Do you know how difficult it is to live with a chronic condition? I don’t just mean the pain (physical and/or emotional), the fatigue, the lack of sleep or concentration; I mean the judgement, the discrimination from other people, the constant questioning. That look you get from someone when you’re out in public and you…
Category: disabled
You’re Suffering but Family and Friends Can’t Read Your Mind
You’re in pain, you’re dealing with emotional issues, you’re falling apart, and you desperately want someone to help you but you haven’t asked anyone…how can they know? The luckiest of us have people in our lives that can read our facial expressions and know we’re not being honest about pain or distress, but even they…
Getting The Right Wheelchair For You
Surely, it’s easy to pick a wheelchair, right? It’s just a seat with wheels, how hard could it be? There are many different types of wheelchair and to get the right one, that is comfortable, going to last a while, and be suitable for your individual needs, you need to consider a few things.As a prolific…
I’m Disabled and I Wear Make Up, So What?
I’ve wanted to write this post for a while, in fact, I’ve changed this first sentence numerous times. How else do I introduce this post when the title says it all? I’m disabled and I wear make up, what’s the problem? If you’re not disabled or never experienced anything that I have, I urge you…
Productivity and a Change of Scenery
I haven’t felt this productive in such a long time and it feels good. I was stuck in a cycle of wanting to be productive but putting things off as other things got in the way. When I finished my MA (in December 2013), I intended on starting a blog, writing a novel, getting more…
What I Learnt at RNOH Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme
‘They tried to make me go to rehab’…and I went. I’m on my fourth week home from spending three weeks in Stanmore, on the amazing, life-changing Pain Management Programme. I intend on writing more in-depth posts about various things I learnt during my time in hospital but thought I’d give you a little inside scoop of what…
Bag Haul from Grindstore: Backpacks and Chronic Life
A few weeks ago Grindstore had a 10% off Back to School sale and I had to take advantage. Many of you know that I spent three weeks in hospital recently and during my treatment my Occupational Therapist suggested I use a backpack. I alternate between two crutches and a wheelchair due to my disability and…
All I ask for is empathy
It’s hard enough being a 28 year old disabled woman without the insensitive comments of abled people, but factor in the dickheads of society and their ludicrous questioning, things can get very awkward, very quickly. I don’t deal well with comments regarding my health. To this day, there are certain people that say extremely negative…
Week Three: Stanmore Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme, Part Eight
| Day One | That was my last night in the hotel; I can’t believe I’m already in my final week of rehab. I arrived at Stanmore at 9 am and unpacked my things ready for the weekend review. I completed the majority of my goals but didn’t download WorkRave as I was being stubborn…
Week Two: Stanmore Pain Management and Rehabilitation Programme, Part Seven
| Day One | I stayed at a hotel again last night and had a decent night’s sleep. I arrived on the ward at 9 am and the nurses helped me in with my bags; after unpacking I went for a Weekend Review and the group shared whether they had achieved their weekend goals. I…