I watched a television show recently which asked the question, “How do you see yourself?” The answers (sadly) were mostly related to looks. Why do people care about looks so much? Anyway, I put the question to myself and came up with “in pain”, “disabled”, “fed up” and “exhausted”. My…
Category: Life
Coeliac Disease
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Gluten-Free Haggis — Not Just For Burns Night
It’s Burns Night on January the 25th – the night when Scottish people celebrate the birthday of Rabbie Burns, the country’s national bard. Traditionally, people celebrate by reciting Burn’s poetry, eating haggis and probably having a wee dram or two. And this is where my problem arises. The wee dram is completely off-limits because of my medication and since haggis isn’t gluten free, it’s been off the menu since my coeliac disease diagnosis…
Life
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How to get 20/20 Vision in 2020
2020!! Wow – is it because I’m getting old or has this past year just flown by? Whenever I say 2020, I think of perfect eyesight – good, clear, 20/20 vision with no blurriness or fuzzy edges. Natural 20/20 vision would be amazing, but wouldn’t it be even more amazing to have 20/20 vision in life? Wouldn’t it be great to have that kind of clarity in our lives?
When our eyesight is bad and we don’t have the clarity of 20/20 vision, we make a trip to the opticians to get new glasses or contacts. If only there was an easy way to get the same clarity in our lives. Read more….
Life
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Give People the Gift of Your Time at Christmas
I want to wish all my readers a very merry Christmas, but I’d also like to make a request. In my post about reducing the cost of Christmas gifts, I suggested an alternative gift – the gift of time. Please consider giving this gift to people you care about this year.
Sadly, this time of year isn’t always a time of joy for everyone. It can be a sentimental time when people remember those they have lost and, for many people, it can be the loneliest time of the year. I hope that this Christmas we can all think of each other and show compassion to everyone.
Emotional & Mental Health
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How to Have a Stress-Free Christmas
When you live with chronic pain or illness, you really do need to plan ahead if you want to have a stress-free Christmas. Actually, doesn’t everyone want a stress-free Christmas?
There’s so much to think about, isn’t there? Money, gifts, food, where to go, where not to go, who to invite, who not to invite… It’s one stress after another. And we all know that stress doesn’t mix well with any chronic health condition.
Chronic Pain
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How to Stop Pain Destroying Your Social Life
Is pain destroying your social life? Understandably, when pain levels are high, you probably want to curl up in bed. The last thing on your mind is socialising. But what about when the pain levels aren’t quite so high? Do you socialise then, or do you turn down invitations to places or events because your pain might escalate?
Pain can have such a hold over people. They often live with a fear of the pain. Anxiety kicks in and a voice in their head says, “Your pain might get worse. You need to stay at home.” Sometimes this leads to them feeling trapped in their own homes and they can become extremely lonely and isolated….
Chronic Pain
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I’m Recycling Bubble Wrap to Improve My Life
I hate throwing anything out. If there might be a use for something, I keep hold of it. The other day I noticed a pile of bubble wrap which I’d been keeping hold of and I have the perfect project in mind for it. Most people like to recycle these days because it’s good for the environment. But I’m not just recycling the bubble wrap for environmental reasons.
I’m clumsy and accident prone, therefore wrapping myself in bubble wrap might actually improve the quality of my life….
Awareness
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Family Carers Need More Support and Gratitude
I write about living with pain or illness all the time, but today I want to focus on a group of people who play a valuable role in the community – carers. To be specific, family carers. Many chronic illness sufferers rely on a family member to care for them. Very often, what that family member does, goes unnoticed. But it shouldn’t. We should all notice. Family carers need much more support and gratitude than they receive.
Some people might just need help with putting on their shoes, picking up groceries or making meals, but many people couldn’t function without their carers. Those family carers give their time and energy out of love. They give up so much in order to take care of a member of their family….
Distractions
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How to Cut Down on the Cost of Christmas Gifts
Christmas is supposed to be a happy occasion but many people become too stressed to enjoy it. There’s so much to do and to think about. And gift shopping – that can be so expensive, can’t it? But surely Christmas can be special without spending a fortune? Perhaps if we cut down on the cost of Christmas gifts, people would be able to enjoy the season more.
There are lots of ways to cut down on the cost of Christmas gifts. I have put together a list of ideas. Hopefully, you’ll find something that works for you.
Blogging & Writing
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Reflecting on the Past Year of Blogging on Despite Pain
One year ago, I hit the publish button on my first post which was about learning to listen to your body when you’re in pain. I learned the hard way. I’d been fighting against my pain for so long and it was a losing battle. Once I learned to listen and to stop fighting against it, I was able to enjoy my life more.
That first post is probably the crux of what my blog is about because as anyone who lives with chronic pain or illness knows, we need to do a lot of learning.