A pretty simple straight forward concept to grasp, no? Yet it seemed to take me so long to learn, relearn, and then be reminded again of this lesson. So many times I have tried to run away from things that are overwhelming my brain, running into different coping mechanisms, studying, different jobs, getting lost in… Continue reading when the issues are inside your head, they come with you no matter where you go
how it feels when someone says ‘you look tired’ when you’re battling with chronic illness
"Hey Mell, wow you look tired today, late night?" "Burning both the candle at both ends are we now?" "You look ill at the moment, everything okay?" "You're always tired" "Yeah I feel tired too at the moment, don't worry just get an early night and you'll be fine tomorrow". This is almost hilarious to… Continue reading how it feels when someone says ‘you look tired’ when you’re battling with chronic illness
reaching out for financial help – PIP and ESA benefits
For those of you who live outside the UK, or who are not familiar with our benefits system, PIP is short for Personal Independent Payment, and there is another similar one called ESA (employment and support allowance), both of which you have to fill out a ridiculous 35 page form explaining how your illness /… Continue reading reaching out for financial help – PIP and ESA benefits
on the bad days when i struggle to function
Today is a bad day. I have already been awake for 4 hours and have only managed to drag myself out of bed once, to the bathroom and back which is 2m away. Apart from that, my body simply feels too weak and my heart too low to gather together the energy to move. It… Continue reading on the bad days when i struggle to function
a lesson in learning to let go
There is nothing certain about life, nothing concrete, nothing set in stone that we can wholeheartedly depend on, and know that it will happen as we expect or anticipate. As desperately hard as we can will something to happen as we want or need it to, often it never works out as we expect. And… Continue reading a lesson in learning to let go
why social media is sometimes the best mask when you’re feeling unwell
I have a slightly love-hate relationship with the Internet, social media sites in particular. Although it is amazing to be able to connect with the rest of the world, friends from all over, people from different countries and cultures, it is also incredibly overwhelming, and there is this strange underlying 'pressure to perform' happening around… Continue reading why social media is sometimes the best mask when you’re feeling unwell
why trying to get outside everyday is good for mental health
Sunday afternoon is generally a good day to catch up on relaxing, sleeping, eating, cleaning, and doing absolutely NOTHING. And this is exactly what we decided to do, after countless binge watching Rick & Morty on Netflix, eating and passing out on the sofa for a delicious mid-afternoon nap, the sun was still beautifully streaming… Continue reading why trying to get outside everyday is good for mental health
going back to work, craft markets, & the inevitable post-excitement crash that follows
It's been an interesting week, pretty full on, requiring a LOT of my energy channelled into projects, going back to work (in fact, starting a new job), prepping like a crazy person for my first craft market (booyaah!) and have spent the last three days solid working lots and being around very socially stimulating environments.… Continue reading going back to work, craft markets, & the inevitable post-excitement crash that follows
the day i discovered vegan french toast
I've never had french toast before, mainly because it conventionally involves eggs, butter, bread and a lot of sugar, and being allergic to dairy, intolerant to eggs and highly affected by refined sugar, this sort of breakfast never really appealed to me. UNTIL THE MAGICAL DAY WHEN I discovered that you could in fact, make… Continue reading the day i discovered vegan french toast
chronic fatigue syndrome & insomnia; when you’re too tired to sleep
What's interesting about CFS is that regardless of how exhausted you are, how debilitated your brain feels due to the excessive tiredness and weakness taking over your body, there is still this wonderful (I say that in a sarcastic tone) element to the condition that is known as insomnia. When your body is completely shattered, yet… Continue reading chronic fatigue syndrome & insomnia; when you’re too tired to sleep
into the early hours 