A health, wellness and chronic illness blog that aims to articulate lifelong illness from various perspectives.
I am finally getting around to the third installment of book recommendations, specially dedicated to my fellow chronic illness friends! Not all of these books are solely about health and illness; we need a break from these topics sometimes, don’t we?! But they are more or less related to humanity, the human body, and the […]
Continue reading "Book Recommendations for the Chronically Ill: Part III"
When Pain is Chronic and Unseen Physical pain is no laughing matter, that’s for sure. When we mention the word ‘pain’, the type of pain that often comes to mind first is that of a physical nature. In fact, unbearable physical pain that becomes chronic is a major contributing factor to suicide risk. For people […]
Continue reading "Sometimes, Physical Pain Isn’t the Worst Part About Chronic Illness"
Interview on the ‘Disabled to Enabled’ Podcast I recently had the pleasure of being on the ‘Disabled to Enabled’ podcast, where Jessie Ace interviewed me. She interviews a new person every week, from doctors, to radio DJs, and bloggers! Personally I’m not a big fan of consuming content via videos or podcasts, and am more […]
Continue reading "My Virgin Interview on the ‘Disabled to Enabled’ Podcast"
*These writing prompts are part of a monthly community activity I host. You can find the link to join us at the bottom of the post. We’d love to have you with us! Finding I have been working hard to find work of late, but everything is kind of in that sketchy startup stage. It […]
Continue reading "On Being a Decent Human Being and Other Thoughts"
August went by like a whirlwind for me! I was like an autumnal leaf caught in its drift. My ex was back in Australia for a month, so I was alone at his place caring for all the birds – they sure know how to make a mess! The tinier the trash (seed husks, and […]
Continue reading "September 2019 Linkup Party for People with Chronic Illnesses"
*Note: This post contains affiliate links. It will not cost you anything to click on them, but I will get a small referral fee from any purchase, which will be used to maintain this blog. Thank you! Stress is Part of Life, and More so with Chronic Illness I have a friend, Julie, whom I […]
Continue reading "‘Stress Less’ Course: By a Therapist Who Lives with Chronic Illness"
Ancient Communities vs Modern Independence Independence is a much revered trait in the modern human being. But total independence is a bunch of bullshit. To be completely independent is to live in a bubble in which you’d die within minutes. To be alive is to be dependent; every living being breathes, and that requires synthesis. […]
Continue reading "Asking for Help (and Why Everyone Needs to Learn this Important Life Skill)"
When it Hits A sharp pain struck the left side of my abdomen whilst I was asleep, and I just knew. I hurried to pop a pain pill, in hopes that the ache would subside. Sometimes that’s a small, albeit hacky, hint that it’s ‘just’ one of those mysteries that sneak up on you. When […]
Continue reading "What it Feels Like to be Refused Treatment by a Hospital’s A&E"
A word that could probably sum up life with chronic illness is ‘mundane’. Sure, it has its (very much unwanted) moments, but for the most part you’re just cruising along, pacing, trying to avoid those unwanted moments. It’s a sadistic, adult version of hide and seek. Either I’m hiding from my over-active immune system as […]
Continue reading "A Perfect Capture of Life with Chronic Illness"
In order to know ‘how’ to rewire our brains to manage chronic pain, first we need to understand ‘what’ pain and neuroplasticity even are. Let’s take a closer look at their definitions and causations to begin with. *Note: Whilst this post is sponsored by Pathways, all opinions expressed are my own. I am also not […]
Continue reading "How to Rewire Your Brain to Manage Chronic Pain (& Resources to Help)"
*Note: Whilst this post is sponsored by BetterHelp, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. If there’s one advice I’d give as a person who’s lived with chronic illnesses for 20 years, it is this: don’t ignore your mental health, and find a good therapist to be part of your healthcare team. I […]
*Updated: 21 Jun 2019 – Added one more question! Have you ever wondered what it’s like to live with a chronic illness or disability, or how different another person’s life looks like from yours? This linkup aims to answer those questions. Why Should You Share? Here are some good reasons to share about your life […]
*Note: Whilst this post is kindly sponsored by Handicare Stairlifts, all opinions expressed in it are my own. As we know by now, living with a visible or invisible disability imposes many challenges on your daily life. Simple movements are not that simple and add up quickly. Many of us keep an ‘energy cheque book’, […]
The Final Instalment to the Pain Flare Series: Pain Management Tips In part one everyone shared what their biggest triggers are, and in part two their best tips for prevention, which is definitely better than cure. But what happens if you land right smack in the middle of that dreaded flare anyway? Those who live […]
Featuring Shannon Giroux of “MSnubutterflies” Multiple Sclerosis affects the brain and spinal cord, and can cause permanent damage or deterioration of the nerves. Whilst Shannon lives with Multiple Sclerosis, her creativity and passion for life can be seen with all the personalised touches around her home! She goes from whipping up new recipes in the […]
*Trigger Warning: This post is about chronic illness and thoughts on suicide, and may be potentially triggering. Here is a list suicide hotlines to contact if you need help: The Fears of Aging with Sickness While I did not ask others with chronic illness how they feel about this, I know that many of us […]
Continue reading "Why it Feels Like Suicide is Always an Option"
This question pops up on my Quora feed every so often: “Would you date or marry a person with chronic illness?” So I thought I’d address it once and for all, by first asking – would I, as someone with chronic illnesses, date or marry a healthy person? I have been fortunate enough to date […]
Continue reading "Would You Date a Person with Chronic Illness?"
Friday, 20 September 2019. Issue #179. In this issue: Sassy disability parking stickers by Blue Badge Co. Ikea launches ‘ThisAbles’ with disability advocates to improve the accessibility of their products. The future as a sick person is scary – can you work, have a relationship, recover? An open letter to an ex-doctor who caused unnecessary […]
Friday, 13 September 2019. Issue #178. In this issue: It’s easy to presume there are medical solutions in modern society, but chronic illness lurks even whilst in remission. When you’re defeated mentally, it’s impossible to cope physically. Never force your body to handle more than it can, though a gentle push can have beneficial cumulative […]
Friday, 06 September 2019. Issue #177. In this issue: The miserable isolation of being chronically ill, and how a simple hello from a friend helps a great deal. Saving a pain level of ’10’ for when you ‘really need it’, even though you’re in unbearable pain. Taking vitamin B for fatigue and brain fog, under […]
Receiving a diagnosis of a chronic illness is an extremely daunting time in your life and knowing what to do next can be difficult. There is so much to think about and having the right people around you will make this easier. A chronic illness can affect your life in many ways and so being […]
Continue reading "Coping with Chronic Illness: Creating Your Safe Space and Safety Net"
Friday, 30 August 2019. Issue #176. In this issue: The difficulties of navigating life with chronic illness as a healthy looking 18 year old. The fear of waking up from surgery being worse off than before. You can often do some light work as a person with chronic illness, but end up needing days to […]
Friday, 23 August 2019. Issue #175. In this issue: Making it through to the next day counts for a lot. You may have all the motivation in the world, but be trapped in a body that isn’t able. The importance of ‘community’ and finding your tribe. The power of collective knowledge, with doctors and patients […]