Self-care! Which of us hasn’t been infuriated on stumbling across yet another article advocating bubble baths and walks in nature? Self-care is a big old trend at the moment and that is an excellent thing. It isn’t enough, of course. We also need a societal structure that supports people to care for themselves properly. The … Continue reading Self-Care Is What We Need It To Be
When You Call Me Strong, Who Do You Think Is Weak?
People tell me I’m strong all the time and it always bothered me in that small squirmy way where you aren't quite sure why you dislike the thing, just that you do. Here, I’ve finally thought my way through the problem and discovered that there are a few reasons I am uncomfortable with being called … Continue reading When You Call Me Strong, Who Do You Think Is Weak?
Severe ME Day 2018
Severe ME Day was begun as a way and a time to remember those who have died from ME/CFS. It is held on the 8th of August because that was Sophia Mirza’s birthday: she was one of the first people in the world to have Chronic Fatigue Syndrome listed as the cause of death on … Continue reading Severe ME Day 2018
Living With ME: Despair
Life has been hard recently. It’s hard to say how long for, really. At the outside, I could say life has been hard since I was about ten and discovered the fickleness of friendship for the first time. It’s never been the same since. But, for the purposes of today, the last few months have … Continue reading Living With ME: Despair
Queer Christianity and Me
I wish I hadn’t been raised as a christian. You can always decide to be one later in life if you want to, but you can’t take away being raised to think that gay people are evil and that hell is real and imminent the moment you put a toe out of line. This, of … Continue reading Queer Christianity and Me
On The Nurturing Of My Senses
Trigger warning: Self-harm I regard them with fear and loathing, and I avoid them whenever possible. It’s their own fault. If only they’d be nicer to me, I’d be nicer to them, but instead they keep intruding when they’re not wanted and are a constant, grating, irritant. I have a really bad relationship with my … Continue reading On The Nurturing Of My Senses
Walking Away From My Wellness
Before I get to the meat of this, let me celebrate this historic day by saying CONGRATULATIONS IRELAND! You beautiful, wonderful, brilliant people. Thank you for voting to allow women and other pregnant people to make their own choices about their own bodies. Thank you for voting for people not to be forced to travel … Continue reading Walking Away From My Wellness
Living With ME: A Bad Day
Reading this back, I see that I mentioned going to the toilet a lot. The reason for this is that it was most of the activity I did on this day! Plus, one of my ME/CFS symptoms is a constant slightly-rough throat, which means I tend to drink a lot. 10.15 I wake up. It … Continue reading Living With ME: A Bad Day
Yes, People Die From ME/CFS
Content warning: I talk in this post about suicide and assisted dying. The first recorded death from ME/CFS in the UK was that of Sophia Mirza in 2005. Not that long ago, you will notice, and she suffered some pretty bad abuse from the medical profession before it happened. Recently, another family have spoken out about … Continue reading Yes, People Die From ME/CFS
Living With ME: Priorities
A few years ago I met a young woman. She seemed very amiable and we met up a few times after I’d moved to a more northern city. I realised that she was in fact a prat when she made this remark about a person with ME/CFS: “She annoys me because she only makes the … Continue reading Living With ME: Priorities
