Tag: chronic-illness

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5 Food Changes That May Help Fibromyalgia Symptoms

JoLeave a comment

Fibromyalgia doesn’t have a magic food cure — unfortunately, nobody has invented the anti-pain taco yet.

But some dietary habits can help support energy levels, inflammation, sleep, and overall symptom management for some people with fibro.

And honestly? When your body already feels like it’s running a group project with zero communication, even small improvements matter.

Here are five smart food-related changes many fibromyalgia sufferers find helpful.

1. Focus on Protein Instead of Sugar Crashes

Fibro fatigue already hits hard enough without your blood sugar joining the chaos.

Eating more protein throughout the day can help support steadier energy levels and may reduce the “I suddenly need to lie face-down on the floor” feeling after carb-heavy meals.

Easy options:

  • eggs
  • yogurt
  • chicken
  • protein shakes
  • peanut butter
  • cheese sticks

2. Stay Hydrated (More Than You Think You Need To)

Dehydration can worsen:

  • fatigue
  • headaches
  • dizziness
  • muscle pain

A lot of fibro sufferers notice they feel noticeably worse when they’re not drinking enough water.

No, water won’t cure fibromyalgia.
But sometimes it does keep your body from acting even more dramatic than necessary.

3. Pay Attention to Foods That Trigger You Personally

Some people with fibromyalgia notice certain foods make symptoms worse, including:

  • highly processed foods
  • excess sugar
  • alcohol
  • artificial sweeteners

Not everybody reacts the same way, though.

Fibro is basically the “your mileage may vary” disorder of chronic illness.

Keeping a simple food/symptom journal for a couple weeks can sometimes reveal patterns you didn’t notice before.

4. Add More Anti-Inflammatory Foods

Research suggests some fibromyalgia sufferers may benefit from anti-inflammatory eating habits.

Foods commonly linked with lower inflammation include:

  • berries
  • leafy greens
  • salmon
  • olive oil
  • nuts
  • beans

Tiny lifestyle choices don’t fix fibro, but they can sometimes help lower the overall stress load on the body.

5. Eat Regularly — Even on Low-Energy Days

Skipping meals can make:

  • fatigue worse
  • brain fog worse
  • mood crashes worse

And fibro + hunger + exhaustion is a terrible combo.

Even something small is better than accidentally realizing at 4 PM that your body has been running entirely on caffeine and spite.

Final Thought

Food is not a cure for fibromyalgia, and nobody should make you feel like you could “eat healthy enough” to magically stop being sick.

But supporting your body where you can does matter.

Sometimes symptom management is less about finding one giant solution and more about stacking small helpful choices together whenever possible. Til next time gang, news to share maybe a life update coming, take care of yourselves, and each other!

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The “I Can’t Move or Think” Days: Fibro Fatigue Meets Depression

JoLeave a comment

There are days where it’s not just tired.

It’s not “I didn’t sleep well.”
It’s not “I need more coffee.”

It’s:

I can’t move.
I can’t think.
And I don’t even have the energy to explain why.

When fibromyalgia fatigue and depression hit at the same time, they don’t take turns. They stack. And suddenly, even the smallest things feel impossible.

Getting out of bed feels like lifting weights.
Answering a text feels like solving a puzzle.
Making a simple decision feels like your brain just… shuts off.

What’s Actually Happening (and why it’s not “just in your head”)

Fibromyalgia isn’t just pain—it affects the nervous system in a way that can drain your energy at a deep, physical level. Research shows that people with fibromyalgia often experience central nervous system sensitization, which can amplify fatigue and make normal effort feel overwhelming.

Add depression into the mix, and your brain is dealing with low motivation, slowed thinking, and reduced energy regulation. Depression isn’t just emotional—it affects how your brain processes effort and reward.

So when both hit at once, it’s not a mindset issue.

It’s your body and brain both hitting the brakes at the same time.

What These Days Actually Look Like

These are the days where:

  • You stare at your phone and can’t process what you’re reading
  • You want to do something—anything—but can’t start
  • You feel heavy, foggy, disconnected
  • You start questioning yourself (“Why can’t I just get up?”)

And the worst part?

You know what you “should” be doing.
You just can’t access the ability to do it.

The Shift That Helps (even a little)

On these days, the goal can’t be productivity.

It has to be survival and support.

That might look like:

  • doing one tiny thing instead of ten
  • choosing rest before you crash harder
  • lowering expectations without guilt
  • letting “enough” actually be enough

Because pushing through this kind of exhaustion doesn’t build strength—it usually makes the next day worse.

A small truth worth holding onto

These days feel like failure, but they’re not.

They’re part of living in a body and brain that sometimes need more care than cooperation.

You’re not lazy.
You’re not weak.
You’re dealing with two very real things at once.

And if all you did today was exist through it?

That still counts. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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Top 8 Things That Actually Help on Flare Days

JoLeave a comment

Flare days don’t care about your plans.

They show up uninvited, wreck your energy, steal your focus, and basically laugh at your to-do list while you stare at the ceiling wondering what your body is doing this time.

Over time, though, most of us learn something important: fighting a flare usually makes it worse, but working with it can make the day more manageable.

These aren’t miracle cures or magical fixes. They’re just real things that actually help make flare days survivable.

Here are the top 8 things that actually help on flare days.

1. Rest early instead of pushing through
The biggest mistake most of us make is trying to power through the beginning of a flare. Resting early can sometimes shorten the crash and keep things from spiraling into a full shutdown.

2. Drink more water than you think you need
Dehydration makes pain, fatigue, and brain fog worse. Staying hydrated won’t cure a flare, but it can prevent things from getting even harder.

3. Eat simple, easy food
Flare days are not the time for complicated meals. Simple food keeps your energy stable and helps your body focus on getting through the day instead of struggling to function.

4. Lower expectations immediately
This one is huge.
Instead of trying to do everything, pick one or two small priorities and let the rest go. Survival mode is still a valid mode.

5. Use comfort tools without guilt
Heating pads, blankets, comfy clothes, quiet spaces, dark rooms — these aren’t luxuries on flare days. They’re tools that help your body cope.

6. Keep your environment calm and quiet
Less noise, less chaos, less stimulation.
A calm environment gives your nervous system a break and can reduce stress on an already overwhelmed body.

7. Take medications or treatments on schedule
Waiting until things get unbearable usually makes recovery harder. Taking prescribed medications or using approved treatments on time can help keep symptoms more manageable.

8. Give yourself permission to do less
This might be the most important one.
Flare days are not failures. They’re part of living with a body that needs extra care sometimes. Doing less on a flare day isn’t giving up — it’s adapting.

Final Thought

Flare days are frustrating, exhausting, and unpredictable. But they don’t mean you’re weak or lazy or failing at life.

They just mean your body needs more support that day.

And sometimes the strongest thing you can do is slow down, take care of yourself, and get through the day the best way you can. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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Fibromyalgia Time Is a Completely Different Time Zone

JoLeave a comment

I live in a time zone most people don’t know exists.
It doesn’t follow clocks, calendars, or common sense.
It does follow pain levels, fatigue spikes, and whether my nervous system has decided today is a “no thoughts, just vibes” kind of day.

Welcome to Fibromyalgia Time.

1. Five Minutes Can Take an Hour

In Fibromyalgia Time, a “quick task” is a bold lie.

  • Showering
  • Getting dressed
  • Answering one email

Each looks like it should take five minutes. In reality, it includes:

  • A rest break
  • A mental pep talk
  • Forgetting what you were doing
  • Another rest break

Time stretches when pain shows up, and shrinks when energy disappears.

2. “Later” Is a Vague Concept at Best

When I say “I’ll do it later,” I don’t mean today.
I also don’t mean tomorrow.
I mean when my body allows it.

Fibromyalgia doesn’t run on deadlines. It runs on:

  • Pain levels
  • Brain fog density
  • How hard my nervous system is spiraling

Later is not procrastination. It’s symptom-based scheduling.

3. Energy Expires Without Warning

Normal time assumes energy is steady.

Fibromyalgia Time says:

“Surprise! You had a 30-minute window and didn’t know it.”

You can wake up feeling okay and hit empty before lunch.
You can plan carefully and still lose the day by 2 p.m.

Energy doesn’t taper. It vanishes.
And when it’s gone, the clock stops mattering.

4. Recovery Time Is Not Predictable

In normal time, rest has a formula:

Do thing → Rest → Feel better

In Fibromyalgia Time:

Do thing → Rest → Still tired → Still tired → Still tired → Why am I still tired?

Recovery isn’t linear.
Sometimes a nap helps.
Sometimes it does nothing.
Sometimes it makes things worse because now you’re groggy and in pain.

5. Past Me and Present Me Are Not the Same Person

Fibromyalgia Time has no memory continuity.

Past Me:

  • Made plans
  • Overestimated capacity
  • Was wildly optimistic

Present Me:

  • Is negotiating with joints
  • Has three spoons left
  • Is offended by Past Me’s confidence

Canceling plans isn’t flakiness — it’s time travel without consent.

6. The Clock Keeps Moving Even When I Can’t

This is the cruelest part.

The world doesn’t pause when your body does.
Bills are still due.
Appointments still exist.
Expectations don’t magically adjust.

Fibromyalgia Time moves slower inside your body — but faster everywhere else.
That disconnect is exhausting all by itself.

7. Productivity Happens in Weird Bursts

Fibromyalgia doesn’t believe in steady output.

Instead you get:

  • Sudden bursts of “must do everything NOW”
  • Followed by complete shutdown

It’s not a lack of motivation.
It’s a nervous system that dumps all available energy at once and then clocks out.

8. Rest Is Not Wasted Time (Even If It Looks Like It)

In normal time, rest is a reward.

In Fibromyalgia Time, rest is maintenance.

Lying down isn’t laziness.
Doing less isn’t failure.
Pausing is how you stay functional at all.

The clock might say you did “nothing,” but your body knows better.

9. Fibromyalgia Time Requires Translation

“Just five more minutes”
“Can you hurry?”
“It won’t take that long”

These phrases assume a shared timeline.

We’re not on the same clock — and that’s not a moral failing.
It’s a medical reality.

10. Surviving Fibromyalgia Means Redefining Time Entirely

Success isn’t measured in hours worked or tasks completed.

In Fibromyalgia Time, success looks like:

  • Listening to your body
  • Stopping before you crash
  • Adjusting expectations without self-blame

You’re not behind.
You’re just operating in a different time zone — one that requires patience, flexibility, and a whole lot of self-compassion.

Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.


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Pain Flare Types, Ranked From “Mild Nuisance” to “Summon the Ancestors”

JoLeave a comment

Let’s be honest: pain flares deserve their own tier list.
Not all suffering is created equal. Some flares are just a polite tap on the shoulder and others feel like they’ve traveled across lifetimes to personally drag you into the void.

So in the spirit of scientific accuracy (and by scientific accuracy, I mean vibes), here’s the ultimate ranking:

1️⃣ The Tiny Gremlin Twinge — A Mild Nuisance

This one pops up like, “Hey girl, just checking in!”
It’s annoying, but you can still function… mostly. You limp a little, grab a heating pad just in case, and pretend it’s fine.
It’s never fine — but we lie to ourselves anyway.

2️⃣ The Low-Battery Huff — You’ll Feel This Tomorrow

Your body starts sending strongly worded emails.
It’s not enough to stop you, but everything feels… heavier. Slow. Foggy.
You start rationing spoons like you’re preparing for a winter on the Oregon Trail.

3️⃣ The Surprise Stab — The “Who Threw That?” Pain

Sudden. Sharp. Personal.
Like your muscles decided to reenact a crime scene with no warning.
You freeze, gasp, and immediately question every life decision that led you here.

4️⃣ The Weather Channel Special — Barometric Betrayal

You wake up and instantly know a storm is coming.
Your joints creak like a haunted staircase. Your spine predicts humidity better than any meteorologist.
Honestly, you deserve a salary for this accuracy.

5️⃣ The Sensory Riot — Everything Hurts and Also Everything Is Loud

Pain spike + fibro fog + sensory overload = a cursed smoothie.
Clothes? Too much. Lights? Too bright. Air molecules? Too aggressive.
You consider relocating to a dark, soft cave forever.

6️⃣ The “Cancel All Plans” Episode — Nope. Absolutely Not.

The flare that turns your day into a hostage situation.
Suddenly every joint is negotiating its own peace treaty.
Even sitting still is exhausting. Being alive? Optional.

7️⃣ The Full-Body Betrayal — Your Skeleton Has Filed for Divorce

It spreads. It radiates. It’s everywhere at once.
Nothing helps. No position is comfortable. You do that weird slow shuffle walk that looks like your bones are taped in.
Heating pads, meds, and prayers to whoever will listen.

8️⃣ The “Summon the Ancestors” Flare — You Have Exited This Plane

Oh, this one?
You can feel your DNA screaming.
Pain so intense it becomes almost spiritual. You’re like, “I see the veil… it’s thin… tell MawMaw I’m coming…”
You contemplate your will, your life choices, and whether reincarnation offers better warranty coverage.

Final Thought

Pain flares are rude, unpredictable, and truly lack professionalism.
But calling them out? Naming them? Ranking them like Pokémon?
Sometimes that’s how we cope — with humor, honesty, and a little dramatic flair. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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Taylor Swift Gets Us All: Even the Spoonie Ones

JoLeave a comment

From survival mode to regret, heartbreak to invisibly raging chaos, Taylor somehow finds the words for it all. These lyrics aren’t just clever turns of phrase — they’re mirrors for anyone struggling to be seen, understood, or simply to make it through another day. So the next time your body, brain, or emotions feel like they’re on fire, remember: Taylor’s got a line for that, and so do you. It’s not about whose pain is “worse” or more legitimate — it’s about being seen, validated, and reminded that even in the middle of your messiest moments, you’re still here, still trying, and still worthy of recognition.

“Balancin’ on breaking branches.” — Exile
Tell me you live with chronic illness, ADHD, or bipolar disorder without telling me. That line is the daily tightrope walk — trying to look stable while everything underneath you is creaking. You’re functioning, technically… but one more unexpected email, flare-up, or emotional storm and snap. It’s the exhausted kind of resilience that looks impressive from the outside but feels like survival from the inside.

“I’d go back in time and change it but I can’t.” — Back to December, Speak Now
Sometimes life leaves you with regrets that can’t be undone. Chronic illness, mental health episodes, or relationship missteps can haunt you, and all you can do is keep going forward while carrying those lessons with you.


“They told me all my cages were mental.” — This Is Me Trying, Folklore
Living with invisible illness or neurodivergence can make people question your experience. Taylor nails the frustration of having your struggles minimized or dismissed, even when you’re doing your absolute best to keep it together.

“Love slipped beyond your reaches.” — Champagne Problems, Folklore
For anyone navigating relationships while dealing with chronic pain, mental illness, or emotional turmoil, this lyric speaks to those moments when your best efforts simply aren’t enough — and you feel powerless watching connection slip away.

“Did you ever hear about the girl who got frozen?” — Right Where You Left Me, Folklore
That’s literally trauma in a sentence. Perfect for describing being stuck in survival mode long after the danger has passed.

“When I was drownin’, that’s when I could finally breathe.” — Clean, 1989
Leave it to Taylor to turn a mental breakdown into poetry. That line perfectly sums up what it feels like when you finally stop pretending you’re fine — when the exhaustion, pain, or chaos finally knocks you flat, and somehow, that’s when you start healing. It’s not weakness; it’s the breath you take after holding it for way too long.


“You made a rebel of a careless man’s careful daughter.” — Mine
Generational trauma wrapped in a love song. It’s breaking the patterns you were born into, learning love without fear, and realizing being “the careful daughter” was never the same as being safe.

“Why’d I have to break what I love so much.” — Afterglow
For anyone who’s accidentally hurt someone they care about — a child, partner, or even themselves. Chronic illness, emotional overwhelm, or mental health challenges can make us stumble in ways we never intended, and this lyric captures that ache of regret perfectly.

“The room is on fire, invisible smoke.” — The Archer
This is what living with chronic illness, PTSD, or anxiety can feel like. Everything in you is alight — panic, pain, exhaustion — but the world sees nothing. Your body aches, your brain races, your emotions combust… and everyone else is just like, “You seem fine.” It’s invisible chaos, and that’s the cruelest part: no one can help fight a fire they can’t see.

“I guess sometimes we all get some kind of haunted.” — Midnight Rain
The emotional equivalent of a PTSD flashback, chronic pain flare-up, or neurodivergent meltdown. It’s the moment when your past — trauma, illness, or just life — creeps up on you uninvited. It’s not about reliving the past; it’s about acknowledging that it still lingers.

“I miss who I used to be.” — Would’ve, Could’ve, Should’ve
When life steals pieces of you. Chronic illness, mental health struggles, or trauma can leave you staring at the mirror wondering if you’ll ever recognize yourself again. Taylor nails the quiet heartbreak of missing the “you” that existed before pain, betrayal, or illness started rewriting your story.

“How much sad did you think I had in me?” — So Long, London
Nails the emotional extremes of bipolar or just being completely maxed out emotionally. That mix of exhaustion, overwhelm, and “I’m still standing, barely” is instantly relatable to anyone with intense mood swings or chronic emotional strain.

“I can go anywhere I want — just not home.” — Exile
The heartbreak of estrangement in one line. You build a life, you heal, but that door you once knew as “home” doesn’t open anymore. It’s grief with no funeral, just echoes.

    From survival mode to heartbreak, estrangement to invisible chaos, Taylor somehow finds the words for it all. Each lyric shows us we’re not alone in our experiences, that even invisible struggles — chronic illness, mental health battles, neurodivergence, estrangement — are valid and worthy of recognition. So the next time your body, brain, or emotions feel like they’re on fire, remember: Taylor’s got a line for that, and so do you. It’s not a contest about whose pain is “worse.” It’s about being seen, being validated, and acknowledging that even in the middle of your messiest moments, you’re still here, still trying, and still worthy of recognition.

    Til next time, gang: take care of yourselves, and of each other.

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    The Unofficial Chronic Illness Starter Pack: 13 Things We All Somehow End Up Owning

    JoLeave a comment

    There’s no “welcome packet” when you join the chronic illness club. No orientation video, no handbook, not even a “sorry your body betrayed you” cupcake. But give it a year or two, and like clockwork, you’ll somehow accumulate the exact same stuff as every other chronically ill human alive.

    It doesn’t matter what your diagnosis is — autoimmune, neurological, connective tissue chaos, or “we still don’t know but it’s definitely something.” You’ll still end up with this exact lineup. Consider it the unofficial starter pack for a life you didn’t sign up for.

    1. The Heating Pad That’s Basically a Limb Now

    Not a heating pad. The heating pad. The emotional-support heating device that never leaves your side. The one that smells a little… “well-loved.” The one that goes on vacation with you, because without it, you might as well just stay home and cry.

    Bonus points if you own more than one: couch pad, bed pad, travel pad. If there’s an outlet nearby, there’s probably a heating pad plugged into it.

    2. The Pill Organizer That Screams “Elder Millennial in Crisis”

    Remember when you thought pill organizers were for your grandma? That’s adorable. Now you’ve got the jumbo one with four compartments per day and color-coded sections that could rival a NASA launch sequence.

    You’ve upgraded at least twice. You’ve probably dropped it at least once and watched your entire week scatter across the floor like medical confetti.

    3. The Hydration Graveyard

    “You need to drink more water!” they said. So you bought every water bottle known to humankind. The motivational one with time stamps. The $40 one that promised to change your life. The one with a straw that always smells faintly weird.

    And yet… you’re still dehydrated. But at least your shelf looks like an REI display.

    4. Compression Socks That Deserve Their Own Fashion Line

    When you first bought them, you swore they were temporary. Now you’ve got rainbow stripes, polka dots, and ones that match your pajamas.

    Nothing like someone complimenting your “cute socks” while you’re over here preventing blood from pooling in your legs like a human Capri Sun.

    5. Meds You’re 70% Sure You Still Need

    Your medicine cabinet looks like a CVS threw up. Some prescriptions you take daily, some “just in case,” and others that you can’t remember why you still have but you’re too scared to stop taking.

    At least once a week you’re googling, “can I take this one with food or nah?”

    6. The Sacred Comfort Outfit

    Elastic waistband. Zero zippers. Fabric so soft it might disintegrate soon but you’ll die before you part with it.

    You own duplicates because when you find something that doesn’t make your body angry, you commit.

    7. The Ice Pack Army

    The freezer is 80% ice packs and 20% actual food. There are gel ones, flexible ones, and the infamous bag of peas that’s been there since the Obama administration.

    Visitors open your freezer and immediately regret asking questions.

    8. Pillows. So Many Pillows.

    You’ve got regular pillows, wedge pillows, knee pillows, body pillows, and that expensive orthopedic one you swear doesn’t help but you’re too stubborn to admit it.

    Your bed looks like a cloud exploded. Your couch looks like a pillow fort designed by an overachiever.

    9. Your Personal Medical Archive

    You could open a small clinic with your paperwork. Test results, specialist notes, insurance denials, and that one referral you might need someday.

    Because if you don’t keep copies, you’ll end up explaining your entire medical history from scratch at every appointment anyway.

    10. The Blanket Multiverse

    Weighted blanket. Heated blanket. Soft blanket. “Don’t touch me” blanket. “Only this texture doesn’t make me rage” blanket.

    You’ve reached a point where you can’t sit anywhere without instinctively grabbing one. It’s fine. It’s cozy. You’ve accepted it.

    11. Snacks on Standby

    Every bag, drawer, and vehicle has a snack stash. Protein bars, nuts, crackers, and that one emergency granola bar that’s probably older than your pet but still good in a pinch.

    Low blood sugar waits for no one.

    12. The Endless Notebook Collection

    Symptom logs, med trackers, food diaries, mood charts, appointment notes. Every notebook started with good intentions and ended three pages in.

    You’ve also tried every app known to mankind, but somehow keep coming back to paper and pen.

    13. A Dark, Sparkly Sense of Humor

    You can’t buy this one, but it’s essential. If you can’t laugh at your heating pad dependency and your pharmacy-sized pill case, you’ll lose your mind.

    Because crying hurts your head, and honestly, we’re low on spoons for that today.

    The Unspoken Truth

    If you’re reading this while sitting on your heating pad, wrapped in a blanket, surrounded by snacks and water bottles you forgot to refill — congrats, you’re one of us now.

    The chronic illness starter pack isn’t sold anywhere. You build it piece by piece, fueled by trial, error, and desperate 2 a.m. Amazon searches.

    We didn’t choose this starter pack. But we’re making it work — one heating pad session, one sarcastic laugh, one survival day at a time. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other!

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    7 Weird Life Skills Chronic Illness Gave Me

    JoLeave a comment

    Chronic illness is the world’s most aggressive “skills training program.” Except instead of a certificate and a raise, you get brain fog, pain, and an ongoing relationship with your heating pad. Still, I’ve picked up some unique skills along the way—stuff I never knew I’d need but now couldn’t live without.

    1. Mastering the Art of Fake Smiling

    I could win Olympic gold for pretending I’m fine while my joints are staging a coup. Do I want to collapse in a heap? Yes. Am I going to grin like I just won a cruise? Also yes.

    2. Human Calculator for Spoonie Math

    “Can I shower and cook dinner today, or is that too ambitious?” I can do the math faster than you can open your planner. Spoiler: the answer is usually “nope.”

    3. Expert in Improvised Heat Therapy

    Rice sock? Check. Heating pad? Check. Sitting on my kid’s warm laundry fresh out of the dryer because I can’t wait for relief? Double check. Pro tip, heat rises, I sleep ON not UNDER an electric blanket it has made a world of difference.

    4. Planning for Chaos Like a Pro

    You know how event planners can handle weddings with 200 guests? Try managing your day when you don’t know if you’ll wake up with a migraine, a hip flare, or zero energy. I don’t plan weddings. I plan for chaos.

    5. Napping Anywhere, Anytime

    Airports, doctor’s waiting rooms, my car in the school pickup line—I have the gift of nap. If there was a frequent napper punch card, I’d have earned a free mattress by now.

    6. Doctor Jargon Translator

    I can translate “mild discomfort” into “you won’t walk tomorrow” and “we’ll keep an eye on it” into “we have no idea what’s wrong.” Basically, I’m bilingual.

    7. Black-Belt Level Boundary Setting

    When you’ve got limited spoons, you learn real quick how to say, “No, I can’t go to your cousin’s friend’s birthday barbecue three towns over.” Honestly, it’s a superpower.

    ✨ Chronic illness may have wrecked my body, but hey—it gave me some weird little life skills along the way. Your turn: what weird skill has chronic illness forced you to master? Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other.

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    Things I Forgave Myself For This Week

    JoLeave a comment

    Some weeks you crush goals.
    Some weeks you just survive with your dignity slightly intact.
    This week? I did a little of both, and I’m not dragging myself for the rest. I’m not. Ok, I am TRYING not to lol. I looked up all these things so we know, this happens to alot of us.

    Here’s what I’m letting go of:

    Eating crackers for dinner.
    It was beige. It was crunchy. It was all I had in me. I know its not nutritional, but I put peanut butter on them, that counts right?

    People with chronic pain or fatigue often struggle with meal prep. One study found that when we remove the guilt, we’re more likely to eat again tomorrow—and better. (Neff, 2003)

     Snapping at a stranger when I was overstimulated.
    Was it my finest moment? No. But was it the end of the world? Also no.

    Emotional dysregulation is common in both ADHD and bipolar. Reframe the moment to be more valuable than perfection. Modeling apology actually builds trust. (Siegel & Bryson, 2011)

    I believe I’ve shown that to my kids considering the sheer volume of mistakes I make on the daily. The best thing you can teach a kid is that they wont always be right and how to apologize when they aren’t.

    Crying over a tv personality retiring.
    But who will give me the news everyday at 6? I won’t be able to get the exact same news and information from the person they already filled the position with.

    Mood swings can heighten emotional sensitivity. Instead of suppressing those feelings, letting them out helps regulate the nervous system. Crying is literally self-soothing. (Vingerhoets, 2013)

    Truth I cry for nearly every emotion at least once a day

    Not cleaning up the kitchen. Or the bathroom. Or basically anything.
    The mess wasn’t going anywhere. The mess NEVER goes anywhere, its relentless. Unfortunately, my energy very much goes away lol.

    Fatigue from chronic illness isn’t laziness. Research shows that pacing (doing less on purpose) leads to more consistent function long-term. (Nielson et al., 2013)

    Skipping my meds one day, even though I knew better.
    I forgot. That’s it. That’s the reason.

    People with ADHD and mood disorders often struggle with medication consistency. Shame spirals make it worse. Compassion-based routines improve long-term adherence. (Safren et al., 2005)

    Needing space from literally everyone.
    Even the people I like. Especially them. Even the cats.

    Sensory overload and mental fatigue demand recovery time. Boundaries aren’t selfish—they’re how we stay functional. (Brown, 2019)

     Wishing I had a different body.
    This one feels broken. I still have to live here. Down to the tip of my hair I want everything new. Or I’ll take recycled, I shop at thrift stores

    Body grief is real in chronic illness. Acceptance doesn’t mean joy—it just means recognizing pain without adding shame to it. (Cash & Pruzinsky, 2002)

    Wanting to give up.
    But I didn’t. I just wanted to. And that counts.

    Suicidal ideation and burnout can flare in depression or mania recovery. Naming those moments gives you back control. It’s a signal—not a verdict. I’m trying my best to make the most positive of that signal that I possibly can. (Linehan, 1993)

    💬 Final Thought:

    If this list hits home, maybe you need to make one of your own.

    Forgive the little stuff.
    Forgive the big stuff.
    Forgive the you that’s still trying, even if it doesn’t look like much from the outside.

    You’re not weak. You’re wicked strong for feeling this much and still showing up. Til next time gang. Take care of yourselves, and each other!

    Uncategorized

    The Real Truth About Living With Multiple Medical Conditions (From Someone Who Gets It)

    JoLeave a comment

    You’d think having one chronic health condition would be enough to earn you a loyalty card for the doctor’s office (every tenth copay is free?), but apparently, nature loves a “Buy One, Get One” deal just as much as supermarkets do.

    In fact, as of 2023, over half (51.4%) of American adults are dealing with at least two chronic conditions simultaneously. Not to brag, but some of us are collecting diagnoses like they’re Pokemon cards. (Its me, I’m some of us.)

    1. Your Pill Organizer Qualifies as a Carry-On

    You know you’re living with multiple medical conditions when your pill organizer is bigger than your snack box… and requires its own spreadsheet for refills. You could host a bingo night called “Guess Which Pill is for What?” (Winner gets a nap.)

    2. Doctor’s Appointments: The New Social Calendar

    If social status were measured by how many specialists you know by their first name, you’d be downright popular. Dermatologist on Tuesday? Endocrinologist on Wednesday? Neurologist at the end of the month? You’ve got a calendar busier than a pop star’s tour schedule.

    3. Symptoms: Pick ‘n’ Mix Edition

    Fatigue, brain fog, joint pain, strange rashes—sometimes it’s hard to know whether a new symptom is a plot twist from an old diagnosis or just a friendly sequel from a new one. You ask your doctor, “Is this Normal™?” and they say, “Well, for you, maybe!”

    4. Health Is a Team Sport Now

    Turns out, it takes a village… to manage your prescriptions, go over lab results, and remind you again which foods will actually disagree with Condition #3 (but not #2).

    5.You’re Not Alone in This Wild Ride

    Here’s the kicker: 76.4% of US adults had at least one chronic condition in 2023—and over one in four young adults aged 18–34 now have two or more. If you sometimes feel like a medical outlier, you’re actually part of the majority (how’s that for a plot twist?).

    6. Bonus Round: Confusing Your Fitbit

    You tell your fitness tracker you have “bad days” and “good days.” Fitbit just quietly registers your nap as a “restorative yoga” session. (Thanks, buddy, I needed that win.)

    Quick Facts to Drop at Parties for Street Cred:

    Multiple chronic conditions (aka “multimorbidity”) are on the rise, especially among young adults—up from 21.8% to 27.1% in a decade. Most common tag team combos include high cholesterol, arthritis, hypertension, depression, and—everybody’s favorite—obesity.

    Living with multiple medical conditions isn’t for the faint of heart…except, actually, sometimes it literally is when your next diagnosis is “mild tachycardia.” But you do it with humor, strength, and the world’s most impressive pill stash. And that, fellow warriors, is the real truth.

    Author’s tip: If in doubt, just tell people you’re “collecting chronic conditions” like rare action figures. Laughter might not be the best medicine, but it’s definitely covered by emotional insurance.

    Factual data for your reading pleasure: The CDC and other reputable sources confirm everything above, except maybe the part about winning a nap at diagnosis bingo. Til next time gang, take care of yourselves, and each other!