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A Chronic Illness | Not To Do List

On By Windy J Cumberbatch, CPC1 Comment

For someone living with chronic illness it’s important for us to be thoughtful of the things we do everyday so we don’t over exert ourselves. That means being mindful of the things we CAN do and the things we CAN’T do. This can be hard for someone who is used to being independent, like me, but in order to practice self care we need to pay attention to our bodies and let it take the lead on what we can do safely and with the assistance of others if needed.

Windy’s Not To Do List

  • Do not say “Yes” to things your body is telling you to say “No” to
  • Do not blame yourself for being unable to do certain things. It’s not your fault!
  • Do not speak negatively about yourself (You are not your illness)
  • Do not pretend to be ok when you’re not ok (It’s ok to not be ok)
  • Do not isolate yourself (We all need community)
  • Do not overthink things (That can lead to unnecessary stress)
  • Do not ignore your symptoms (Listening to your body is very important)

Having a chronic illness can be hard at times, I mean most days for me it’s very hard as I don’t feel like getting out of bed. For the most part having a chronic illness means that we will need to make some adjustments in our daily routines as well as depending on others to help from time to time. Listening to our bodies, saying no to the things you need to say no to and giving yourself some grace can make all the difference.

If you are someone who lives with chronic illness, what are things you’ve learned to say “No” to? How did that make you feel? How did those around you adjust? I’d love to hear from you. Please feel free to make a comment below or shoot me an email at info@windysjourney.com.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please be sure to like, share and subscribe to our blog so you’re in the know when we have a new blogpost. You can also find Windy’s Journey podcast now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts, iHeartRadio, AmazonMusic and Spotify! 

We need your support to help increase awareness about chronic illness and the negative impact it has on individuals and their families. Share this with someone who is chronically ill as it is my life’s goal to Empower | Encourage | Inspire others who are on this journey with me.

XO- Windy

And if not, He is still good!  Daniel 3:18

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The Truth About Chronic Illness

On By Windy J Cumberbatch, CPC2 Comments

I have been on this chronic illness journey for nearly 20 years, and while that may be a long time, I am learning new things every single day. I am a member of several support groups on Facebook…the stories I get to hear would shock you. Here are a few things I’ve learned so far that on one hand makes me sad and on the other hand makes me want to do more to increase awareness:

◦ There is a high rate of divorce (Some spouses can’t handle everything that comes with having a spouse who is always sick…they give up)

◦ Many have to choose between paying their co-pays for much needed medication and food or mortgage (That’s a shame)

◦ Many are not believed by their family and/or close friends when they say they are sick

◦ Far too many are made fun of

◦ There is a high rate of mental health issues such as depression and anxiety

◦ There is a stigma attached to having a chronic illness, especially if your illness is invisible

◦ Some suffer verbal and/or physical abuse

◦ Far too many give up and resort to suicide (The numbers are staggering)

◦ Most are too sick to work and are dependent upon social security disability for income

◦ Many are misdiagnosed with many diseases before the correct diagnosis is finally made

◦ Many suffer in silence and not receiving the proper treatment

◦ Many illnesses are invisible which can lead to resentment and frustration from others (Believe us)

I could go on and on about the things some are dealing with in addition to fighting for their health. It hurts my soul to know that some are choosing to end their lives because they are so tired of the pain, the neglect, abuse, feeling like you are a burden to family and friends.

Personally, I suffer from mild depression and anxiety. At times I miss the life I used to have…being able to do what I want, go where I want…those days are long gone. I spend a lot of time explaining my illnesses to some who really want to help but they just don’t know how. While some say they had no idea how sick I am because of my outward appearance. The only thing I can say to that is you never know what a person is going through on the inside…mentally, physically and emotionally. Check on your “strong” friends who are sick but always tell you they’re ok. It could be they’re just telling you that because they don’t want to be a burden to you. When you ask how they are doing be sure to say something like “No, how are you really doing”. Hopefully that will get them to open up and share with you how they are really feeling and how you might be able to support them.

The truth is, living with a chronic illness is ugly, painful, hard, lonely, exhausting, stressful, and isolating at times. We are doing the best we can to make it through each day, but it takes a village to make it through our journey.

Thank you so much for stopping by. Please be sure to like and subscribe to our blog so you’re in the know when we have a new blogpost. You can also find Windy’s Journey podcast now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Google Podcasts and Spotify! We need your support to help increase awareness about chronic illness and the negative impact it has on individuals and their families. Share this with someone who is chronically ill as it is my life’s goal to Empower | Encourage & Inspire others who are on this journey with me.

XO- Windy

https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/windys-journey/id1584718516

Honey, It’s Cold Outside!

On By Windy J Cumberbatch, CPC4 Comments

The seasons are changing and it’s starting to get cooler and my body has been going through it. In the mornings recently it has been averaging around 38 degrees this week and I have felt every bit of it. During the fall and winter months I tend to spend more and more time in the bed mostly because the cold causes me to tense up which causes a higher degree of pain. Don’t get me wrong, I welcome the change from the 100+ temps we tend to see here in TX during the summer months but as it gets cooler I tend to go into my personal hibernation.

Fighting with the thermostat because I can’t seem to regulate my temperature, adding on layers, oh and the thick, cozy socks that my daughter buys me for Christmas each year begin to make their annual appearance around this time. I can’t forget my favorite fall/winter accessory…my weighted blanket!!!! Not only does it help keep me warm, it helps manage the fibromyalgia pain. I believe the one I use the most is about 20 lbs. I think everyone in the world should have one…or two! In addition to my weighted blanket, there are other things I love during this time of year that help me manage pain and inflammation:

  • Hot Tea (Oolong is my favorite right now with a splash of heavy cream)
  • Yummy Soup (Warm and comforting…Tomato Basil)
  • Bubble Baths (As hot as I can stand it, with Epsom Salt)
  • Hot Stone Massage (Helps with pain management)
  • Weighted Blanket (I know…I had to say it again, it really is a game changer)

You see when it’s cold outside I tend to tense up which causes even more pain. The muscles in my body are so tight and it’s hard for me to relax. I also notice an increase in brain fog when it’s both cold and rainy. Not fun at all, so that makes me want to stay in bed and sleep when really what I need to be doing is moving my body so the muscles have a better chance relax so I’m not so tense.

Keys To Staying Warm This Winter:

  • Layering
  • Thick, fuzzy socks
  • Lots of blankets
  • Hat (Keep your body warm from the top)
  • Gloves (My hands are always cold)
  • My favorite scarf (Really it’s my husbands, but I sneak and wear it sometimes…don’t tell)

What are some ways you keep warm during the fall/winter months? I’d love to hear from you. Feel free to drop a comment below or send an email to info@windysjourney.com

Thank you so much for stopping by! Please help me out by liking, subscribing and sharing with someone who is living with chronic illness. Also, be sure to subscribe to my podcast, “Windy’s Journey“, now streaming on Apple Podcasts, Spotify, and Google Podcasts or wherever you stream.

I appreciate your support! It really means so much, more than you will ever know. It’s important to me to bring more awareness and support.

XO, Windy