There is something in sweat that changes the brain activity in another person. So when you’re around someone stressed out and sweating, you can become more alert and heightened just by inhaling the scent of the sweat.

Lest you think this all has to do with pheromones, think again. Scientists have yet to find a link to the “signal” that sweat gives off and that of pheromones.

To me, it’s interesting that someone can pick up on the stress level of someone else when the other person is sweating. I feel like I do that anyways when I see someone else stressed out. But the research that was done for this study isolated the sweat and the situation to confirm that it wasn’t seeing someone in peril but inhaling their sweat instead.

The body is a weird and wonderful thing, isn’t it?

Image: sxc.hu.

Post from: Blisstree

Picking Up on Another’s Stress

Marijke Durning, blogger at Help My Hurt  wrote about quilts and how making and quilting them seems to ease her pain, Pamper Yourself and Maybe Ease the Pain.  She discovered that when she’s too busy to do her quilting, her pain seemed worse. 

 One thing I noticed is that since I’ve slacked off on my quilting and began to work more, my pain level has increased. Whether it’s the relaxation of quilting (I hand quilt), the creativity that goes into the design, or the fun of choosing the colors and all that, I don’t know. But, maybe the message is, it’s time to get back to my quilts.

If you want to see some exquisite quilts, check out the many quilt photos Marijke has posted of her work at Marijke’s Quilts.

 By last count, my family thinks I’ve made well over 100 hand-quilted quilts. I’m able to do this because most of my quilts are lap-sized ones, although there are some really large ones.

Do you find that quilting, or a similar project, relaxes you, relieves stress, and eases pain?  Perhaps quilting also will help your Alzheimer’s patients.  My mother could no longer quilt by the time she was living with me.  However, she enjoyed looking at quilts, touching them, and reminiscing about them. 

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Can Quilting Help Caregivers Manage Stress & Pain?

  Reading an article at Everyday Health about the possibility of daytime naps improving memory and recall of facts, reminded me of trying to keep Mother from too many naps, especially close to bedtime,  when she lived with us.  Napping seemed to increase her nighttime wandering….and didn’t improve her memory. 

Because I wasn’t able to nap when Mother did, I then was kept awake with her nightly activities as she decided to explore the house, try the door to the outside, empty the refrigerator so her cat could have a feast, clean the cupboards, or get dressed and groomed, then call “When are we going?” if I weren’t out of bed.  (Going where, I wasn’t sure, but she definitely had an agenda.)

Incidentally, the article clarifies:

 A 45-minute midday nap can help boost your memory and remember facts, but only if you learned them well in the first place, a new study suggests.

 So it doesn’t specifically deal with Alzheimer’s but perhaps is something I should keep in mind as I go about my busy days even though Mother is no longer with us. Since I often have to keep going on little sleep, I’ve discovered that a 20-minute nap can refresh me and enable me to accomplish more.  (Now I don’t have to feel guilty about napping anymore!)

If you, as a caregiver, can nap when your Alzheimer’s patient is taking one or someone else is watching him/her, you may find you have more endurance to face the frustrations and stress of being a caregiver.

Do you nap? 

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

Daytime Naps, Improved Memory, Alzheimer’s & Caregivers

  Caregiving can be a stressful job, whether you’re a professional or caring for a family member in their or your home.  You need to develop techniques for relaxing and managing your stress so you don’t burn out.  Perhaps you’ve found what works for you.  Or you may be looking for some ideas. 

Here are 10 suggestions:

1. Read your favorite type of books…I love mysteries.
2. Relax in the bath tub or hot tub.
3. Take walks and enjoy the world around you.
4. Practice yoga or some form or meditation.
5. Cook…some find breadmaking relaxing.
6. Find a favorite handcraft…possibly quilting, fabric art, painting, knitting, crocheting, rug braiding…something you can become passionate about so that it takes your mind off your problems.
7. Scrapbooking and researching family history.  Look for those ancestors your family member may mention when they’re living in their past.  Thus you’re preserving a family legacy.
8. Watch a DVD movie or TV series.  Our family recently has been laughing along with Monk.
9. Play music that you enjoy.  This might be slow music or something rolicking that you dance by.
10. Go out to lunch with a friend or family member.  Make it a relaxing time.

How do you relax and relieve your stress?  Share with us!

(c)2008 Mary Emma Allen

Post from: Blisstree

10 Ways to Manage Alzheimer’s Caregiver Stress