A health, wellness and chronic illness blog that aims to articulate lifelong illness from various perspectives.
Some reflections I had whilst writing the post, “Why Not From Beautiful, to Still Beautiful?”. I’m not here to dispense advice, because god knows I’m struggling to get my own life in order! But I just wanted to scribble these thoughts down as guideposts, for those bad days when I lose my way. Download the […]
Continue reading "7 Reminders For Those Bad Days to Keep You Going"
*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 […]
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 […]
We all know the truth of the saying, ‘health is wealth’. But apart from the metaphorical aspect of this idiom, it’s actually pretty literal as well. It’s expensive just to stay alive if you have a chronic illness or disability, especially if you live in a country where healthcare is not subsidised. There are extra […]
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)"
Hello February! How’s it looking for everyone? I hope it hasn’t been too bad of a start to the new year. It’s been going fairly well for me (for now) – spoonie fingers crossed. Have a look at February’s linkup below, and I look forward to reading your thoughts, life experiences and goals for February […]
Continue reading "February 2020 Linkup Party for People with Chronic Illnesses"
The Need for Accessibility When You Live with Chronic Pain or Disability Adaptations and modifications of spaces are often required when you live with chronic pain or a disability. Many of us spend a lot of time at home, so it only makes sense that we transform it to suit our needs for a better […]
Continue reading "How to Maximise Accessibility & Improve Your Quality of Life at Home"
*Note from A Chronic Voice: Cynthia Hill is an occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience. She aims to help her clients – many of whom live with chronic pain or disability – regain their quality of life as best as they possibly can. She has always had a special interest in hand injuries, […]
What is the Chronic Illness Social Pod For? So I finally set up the social media engagement pod I’ve been talking about! It wasn’t so difficult, but kind of tedious at the same time. I had discovered (after all these years, I know right?) similar pages on Facebook a month or two ago, and have […]
Continue reading "Chronic Illness Social Pod: What, Why & How"
*Note: Whilst this post is sponsored by BetterHelp, all opinions expressed in this review are my own. Digital communication is on the rise, and isn’t limited to simply texting or calling friends and family. Many services are now available online or via an app; from food and grocery delivery, to instantaneous cashless payments, and even […]
Continue reading "The Rise of Online Counseling & The Nuances of Online Communication"
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"
*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"
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"
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 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’, […]
*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 […]
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)"
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)"
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?"
A Question for All Eternity “What is the purpose of my life?” It’s a timeless, eternal question that has plagued or intrigued humanity since the beginning of time. It is a thought that can be disturbing to me especially when I’m in the throes of extreme pain. What is the point to all this? Any […]
Continue reading "I Have No Purpose in Life, and Therein Lies My Purpose"
*Note from A Chronic Voice: Angela and I met at a party through our ex-boyfriends (talk about how life goes 😉 ), and I never knew that she suffered from chronic illness too. She was living overseas – which can be especially tough for a spoonie! – and seemed so outgoing. After I started this […]
Continue reading "I May be Chronically Ill, but I’m Also Chronically Resilient"
*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"
Friday, 21 February 2020. Issue #201. In this issue: Gaslighting is emotional abuse which causes the victim to question their own feelings and sanity. Managing chronic pain often requires the need to add other holistic and complementary therapies. Feeling unprotected within your own body because of chronic illness. Living with chronic pain is like a […]
Friday, 14 Feb 2020. Issue #200. Happy Valentines’ Day to all! In this issue: The happiness of breathing in fresh, cold air after being cooped up at home for days from pain. Healthcare costs add up quickly, and usually patients only manage to achieve a quality of life that’s manageable rather than good. My wine […]
Friday, 07 February 2020. Issue #199. In this issue: If chronic illness patients complain, please know that the pain is truly severe. The acute crises that come with chronic illness can be scary, but often it is the day to day living that wears a person down. Dear problem patients, I believe you no matter […]
*Note: This is a sponsored post. Chronic pain can be absolutely detrimental to our physical and mental wellbeing. Aside from the pain which never leaves your side, there are also side effects such as the inability to partake in one’s favorite physical activities and, above all else, the frequent loss of a good night’s sleep. […]
Continue reading "How to Get Enough Sleep While Dealing with Chronic Pain Issues"
Looking February…what should I say about 2020 so far? There’s been a mix of good and bad, as there always is, but let’s say that it’s been mostly awesome just for the new experiences in itself. Winter has been a fascinating season for me in every which way. The Lupus and Sjögren’s has been flaring […]
Continue reading "Coming Alive in the Winter Air (Pushing for Personal Changes & Group Advocacy)"
Friday, 31 January 2019. Issue #198. In this issue: Nipping pain in the bud with painkillers, in order to prevent a bigger pain flare that will require harsher medications to suppress. Neither psychology nor psychiatry sessions are ‘better’; they are compatible with the same goals in mind. Enduring stress and pain flares to go to […]
*Note: This is a sponsored post. Living with chronic illness can make every day feel like a long, arduous battle that you’re probably not going to win. It might feel overwhelming when you’re in a lot of pain, particularly on your bad days. But there are small things you can make things better for yourself. […]
Continue reading "Small Things You Can Do To Manage Your Pain & Get Through The Day"