Friday, 24 April 2020. Issue #210.
In this issue: It’s okay to be in survival mode, remind yourself that things will not always be this way. Those who live with chronic and mental illness know what it’s like to be in lockdown every day – share your best tips in this form. Social care in England (and really around the world) is designed more for the elderly, and rarely for those with complex medical needs. Hang in there, sometimes all we can do is to sit and ride the waves out. We can’t change anyone who isn’t ready, but we can keep showing up for them until they are. Feeling better physically frees up our mental capacity so that we can handle stress better. The wish that workplace accommodations during the COVID-19 lockdown could also be in place for the disabled on regular days. The invisibility of FND and many chronic illnesses, where you don’t see a person faking being well in order to preserve dignity. For many with chronic illness, the way we live our lives during the lockdown is pretty much our norm. For many who are in lockdown and self isolation now, they have many usable hours in a day, unlike those with chronic illness who still need a lot of time to rest and recover.
“I’m currently in #survival mode, and that’s ok. I will do what I need to to get through each day. I will remind myself things will not always be this tough": https://t.co/thomCtequz @JourneyFog #Reminder #ChronicLife #spoonie #divorce
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 17, 2020
Those with #ChronicIllness and #MentalIllness Know What It's Like to be Trapped at Home All Day, Every Day – Share your Best Coping Strategies Here, in a Time Where It's Needed Most: https://t.co/2EjBZ7o6S7 #CopingWithCovid #SocialDistancing #MentalHealth pic.twitter.com/D3qW6yxgN1
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 16, 2020
"it’s quite obvious that the #socialcare system is not designed for people like me. It’s set up to provide care for the #elderly and it cannot accommodate the complex needs of people like myself with multiple #chronicillnesses": https://t.co/cvNxsP0Ze5 @JourneyFog #UK #spoonies
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 16, 2020
When we are feeling stormy & agitated, it is within us to transform it into a sea of #calm. Sometimes that can be impossible & we need to learn how to #surrender & ride upon the waves. Going against it would only be a disastrous endeavour": https://t.co/a4hvgjT6dG #HangInThere pic.twitter.com/UXYq72g16k
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 21, 2020
"We’re not meant to #change anyone who isn’t willing or ready to change. What we can do is show up for them when they are ready to show up for themselves": https://t.co/UAiHuJGO3O #FriendshipGoals #caregiving #ChronicIllness #StrongerTogether
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 20, 2020
[Updated Post] "Feeling better physically frees up our #mental capacity, and improves the elasticity of our #stress limits. We can reallocate these extra resources (or ‘spoons’, as #spoonies might call it) back into our #healthandwellness": https://t.co/TTqiEIuldo #MondayBlogs pic.twitter.com/kcMRJ8gcIi
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 20, 2020
“I can’t help but wish these kinds of #accommodations would be available to the #disability community all the time, not just in times of crisis": https://t.co/ED1jXRwCzw @TheMightySite #outbreak #coronavirus #working
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 22, 2020
“What you don’t see is that I am #faking being well; faking #health to preserve my dignity, energy and ability to accomplish whatever it is I’m doing before my legs fail me and I collapse": https://t.co/giVQUJlGNK @serenebutterfly #FND #InvisibleIllness #disabled
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 16, 2020
“As #coronavirus sweeps the planet, what may be a frightening state of #pandemic is, to those who living with a #chronicillness, a continued state of #normality”: https://t.co/bZokUrdI5N #LymeDisease
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 19, 2020
“People have more time to fill than I do. I only have a little number of usable hours in the day I can actually choose to do anything at all…the remainder I am #recovering, #resting, or non-functioning”: https://t.co/5mhyd63Grp @nikki_albert #ChronicPain #pandemic #ChronicLife
— A Chronic Voice (@AChVoice) April 22, 2020
*Note: This article is meant for educational purposes, and is based on each person’s individual experiences and circumstances. It is not to be substituted for medical advice. Please consult your own doctor before changing or adding new treatment protocols.
Read More: My Responses to “A Day in the Life” Linkup (What Does ‘Normal’ Even Mean?)
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