Tag: mental health
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Tears On Christmas Eve
How mental health can stain this time of year The holiday season triggers memories of my worst medical trauma. But I also love the light and the cosiness. It makes this month very complicated for me. It’s why I always cry more this month. Over the loss of more dreams, more parts of my health…
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When We Stop Adapting and Show Our Whole Selves
Recognising internalised ableism and claiming the space, access and support we deserve , in writing and in life Today’s topic is a hard one. Because it touches on something so ingrained in anyone with chronic illness that we often don’t notice it until someone points it out: internalised ableism. And once we do receognise it,…
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Surviving the Holidays With Invisible Illness
A guide to help you safely through this month, physically and emotionally The holidays are here again. A time that’s supposed to be joyful, cosy and full of happiness. But for so many of us living with invisible illness the holiday season can feel heavy, lonely, overwhelming and painful. For me it often does, anyway.…
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Migraine, Loneliness, and the Miracle Of Connecting
One small act can make such a difference Yesterday I felt so lonely. Today I feel so connected. Nothing has changed in my life from one day to the next, as my migraine is equally horrific. But one thing did change: today I made an effort to reach out. To my birthday-girl friend. To my…
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I Hated People Saying “It’s a Choice”, Until It Became True
Not a choice to be happy, but a choice born from grief and healing “Above all, be the heroine of your life, not the victim.” – Nora Ephron, writer. Trust me, I’ve felt pity for myself. I was a victim of my illnesses for decades. I would and still do get defensive whenever anyone comes…
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Everyone You Love Is Carrying Something You Can’t See
What it means to be close when we cannot share every wound Living life with past trauma means we always walk next to a loved one who hasn’t been through the exact same thing. It’s why you see the world differently, and they see it differently to you. It can be tough to realise that…
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Resilience Isn’t Always Loud; It Can Often Be Found in Quiet Moments
Finding hope when life is heavy Resilience is not always visible to me. It’s often quiet, steady, invisible. It’s getting up on mornings when my body is tired and my head screams. When it isn’t about conquering or winning, but about continuing. About carrying gentleness and kindness when life is hard. Resilience for me is…
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Learning To Love A Body I Can’t Trust
Why I stopped waging a mental war on my broken body I find myself thinking about the inside of my body a lot. How as a human being you feel you are in control of it, but in many ways you’re not. Those of us with ongoing illness know this all too well. My insides…
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The Day I Found My Coat Again Through Illness
How one unexpected moment helped me rediscover my purpose and a way forward amid debilitating illness Real talk: it’s been a year for me personally. Unresolved trauma from my recent past came back in June 2024 to haunt me – this time in the form of vertigo and endless panic attacks about everything except the…