It’s the more unspoken part of dealing with chronic illness. If being able to get out of bed or going to a doctor’s appointment is a big win, taking care of your daily hygiene needs makes up all the tiny victories in between. It seems so simple. Just take a few minutes to clean yourself … Continue reading Slogging through hygiene
Tag: mental health
Life saving distractions
You aren’t lazy. Nothing about coping with chronic illness and pain equates to slothfulness. Each moment that you decide to stay in the fight is brave and exhausting. Every second that you don’t give over to the ease of eternal sleep shows enormous strength and fortitude. You are amazing and your struggle is acknowledged by … Continue reading Life saving distractions
I’m just girl – Diagnosing part 3 (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
I just assumed that every person became light headed when they stood for an extended period of time. Standing up quickly or being overly active would always leave me with a spinning room and short light show. It was something I naturally compensated for through the years. I figured that everyone lived with these daily … Continue reading I’m just girl – Diagnosing part 3 (Postural Orthostatic Tachycardia Syndrome)
Response required yesterday to a letter received today
We try, desperately, to meet and match deadlines set by the world. But, from work to leisure, time works differently for the broken. Our bodies’ needs outweigh our desires to keep up with a “normal” pace of life. On the truly terrible days, I can’t function. I can’t leave my bed. Every micro-movement, even just … Continue reading Response required yesterday to a letter received today
The good stuff
So many terrible things happen when you have a chronic illness. There are hours, sometimes even weeks and months, which go by before a calm spell hits. At that time, with the chaos of survival temporarily quieted, we have a chance to appreciate the lessons we learned during the bad days. Those small servings of … Continue reading The good stuff
Medical desperation
There are so many people with chronic and mysterious symptoms that the western world has developed show-and-tell entertainment around being sick. There are television shows, corporate websites, online series, and major news segments dedicated to showcasing all of our complications. Why do we engage with industries that make a profit off of our pain? Simple. … Continue reading Medical desperation
Hospital PTSD
Post-traumatic stress disorder (PTSD) is not exclusively a wartime condition. There are innumerable events that can cause the disorder. Personality traits and emotional leanings also contribute to the likelihood of developing PTSD. For centuries, trauma was treated as a momentary cut instead of a deep scar. Today, we realize that lifelong mental distress can be … Continue reading Hospital PTSD
I’m just a girl – Diagnosing part 1 (Gastroparesis)
I was 18 years old and living in the American south. It was a new adventure after moving to the U.S just a few years prior. Being eighteen and still adjusting to a new culture, my life was a combination of amazing and incredibly stressful. It was a time before social media. The Internet was … Continue reading I’m just a girl – Diagnosing part 1 (Gastroparesis)
It’s all in your head
Over these last few months, there have been a number of news and medical publications making the claim that past trauma is the cause of difficult and uncontrollable physical pain. This isn’t a new idea nor is it a conclusive proclamation of why all pain manifests. Of course, it is catchier for journalists to summarize … Continue reading It’s all in your head
