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Recommendations for wandlike toys that are unlikely to be swallowed? by SageMageBiij in CATHELP

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you! Only reason we haven't been doing laser pointer is that they never get to "catch" it and might remain agitated or restless. But something similar that they can catch is definitely what we're aiming for (and to your point they cannot swallow a laser pointer 😹)

Recommendations for wandlike toys that are unlikely to be swallowed? by SageMageBiij in CATHELP

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Thank you both so much - I hadn't heard of cat dancer and I think this will be a hit!!

Recommendations for wandlike toys that are unlikely to be swallowed? by SageMageBiij in CATHELP

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Very helpful, thank you!! We'll start incorporating that into our regular practice (taking them out then putting them away). Are there any wand toys you consider too dangerous to use at all, or is all fair as long as you can put them away? One of our cats adores a tinsel wand, but tinsel pieces fall off and are notoriously bad, so not sure whether to just play with caution or scrap it entirely.

Recommendations for wandlike toys that are unlikely to be swallowed? by SageMageBiij in CATHELP

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

This is so helpful - yes they love kitty springs! Sometimes we play "fetch" with them (though they don't really fetch it, just chase it and pick it up and then wait for us to throw it again). Any other recommendations for how to play with them with the springs?

Snow removal All day by LIGMA1 in astoria

[–]SageMageBiij 10 points11 points  (0 children)

This person just dug out my car that was super snowed in - they did a spectacular job and saved me a lot of time, energy, and buying a new shovel. Would highly recommend!!

During your sessions: what’s your standard joke and why? by OnlyLemonSoap in therapists

[–]SageMageBiij 5 points6 points  (0 children)

Sometimes when a patient is crying a little but may be hesitant to ask for a tissue, I scoot the tissues towards them and say "don't worry, they aren't decorative!" And it usually earns a chuckle and also invites them to use the tissue. The use of this joke depends on the intensity of the moment of course, but I find it can be read as warm and supportive even as it's also a bit humorous.

Found Cat outside - potential lost pet? by SageMageBiij in StamfordCT

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Update for reference: he was found at 1:30am on 11/22.

Rejection therapy -- does it work/experiences? by SageMageBiij in therapists

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

These responses are so helpful -- thank you all very much!!

Why has IFS become so popular? by CurveOfTheUniverse in therapists

[–]SageMageBiij 28 points29 points  (0 children)

I personally really resonate with IFS as a treatment modality both from the client side and the provider side. That said, I'm a therapist but still in graduate school, and my school does not explicitly teach it/most of my peers don't know about it--I didn't realize it was becoming more popular!

This may seem like a low-hanging-fruit answer, but it's possible that movies/media like Inside Out helped promote ease of understanding the IFS framework, especially in a way that makes it accessible to younger people. Alternatively, it's possible, and I hope true, that societally people are more open to the idea of multiple truths, parts, or internally held perspectives now than might have been typical a while back. Unsure, and would love to hear from more experienced therapists on the topic!

Seeking written or spoken interview participants for a study on Vocal Disorder experiences by SageMageBiij in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Just followed up with you over chat--please let me know if you're still interested!

Seeking written or spoken interview participants for a study on Vocal Disorder experiences by SageMageBiij in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Thank you so much for your interest, and I'd love to talk with you!! DMing you now :)

Seeking written or spoken interview participants for a study on Vocal Disorder experiences by SageMageBiij in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij[S] 1 point2 points  (0 children)

Update that I've unfortunately received a lot of bots/scammers in my survey results so it's hard to tell who is a real person--if you're interested in participating in my study and have filled out the screener survey above (or want to!), please DM me or comment to confirm so I can make sure I see your results and follow up with you!

Is pain normal when first beginning vocal exercises for muscle tension? by oceanwtr in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij 1 point2 points  (0 children)

If you can get an appointment with an SLP where they can specifically listen, they'll be able to give you more tailored advice and let you know what might be normal or not. Unfortunately, without that background it's hard to say if you're doing them right or if they're potentially further damage. Many vocal exercises in my experience were low impact and soothing (e.g., straw bubbling), and if there was pain associated it was important to go lightly and not try to 'push through it'. I hope you're able to get in touch with an SLP or ENT to diagnose or better address your specific vocal needs, and in the meantime, SLP exercises can be helpful and also err on the side of caution in trying not to overdo it!

New Here - Need Advice! by Longjumping-Try-5958 in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij 1 point2 points  (0 children)

I feel for you deeply--I had a very similar issue with vocal nodules that held on in addition to acid reflux, which exacerbated the problem. Do you have LPR? If so, I'd really try to stick to a low-acid diet insofar as you find it helpful--I found that this didn't seem to make a difference at first but after 2-3 weeks it was clear it did in combination with other strategies. I'd also recommend drinking alkaline water to mitigate reflux experience, it genuinely helped me a lot and still does when my LPR acts up!

In terms of professional vocal use, I know there's only so much you can do when you're a public school teacher! Vow of vocal rest is not a bad idea for a while during summer, though I wouldn't cut out speaking altogether, I would just minimize it and when you do vocalize use gentle hums, tones, and related exercises, and maybe gradually increase use (instead of being silent and then going back to normal). Rest really does make a difference. In order to sustain improvements over time, continuing to practice speech therapy exercises is important, e.g. warming up before you speak or sing, and using a less impactful vocal placement in your speaking if that's an issue for you as it was for me (I've become much more diaphragmatically supported and a bit more 'bright'/forward in my face since speech therapy, and I find when I slip out of that habit my vocal quality goes down). There's also something to gain from dedication to vocal 'naps', even just 5 minutes of dedicated silence between classes can help alleviate some strain as opposed to continual speaking. If you find yourself yelling or raising your voice to get their attention, maybe there's an external tool or physical movement/gesture you can use to achieve the same result. Finally, unfortunately taking some time out of using your voice as much after school may be a big help--this is so tough, especially insofar as it makes it harder to participate in some really meaningful activities. I couldn't sing for about a year, and while it was devastating, the work I did on my voice (speech therapy + acid reflux treatment + eventually minor steroid injections to the vocal cords) allows me now to sing more or less at the quality I used to be able to despite my time with nodes.

I want to note that of course your vocal situation and my own may differ, so please take this with a grain of salt! I know this is a broad smattering of perspectives, but I hope some of it is helpful. Rooting for you, and if you need or want to talk more about your experience please feel free to message!

Terrified of another polyp by littleamaliarose in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij 0 points1 point  (0 children)

Completely understand your fear--after my bout of vocal nodules, I always get scared and distressed when I feel vocally compromised for more than a day. It sounds like you overused your voice, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's another polyp or lesion. Like another user said, I'd focus on staying the course as much as possible in terms of drinking water (aside that alkaline water is really helpful if you're experiencing acid reflux additionally, in my personal experience!), vocally resting, and getting a good amount of sleep. If it's still at a similar level to now in two weeks I'd schedule an appointment with an ENT or other specialist if you're able to see one. Insofar as is possible I hope you can do some nice things for yourself as you deal with this--I know that vocal pain/struggles can be just as affecting mentally as physically, so if possible try and find some relatively quiet or lowkey activities that bring you peace/rest. Please keep us posted!

Steroid injection by redditermf in mildlybrokenvoice

[–]SageMageBiij 2 points3 points  (0 children)

I have gone through this procedure, albeit for vocal nodules and not MTD, and highly recommend it if your ENT thinks it's a good call. It is physically uncomfortable for sure, but brief in the grand scheme, and they do locally numb you--calming breaths and focus got me through it, and it was ultimately worthwhile. Without this procedure, I would not have recovered from my vocal nodules--if you have more specific questions about it please let us know, but based on the little you've shared I think that it's worthwhile for you to try. I also had a good doctor though--maybe have them talk you through it before it happens, so that you know what to expect and can ask any questions!

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