Thriving despite corona

It's been a long time since I wrote anything in public! My name is Annette and today I decided to share a topic that has always been part of my life. 

First if you know me a bit you may be aware that I am very interested in the law of attraction. I watch videos and read books about it for inspiration. One of the videos had the title "How to thrive despite corona lockdown"?
Being a musician my work life has slowed down quite a bit...I am teaching a few hours here and there but despite that I hadn't had the excellent creative inspiration yet how to work the way I enjoy it most despite the situation. So how could I thrive in this situation?

I decided to give special attention to my health especially to my skin. I always struggled with eczema atopic dermatitis (eczema) and a few months before corona lockdown once again it had gotten out of control a bit...my fingertips were pretty broken and often I used cortisone to be able to play violin at all.
Now was the time to start healing again! Sometimes trying new ways can be a bit scary...there is so much information out there how to heal eczema. I tried many in my life and often it would get worse although it apparently had healed so many others. But now that I wouldn't be on a stage for a while it didn't matter if it got worse since nobody (besides my husband and my son) would see me!

So this is what I did:
- I started taking skin related supplements such as biotin and zink.
- I started taking probiotics to heal the inside as well.
- Whenever doing housework I would use gloves to protect my hands...no more bad chemicals on my
   hand ever!
- I started running again to get lots of sunlight (Vitamin D) and also sweat out toxic stuff.
- I continued doing yoga to get more balanced mentally.
- I also found a new lotion that really took away the itching without cortisone in it.
- I decided to get off all cortisone cremes.

So did it help?

At first it got worse...my face and neck got hot and red and I felt really emotional and tired.

After a few days I almost wanted to stop my new routine. And then...it slowly started healing!
It's been about 10 weeks since starting this routine and my fingertips are pretty much healed!
I can play violin without any pain, which is amazing!!!
I still have a few itchy spots on my neck and arms though they are smaller and less aggressive.
It's still a journey but it's so much better already! It was always my goal to heal and still be able to live my life the way I desire to live.

Slowing down wasn't my number 1 goal at this point in my life but it has given me the chance to be more kind to my body and give it the attention it needed.

I wanted to share my little journey in case you struggle with skin issues and need new inspiration! I am happy to share additional information about the supplements and lotion I use just let me know.

Namasté

From New York to Berlin: Life as a come-backer: Life with eczema-sometimes a life of pleasant surp...

From New York to Berlin: Life as a come-backer: Life with eczema-sometimes a life of pleasant surp...: Hi! My name is Annette and I am a violinist and German. It's been 2 1/2 months now that I moved back to Berlin after living in Ne...

Life with eczema-sometimes a life of pleasant surprises

Hi! My name is Annette and I am a violinist and German.

It's been 2 1/2 months now that I moved back to Berlin after living in New York City for almost 12 years.

Now it's time to get a bit personal and write about eczema...just because it's a lifelong topic for me and a lot of other people and maybe it helps somebody if I am writing about it.

If you know me a bit you have seen me struggle with eczema...an up and down is pretty normal for this disease however the past 3 years (more or less) before moving back to Berlin it was mainly a down period...the worst was winter...my whole body was struggling and I was trying everything to make it better...extreme diets (I tried everything from raw to vegan to paleo!), all kinds of lotions, supplements, acupuncture.....the list goes on and on...struggling with eczema is not just a vanity thing...it's about being uncomfortable in your own skin, it can feel like 1000 needles when you move around....being itchy and therefore not being able to concentrate as well....forgetting your lotion or your emergency cortisone....a nightmare! Having to answer uncomfortable questions and being ok with people staring can be tough at times...and the past 1-2 years I would also feel sick a lot...and sometimes have insomnia....eating out was always scary specially when I had a lot of work the next day...I never knew how my body would take it....sometimes I would feel hungover without having had much or even nothing to drink at alI...I thought something is seriously wrong with me...

With eczema people quickly blame psychological issues as a cause....now sometimes that is true. Having a lot of tension in your life can affect your skin. I also think that the personality of a person with eczema tends to be sensitive. However eczema patients are often told that they can't work under pressure and may be depressed....and therefore should choose a life without pressure-that I don't believe at all!!!

In my case partially my psychological state may have contributed to my uncomfortable phase...not having figured out where I belong together with living in a very nervous city like NYC probably didn't help.

However I always thought that there is something else there that I couldn't figure out...

When I moved to Berlin after 2-3 weeks I could tell that my skin wasn't overreacting as much....after a month I noticed I can eat without get sick, also me waking up for hours in the middle of the night got less and less. In fact I couldn't stop myself from eating a lot, because it was so wonderful to not get sick anymore! (but I think it balanced itself out now, thank goodness!) Some hardcore eczema spots, for example a spot on my face, that was there for months, disappeared!

Now, my eczema is not gone, however I can eat a lot more ingredients again. I had times where I worked out without getting itchy at all despite sweating!

I can eat out and not get nervous! I can sleep without itching!

I almost don't take use of my emergency cortisone anymore-I can even drink red wine and coffee again! And that being a new beginning in a new city with a lot of things to take care of.

Well I have no idea what the cause was in NYC - it may have been something in the water, I know that there is chloride and fluoride in the water in the USA. There are more artificial ingredients in food. And maybe the apartment I was living in had mold or dust or something that I was allergic to. Berlin is a lot calmer, and maybe I am calmer too? I don't really know the cause....

...but I know that I am feeling so much better! So I guess what I am trying to say is that sometimes you get sick from stuff around you that you can't see or maybe not even prove....but always trust your instinct and never stop trying to find solutions to heal....eventually you will get there! Namaste!

From New York to Berlin: Life as a come-backer

Hi, 

my name is Annette and I am a violinist and German. I spent almost 12 years in the USA, 9 of those as a New York resident, 3 of them as a touring musician. I decided to return to my home country and life chose Berlin for me.

Now it’s been a month and I realize there are things that I need to get used to again, even though I grew up that way.

These are the one’s that stand out for me the most:

 

Hippies and punks still exist in reality, not just in movies!!

• I can’t believe they still exist!!! Barefoot-non-working-men-and-women-polishing-their-nails-in-the-subway-however-not-hungry-people everywhere….
• Even the musicians and artists in NYC dress pretty presentable on a regular basis- I believe you wouldn't survive otherwise! 

  
  

  People love being naked!

• I went to a lake somewhere outside of Berlin and about 90 % of all forms, ages, heights presented itself naked!
• I admit I was slightly uncomfortable with this situation wondering if it’s ok to look at everybody openly or if I would be considered voyeuristic and instead mainly stare at the beautiful sky or anywhere but at the people?
• I had clearly been un-Germanized-I didn't use to be uncomfortable! 

  
  

  People really take their free time!

• I see people spending hours drinking a coffee at a neighborhood place in the middle of the day!
• People keep telling me “don’t stress, calm down, no need to rush, vacation vacation vacation”...This is something I need to understand again-in New York that would be unacceptable-or worse you may lose your job if you choose a slower pace

  
  

  Rules are rules are rules are rules are rules……..

• Since being back I have had so many conversations about rules in general-in a working environment or how to behave on the streets, in your apartment etc…
• It freaks me out a bit- I am expecting to be yelled at when on my bike at any given moment (and I have been yelled at for crossing a green pedestrian traffic light with my bike-notice there was no specific bike traffic light and it was green light-so what was I doing wrong???)
• But also I notice that the rules are so complicated that people find ways to stretch them-it’s a necessity to make things work. 

  
  

  Customer service-what a difference!
  

• while in the US in general you get the shortest answer with the least effort, often from people that don’t know more than you (how many times did I get wrong answers about my phone service, taxes etc by so-called professionals!)...
• ...In Germany they tend to give you as much information as possible whether that’s relevant or not for your situation-so out of a ½ hour conversation you have to filter out the 10 % information that really matters

  
  

  Drinking and smoking

• there are still quite a few bars where smoking is ok-smoking is still cool!
• You are not considered an alcoholic if you have a beer at 11 am!

What are your thoughts? Would love to hear them!

All my best,

Annette

www.annettehomann.com