Health Management – Lady In The Lighthouse

Taking A Break

The time has come for me to press pause on the blog and take some time out to recharge my creative batteries.

Book Therapy – Growing Up Disabled In Australia

Growing Up Disabled in Australia is a diverse anthology of the very best kind!

When You Don’t Know What You Are Missing

A few words on driving, medical conditions and compromises.

Musings & Meditations – May 12 2021

May 12th is International Awareness Day for Chronic Immunological and Neurological Diseases (CIND) so here are a few words today in honour of the Lady with the Lamp.

Take Control Of What You Can – Your Environment

In the second instalment of Take Control Of What You Can Series, I’m talking about regaining control of an environment to make you feel happier, healthier and safer.

Musings & Meditations – May 6 2021

… and am free.

Using The Ring Theory For Your Kvetching Order

Imagine this: someone close to you is going through a crisis and you don’t want to say the wrong things to them, however you have your own worries that you need to release through conversation. Who is the best person for you to talk to?

There Is Always Laundry

It’s the mundane everyday tasks that can give us the most perspective.

Learning How To Describe Your Pain and Symptoms

Learning to become fluent with words that accurately describe the pain and symptoms you are feeling is one of the most helpful things you can do to create a positive working relationship and understanding between yourself and your medical professionals.

Book Therapy – There Is No Good Card For This

We have all been in that place where something awful happens to someone and we are petrified of saying the wrong thing or not sure how to help. This is where the book ‘There Is No Good Card For This: What to Say and Do When Life is Scary, Awful and Unfair to People You Love’ by Emily McDowell and Kelsey Crowe comes in to save us!

Just Because You Are Strong Enough To Carry It, Doesn’t Mean You Always Should

I hope you have people and places where you don’t have to be strong too.

Who Is On Your Team?

As soon as things get tough, you know you are going to need a few people to lean on. Who is on your team?

What Do You Do While Everyone Else Is At Work?

One thing I am constantly being asked is ‘what do I do all day if I am not working?’. Here is a little insight into my daily life and health management.

Simple Practical Ways To Help Someone With A Chronic Condition

So you might not be much of a talker or know much about the medical world, but you want to help someone close to you? Here are a few practical ways to help someone with a chronic condition!

Have You Considered Mental Health First Aid Training?

We are all aware of the mental health campaigns urging us to check in with each other, to start the conversation about someone’s mental health… but do you know how to support and guide them to resources if they say “No, I’m not ok”?. What are the next steps to take? Do you feel confident to have that discussion? Read more about my experience completing the Mental Health First Aid course.

Take Control Of What You Can – The Online World

When chronic conditions start to infiltrate every part of your life, you can feel like you are losing control or have others make all the choices for you. This series is about regaining a bit of control in areas that are manageable and make a huge difference – starting with the online world! Read about how I changed my online experience from taking me for a ride to taking the wheel!

How To Use Breathing Meditations For Pain

Most of the time we don’t even realise that we are holding our breath when we are in pain. So when we are in the moment of pain and waiting for it to pass or ease, here are some neat little breathing meditation practices to try to relax our bodies.

My Favourite Meditation Resources

Following on from my meditation journey post, I thought I would share some of my favorite meditation apps, teachers and people!

My Meditation Journey

My journey with meditation had a lot of false starts and it was definitely a skill that once I started with the right intentions and reasons, I haven’t stopped and it has become the most valuable practice in my life. Read more about my meditation journey here:

The Daily Project That Sustained Me During My Most Difficult Year

I started the year with ideas and dreams for a project – but the year had other plans for me and my project.

A Healthier Way to Review The Year

It’s pretty hard to look back on a disappointing year, when nothing went your way and felt like a struggle to get through. From my experience from many tough years, here are a few things to keep in mind when reviewing the year.

The Days Are Long But The Years Are Short

2020 has been a strange year and a lot of us have struggled with the notion that our perception of time has changed. This is a very similar experience to when you have a chronic medical condition. Read more here!

Book Therapy – Notes On A Nervous Planet

Matt Haig is a brilliant writer and human being who is constantly investigating and questioning the effect of modern life on our mental health. He is a huge advocate for mental health wellness, and has shared his experiences through his multiple fiction works and his non-fiction books.

Musings & Meditations – November 26 2020

This is the power of gathering:

Managing Celebrations With Chronic Condition

Anyone with a chronic condition can tell you that going to celebrations or large events can be quite challenging and exhausting. With some careful planning and sensible self care, we can make the event much more enjoyable and last longer than Cinderella before the carriage turns into a pumpkin!

Maybe She’s Born With It

So often we can fall into the trap of assuming that someone is naturally gifted with skills, habits and traits. But what if they weren’t born like that and worked hard to be that person?

The Danger of Setting Completion Dates For Things We Can’t Control

I have learnt that time and expectations are two very dangerous things to try to predict and manage. Now we are all learning that with COVID-19 too.

Tips For Booking Appointments

I’ve had a lot of medical appointments over the years and I have learnt a few tips from my experiences and from the medical practitioners and their staff.

Managing Both A Chronic Condition & An External Crisis

Being in pain or managing a chronic condition while also having an external crisis play out in front of you, can really add to the stress and therefore the symptoms that you manage. From my own experiences, here are my suggestions for managing both a chronic condition and an external crisis.

The Chronic Condition Emergency Plan

We never know when something could go wrong or we need additional help, and the best way to manage this is to be prepared and have a plan. Here are my tips to cover all bases!

The Survival Kit

Nurturing ourselves with familiar and enriching activities that restore our energy is what keeps us afloat when everything around us is uncertain, rough and stormy.

Sharing Your Story With The Right People At The Right Time

Knowing who and when to share your story with takes skill and awareness, and can be incredibly supportive and rewarding.

Progress Is Not Linear

Once we have taken care of the immediate issues, diving into medical investigations can make it hard to work out if you are making progress.

Activities For Slow & Quiet Days

Some days you just need something to do that is quiet and not too taxing on your energy levels.

How to Handle Motion Sickness Like a Pro

Finally getting out of your house only to suffer from motion sickness? Here are my tried and true tips to manage it.

Become A Regular At Your Local Chemist

The pharmacist is probably going to be a frequent person you’ll see when managing a medical condition, so it is reassuring to get to know them and their services.

Welcome To… The Unexpected

How do we navigate it?
How do we understand it?
How do we explain it?
How do we accept it?

How To Master The Afternoon Nap & Get Quality Rest

With a little experimenting, rituals and preparation, you can master quality rest time.

How Someone Looks May Not Be How They Feel

We all just want to be seen and heard for how we really are.

Clothes Can Change Your Mindset

Clothes help us to transition into different states of being and doing, and can transform your mindset and mood in an instant.

Rest Before You Need To

Don’t wait and miss the opportunity for a quality rest break.

My Biggest Game Changer: A Health Diary

One of the most transformative things that I have implemented in my medical journey was to start a daily diary.

Self Care Is Being A Responsible Adult

Self care that make us feel good and nurtured for our long term wellness.

Taking Care of Yourself First

As the saying goes, you can’t pour from an empty cup.

Uncertainty & Being Uncomfortable

Hey Readers,
If you have ever experienced a crisis, a medical condition, a major change or been impacted by the current COVID-19 situation, you may probably have noticed the secondary effect of a level of uncertainty and discomfort. I wish I could wave a magic wand and help it disappear for you. Instead I have hard truths and some hard work to practice, which is well worth the effort for your mental and emotional well-being and for those around you.