A Hurried Return, but Chronic Illness's Opening Hours Remain Unchanged | A Chronic Voice

by

Returning I had to sadly return to Singapore earlier than expected, due to the coronavirus outbreak. My parents were very worried, what with chronic illness and all that in the mix. After being put on hold with the customer service line for seven hours straight (yes, happy tropical island music for hours!), I was told […]

Continue reading "A Hurried Return, but Chronic Illness’s Opening Hours Remain Unchanged" →

Drink Pure Wine Review (A Product I was So Excited to Test as a Chronic Illness Person) | A Chronic Voice

by

*Note: Whilst this post is sponsored by Drink Pure Wine, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. A parcel landed on my doorstep, and I glanced at the address. Could this be the parcel from Drink Pure Wine? Yes it was, and I couldn’t be more delighted to receive not just one, but […]

Continue reading "Drink Pure Wine Review (A Product That Excites Me as a Person with Chronic Illness)" →

All You Need to Know About the Coronavirus From the Beginning to Right Now (with a List of Live Updates from Verified News Sources) | A Chronic Voice

by

The world has been thrown into somewhat of a panic again with the new coronavirus – COVID-19 – going around. I have been receiving endless text messages from concerned family members and updates on social media, but not all of the information has been accurate. Doctors also have enough work to do, as they work […]

Continue reading "All You Need to Know About the Coronavirus From the Beginning to Right Now (with a List of Live Updates from Verified News Sources)" →

How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Your Body, Even with Chronic Illness | A Chronic Voicee

by

I’m sure you’ve noticed the commodities of love mushrooming around us at an alarming speed. Yes, Valentine’s Day is coming right up 😉 Amidst all the expressions of romantic love, I’d like to take some time to honour the bond I have with my body. It’s after all, the most intimate relationship I’ll ever have. […]

Continue reading "How to Have a Healthy Relationship with Your Body (Even with Chronic Illness)" →

Why Painkillers are One of My Biggest Allies for a Decent Quality of Life | A Chronic Voice

by

The Many Negative Associations with Painkillers Painkillers – hero, villain, friend and foe in one. What’s your opinion about them? Have you been told: Don’t take them, they’re bad for your liver and body. You’ll become reliant, dependent, or addicted to them. A good-for-nothing, pathetic junky. You’ll need more and more of them to kill […]

Continue reading "Why Painkillers are One of My Biggest Allies for a Decent Quality of Life" →

7 Ways to Be a Better Friend to Someone with a Chronic Illness (and 3 Things You Should Never Do) | A Chronic Voice

by

*Note from A Chronic Voice: Erica shares some simple tips on how you can be a good friend to someone with chronic illness. It’s difficult to put yourself in their shoes, and I wouldn’t expect that of anyone. But showing some empathy is possible, and providing a listening ear is always appreciated. Most importantly of […]

Continue reading "7 Ways to Be a Better Friend to Someone with a Chronic Illness (and 3 Things You Should Never Do)" →

Call Me Sick Girl (Or How to Make Your Weakness Your Strength) | www.achronicvoice.com

by

Why Many People with Chronic Illness Hate to be Known as ‘Sick’ From reading articles online, I’m aware that many of us with chronic illnesses don’t like to be known as sick or weak. No human being does, really. There are many reasons why one might dislike the association with their illness, such as: We […]

Continue reading "Call Me Sick Girl (Or How to Make Your Weakness Your Strength)" →

Best Tips for Preventing a Pain Flare (from 40 People with Chronic Illness) | www.achronicvoice.com

by

Part Two of Three: Preventing a Pain Flare Before It Hits This is a three-part series all about pain flares caused by chronic illness. (You can find links for the other two at the end of this post.) In this second part of the series, we share our best strategies to stop a pain flare […]

Continue reading "Best Tips for Preventing a Pain Flare (from 40 People with Chronic Illness)" →

Would You Rather: Have an Invisible Illness or a Physical Disability? | www.achronicvoice.com

by

To clarify before I begin – I have a variety of chronic illnesses that affect the blood, brain, heart and virtually any body part, but I know nothing about physical disability and have only been confined to a wheelchair once. So if I made a mistake in this article, feel free to correct me. Having […]

Continue reading "Would You Rather: Have an Invisible Illness or a Visible Disability?" →

Life with Chronic Illness: Happiness & Pain Can Co-exist | www.achronicvoice.com

by

*This post was first published on februarystars.co.uk A Day in the Life of Chronic Pain My partner massaged shampoo into my hair as I hunched over in the bathtub, shivering with pain. His finger movements were awkward but gentle, which made it all the more endearing. The pain was unbearable, yet I had insisted on […]

Continue reading "Life with Chronic Illness: Happiness & Pain Can Co-exist" →

Every Next Level of Your Life Will Demand a Different You | A Chronic Voice

by

“Every next level of your life will demand a different you.” – Leonardo DiCaprio – Who is ‘The Real You’? We often believe that we must remain true to ourselves throughout life. But there is a crucial difference between being true, and being intractable. Sometimes we avoid certain activities or thoughts because we think, ‘nah, […]

Continue reading "Every Next Level of Your Life Will Demand a Different You" →

Issue #206: Why So Many Who are Passive Suicidal Do Not Dare to Seek Help & Sadly, the Coronavirus Situation is a Taste of What Chronic Life is Like | A Chronic Voice

by

Friday, 27 March 2020. Issue #206. In this issue: The innate stigma of passive suicidal ideation, and why so many people do not dare speak up and seek help. There is a difference between being true to yourself, and being intractable. Motivational tip: Focus only on what you need to achieve right now, and take […]

Continue reading "Issue #206: Why So Many Who are Passive Suicidal Do Not Dare to Seek Help & Sadly, the Coronavirus Situation is a Taste of What Chronic Life is Like" →

Managing Anxiety and Depression as a Senior | A Chronic Voice

by

It’s unfortunately very common for seniors to experience anxiety and depression. An in-home elderly care professional pointed out that anxiety and depression are especially common in seniors that have recently lost a significant other, friends and family, or if they are dealing with an ailment or illness that doesn’t let them live their life the […]

Continue reading "Managing Anxiety and Depression as a Senior" →

Issue 205: Why Chronic Fatigue is Harder to Understand Than Pain & How to Redefine What 'Good' is in Your Life Through Acceptance | A Chronic Voice

by

Friday, 20 March 2020. Issue #205. In this issue: A ‘Self-Reward’ list for book reading motivation. Useful home resource list, such as the kitchen rocking knife. The difficulties of understanding chronic fatigue over pain, as most people have at least experienced pain at some point in their lives. The heartbreaking situation when chronic pain becomes […]

Continue reading "Issue 205: Why Chronic Fatigue is Harder to Understand Than Pain & How to Redefine What ‘Good’ is in Your Life Through Acceptance" →

Issue #204: The Best Ways to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus & The Role of Healthy People in Preventing the Rapid Spread of Disease | A Chronic Voice

by

Friday, 13 March 2020. Issue #204. In this issue: Infographic on the best ways to protect yourself from the coronavirus, NCOVID-19, and also from any airborne or surface transmissible viruses. Self-care becomes a lot less glamorous than the picture painted, when your energy and mobility are limited. No two chronic illness persons are the same, […]

Continue reading "Issue #204: The Best Ways to Protect Yourself from the Coronavirus & The Role of Healthy People in Preventing the Rapid Spread of Disease" →

Issue #203: Doctors Rarely Talk About Acceptance, but It’s Probably the Biggest Decision to Make & Faking Being Well to Get Through Your Day | A Chronic VOice

by

Friday, 06 March 2020. Issue #203. In this issue: It’s terrifying when you experience physical and strange symptoms from chronic illness which there are no answers for. What people don’t see – faking being well, in order to preserve dignity and get through the day. Soap is a detergent that breaks down lipids, which the […]

Continue reading "Issue #203: Doctors Rarely Talk About Acceptance, but It’s Probably the Biggest Decision to Make & Faking Being Well to Get Through Your Day" →

Issue #202: Neglecting Self-Care Leads to Deterioration of Mental Health & Little Love Letters to Yourself, for Those Dark Days | A Chronic Voice

by

Monday, 02 March 2020. Issue #202. In this issue: Self-care isn’t indulgent; neglecting it leads to deterioration of mental health and more. Sometimes the pain feels like forever, but take one breath in and out, and survive. Little love letters and guideposts for those days when it gets too dark. The loss of a passion […]

Continue reading "Issue #202: Neglecting Self-Care Leads to Deterioration of Mental Health & Little Love Letters to Yourself, for Those Dark Days" →