A health, wellness and chronic illness blog that aims to articulate lifelong illness from various perspectives.
*Note from A Chronic Voice: Keira is a young lady who lives with Postural Tachycardia Syndrome (POTS), on top of five other major chronic and mental illnesses. She also likes photography, animal behaviour and travelling, and seizes those rare good moments to enjoy these lovely hobbies. In this blog post, she will be focussing on […]
Continue reading "A Day in the Life of a ‘POTSie’ (A What??)"
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"
*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! Purging My room’s in a mess. Has been for days. Trays and tubs and bags of medications lay scattered all over the […]
Continue reading "Hello 2020: A Bubble Covered in Glitter. Please Don’t Pop."
A Happy New Year to all my friends (and strangers) on the blog! It’s time for the first linkup of the year, as we kickstart with January! I’m personally smiling, as I watch 2019 fade into the distance. It wasn’t the best one, and I’m glad for a fresh start. 2020 will be good, I […]
Continue reading "January 2020 Linkup Party for People with Chronic Illnesses"
The Year in Brief, and Where I’d Like to Go with My Blog in 2020 2019 was like life on speed, in fast-forward mode. Everything went by in a blur; the highs were paradise level, and the lows took me camping by the borders of hell. Something must be in the stars, because it wasn’t […]
Continue reading "Where I’m Taking the Blog in 2020 (Focus, Diversify & Advocate)"
I’m a big fan of samples, which makes Christmas gifts or other exchanges a pleasure. I love trying out new textures, sniffing new scents, and figuring out if the latest product on the block is a fad or of true value. Yet, samples might be some people’s worst nightmare, and I’m not speaking solely from […]
Continue reading "Gifts I Love (but are Dangerous for Others & What to Give Instead)"
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’, […]
Before you begin: I encourage you to read this with an open mind, as these feelings are all part of the human experience. They will always exist no matter who or where you are; what I am trying to do is illustrate this humanity in every one of us. I hope to reach out to […]
Continue reading "Today is Not a Good Day to Make Decisions (and That’s Okay)"
*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"
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Continue reading "Protected: February 2020 Linkup Party for People with Chronic Illnesses"
There is no excerpt because this is a protected post.
Continue reading "Protected: Explaining Chronic Illness to People Who Don’t Understand"
Friday, 24 January 2019. Issue #197. In this issue: Surrounding yourself with comforting and supportive resources when you’re recovering from a pain flare. A book that encapsulates all that goes on when you’re both chronically ill, and also a caregiver to children with special needs and chronic illnesses. The bane of invisible illness is that […]
Friday, 17 January 2019. Issue #196. In this issue: The difficulties of understanding chronic fatigue over pain. An occupational therapist with over 25 years of experience shares her best tips on how to regain your quality of life. Avoid dwelling on your problems and seek help if you live with chronic illness. Accept that not […]
*Note: This is a sponsored post. Pain and discomfort make it difficult for a lot of people to enjoy their lives or do their jobs. The sad thing is that most people do not realize just how widespread different types of pain are. For example, research estimates that 80% of people in the United States […]
Continue reading "Good Options for Reducing Pain and Discomfort Naturally"
*Note: This is a sponsored post. When you are chronically ill, it can feel like the world is crashing down. You have to face the possibility of saying goodbye to your loved ones, extensive hospital appointments and treatments, and the stress that the cost of necessary treatment will place upon you. Medical expenses in the […]
Continue reading "How to Pay for Medical Expenses When Chronically Ill"
Friday, 10 January 2019. Issue #195. In this issue: Straws account for less than 0.03% of marine plastic pollution, yet disabled people who rely on them are being singled out. Managing pain by resting and quickly returning to a strict routine. CBG and its aid with sleep. Travelling can be exhausting even for a healthy […]