7 ways you're awesome if you live with chronic pain

7 ways you’re awesome if you live with chronic pain

Living with chronic pain isn’t easy. You lose your quality of life, you take a lot of flack from friends and family, and you have to spend tons of money on the hope that there’s something out there that will help you to function better. Oftentimes you are blamed for not functioning as a healthy…Continue reading 7 ways you’re awesome if you live with chronic pain

what to do when you're tired of always being in pain

What to do when you’re tired of being in pain

I’m tired of pain. I’ve been in a funk lately. There’s no particular reason why. Nothing especially bad has happened and nothing drastic has changed in my life, but I’ve been in a mood. I don’t want to do anything, and I just lack the motivation to get going. I’m not staying home and being…Continue reading What to do when you’re tired of being in pain

5 ways to combat your fatigue

5 ways to combat your fatigue

Combatting your fatigue. Sounds like you’re in a war, and sometimes you are (with your body). Fatigue is one of the most difficult symptoms people with chronic illness deal with. There’s no magic cure, no pill you can take, and no easy treatment. Fatigue is hard to understand which is why many doctors do not…Continue reading 5 ways to combat your fatigue

I’m not faking being sick, I’m faking being well

As someone with a disability, I’m not faking sick, I’m faking being well. I was reminded of this the other day when I received the strangest compliment.  I was told that I am a professional organizer when it comes to my illness. It was pointed out to me that I put a lot of mental effort…Continue reading I’m not faking being sick, I’m faking being well

Celebrating the small victories with chronic illness

Celebrating the small victories with chronic illness

It’s important to celebrate the small victories with chronic illness. The past few months have been physically miserable for me. A bout with bronchitis turned into another one, and another one, and another one, and then strep throat, and then a sinus infection which has so far lasted 3 months (no end in sight, I’m…Continue reading Celebrating the small victories with chronic illness

what self care means when you have a chronic illness

What self care means when you have a chronic illness

One of the most important lessons I’ve learned because of chronic illness is the necessity of self-care. Self-care is vital when you have a chronic illness because you can’t help anyone else if you don’t help yourself. I learned this the hard way when I first got sick. I stretched myself to my limits and…Continue reading What self care means when you have a chronic illness

Practicing self care with chronic illness sounds like an oxymoron, but it's necessary. Learning to prioritize yourself and set boundaries is key

Practicing self care with chronic illness

Self care with chronic illness always feels like an oxymoron, but what is self care? The WHO 1998 definition is: ‘Self-Care is what people do for themselves to establish and maintain health, and to prevent and deal with illness. It is a broad concept encompassing hygiene (general and personal), nutrition (type and quality of food eaten),…Continue reading Practicing self care with chronic illness

7 ways to distract yourself from pain

Pain often takes over everything, it demands to be felt. Despite what the people who think pain isn’t real think, pain acceptance does not make the pain go away. So here’s a few suggestions that might help to distract you from the pain for a short time. A relaxing salt bath A bath can be…Continue reading 7 ways to distract yourself from pain