The Alexandria Papers Newsletter #78

The Alexandria Papers Newsletter #78 | Dr. Alexandria Szeman 1 October 2023


Mindfulness

A guide to meditation for people who think they can’t meditate | Vox
The no-rules approach to building a meditation practice.
A Gentle Practice to Wind Down Before Bed | Mindful
I’m Sara Ivanhoe, yoga director at the University of Southern California where I teach a five-week course on sleep. What I’m going to be teaching you now is a short sequence of gentle movements and breathing techniques to help you wind down at the end of the day and prepare for sleep.
A 12-Minute Meditation to Reconnect With Your Senses | Mindful
When we rest our attention on what we’re seeing, smelling, tasting, touching, or hearing, we can begin to feel fully present.

Migraine

Antidepressants for pain? Not the right answer, experts conclude | Medical News Today
A large meta-analysis of several reviews of the literature has concluded that, in most cases, antidepressants are ineffective in the treatment of chronic pain.
Did You Know Headache Is Only One of the Possible Migraine Symptoms? What Are Signs and Symptoms of Migraine? | Migraine Again
Migraine is associated with a surprising array of symptoms that can vary from person to person or attack to attack. In fact, while some refer to migraine as a migraine headache, a headache is only one of several symptoms people experience.
The link between migraines and gut problems | Mayo Clinic
Migraines can be associated with certain gastrointestinal problems. Learn more.

Trauma and Sexual Abuse

Some basics of dissociation | Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
Dissociation is often subtle. It’s often not the dramatic “switching” we imagine it to be, or we’ve seen dramatized in the media. Most often people who dissociate don’t announce it. Hell, often people who dissociate aren’t entirely aware they’re dissociating.
Feeling disrespected or dismissed can be a particular kind of trigger for complex trauma survivors | Dr. Glenn Patrick Doyle
Complex trauma survivors often have this complicated relationship with visibility. On the one hand, many of us have learned over the course of our lives that to be seen isn’t particularly safe. Many of us consequently go through adult life trying hard NOT to be seen.
RAINN Online Hotline
Do you need help dealing with sexual assault, rape, or incest? Call @RAINN ‘s Hotline 800.656.HOPE (4673) to talk to a trained staff member from a sexual assault service provider in your area. Don’t feel comfortable talking? Use chat/text instead.
Certified Trauma Specialist Program | Jennifer Kindera
Are you looking for a certified trauma specialist program which will fit into your life, emphasizing taking care of yourself while learning, along with a safe community of trauma Informed individuals? Tuesdays 3 Oct-12 Dec 2023, 4pm PT/5pm MT/6pm CT/7pm ET

Mental Health

Am I Too Old for This? Becoming a Published Novelist at age 65 | Electric Literature
A 65-year-old debut novelist examines the publishing world’s obsession with youth
When You Want to Get Back to Normal but Life Will Never Be the Same | Tiny Buddha
It’s human to want things to return to normal after a big life change or loss. But instead of getting stuck in that trap…
A brief history of abortion, from ancient Egyptian herbs to fighting stigma today | The Conversation
Abortion has a long and varied history and remains central to our culture, our lives and even our art.

Books

The 20 Most Influential Memoirs of All Time | Book Riot
These influential memoirs reflect on poverty, mental illness, racism, and more, and they’ve indelibly changed the culture.
23 best biographies and memoirs about inspiring women in history | NBC News
These are some of the best books about women in history, according to the frequency of Goodreads members adding them to “want to read” lists.
A Brief History of Project Gutenberg (and Its Public Domain Books) | Book Riot
The history of Project Gutenberg is connected to both the beginnings of the printing press as well as that of ebooks.
10 Benefits of Reading: Why You Should Read Every Day | LifeHack
If you’re not reading regularly, you might be missing out: here’re the most significant benefits of reading you must know.

Cooking and Baking

My Family’s Favorite Fall Meal Starts with Leftovers | All Recipes
One writer shares how she saves leftover veggies all summer long in preparation for her family’s favorite fall dish.
A Smitten Kitchen Ultimate Thanksgiving | Williams Sonoma
Celebrated home cook, author and award-winning blogger, Deb Perelman of Smitten Kitchen, shows you how to create the best Thanksgiving yet with fresh recipes and beautiful inspiration.
The Best Peanut Butters Are So Good You Can Eat Them By the Spoonful | Saveur
The best peanut butters are equally delicious in both savory and sweet uses, from fluffy cookies to peanut sauce on noodles.
You Need a Dutch Oven-But It Doesn’t Have to Cost $400 | Bon Appetit
Splurge on Le Creuset or Staub if you want to-but there are plenty of other high-quality Dutch ovens, from Lodge to Misen, that cost less than a pair of jeans.

My Books

In the Thin Places, a Poem (for Max or Alex or, maybe, James)

Last night I dreamt of you, after all these
years, and you were lying in my arms, in

the middle of the day, the sunlight showing
the first strands of silver in your hair, and

your eyes blue, so blue, heart-poundingly
blue, like something out of a romance novel

only better because, at last, you were mine…

Books by Alexandria Constantinova Szeman
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