Hey my Lovelies,

My last chronic illness post was all about the word, ‘SPOONIE’.

In this post I’m going to speak about:

• Support
• Where you can receive SUPPORT as a spoonie
• Where you can find and connect with me on different platforms

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During July 2018 I wrote a blog post entitled, ‘Lessons from a Sunflower’ and in one of the lessons I mentioned being open and how openness can help whilst being a part of the chronic illness and mental health community. Keeping a line of survival open is important whether it’s with family, a spouse, friends, a Support Group for your specific illness, Twitter Family and/or other social media outlets etc. If you have a Faith, it could be that members of your congregation are a part of your line of survival and support system.

 

 

“A problem shared is a problem halved”

 

It’s oh so hard, but oh so necessary to have an outlet and support system. I’m sure you’ve heard of the saying,

“A problem shared is a problem halved”

if not, now you have!

I know all too well how it feels to try and try again. To explain or express yourself but just not feel understood, which is one of the reasons why I started blogging.

You see, whilst suffering from debilitating symptoms it’s very easy to feel alone in a situation and to some degree you really are, even if there are others physically around you. It’s not easy to speak up about things that have so much power to make you physically and mentally weak, even speaking to health care professionals can be a challenge and that’s exactly what they’re there for and trained to do. The feeling of being alone can come as a result of being rejected in the past, feeling vulnerable, not being taken seriously by people in professional positions, denied care and support and a number of other reasons as to why someone may find it hard to speak of their struggles.

A good portion of the support that chronically ill and disabled people need isn’t actually that an immediate solution needs to be made for a situation, but it’s the readiness of a pair of ears to listen coming from an empathetic person at least wanting to help in whatever way they can.

So, to you, the one reading… Do you have a Spoonie Support System? 

It’s no secret that family units are eroding every single day and there’s sadly a lack of unity amongst kin. For quite a few individuals who are a part of the Spoonie community, traumatic experiences began at home, where it was meant to be a safe haven so having a support system from family is just no option at all. For others, it could be a case of having a close-knit family but their family members still don’t try to sympathise with health issues that one is experiencing. There is, however, a slim margin of chronically ill individuals that are not only very close with their family but they also receive loving support from those which they share similar DNA.

Your experience

 

I recently ran a poll on Twitter ( I love a good pole, haha) & this is the results I gathered below. As you can see, I gave my followers the choice of where they receive the most support and in the lead with 46% is Social Media

For many in the spoonie community, there’s a sense of understanding among those who are alike, just like artists socialise with artist and musicians socialise with other musicians.

Spoonie Support

The Spoon Theory not only helps outsiders to understand what it’s like to live with a chronic illness, but it also gives chronically ill/disabled people a chance to connect with others, express ourselves, and find a place where acceptance isn’t easily granted in an abled world.

If you’re interested in connecting more with Spoonies, there are some great ways to do so:

• Check out previous blog posts in the ‘Spoonie Series’ category on this web space
• Join #Spooniechat Wednesdays from 8 to 9:30 p.m. Eastern Time on Twitter
• Connect with Dawn M Gibson #Spoonie Chat community on Twitter & Facebook
• Follow @Spoonieproblems on social media and use the hashtag #Spoonieprolems to chime in on what peculiar things happen to you as a Spoonie and read other people’s tweets on their unique experiences with chronic illness.
• Disability bloggers can get in touch with The Invisible Vision Project if you would like to be featured in a guest blog appearance. This is a great platform for any spoonies to share a little part of their story and connect with others in the blogging/spoonie community. You don’t need to be a disability blogger to get involved, any bloggers welcomed!
• Love music and wish you could attend concerts without having to worry about accessibility? Follow #TheChrillMusicFestival – a music festival for those who are chronically ill, bedbound and identify as a spoonie, hosted by Melanie at bedboundbabe

• Search #spoonie on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and Tumblr to see what’s being posted, have a look at the memes and have a laugh in the comment sections ☺
• Use the search engine to look up organisations and charity that are specific to your chronic illness
• Ask your Dr/health professionals what support you can receive in AND out of home for your chronic illness/mental health

 

*PSA – Pacific Standard Time (Northern America) USA & Canada

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CONNECT WITH ME

Since starting this platform I’ve used a few hashtags in order to connect with spoonies alike from different areas of the world, two in particular being; #LifeOfASpoonie (when I post a blog/make a witty comment about a symptom I get or relate a chronic illness story to my followers) & #LinkWithLaura (To combat brain fog when I’ve asked a specific question to my followers and need to find the original tweet with ease)

 

 

I hope that in time you start to feel less alone in your battle, it’s difficult but You’re not alone, there’s a whole team of us mini sunflowers that make up one big beautiful flower.

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Twitter – Follow @LauraSpoonie

Pinterest – Follow @LauraSpoonie

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Thanks for stopping by.

Laura,

XOXO