Lanala LMSW

09/30/2025

09/29/2025

DBTskills : Emotion Regulation Module.

09/29/2025

09/28/2025

🌸 Hormones, Menopause & the Lymphatic System

By Bianca Botha, CLT | MLDT | RLD

Menopause is often spoken about in terms of hot flashes, mood swings, and sleep struggles — but did you know your lymphatic system also feels the impact of hormonal shifts? 🌀💧

Let’s explore how estrogen and progesterone affect lymph flow, why many women notice swelling during this stage of life, and what you can do to support your lymph naturally.

🔄 Hormones & Lymphatic Tone

Your lymphatic vessels aren’t just passive drainage pipes — they have muscular walls that contract rhythmically to move lymph fluid. This process is influenced by hormones:
• Estrogen 💕: Helps keep lymphatic vessels supple and improves microcirculation. Declining estrogen during peri- and post-menopause may make lymph vessels less efficient.
• Progesterone 🌙: Calms inflammation and supports fluid balance. When progesterone drops, women may retain more fluid and experience puffiness or swelling.

Together, these hormones keep your lymphatic “rhythm” steady. When they fluctuate, so does your drainage efficiency.

🌊 Why Swelling & Inflammation Increase

Many women notice new or worsened edema, puffiness, or joint stiffness during menopause. Here’s why:
1. Decline in Estrogen → Weaker vessel tone, less elasticity, and slower lymph flow.
2. Progesterone Drops → Fluid retention and less anti-inflammatory support.
3. Inflammatory Shifts → Menopause is often linked to higher systemic inflammation (CRP, cytokines), which burdens the lymph.
4. Slower Repair → With age and hormone changes, tissues heal and detoxify more slowly.

This explains why ankles, hands, or even the face can suddenly feel “puffier” during this life stage. 🌿

🌼 Supporting Your Lymph During Hormonal Transitions

The good news? With the right support, you can keep your lymph moving freely and reduce discomfort:

✨ Gentle Lymphatic Care
• Manual Lymphatic Drainage (MLD) or Reflexology Lymph Drainage (RLD)
• Dry brushing or gentle rebounding (if joints allow)
• Deep breathing exercises to stimulate thoracic duct flow

✨ Lifestyle Support
• Hydration 💧: Sip clean water with electrolytes (minerals help balance fluid shifts).
• Movement 🚶‍♀️: Daily walking, stretching, or yoga keeps fluid pumping.
• Posture: Avoid sitting for long periods to prevent stagnation in the legs.

✨ Nutrition & Supplements
• Anti-inflammatory foods (berries, leafy greens, turmeric, omega-3s)
• Avoid high-salt, processed foods that worsen swelling
• Support with magnesium and phytoestrogen-rich foods (like flax, sesame, and fermented soy if tolerated)

🌸 Takeaway

Hormonal changes in menopause don’t just affect mood and energy — they directly influence the lymphatic system’s ability to drain, detox, and protect. By giving your lymph gentle daily support, you can reduce puffiness, feel lighter, and improve overall resilience during this transition of life. 🌿💚

📌 This article is for informational purposes only and is not a substitute for professional medical advice, diagnosis, or treatment. Always consult your healthcare provider before making changes to your diet, exercise, or health regimen.

09/28/2025

Your partner should be your peace, not an extension of your trauma.

So often, we get trapped in the idea that discomfort, tension, or unease in a relationship is just part of love, or something we have to “work through.” We tell ourselves it’s normal to feel anxious, to feel on edge, or to feel unseen by the person we care about most. But love is not meant to feel like a battlefield, and your relationship should never deepen the wounds of your past. Constant stress, fear, or emotional exhaustion around someone who’s supposed to be your safe space is a clear sign that the relationship is harming you rather than helping you grow.

A healthy partner does not add to your burdens—they help carry them. They do not reopen old wounds—they hold your hand while you heal. They do not make your life more chaotic—they create calm, joy, and security. You deserve to be with someone who makes you feel lighter, who encourages your dreams, and who sees your worth even when you struggle to see it yourself. Life is too short to settle for anything less than someone who nurtures your heart, respects your boundaries, and inspires your soul to expand rather than contract.

Take the time to honor your feelings, to listen to your intuition, and to recognize the difference between someone who loves you and someone who simply mirrors your pain. You deserve a love that brings out the best in you, a love that feels like home, a love that doesn’t just occupy your life—but makes it truly worth living.

09/28/2025

"Why We Shout In Anger"

A saint who was visiting river Ganges to take bath found a group of family members on the banks, shouting in anger at each other. He turned to his disciples smiled 'n asked.

'Why do people shout in anger shout at each other?'

Disciples thought for a while, one of them said, 'Because we lose our calm, we shout.'

'But, why should you shout when the other person is just next to you? You can as well tell him what you have to say in a soft manner.' asked the saint

Disciples gave some other answers but none satisfied the other disciples.
Finally the saint explained, .

'When two people are angry at each other, their hearts distance a lot. To cover that distance they must shout to be able to hear each other. The angrier they are, the stronger they will have to shout to hear each other to cover that great distance.

What happens when two people fall in love? They don't shout at each other but talk softly, Because their hearts are very close. The distance between them is either nonexistent or very small...'

The saint continued, 'When they love each other even more, what happens? They do not speak, only whisper 'n they get even closer to each other in their love. Finally they even need not whisper, they only look at each other 'n that's all. That is how close two people are when they love each other.'

He looked at his disciples and said.

'So when you argue do not let your hearts get distant, Do not say words that distance each other more, Or else there will come a day when the distance is so great that you will not find the path to return.'

💡 Takeaway:
Anger creates distance between hearts, while love brings them closer. Speak gently, so your words heal instead of pushing someone away—because once hearts grow too far apart, the path back may be lost.

🕊️

09/28/2025

Where True Happiness Dwells

Often we spend our lives
searching for the big moments
that we believe will finally make us happy,
an achievement, a milestone,
a dream realized.

We imagine that joy will arrive
in some grand event
just beyond the horizon.
Yet, in chasing after these distant promises,
we risk overlooking
the quiet treasures
that already fill our days.

If we simply slow down,
breathe,
and notice the people who walk beside us,
the small kindnesses shared,
even the warmth of a simple embrace,
we begin to see
that these ordinary moments
are extraordinary in their own right.

It is here,
in the texture of daily life,
in the presence of those we love,
in the fleeting
yet precious now,
that true happiness
and lasting contentment dwell.

~ 'Where True Happiness Dwells' by Spirit of a Hippie

✍️ Mary Anne Byrne

~ Art by Annacozysoul

09/28/2025

Too many people believe that love alone will carry a marriage. While love is the foundation, it is not enough to build a lasting partnership. A strong, healthy, and peaceful marriage requires understanding, clarity, and alignment.

Before saying “I do,” sit down with your partner and have the real conversations — even if they feel uncomfortable:

How will bills, savings, and debt be managed?

What are your parenting styles and beliefs about raising children?

What role will religion or spirituality play in your life together?

How will you handle in-laws, extended family, and boundaries?

What are your expectations in intimacy and emotional support?

How do you both view careers, education, and long-term goals?

What are your beliefs on politics, society, and community?

Have you discussed past traumas and how they shaped you?

Do you know each other’s family health and mental health histories?

What dreams, values, and visions do you want to grow together?

✨ Marriage is not just about hearts coming together — it’s about building a life where two people walk in the same direction with shared understanding.

When these conversations are had early, you save yourself years of conflict, misunderstandings, and disappointment. Love is powerful, but love without clarity can turn into chaos.

✔️ So remember: Love deeply, but also plan wisely. Build your marriage not just on passion, but on honesty, vision, and trust.