Exploring the Neurodivergent, Chronically Ill, and Highly Sensitive Person Venn Diagram In recent years, increasing attention has been given to the overlap between neurodivergence (such as ADHD and Autism), chronic illness (such as Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome - EDS), and high sensitivity (such as being an empath, Highly Se
It's key to always keep in mind seizures are unpredictable and we must take precaution when stepping into the gym.
Along my journey of sharing about chronic illness online, I have been able to speak with many others who are facing similar health struggles, many of which
How to approach homeschooling when you have a child with a chronic illness.
So many Spoonies aren't talking about exercise intolerance and what it means to our daily lives. How do we live with it and do about it?
5 Ways to help you accept to live with an invisible Chronic Illness
Julie McIntyre has been studying herbs as medicine for thirty years. She teaches workshops, runs a private practice and works with children and adults with Lyme disease and chronic illness. In this blog she shares her recommended herbal treatments and approaches to Lyme disease.
Vital differences between coping and adapting to life with a chronic illness you need to know to live better today and tomorrow.
I love Time Ferris. Non repentant so far. Most of my heroes have fallen in the last year but that is another rant. I adore Tim Ferriss’ Podcast for when I hit a depression spiral. I find that I can get pretty motivated just listening to his guests. When I have night anxiety I read Tribe of Mentors.
by Shoshanah Shear I came across Educational Kinesiology in the early 1990s when searching for tools or techniques to help healing from a chronic illness. Little did I know that it would become an integral part of much of my OT practice. I began with Brain Gym I and II and loved the fact that … Continue reading Brain Gym, Occupational Therapy and the Figure Eight →
A simple flare tracker for your bullet journal or planner! Great for tracking symptoms and medications for any autoimmune or chronic illness like lupus, crohns, multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), IBS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), migraines, fibromyalgia and more.
Coping with caring for an ill spouse. Challenges and support for a spousal caregiver. Caring for an ill spouse isn't easy...
35 thoughtful gifts for someone with Rheumatoid Arthritis to help them cope with the stress and pain of daily living with Rheumatoid Arthritis.
A simple flare tracker for your bullet journal or planner! Great for tracking symptoms and medications for any autoimmune or chronic illness like lupus, crohns, multiple sclerosis (MS), inflammatory bowel disease (IBD), IBS, rheumatoid arthritis (RA), migraines, fibromyalgia and more.
When things feel heavy, I need things that remind me of the hope that is still there, and to help encourage me to keep going. And I also know that when you’re living with a chronic illness, having someplace to turn for hope & encouragement is crucial. That’s why this week I’m sharing 35 chronic illness quotes to give you hope & encouragement.
I don’t think women should be forced to choose between comfort and fashion. It can be so hard to find clothes that don’t aggravate fibromyalgia and pain from chronic illnesses. Once I got diagnosed, it suddenly made so much sense—no wonder I have so much trouble finding clothes! I’ve never been able to stand tight clothes, thick waistbands, itchy tags. If clothes are made in a way that seams press into my skin—no thank you! And I’ve never understood why people love wearing tons of layers—I have to so I don’t freeze, but it’s so hard to find clothes that layer well together without causing me more pain, especially through my shoulders. The weight and bulk of layers can really make my fibro flare up. WHAT’S A GIRL TO DO? If you have trouble finding clothes with fibro, this post is for you! I’ve linked to what I’m currently wearing all the time, and added tips on what has helped me find my most comfortable and stylish clothes. That way, if my picks aren’t your style, hopefully you’ll leave with some ideas to help you find clothes that fit your style and help you be more comfortable. Some links in this post are Amazon Affiliate links, which means I will receive a small percentage of sales, at no additional cost to you. I greatly appreciate your support of my blog! Because of my pain and discomfort, my go-tos lately have become pajama pants and loose tops. The idea of wearing pajamas all day has never appealed to me. If I don’t get “dressed” in the morning, I just don’t feel put together. Back when I was homeschooled for several years, people would often exclaim, “Oh cool! Do you wear your pajamas all day?” Ummm, no. Getting dressed has always been a part of getting ready for the day. I wouldn’t pick to wear pjs nonstop, so being forced to wear pajamas has made me feel not quite like myself. SOME TIPS I’VE LEARNED I recently decided I needed a change. Feeling unwell all the time has already made me struggle with not feeling like myself, and I didn’t need my clothes adding to the problem. And chronic illness is hard enough on your self esteem without your clothes making you feel frumpy. I really enjoy fashion—pretty colors and patterns and silhouettes make me feel happy. While I am in no way implying that my worth is caught up in my appearance, I believe clothes can be a tool we use to help brighten our moods, especially if we’re dealing with illness. They’re also a way to express who we are. Being able to choose what I wear feels like a victory over chronic illness. So I decided that I’d start small, and at least once a week, I “dress up” even if I’m not leaving the house. No pajamas allowed! And it has helped to look in the mirror and see me looking more like myself. All the clothes below have passed what I’ll call “the pajama test”—I’ve worn them all day at home when I could have easily changed into a pair of pajamas! A quick note on what I look for in a fit: I’m pear shaped, so I favor clothes that emphasize my waist and minimize my hips. (If you don’t know your body shape, now is a great time to look up the kind of fits that are most flattering for your figure. This will also make finding comfortable clothes much easier.) My shoulders are broad compared to my torso, so I struggle to find tops that fit without pinching my shoulders (I can’t stand that pinched feeling!). I also can’t tolerate pressure on my lower back (I gave up on belts a few years ago) or pressure on my ribcage (I get enough of that from asthma, thank you very much). Writing down some things you like/don’t like in clothing can help you make decisions more easily in the dressing room. MY FAVORITE DRESSES I tried on these two Mudd brand dresses recently and just stood there in the dressing room in shock. “These are the most comfortable things I’ve ever worn in my life,” I told my mom (aka, my Personal Shopping Assistant). The fabric is velvety soft, the fit looks tailored but feels lightweight and loose. I could go on and on about how much I love these dresses. They pair easily with leggings and sweaters and have become my go-to whenever I want to look dressy but still feel extremely comfortable. It looks like they’re currently on clearance, so you may want to buy sooner than later. I actually emailed Mudd and asked them to continue making these styles of dresses! I’ve never done that about an article of clothing before! I didn’t hear back from them, but I hope they keep making them. (I may have also suggested different colors I would love to see them in…) Keyhole Fit and Flare (4 different colors) (They come in plus sizes too!) Love, love this dress! The way this dress is constructed of vertical panels is very figure-flattering. And it’s so comfortable that I gladly wear it all day instead of pajamas! Crisscross Skater Dress (4 different colors) (Also available in plus sizes!) I like that this dress has a trapeze style that puts absolutely no pressure on my waist or hips, and it’s also flattering on my figure. Because of the looser fit, I bought this dress one size smaller than the Keyhole dress. What to look for in dresses: flowing fabric that compliments your figure and doesn’t overwhelm you. Lightweight to prevent shoulder pain. MY FAVORITE PANTS In this blog post about the fact that comfort and style really can go hand in hand, Chronically Stylish blogger Dana Renata makes the point that having comfortable pants is key. I couldn’t agree more! I was so excited to discover these Time and Tru Jeggings last month. When I pulled them off a rack at the store, I was momentarily confused because they were so lightweight. Were these children’s jeggings? NOPE, they are that wonderfully light. One of my main complaints with other jeggings is that they are so elastic-y and thick that they feel like waterlogged fabric. And then I tried them on, and they felt like pajamas! But they have a nice texture so they LOOK like jeans. And not only that, they FIT! Most jeggings I’ve tried that have fit through my hips have been way too big in the waist, defeating the whole purpose of jeggings—not having to wear a belt. I’ve worn these without a belt with no feeling whatsoever that they were sliding off. And they’re comfortably stretchy (no weird pressure that keeps you from bending your knees like some jeggings). I found they fit true to jean size, which is nice. I’ve often had to size up when buying jeggings in the past. They come in various different shades from arctic white, light (pictured), dark, and black. And there are fun patterns like these polka dots! They also come in capris like this red rum and these cheerful colors and fun patterns I just discovered they make bermuda shorts too. I know what I need for this summer! What to look for in pants: lightweight, textured, small waistband, fit that complements your waist and hips. Tailoring might be a good option for getting a comfortable fit through the waist. MY FAVORITE LEGGINGS Since I’ve already gone on and on about the above products, I’ll keep the rest of this post more brief: these are my favorite leggings in the whole wide world: a.n.a. knit leggings. They come in a variety of colors and patterns and pair perfectly with dresses or tunics. MY FAVORITE TOPS Layering Tip: Start with a sleeveless shirt. I wear tank tops year round to keep my shoulders from feeling pinched. I’ve found that reducing the bulk of sleeves makes it so much more comfortable to wear a sweater or blazer over a tank. I was excited to find some tunic-style tops by the brand Justify (available at Fred Meyer) that were long enough for me to wear with leggings. I have tops similar to this style from Bongo brand that I wear over tank tops frequently (mine have sleeves that reach to just above the elbow, but other than that, they’re the same brand and style). I’ve also found lightweight, flowy sweaters from GNW brand (at Fred Meyer) and comfortable cardigans from Old Navy. MY FAVORITE SOCKS Now wait, before you say “But Cassie, those are compression socks,” hear me out. These socks don’t look like compression socks but they still help with my low blood pressure due to dysautonomia. They’re cotton, which I love, and they’re the only kind I’ve tried on that haven’t aggravated my fibromyalgia or Reynaud’s. (I tried other pairs and they left my feet more sore and cold.) I do well with the lighter compression (15-20mmHg) these offer. I hope these suggestions help you feel not only more comfortable but also more like you! These are my top picks currently—what are yours? What other clothes or styles do you love best for feeling comfortable and beautiful? Enjoyed this post? You may want to follow my style Pinterest boards for more inspiration! I’ve divided up outfit ideas by Casual and Everyday, Classy and Polished, and All Dressed Up. I’ve also curated my favorite Style Tips.
Chronic illness hairstyles should make living with fibromyalgia, autoimmune diseases, etc., easier not harder. Four chronically ill women share theirs!
Rheumatoid arthritis management involves more than finding the right medications; I also made lifestyle changes to help me live a better life with RA.
Accepting Chronic Illness. is never hard and is something which is a constant battle and a struggle for people to accept.
When you have a chronic illness and are only in your 20s, life can be a bit...interesting. Instead of struggling to juggle late-night partyi...
Please note – I am not a medical professional and this is written based on my experiences, information I have been told and things I have researched. If you are having issues with stayi…
These are my 3 worst fibromyalgia symptoms and how I manage them. Learn how to improve fibromyalgia symptoms in this blog post.
The loss of identity is an inevitable trauma experienced by those who become chronically ill or disabled. Here's how to regain your self-worth.
A few years ago, my white blood cell counts were lower than they should have been. I talked to a hematologist regularly and went through some tests, but the
A little while ago, I shared 8 Ways to Save Money with a Chronic Illness. If you have a chronic illness, the prospects of working 9am-5pm can be unbearable, putting on a fake smile for customers to…
Rheumatoid arthritis management involves more than finding the right medications; I also made lifestyle changes to help me live a better life with RA.
The type of yoga people imagine involve complex twists and turns. But yoga is highly accessible for people with chronic illness. Find out which.
CFS/ME is more than just tiredness. It comes with so many of its own problems and symptoms that you may not have heard of. Read all about them here!
The first guest blog for this year’s M.E. awareness month is by Pippa from Spoonie Survival Kits, little bags of happiness that act as a pick-me-up on harder days. Pippa writes about studying…
Researchers are racing to learn more about how to diagnose and treat the controversial illness, chronic Lyme disease.
While every journey is unique, some insightful strategies can help in coping with chronic illness-related job loss, helping you traverse this challenge.
Ever heard anyone use the word "spoons" completely out of context? Here's a list of 9 words that have a different meaning for those with a chronic illness.
Can't make it to the office? These companies embrace remote workers.
Most people are aware they need to detox post-explant; it’s how they’re going about it that needs some work. This title (Detox: You’re Doing it Wrong) may possibly ruffle some...
Homeschooling is hard enough. Homeschooling with chronic illness can seem downright impossible. Here are 3 tips to help you stay in the homeschooling game.
The unpredictability of chronic illness makes it difficult to set goals. How can we make planning for the future with chronic illness simpler & more effective?
Read about self-care ideas for Chronic Illness and why you need them. At Quit Chronic Fatigue find alternative health and taking charge of your own healing
In this post, a POTS patient share the connection between POTS and heat intolerance, as well as how to deal with it.
Living with a chronic illness means your health can go from feeling normal to "I'm going to pass out" in the blink of an eye. That's why it can be nice to know you're extra prepared in case of an emergency. Chronic illness warrior Riss shares her backpack essentials to help you feel safe and secure when you're on the go.
Looking for journal prompts? Here are the writing topics and questions on self discovery, goal setting, gratitude, and more.
Chronic Fatigue Syndrome Symptom List Really? - Isn't There Only One Symptom...... Fatigue? If only fatigue was all you had to deal with. Chronic Fatigue
How facing your feelings, when you wake up with a chronic illness symptom flare, can lead you to having a lighter more joyful day.
