I am trying something a little different today. A Chronic Voice has a monthly linkup to connect people with chronic illnesses. Each month, there is a different set of prompts(5 words) that they encourage you to write about. This is my first time participating. If you are also interested, please follow the link above! Reconnecting I…
Losing some friends due to chronic illness is practically inevitable and nearly impossible to prevent entirely. However, there are definitely things that you can do to help yourself maintain many of your friendships, and become closer to the friends you are able to keep. The first step is to face reality and recognize why you…
There is a lot of information out there about what you can’t do – working after you have applied for disability is risky. Furthering your education is also a dicey proposition. During those months to years of waiting for a decision to be reached, what can you do? What should you do? Do you really…
So, getting a good night’s sleep is vital for our lives and health. Most disabling conditions cause or exacerbate sleep issues. It’s a frustrating situation, and one that requires some consideration – and some planning to resolve! Today, let’s talk about what good sleep hygiene is(and isn’t), and what you can(and can’t) realistically do to…
So you are going to college! College is an exciting experience for anybody, but when you are managing a disabling condition, it’s vital that you consider your school’s willingness to provide accommodations to you based upon your disability. Accommodations research to help you decide where to go If you are going to need accommodations in…
Most people have regrets over choices made(or not made), and many people wish their lives were in some way different. Mindful self-compassion is the practice of being self-aware in the moment and practicing kindness and empathy to yourself while you are there. What is mindfulness? Mindfulness is the ability to live in the moment –…
Nearly 20% of the global population has a sleep disorder. Sleep disorders can be debilitating, and sleep disorders make other conditions worse. With our daily patterns and routines disrupted, the only thing that would be surprising would be if our sleep cycles weren’t affected by our disabilities! Why is sleep so important? When you are asleep, your…
One of the big differences between ’being sick’ and dealing with a chronic condition is how your relationships and activities are affected. If you’re sick, staying home and resting up IS a great idea. Sure, you may miss one or two activities you were looking forward to, but you’ll feel better and get back into…
Most people spend much of their lives living within societal structure. By this, I mean that most people went to school as children, had scheduled work hours as an adult, and otherwise had discrete blocks of time set aside for specific activities. One of the social problems with a disabling condition is that those of…
When you are injured or ill, there is a lot of focus on healing your body, but your mind’s health(mental health) is a huge factor in your recovery process. Since this is mental health awareness month I wanted to talk about the relationship between physical and mental health. The question I have for you is…