…and how reading them saves my life every single day. If this sounds like hyperbole, it’s not, or only slightly. At the moment I pretty much live on the Coping Precipice and story is one of the things that stops me from tumbling right over. I want to take a moment to define what I … Continue reading Five Times Telling Stories Saved My Life
Tag: depression
Trying To Get Off The Optimism Train
In which optimism turns out to be really hard work but doesn’t have an off switch. I think that like many things from gender to the bitterness of chocolate, optimism and pessimism are places on a scale. If there were a Kinsey scale for optimism/pessimism I would be at the TOTALLY GAY end of it. … Continue reading Trying To Get Off The Optimism Train
The Frightening Decline
It’s not typical for someone to keep getting worse when they have reduced their activity as much as you have. This was the news the OT from the fatigue clinic gave me when I saw him seven weeks ago. It threw me into a spiral of fear and depression which I have yet to emerge … Continue reading The Frightening Decline
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?
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
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
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
The Prevention of ME/CFS?
ME/CFS can’t be prevented, we all know that. But do we? Certainly it isn’t something that medical professionals talk about, or ME/CFS advocacy and patient support groups, and equally certainly there is no proven method of prevention. I, personally, don’t believe that that means it isn’t possible. I think that we can protect ourselves, at … Continue reading The Prevention of ME/CFS?
Surviving Winter
Winter. It’s always been a question of survival. And in some ways, human beings are at a disadvantage: we can’t hibernate, we don’t grow thicker fur and most of us can’t afford to migrate. However, we make up for it with our big old brains. Winter is the reason we have fermented, canned, dried, smoked … Continue reading Surviving Winter
10 Ways You Can Help A Mentally Ill Friend
1. Listen To listen, with nothing more attached, is a powerful help. How often you do feel really listened to? Just let your friend talk. Make it clear they have your full attention: put your phone away, allow them to make eye contact with you, and give verbal and non-verbal feedback. Don’t be afraid of … Continue reading 10 Ways You Can Help A Mentally Ill Friend
