on the person’s needs.

Here are four conditions that weighted blankets can help children and adults with.

What Conditions Can a Weighted Blanket Help With?

Anxiety

Everyone experiences  at some point. It’s that feeling of uneasiness and worry, usually about something in the future. It can cause your heart rate to increase and your breathing to get faster, which is a result of your body preparing for stress.

If anxiety is constant, and it’s disrupting your daily life, you may have an anxiety disorder. Instead of worrying about an upcoming event, you may worry excessively about everyday situations. This can make your body feel like it’s in a stressful situation or environment most or all of the time.

Based on what’s going on around you, your autonomic nervous system — which controls basic bodily functions such as breathing, digestion, sweating, and shivering — prepares your body for stress or rest. This is often called the fight or flight response.

The pressure of weighted blankets puts your autonomic nervous system into “rest” mode, reducing some of the symptoms of anxiety, such as a quickened heart rate or breathing. This can provide an overall sense of calm.

Sleep Disorders

If you find yourself tossing and turning in bed every once in a while, you’re not alone. Some 20 million Americans have trouble falling asleep occasionally — and over 40 million people in the US have long-term, chronic sleep disorders.

“Stress and anxiety can cause a sleep disorder to begin with, or they can make existing problems worse. However, you don’t need to have a disorder for stress and anxiety to affect your sleep. Anxiety about the next day’s test or presentation can keep you up at night” explained Martin L. Levinson, MD, FACP, FCCP, physician at Penn Sleep Center Cherry Hill.

Because the pressure from weighted blankets prepares your body for rest by calming your heart rate and breathing, they help your body to calm down enough to get the sleep it needs so you can wake up feeling refreshed.

Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder (ADHD)

“Children with attention deficit hyperactivity disorder (ADHD) have a harder time with self-control, especially when it comes to paying attention and sitting still. This can cause problems at school or at home, and it can impact their learning, as well as their relationships with friends and family,” said Dr. Levinson.

Children with ADHD are often distracted by what’s going on around them, such as other people talking or what’s happening outside. It’s harder for them to focus on what they want to focus on, like the teacher talking.

By activating the sense of touch, the weighted blankets keep children from becoming distracted by other sensory stimuli, such as sounds, coming from their surroundings. This can help them improve their attention, remain on task, stay in their seats, and fidget less. If your child does not want to use a blanket in class, you can get them a weighted vest, which works similarly to blankets.

Autism

Dr. Levinson explained that “when someone has Autism Spectrum Disorder (ASD), social interaction can be hard for them. This can lead to anxiety and stress, as well as make it harder to function in school, the workplace, and in public situations.”

The pressure from the weighted blankets can relieve stress for people with ASD and improve their ability to focus on the task at hand. It can also make them feel as if they’re being rewarded.

Individuals with ASD may also feel like sensory stimulations around them, such as noises and touch, are too intense. This can make activities like playing, working, and socializing more challenging. The pressure from a weighted blanket can actually help provide comfort from feeling over-stimulated and allow them to relax.

Are you interested in weighted blankets or other ways to alleviate anxiety? Request an appointment to discuss your anxiety and ways you can cope with a Penn Medicine primary care physician online or by calling 800-789-7366. 

https://www.pennmedicine.org/updates/blogs/health-and-wellness/2022/march/weighted-blankets

 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from our recent Christmas Eve Party:

 

 Front Row: Ditas. Philip, Alix and Marina ( Four of my Six Grand Children)

Back Row: Ruth, Ditas, Dodie, Me, Dinah and Wyeth ( Marina's boy friend). Brendan, Alix boyfriend took this photo.

 

Photos from Our Christmas Eve Lunch

Here are some photos from our All Filipino Dishes Christmas Eve lunch. With the exception of Philip( Dodie's son) all were en blanc as I requested.

Carenna, Alix, Ditas and Dodie-starting a few sets of mahjong game after lunch 

Another Parlor After Dinner Game for the Mind- Grand Daughters Alix and Marina with their respective boyfriends, Carenna, Ditas and Dodie
 

Thanking Ditas and Carenna for planning the party and ordering the dishes from Peenoy. The Ube cake was delicious and the suman brought and made by Brendan ( Alix boyfriend) has a truly authentic sweet rice cake. Thank you Dinah for the dessert, and Dodie and Ruth for the rum drink and other goodies.  

  

 

My Number One Choice for An Independent and Assisted Living Facility

Last March after my youngest son passed away, I have thoughts of moving to an Assisted living Facility closed to my oldest son ( within 15 minutes driving time), and have close social connections with other seniors. I did numerous search of facilities within 30 minutes driving time from my oldest son residence. I searched and talked to a dozen facilities and The Kensington at Walnut Creek was my Number #1 choice.  However, after talking to friends and neighbors I realized that I am not afraid of living alone and my neighbors are my social contacts as well as my 2 cats as companion.  Thus as of today, I am still in our home here in Fair Oaks, about two to three hours driving time from both my oldest son and oldest daughter residences. 

I do have a Home Care Aide( twice a week), Cleaning Ladies ( once a month), Lawn Care Man( 2 times per month) and a Home Service Massage Therapist ( once a month). 

Here's an e-mail from the Kensington inviting me again for a personal visit. My choice is their 2-bedroom unit.  

Thank you for your previous interest in The Kensington at Walnut Creek,  Earlier this year you requested information, and I don’t see a record of you coming to visit. Come visit us! We welcome all to see if The Kensington is a great option to find a social, safe place to live maintenance free.

The Kensington is nestled in the residential neighborhood of Walnut Creek, walking distance to convenient shops and restaurants.  Within our walls, is a family made up of residents and staff who make everyday a day to rise for.  Our community is well known for a place to live independently and maintenance free, while having access to personal help and not having to move apartments when you need more.

Visit our website! Website

 Independent and Assisted Living

1 Bedroom $6400-$6550

1 Bedroom deluxe $$6775 - $6950

2 bedroom $9000 - $9500

2^nd person fee $1200.

Memory Care

Starting at $9650 including 1^st level of care

One time Community fee $8000

The base price includes all day dining in our restaurant, weekly housekeeping, light linen and laundry service, all utilities, basic cable and Wi-Fi, scheduled transportation, programs, lectures, classes, outings and events.

CARE AND COSTS: For residents requiring assistance, care services are available, starting at $750/month, and are based on a physician’s report and assessment with a nurse at our community.   We help with bathing, dressing, grooming, escort to dining and activities, assistance with bathroom activities, medication management to include insulin injections and other activities of daily living. (see attached description of care assessment)

We require evidence of negative TB screening and a Covid-19 test no more than 24 hours prior to physical move in. Our resident services team does a fantastic job coordinating all of this to streamline the process.

PETS: Pets are welcome! Size limit and demeanor are considered. $25/mo. pet fee

SOCIAL and INTELLECTUAL ENGAGEMENT: We provide a full calendar of programming each month that our current residents assist in planning.  You will find daily fitness and balance classes and bridge groups.  Brain fitness is also important so we provide Intellectual programs such as jeopardy, life size scrabble, science hour, and Intellectual infusion.  In addition, weekly live music happy hours, a gardening club, outings, and scheduled transportation. Trips to museums, concerts, plays and just out to lunch are available for those who would like to venture out exploring all that the Bay Area has to offer.

I look forward to meeting you!

Happy Holidays!

Gayle Gois

Sr. Sales Specialist

The Kensington at Walnut Creek

Main 925-943-1121

Cell 925-886-3685

We create communities where we share passions, live in balance, and build a legacy.

 Meanwhile here's the latest photo of one of my companions-Robin

and one of the photos taken on my 88th birthday last Tuesday. 

Ditas, Carenna and I enjoying our Seafood Dinner from Red Lobster, 12/20/22

 

A Lucky Day Playing Mahjong on My 88th Birthday

Enjoying Lobster Dinner on My 88th Birthday

Yesterday, Ditas, Carenna,Yuka and I played mahjong after our Lobster Dinner celebrating my 88th birthday. It has been a while since I played my favorite game. Perhaps, the numbers 88 was lucky as I had a straight 6-games winning streak and another 7- pairs Game ( no jokers) won only after 4 draws. This is the first time I had a 7-pairs game won after only 4 draws. When I open my tiles, I had already 5 pairs. The next draw I got another pair.  My third draw I got the 7th pair. On my 4th draw I draw the winning set 567 of circles-drawing 6 with my 5-7 waiting set.  What a lucky day. I should have gone to the Casino. Attached are some photos during my birthday dinner.

 

I received more than 150 birthday greetings in FaceBook from the Philippines and here in the US. Thank you All for your BD Greetings and Good Wishes. One greeting was from a first cousin in the Philippines that I have not communicated for over 75 years. Indeed the ease of communication via social media is fantastic. Have a Safe and Happy Holidays to All!

 

 

The Origin of the All White Attire Party-My 88th Birthday

Getting Ready for the All White Christmas Dinner Party- My old Rancho Bernardo Cashmere white sweater has been rescued from the closet and white pants and shoes purchased from Amazon.

Today Tuesday, Dec 20, 2022 is my 88th Birthday. Thank you Lord for all the Blessings I have Received. And to those who already have send their Christmas Greetings ( Philippines and Australia) -a very special thank you! No big party plan. Ditas and Carenna are here with me. We will just order a Lobster Dinner. Yesterday, my home care aide made some Pancit- a symbol of long life. My niece Yuka may come after work and we could play mahjong after dinner. The big party will be on the 24th-an all white attire party. 

One of my to do bucket list is to attend an all white attire party. However, as of today, this has not been accomplished. So on December 24th for our Christmas Dinner, I requested that all my dinner guests dressed all in white from top to toe. 

"This year the David B Katague Clan is celebrating Christmas Dinner en blanc. This meant we will all be dressed in white from top to toe. This idea was inspired by the latest episode of the TV Series "Too Hot to Handle" that I watched recently. In the last episode of this TV series, the winner of cash ( $100K) was announced. All the participants were required to dress all in white. It was a classy affair. 

Below is a summary from Wikipedia on the origin of the All White Attire Party or Diner en Blanc. 

Dîner en Blanc ("Dinner in White" in French) is a worldwide event spanning six continents in which people have a meal dressed in white in a temporary dining setup in a public space. Diners are required to provide their own food, tables, chairs and tablecloths. Only a select number of participants who have previously signed up are made privy to the location the day of the dinner, and generally converge in an iconic urban location.

History

The Dîner en Blanc concept began in Paris in 1988 when François Pasquier invited a group of friends to an elegant outdoor dinner at the Bois de Boulogne, asking them to dress in white so they could find each other. The event's presence has grown to over 85 cities, with almost 17,000 gathering for the 30th-anniversary event in Paris.

Pasquier's son, Aymeric, introduced the concept to Montreal, Canada in 2009. In 2011, with the help of Sandy Safi, Aymeric Pasquier hosted the first American Dîner en Blanc in New York city. The event has grown to have an attendance of more than 6,500 with a waiting list of over 80,000 people. In 2012, Aymeric Pasquier and Sandy Safi partnered to create Dîner en Blanc International Inc., a Canadian company in charge of developing the Diner en Blanc network and license worldwide.

In 2012, Singapore was the first Asian city to host a Dîner en Blanc, and Brisbane the first Australian city. Canberra held Dîners en Blanc in 2013 and 2014, and Melbourne debuted the phenomenon in 2015. Here are two videos- suggestion ideas for an all white attire for both men and women.

 

 Here's an article and video of a Diner-en-blanc in Orange County in 2017

 https://www.wowevents.com/what-is-diner-en-blanc/

 

Loneliness Pandemic and Seniors Living Alone

 

I was watching the news the other day. One subject discussed was that loneliness in adults in US still persists post Covid-19 pandemic. It was also mentioned that volunteering is an activity that could relieve the feeling of loneliness. I did some search on the prevalence of loneliness here in the US. Loneliness specially affects the health and well being of seniors living alone. 

Living alone

"Much of the problem stems from the growing number of seniors who live alone. According to the U.S. Census Bureau, 12.5 million older adults live in one-person households, representing 28 percent of people aged 65 or older. The Administration on Aging (AoA) drills down even further into this statistic, noting that the number of women living alone far outnumbers men: while 72 percent of men over 65 are married and living with someone, only 45 percent of women are married and 37 percent are widowed. Almost half of women over 75 live alone.

People over 65 have an average life expectancy of almost 20 more years, AoH notes. “That’s a long time to live alone,” Meadows says. “Also, more and more older adults do not have children, and that means fewer family members are providing care and companionship as those adults age.”

“One observation I’ve had over the years is that even those who live with family are often alone much of the day. Their children and grandchildren are busy and involved in activities outside the home. There are many good things about aging in place at home, but I don’t think we anticipated the loneliness that can result.”

Learning to spot the triggers

“An important first step in alleviating senior loneliness is to spot the signs of social isolation,” Meadows says.

Along with having no local network of family and friends, seniors may withdraw into isolation for other reasons. They may be despondent from the recent loss of a spouse or friend. They may be alienated as a result of a chronic health condition, depression, or failing memory. Loss of hearing may propel feelings of isolation. A fear of falling or of driving can keep seniors confined to their homes. For details visit the following site:

https://stonegatesl.com/one-is-the-loneliest-number-combating-senior-isolation/

Here's a summary of what I learned.  

"America was facing mental health challenges prior to the COVID-19 pandemic that were fueled, in part, by an epidemic of loneliness This link will open in a new tab. that continues today. Our published studies show that loneliness impacts many people of all ages and all demographic groups across the country, and is particularly problematic among workers .

According to new, confirmatory data from Morning Consult commissioned by Cigna, more than half of U.S. adults (58%) are considered lonely. This is fairly consistent with pre-pandemic research that showed 61% of adults experiencing loneliness in 2019, after a seven percentage point increase from 2018.

Loneliness and mental health concerns often go hand-in-hand. The new data shows that adults with mental health issues are more than twice as likely to experience loneliness as those with strong mental health. Given this association and widespread mental health concerns following the pandemic, the need to continue to raise awareness about loneliness remains. It impacts us every day, everywhere, and while society adjusts to the new normal of work, family, social interaction, health and safety, it’s essential that efforts to address loneliness and improve mental wellness continue. The report looks at the state of loneliness among U.S. adults in December 2021" For details of this report from Cigna visit the following site.

https://newsroom.cigna.com/loneliness-epidemic-persists-post-pandemic-look 

Meanwhile enjoy this photo from my album-framing and digital reproduction and enlargement by  designmemories.com

 Macrine and I in our Purple Outfit (2003)- Black Frame-18" x 24", Watercolor

Here's another Digital Creation from a photo by Epicpaint.com that I do not like. The copying of Macrine's eyes and mine are not natural. 

 

The original photo (2007) with instruction to remove Macrine's eye glasses

 

An Addition to My Portrait Gallery and Simple Christmas Decor This Year

 

Four weeks ago, I ordered a Watercolor Painting Portrait created digitally by Designmemories.com as advertised in FaceBook. The ad states that completion is expected from 7 to 10 days. After 14 days, I have not heard from the company. I sent the company a couple of e-mails asking for order status update. I thought the company is a scam and commented on their FaceBook Page. Silence!!!

Three days later, I received a response from the company apologizing for the delay. They are swamped with orders and their mail tracking partner has changed. They responded that there will be another 7 t0 10 days of wait. 

Exactly 4 weeks after my order, the watercolor painting portrait arrived properly framed as I ordered it. I am very please with the results as shown in the photo above. It is a treasured addition to my Portrait Gallery.

For comparison of before and after here's the original photo that I uploaded for the company to work on. 

There are several companies in FaceBook advertising the same service- copying digitally your photograph to look a painting. You could choose several styles of painting such as watercolor, oil, acrylic etc...I have also ordered a water color portrait from paintus.com. Giftsshack.com and mapleinspirations.com are other companies doing similar service as designmemories.com.

You could order as a poster also, framed or unframed. The price will depend on the size and framing. It is not cheap. For example I paid $149 for the water color portrait with framing above, 18" x 24".  The smallest size 8" X 12" unframed varies from $49 to $69 with 2 persons in the photo. Additional charges will be charge for additional faces in the photograph submitted. 

Meanwhile here's some photos of my simple Christmas decor this year.

 

No Christmas tree this year-just the Parol from the Philippines

 

Meanwhile, this rendition of Spanish Romance by Hauser & Villegas reminds me of Macrine (RIP) and our younger years. One of Macrine's favorite piece.

https://www.youtube.com/watch?app=desktop&v=IqP5gzPdNZ0