Tag: chronic illness

The Silent Struggle

Image Laura Spoonie2 Comments

At the beginning of the month, Johnzelle and myself decided to do a Mental Health Link Up to raise more awareness on Mental Illness and our own experiences. The post for today touches on the struggle that comes with mental health, how we as individuals view our own needs and the stigma that has been […]

Creative PMU suggestions - Laura Spoonie

Creative Pick Me Up suggestions – #MentalHealthAwareness

Laura Spoonie4 Comments

Hey my Lovelies,

On Wednesday, October 10th the world came together to raise more awareness for Mental Health Day! In this post I am going to mention 5 Pick-Me-Up suggestions for the Chronic Illness & Mental Health community.

These are just a few things that I use as creative coping mechanisms for chronic health issues and wanted to pass it on to anyone else that may need some ideas.

LISTEN TO AN ALBUM

Listening to music has been proven to lower stress levels and is a great way to cope with your mental health.

On World Mental Health Day I created a new music TAG called – ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’.

This TAG was to recognise what role music plays in your life, how it has helped with your mental health and to list 10 songs you would consider being a part of your ‘Pick Me Up Playlist’. – You can read my post here

I’ve been listening to an artist for a couple of years now, who goes by the stage name, H.E.R. She’s a real talent and automatically cheers me up whenever I hear her voice.

If you need a Pick-Me-Up, put on your favourite album or find a new one to explore and listen to.

Crank up the volume and rap/sing your heart out. You might just find the theme tune for your life!

 

POEM WRITING

A week ago, on October 4th it was #NationalPoetryDay

I had written a short poem called, ‘Hopefully Rose’ and posted it on my blog.

You can use poem writing as a way for you to express your feelings and emotions, or simply make a poem about what has inspired you or caught your eye at a particular moment. It doesn’t need to be a full page with the longest words, it also doesn’t have to rhyme.

Keep it short, keep it sweet

Write a quick poem before you sleep 😉

 

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POEM: Hopefully Rose

 

BLOGGING

Some people might say otherwise, but I think blogging is definitely a creative outlet. Actually, before I started blogging more frequently (these last two months) I never realised how much of a creative outlet blogging really was. It might not be painting the Mona Lisa but whilst blogging you are expressing yourself with words and connecting with an audience. Whether you’re sharing your story or sharing general knowledge it’s all a way for you to be creative.

I know blogging is tiring, especially when battling with ailments etc. but it’s actually a good way to stay positive and connect with so many lovely bloggers and people who may enjoy your style of writing. If you are only able to type and post on your blog once a week, then do it! If you can post a few times a week, go for it!

Do what you can manage and use it as your space to share your light.

You are a Writer. You are Creative. You are Talented.

CARRY ON BLOGGING!

 

PHOTOGRAPHY

Being a part of the chronic illness and mental health community, I know for myself how much the bad days can outweigh the good days and take its toll. Between physical pain and emotional pain, it can all get too overwhelming.

Whenever I get the chance to get out of the house, even if it’s to a medical appointment I like to take pictures of the day, whether it be flowers, buildings, wall art… you name it I’ll snap it Lol

To an ‘average’ person they might say, “why are you taking so many pictures?”, or “why are you taking pictures of that random object?”. For me, I don’t know when I’ll get another day out so I make sure to take as many pictures to cheer myself up. I look back on pictures whilst I’m suffering in bed to remind myself that there are so many beautiful things out there and that’s one way I keep my head above water☺

 

Hospital Visit - Laura Spoonie
A picture I took after one of many hospital visits

SNAP, SNAP, SNAP AWAY! 📷

 

DRAWING

Last on my list but probably one of my most favourites is drawing.

Drawing is a great way to escape your physical and mental struggles, you can use it create whatever you want… just like writing and blogging.

You don’t have to be the best at drawing, just practice doodling and putting pencil to paper.

You might surprise yourself with what you come up with.

I’ve been drawing since I was little and it has always been automatic for me to pick up art tools and just go for it. In the last few weeks, I’ve tried my hand at drawing portraits, an area that’s new for me.

So try it, get a few pens or pencils and get drawing!

 

Sharlene (Portrait) - by Laura Spoonie

 

So there we have it, 5 Creative Pick Me Up suggestions for chronic illness & mental health community. Hope you enjoyed!

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Thanks for stopping by.

Laura,

XOXO

Blogger Recognition Award🏆

Laura Spoonie13 Comments

Thank You, Nancy Mulligan for nominating me with the Blogger Recognition Award! Since I began my blog journey a few months ago she’s been such an encouragement to me and made me feel welcome from the very start on this massive platform. Always spreading sunshine and sharing knowledge.

 

Go checkout Nancy’s blog site – My Everyday Challenges, she posts daily to inspire all.

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Blogger Award3

The requirements for this award are as follows:

• Thank the blogger that nominated you

• Write a post to show your award

• Give a brief story of how your blog started

• Give two pieces of advice to new bloggers

• Select 15 other bloggers you want to give this award to

• Comment on each blog and let them know you’ve nominated them, and provide the link to the post you’ve created

 

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My name is Laura, blog name – Laura Spoonie. I officially began blogging in April of this year. I wasn’t really sure if I actually wanted to make blogging a continuous ‘thing’, but nonetheless I was inspired to write my first ever post called From Paris, With Love speaking about how I coped for the first time in Paris as someone who suffers from chronic illness. Since my first blog in April I knew I wanted to make my site a place to document self development, my art, poems and try to connect and educate those who may not know what it’s like to live with chronic illness. I took the time to think about what aims I have for my blog and the things I would like to speak about so I wrote a post earlier this month called, What to expect – Laura Spoonie Blogs ❤. My main reason for creating this space was to make it a place for anyone else who suffers from physical or mental illness to not feel alone in this on going battle.

The phrase I use for my blog is, “One Spoon At A Time 🥄” – It’s a play on words from the well known catchphrase, “One Step At A Time”. The thought behind this catchphrase is that as a person with chronic illness you really have to take it slow (i’m talking sloth slow), spoons are a representations of energy and how much we can manage throughout the day.

 

Each month I choose one of my main topics to focus on; Spoonie Series (life with chronic illness), Mental Health, Personal Development. I only began to upload posts more frequently since the start of this month so my main aim for August was to upload content that was about getting to know me and connecting more with the blogging community. Next month, my plan is to focus on mental health blogs and raising more awareness around the stigma of mental illness.

Quite a lot of times I genuinely don’t have energy to do anything and my mind is just racing with so many things that I can’t find words to type for a post so I do a few things to help me combat ‘writers block’/Fibro Fog:

  • Writing subheadings so I know what direction I want my post to go in – this gives me the chance to then expand on the topic I’ve chosen to write about
  • Adding pictures to my posts before I finish writing or even before I start
  • As soon as I get an idea put it into drafts or write it down
  • If I come across useful information forward the site address link to my email

 

I’m still a newbie to this blogging world but these are just some things I’ve been doing over this month as I’ve been posting more frequently.

 

Advice from Me to You

Turn your Pain into Power - Laura Spoonie

1) “Turn your Pain into Power & your Wounds into Wisdom”

When you start blogging you may feel a little vulnerable, I know I certainly feel that way even months after posting some in depth stuff about the symptoms I experience. The thing is, by you putting yourself out there and making your blog a place where people feel comfortable and recognise they aren’t so alone is such a big deal… more than you may realise at this moment in time. Once you start to realise how much you can be helping others by sharing the pain you’re going through or have been through, showing your battle wounds and then using your experience as a way to help others, blogging will then be more than just writing post but you’ll truly see the importance of interacting and the purpose of your space in this community. There’s space for everyone to share their story.

Before I got onto social media and started to connect with the chronic illness and mental health community I really thought I was alone. Through networking, writing blog posts and being transparent about the reality of my pain I’ve realised how so many people are in similar situations. I didn’t even focus on the numbers, my sole agenda was to start connecting with others and I would advise you to do the same. You can always feel a genuine connection versus just trying to build your follow count. Not to say there’s anything wrong with the instant gratification of numbers, but in the long run you’ll benefit more from concentrating on simply sharing your story and making genuine connections with your audience.

You never know who needs you, unless you make yourself available. Share your story, share your truth and stand firm in it, you’ll be surprised by how many people you connect with just through your words. Whatever type of blog you want to create make it count. Turn your pain into power & your wounds into wisdom!

 

 

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Dust yourself off - Laura Spoonie

2) “If at first you don’t succeed, Dust yourself off & try again”.

This blogging world is really about finding your niche (maybe your niche is to not have a niche 🤷‍♀️), learning from other bloggers and essentially learning from your prior mistakes. Don’t get too hung up on mistakes you make along the way because we’ve all got to start from somewhere. If something doesn’t work the first or second time round then aim for the next time. This also gives you a real chance to get onto social media and connect with other bloggers or people who are interested in what you have to write about. You can ask questions, do research, find other peoples blogs and you’ll be amazed by how much you can learn by just taking the time to reach out and bouncing off of each other. Mistakes are all a part of the journey and I guess what fails today could become a great blog post for tomorrow.
In the words of Aaliyah – “If at first don’t succeed… Dust yourself off and try again, you can dust it off and try again” – R.I.P 🌹

 

 

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My Nominees for the Blogger Recognition Award

Throughout these last couple of months I’ve been able to connect with so many people that have been an encouragement and also inspired me when I didn’t know what I was doing regards my blogging journey. They’re all inspirational in their own ways and deserving of the Blogger Recognition Award.

Rachael Hope

Susan Pearson

Johnzelle

N S Ford

Alexx-Marie

Sheryl Chan

Carly Bloggs

Talmandan

MaMa Megan

Books Life & Everything Nice

Muted Mouthful

Emma – (Not Just Tired)

Channie

The Invisible Vision Project

Michelle – Fibro Queen

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Thank You again to Nancy for nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award and for being a big light of encouragement, not just to the blogging community but in your whole being, it’s truly refreshing!

If you want to join me on my journey for self-development, seeing my art or reading my poetry then subscribe to my blog. Posting Mondays and Fridays all the way from my bed, haha!

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Thanks for stopping by.

Laura,

XOXO

 

Flawesome Award✨

Image Laura Spoonie7 Comments

Hey my Lovelies, Earlier this month I was nominated for the Flawesome Award by Johnzelle. I became aware of his blog mid July and honestly I find his writing so easy for me to read, it’s like i’m reading advice and taking notes from a big brother… that I never had. He’s a therapist, working […]