an insight into my life with severe asthma, advocacy, awareness & research
This week is mental health awareness week. Mental health is still such a stigmatised topic often leaving people feeling weak, vulnerable and embarrassed, some even fear what might happen if they acknowledge that they may be struggling with their mental health. I hear so often that people with a physical health condition worry about opening… Continue reading Mental Health Awareness
Just now I feel like a swan in a pond. Everything looks ok on the outside but under the water it can be furiously paddling to stay a float. In January 2022 when I developed the urachal cyst never did I envision what has unfolded let alone still be battling 14 months later. I am… Continue reading Floundering a little
Today 10th October 2022 is World Mental Health Day. I was asked to give a brief talk during the event Living Well: Emotional Support Matters hosted by The Health and Social Care Alliance (Scotland). My talk was titled: Benefits of using your own experience to call for change. This blog post is roughly what I… Continue reading Mental Health Benefits From Using My Patient Voice
Last year (2021) I had so many plans for this year especially as my health seemed to be a bit more stable I was looking forward to getting out and about and just living life again but 2 weeks in January that all changed. I cannot believe we are now in October. Time has been… Continue reading 2022 is not my year
I am well aware I have neglected my blog and there have been no posts for sometime. I have sat down so many times to try and write but just nothing comes out. If I am honest I have been struggling a lot over the past 4-5 months. I feel lost in myself and couldn't… Continue reading Finding my Positive Mental Attitude
I recently read a blog post by Sally Crowe, who wrote about how her mental health was impacted after going through cancer treatment. She was diagnosed with cancer related post traumatic stress (you can read the blog post here). Sally chose this image: “Gardening as a metaphor for ‘tending trauma’, and learning to live alongside… Continue reading “I can only please one person at a time. Today I choose me”
Is Long Covid really a new condition? Or just a new name for a syndrome that has effected the thousands of ICU Survivors for years? Taken from Long Covid Website There is a huge amount in the press just now about a new condition that is developing as a result of COVID19. Long COVID seems… Continue reading Long COVID vs Post ICU Syndrome
No one is immune from having a wobble with their mental health just as no one is immune from having issues with their physical health. The difference is that humans are happier to speak up about a physical health complaint compared to a mental health complaint. 10th October 2020 is World Mental Health Day. Mental… Continue reading World Mental Health Day
Ask for help. Living with a long term health condition comes with many challenges especially when it is a condition that comes with unpredictability and triggers out with your own control. The challenge of trying to live a normal life is tiring and it can feel like a full time job just trying to stay… Continue reading What do you do when it all gets a little too much?
I was so happy and excited when my Mum said we were going to be going skiing in January. (I have not skied in over 6 years now. Once my life, I ski raced, I did race training and was on the slopes whenever I could. I moved to Canada to pursue my dream career).… Continue reading Making tough decisions
ANONYMOUS-ASTHMA 