My VEDA Experience #SSSVEDA

Last month I participated in VEDA or Vlog Everyday In August. A vlog is a portmanteau of the words "video" and "blog". I flirted with the idea of vlogging or making videos on Youtube since 2007 (before I was diagnosed with Stargardt's). I've always enjoyed the creative content the site has to offer. Yes, its more than cat videos! Its also been amazing to see so many of the creators develop their brands and others sharing their lives over the years.

September Is...National Guide Dog Month

A blog post that isn't a TED Talk? *sarcasm* Well the answer is yes and its a "This Month Is..." post. This lovely month of September happens to be

TED Talk Tuesday: Ron McCallum - How To Read When You Are Blind?

Its Tuesday, so that means another TED Talk and this week the featured speaker is visually impaired. I know I should of featured more videos like this sooner.

TED Talk Tuesday: Lissa Rankin, MD - Can We Heal Ourselves?

I'm starting to think do I work for the TED organization and don't know it yet? Hmmm... I wonder myself at times. *smiles* Its Tuesday so that means another Ted Talk. This week's presentation is from the TEDx American Riviera event and features physician Lissa Rankin.

Dr. Rankin takes a holistic approach to what makes people ill and what makes us well. In her TED Talk below she discusses how we may have the ability to heal ourselves with our minds. She cites the phenomenons of the placebo effect and the nocebo effect. She also looks at how our mentality towards life and our lifestyles can affect our health. I wonder though if the placebo and nocebo effects take place in all health cases. For instance if a patient has strong positive belief and doesn't get better or vice versa, just a thought.

She doesn't say that physicians and healthcare workers are no longer needed but may need to reevaluate how they treat patients. Patients should also remember that their healthcare is a collaborative effort between themselves and their care providers.

 

Check out Dr. Rankin's latest book:


Mind Over Medicine: Scientific Proof That You Can Heal

If you liked this, you may like the following: 

TED Talk Tuesday: Chen Lizra - Seduction In Our Everyday lives


TED Talk Tuesday: Brene Brown - The Power of Vulnerability

Turning Your Can'ts into Cans: Being a Visually Impaired Parent

Kim Nguyen: Varying Degrees of Visual Impairment

Since I've been a part of the visually impaired community for less than 16 months I'm still learning a lot. Its sort of like a baby learning how to walk, still a little awkward in their gait. At times its difficult to explain what's going on because I just don't have the experiences or the confidence to explain what I see. Sometimes navigating through the feelings involved when dealing with vision loss is more difficult than actually confronting the impairment. Imagine my excitement when I came across the youtube channel of 19 year-old Kim Nguyen.