Phone: 616-217-9489 | eMail: jude@midlifetoolsforliving.com
JD's Midlife Tools For Living Practices, LLC
No matter what our age we are never done learning…life is a journey we are all on together! And together we can learn from one another too. Why re-invent a wheel if we don’t have to right?! On this page are tools and resources begged, borrowed and dare we say ‘stolen’ for you to access and practice with…yes, practice with because that’s what we do in life we practice till we get better at things.
It’s vital that you remember you will NEVER BE PERFECT…sorry to be the bearer of this bad news but realistically we are all very human and that means by definition imperfect beings…always was and always will be! But we can practice and be better and then practice some more!
That’s because just when we get good at something well… life happens and we fall off the horse and well… we have to figure out how to get back up, dust ourselves off and learn to ride yet once again…we just do and we just will…that you can count on!
But you do not have to do that alone…JD’s MIdlife Tools For Living Practices, Life Coping Tool Box is here for you! Below are some tools we hope you will find useful and add to your Life Coping Tool Box. Topics are arranged alphabetically. More will be added as life goes on and we discover new ideas and resources to share with you!
Hey, leave us a note on our contact page and let us know which of these tools you are practicing with and find most useful to you. Got any ideas of topics and resources you’d like to see added to our list? Do let us now that too! We are listening and eager to learn too!
On line 12 step meeting options
I put this document full of tips together many years ago now with ideas I found on the internet from multiple articles I had read. I hope it helps you this holiday season! Jude
50 Tips Stay Clean and Sober This Holiday Season
How to stop ruminating thoughts
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/03/how-do-i-know-someone-is-experiencing-anxiety-or-depression/
This is an excellent resource for information on Bi-Polar Disorder:
www.dbsalliance.org
Find a support network in Michigan:
https://navigateresources.net/nemi/MatchList.aspx?k;;0;;N;0;0;Caregiver/Care%20Receiver%20Support%20Groups
This is an excellent article on how to use I messages:
http://www.encouraging-appropriate-behaviour.com/free-stuff/how-to-use-i-messages.html
https://www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/04/self-care-tips-for-health-care-workers/
https://www.webmd.com/mental-health/signs-compassion-fatigue
Adults and Co-occurring Disorders
Check out the National Council for Mental Wellbeing’s resourses:
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/03/how-to-support-a-loved-one-going-through-a-tough-time-during-covid-19/
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/04/supporting-friends-during-covid-19/
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/03/how-to-care-for-yourself-while-practicing-physical-distancing/
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/04/tips-to-help-teens-cope-during-covid-19/
An article on how we will know when the pandemic is over:
www.npr.org/2021/07/10/1014374383/covid-19-coronavirus-pandemic-when-its-over?utm_source=npr_newsletter&utm_medium=email&utm_content=20210713&utm_term=5567206&utm_campaign=the-new-normal&utm_id=58794042&orgid=&utm_att1=
Long Haul Covid is a real condition and is challenging to identify as well as to live and cope with. The Survivor Corps website and organization has lots of resources to help you and your doctor determine what is going on with you and help you through it!
www.survivorcorps.com
Another support group for Long Haul Covid:
www.wearebodypolitic.com/
A great discussion on Long Covid: Skeptics Are Wrong, Researchers Say via Conversations on Health Care:
mailchi.mp/chc1/chcradio-long-covid?e=3278bf6ca4
Article CSNBC on costs of Long Covid: www.cnbc.com/2022/11/30/why-long-covid-could-be-the-next-public-health-disaster.html
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2020/03/how-do-i-know-someone-is-experiencing-anxiety-or-depression/
Learn how alcohol affects aging:
www.webmd.com/mental-health/addiction/ss/slideshow-alcohol-aging?ecd=wnl_spr_071321&ctr=wnl-spr-071321_lead_title&mb=J2oTI6XeTJO4JW6m0r58TeHnVev1imbCFS6afOpMrwY%3D
Alcoholism and its effect on the family
Dealing with the elephant in the room
Age appropriate ways to talk to your kids about addiction
Laugh your way to a better marriage with Mark Gungor and The Tale of Two Brains….watch with your partner and some popcorn!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=814eR5K7KD8
5 Stupid Questions Women Ask Men with Connie Pedestal:
www.youtube.com/watch?v=foAFds-r0w0
My Mom received a well used and passed on copy of this little book after my Dad died from a friend and I found it to be very helpful and have given this little gem to several people in my life… Jude:
carenotes.com/carenotes-titles/grief-therapy/
Learn about the connections that drugs and addiction have with gun violence:
https://www.therecoveryvillage.com/drug-addiction/how-guns-drugs-contribute-to-violence/
Learn about mass shootings and your mental health:
www.webmd.com/mental-health/mass-shootings-mental-health?ecd=wnl_spr_041423&ctr=wnl-spr-041423_promo_link_1&mb=J2oTI6XeTJO4JW6m0r58TeHnVev1imbCFS6afOpMrwY%3D
The National Child Traumatic Stress Network has resource to help parents and children deal with catastrophic mass violence events:
www.nctsn.org/what-is-child-trauma/trauma-types/terrorism-and-violence/mass-violence
The American Academy of Pediatrics shares information about how to talk to children about tragedies:
www.healthychildren.org/English/family-life/Media/Pages/Talking-To-Children-About-Tragedies-and-Other-News-Events.aspx
PBS article on helping children with tragic news events:
www.pbs.org/parents/thrive/helping-children-with-tragic-events-in-the-news
The basics: managing physical pain and a substance use disorder
Web MD is a reliable source of information. You can subscribe to receive information to your email address on various health topics. This is a free resource. You many want to check out their blogs: https://blogs.webmd.com/default.htm or use the button below to go there right now!
Web MD Blog Posts
This book helped me so much…I read an earlier version and am happy to see that the author, William Bridges updated it…I need to get myself a copy! Jude
www.amazon.com/Transitions-Making-Sense-Lifes-Changes
Here are notes Jude wrote up in preparation for a radio talk on Midlife:
Midlife Crisis Radio Talk
6 mindfulness exercises you can try today
The buttons below will take you to the articles and websites:
Web MD Quiet Your Mind
Mindful.org Getting Started
Talking with your children about alcohol and drugs
Facts on alcohol and drugs
This is an interesting article on parenting awareness and opportunity for changes during the pandemic that make a difference:
www.washingtonpost.com/lifestyle/2021/07/13/relaxed-parenting-rules-pandemic
www.mentalhealthfirstaid.org/2021/08/back-to-school-five-ways-to-support-your-children
Knowing what we are feeling is important and not always easy to determine. Sometimes it helps to look at a list of feeling words then check in with ourselves to see which ones fit! Here is a list you can print off:
How are you feeling today?
Gratitude is a powerful life tool and in this page are several websites you can find information about how to cultivate more of it in your life:
Gratitude Websites
Unhelpful Thinking Habits With Alternatives
From Fitbit 7 ways to banish a bad mood
The holiday season can be joyful, but it can also be stressful—and that might be compounded by COVID-19. You are not alone. Here are some tips for positive coping strategies and ways to stay healthy this season!
Mental Health and the Holidays
Self Regulation Skills
Tools to help manage emotions: DBT Self Help.com
How Trauma and Addiction are Connected
An article on Adverse Childhood Events:
www.npr.org/sections/health-shots/2015/03/02/387007941/take-the-ace-quiz-and-learn-what-it-does-and-doesnt-mean
A support community for male trauma survivors:
malesurvivor.org/
