I've lived with Chronic Migraine and Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension (IIH) since 2014. I’ve also had to manage Anxiety for many years.
I was a Primary School Teacher, Early Years Specialist and Mentor before I became disabled and mostly bed-bound from cruel and constant pain.
I share my experiences and provide tools and strategies to help Mums manage their live with invisible illnesses.
All in chronic illnesses
When we face challenges, such as chronic illness, our body and mind work together. Our mental health is often being put last, which makes it so easy to get stuck in a negative mindset. This can lead to stress, difficulty solving problems, unhealthy relationships and poor mental health. But this can change with these 10 inexpensive or free activities, which are crucial for your journey of growth and will boost self esteem.
This March, I am joining in again with the monthly writing prompts Link-up from Sheryl at A Chronic Voice. I chose to use these prompts to tell you about breaking my nose. I recognised nearly all of the broken nose signs so I went to A&E. My experiences with the doctor there and the ENT doctor I saw 5 days later have made me think and compare how I was treated.
As part of this year’s Carers Rights Day on the 24th November I have taken over my wife’s blog and am going to provide an exclusive look at life as an unpaid carer, When Laura became chronically ill in 2014, and it eventually dawned on me that my role as Husband, Father, best friend and confidante would now be expanded to that of prime and unpaid Carer, life would become a little more complicated.
Do you feel like there’s something wrong with you? Are you struggling with depression or anxiety? Don’t worry – you’re not alone. In fact, millions of people struggle with these conditions on a daily basis. It’s important to understand what mental health problems look like so you can recognise them when they occur.
IIH or Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension is a rare brain disease that I was diagnosed with in 2014. I want to share how brain fog affects me as someone with IIH headache. Brain fog is not a medical term, but a term for those who experience a groggy mind. I’m going to explain how brain fog and headaches impact my life and share my tips for better managing the symptoms of brain fog.
Every July in the UK Good Care Month raises awareness of the caring profession in the UK. in this open letter to my PA or Carer. I thank her for the Carers skills she brings to our family as a member of the team. I also aim to break some of the stigma attached to caring younger adults, especially Mums.
I feel incredibly lucky that that person over the last 5 years has been Sam and as I wish I’d known what I know now when I was offered a PA/Carer, I hope others know what skills or qualities to look for in a Carer. The core qualities a Carer needs are passion, courage, dedication and compassion. One day it could be you needing care or caring for a loved one.
Sadly, the message that the guidelines for assessing chronic pain in the UK should meet the unique needs of the individual is eclipsed by potential consequences of misinterpreted guidelines. It’s likely that this will become a blanket policy for all with chronic pain in the UK. This makes it highly likely that underlying conditions will be missed and pain relief will be withdrawn or not approved for those in desperate need. The guidelines are not mandatory but the chronic pain treatment UK could leave many with little or no quality of life.
My Eldest son turned 18 last month, so here are 18 truths based on anecdotal evidence in the chronic illness community and my boys' views as young carers. What Are Young Carers? Young carers UK are under 18 or young adults who help to look after a relative with a disability, illness and mental health or addiction problems. Caring can be an isolating experience but with the right support there's a much better chance of future success. The difficulties one family faces will be vastly different to another, this is my boys’ personal narrative and our family’s truth. We’ve always included the boy's feelings and views in decisions we’ve made, removing any feeling of isolation. As they’ve grown older they’ve expressed themselves clearly due to the strategies we put in place.
Reflecting on my IIH or Intracranial Hypertension treatment, as it comes to an end, has been emotional. IIH is a rare and disabling brain disease and I’ve hoped for a life without constant pain Since 2014. My first procedure showed that I’d benefit from brain stent surgery, and I did. My ability to communicate which would have crushed my family if it hadn't improved and it did with each surgery. As I complete my treatment, the harsh facts are that I suffer daily but there are positives, mostly my ability to be a good mum and wife.
Life with chronic illness isn’t easy and can lead to depression. This is especially true when we know we need to make changes to our lives and realise that we have little to no control over our situation. I grieved my pre-illness life and couldn’t see how to overcome the challenges I faced.
Working with a professional let me know it was okay to feel and talk about being angry, sad and lost. She helped me recognise that my self talk wasn’t helping me move past grief and gave me the support I needed to overcome resistance to change.
Carers Rights Day is a day for making Carers aware of their rights, where they can get help and support, as well as raising awareness of the impact caring has. The theme for Carers Rights Day 2020 is 'Know Your Rights'. Here I interviewed Lesley. who cares for her husband, about the stress she experiences as a Carer to raise awareness about Carers mental health.
For IIH Awareness Month, Amy has written this amazing guest blog about her experience as a 24 year old, newly single mum of a one year baby boy, recently diagnosed with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or IIH after suffering from crippling hypertension headache. She’s written an open letter to IIH about her lonely challenge of living with this rare brain condition.
I asked 6 amazing mums from the IIH UK Facebook support group, about their secrets as a mum with Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or IIH, to help other mums in a similar position. We’ve done this in the hope that we can fundraise for IIH UK during IIH Awareness Month by sharing how IIH affects us as and our children to raise awareness of this rare brain disease.
This story is about the impact chronic pain conditions have had on my life. I have a rare brain disease called Idiopathic Intracranial Hypertension or IIH, as well as Migraine, Hypothyroidism, Depression and Anxiety. The strategies I’ve used help me feel like a strong Mum as I emerge with my story despite the challenges I still face.
MS Awareness Week 2020 UK began on Monday 20th April and is a chance to raise awareness of Multiple Sclerosis so I’m sharing information about what MS is, the symptoms and how it affects those living with this invisible chronic condition. Everyone affected by this neurological condition will experience it differently and will have varying degrees of symptoms so the MS Society wants to raise awareness of life with MS. They want to show how someone may be feeling on the inside, when from the outside they ‘don’t look ill’. raising awareness of the hidden side of this invisible illness, by asking people to share their stories of living with MS.
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