I once heard health anxiety described as a water balloon. The thinking behind that was, once you squashed one hideous symptom another would pop up, right next to it and over and over it would go. The moment you have a squashed victory at one end, it would swell up on the other side. Yet another scary symptom with horrific …
Core Values
“It is health which is real wealth, and not pieces of gold and silver” – Mahatma Gandhi As a typically stressed person, who is always thinking that something bad is around the corner, getting ill really knocks me off my perch. I’m not talking about a cold or an irritating cough, I’m talking really sick. The kind that has you …
The Breakdown
I‘m usually able to keep my crazy in check, I’m the girl that is often asked, “How do you do it?”. I’m not sure what people would think if I told them the truth. I guess on the outside, I do present a very different persona, to the whirlwind that’s happening inside. I don’t like to cause a fuss or …
Mary Poppins
I used to love the summer. The beautiful blue sky, the warm sunshine in the morning pouring through the windows. My hair swept back in a ponytail, wearing any old shades that worked with my outfit. The smell of sunscreen. The sound of ice cubes clinking in a glass of something fruity. Catching the sun on my shoulders. Driving …
Probably Stress
Don’t blame it on the sunshine Don’t blame it on the moonlight Don’t blame it on good times Blame it on the stress!! I suffer from health anxiety. I am so pleased that the previous name for this condition has been launched out the window. Hypochondria does not describe this horrifying and relentless condition at all. Everyone knew a hypochondriac, …
Letters to Google Photos
Dear Google Photos What a wonderful invention you are. Holding all my media close so I can always look back on every moment. Every baby milestone. Every night out. Every Christmas. Every Birthday. Thank you for making beautiful compilations of my weeks and months. Thank you for the videos showing a montage of pictures and clips of our trips and …
Compass
“Everything is normal. You are normal” Now that’s what I like to hear from a doctor! I got that this week. My liver is normal, inflammatory markers for my Colitis are normal. Palpitations and feeling generally numb due to anxiety, yup that’s a thing and that’s perfectly normal. One thing my doctor did say was the C word. Counselling. I …
Meh Moments
We are currently enjoying the last day of complete lockdown. From tomorrow, some schools return; markets and car showrooms reopen and members of the public are allowed to socialise in small groups of 6. Still socially distant though, no hugs and kisses. We are only allowed to meet outside, no home visits. It’s tentative, it’s conditional but it’s a …
Dear Vital Organs
I’m sorry if I haven’t shown you the love and respect you deserve but please stay with me. I will do better. It’s been a rough few months health wise. February and March were very stressful. It started with an acute attack of palpitations at the start of February. They were so intense, I honestly thought I was having a …
#Disability
Times may be changing when it comes to talking disability. Amazing individuals, groups and companies are making waves, pushing boundaries and showing the world that ‘This Girl Can’ every single day. Having grown up in a world before this time, I find myself struggling with the label. Being born with facial palsy, I learned first hand and from day one, …