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august linkup party

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Sheryl from A Chronic Voice, as well as sharing her own stories and lessons with chronic illness. Sheryl is an excellent support to other bloggers and writers living with illness and chronic pain. One such way is through monthly link-up parties whereby bloggers and writers share their stories through given prompts. This month, I will be looking at snapshots of a ‘chronic life’ if it was portrayed on screen.

Recently I watched ‘Unbroken: The Path to Redemption,’ the inspiring of Louis Zamperini. The film follows his return from World War II, and his ongoing struggles to adjust back to civilian life.

‘Film Based on Real Life’ – one of my favourite categories on Netflix

I particularly enjoy watching films which depict true stories of real people. I love movies which capture the real lives and real struggles of amazing and inspiring people. Films capturing the stories of overcoming great adversity are incredibly poignant for a person like myself, who is suffering from demons.

Capturing Life With A Chronic Illness

It has made me wonder what a film capturing the life of someone living with a chronic illness would entail. Would anyone even enjoy or be interested in a movie depicting a story of someone diagnosed with a neurological disorder?

My love for those films depicting the true stories of inspiring individuals made me reflect on what a film about someone living with a chronic illness would be life.
Photo by rawpixel.com from Pexels

The answer would, unfortunately, be no. The truth is that although life with a chronic illness is anything but ordinary, it is one that can be monotonous. In the film Groundhog Day, the life of the main character repeats on an endless loop. The protagonist destined to repeat the same day over and over again. And this description is very much like what it is like to live with a chronic illness.

The reality of living with a chronic illness, it that every day is a repetition of the day before; consisting of the same symptoms. And restricted by the same limitations that these symptoms create.

"The reality of living with a chronic illness, it that every day is a repetition of the day before; consisting of the same symptoms. And restricted by the same limitations that these symptoms create." Share on X

The beauty of the stories captured on screen is the vast array of different scenery; the varied locations in which the characters spend their time.

What would the snapshots of your chronic life show?
Photo by Porapak Apichodilok from Pexels

For those who are chronically ill, the majority of the time we spend within the confines of the same four walls. And when we do venture, out, we do so too familiar and safe locations.

And much of the time is spent alone; alone in our suffering. When we do venture out, or see people, we only do so when we feel comfortable enough to be seen, or feel somewhat in control of our symptoms. Being in control of something, in life where we think we have very little control.

Financing Between What We Can and Cannot Do

In this mundane and monotonous existence of living with chronic illness, is a need for carefully financing between what we can and cannot do. We wish that we could live like those characters in our favourite films, but unfortunately illness and pain our ability to do so.

Living with a chronic illness requires the need to balance the books between what we can and cannot do…
Photo by Jessica Lewis from Pexels

Instead, we must carefully budget the limited energy we possess to be able to carry out the most critical tasks on our to-do list. And still, we must ensure that we have enough energy for the next day. As we balance the books between illness and the rest of our lives, the losses we have endured become much more evident.

"As we balance the books between illness and the rest of our lives, the losses we have endured become much more evident." Share on X

Chronic illness, a constant thief, stealing abilities that once came so naturally. The continuous losses that we experience so cruelly are part of life with a chronic illness that we must grieve. It is not, however, a snapshot of this chronic life that we wish to be captured on screen for others to witness and study.

"Chronic illness, a constant thief, stealing abilities that once came so naturally. The continuous losses that we experience so cruelly are part of life with a chronic illness that we must grieve." Share on X

Chronic Illness: A Controlling Thief

Watching those characters in our favourite television show or films, they seem so confident; in control of their lives. When living with a neurological disorder, however, much of our control transferred to the disease itself. Symptoms are controlling our bodies, affecting every facet of our lives.

We must learn to accept that for which we cannot control. And to have the courage to change those things that we can. To let go of the life that we dreamed we have, and to embrace the reality of the new life that has entered our life unexpectedly.

"We must learn to accept that for which we cannot control. And to have the courage to change those things that we can. And to embrace the reality of the new life that has entered our life unexpectedly." Share on X

Exchanging Helplessness For Control in Defiance of the Uncontrollable

We wish we could exchange the feelings of helplessness for being in control in defiance of the uncontrollable. We desperately want to exchange our chronic lives and its debilitating symptoms for something better. A life that largely depends on surviving for a more productive and accomplished existence.

Living with a chronic illness requires constant adaptation, and with its growing what we can no longer do, we must exchange these for what we can. To live with life we can and to try and not dwell on the life we can no longer have. And the wish to exchange this new mundane life for one which is exciting and unique to be on the big screen.

"Living with a chronic illness requires constant adaptation, and exchange what we can no longer do with things that we can. To live with life we can and to try and not dwell on the life we can no longer have." Share on X

Illness Is A Motivation Killer

I have great admiration for those characters that demonstrate a great deal of motivation to improve their lives and the lives of those around them. Living with a chronic illness, however, find that my motivation ebbs and flows. It is easy to find the motivation to do something, do anything on those rare good days. On the days where symptoms are unrelenting, it is hard even to find the motivation to get out of bed.

When going through the tough times and find ourselves in the darkness, it can be challenging to claw ourselves out of the dark pit. The motivation to do anything is non-existent.

But dig ourselves out of the pit, we must, to rebuild a life worth living. It may not be the life we had planned, or a story worthy of an Oscar-worthy film. But it can still be a life that we can be proud of; it might not be a normal life, but it is ours.

"It may not be the life we had planned, or a story worthy of an Oscar-worthy film. But it can still be a life that we can be proud of; it might not be a normal life, but it is ours." Share on X
August Link-Up Party With A Chronic Voice: Snapshots of A Chronic Life

One of my favourite chronic illness bloggers, Sheryl from ‘A Chronic Voice’ has started a link up party! These parties are a monthly get together for any bloggers who live with or have experience with a chronic illness.  These will provide opportunities to ‘meet,’ share thoughts, information and learn from one another.
To gain more information about these parties and information on how to participate then you can visit Sheryl’s original post here.
The prompts for this month are:

  • Missing
  • Appreciating
  • Striving
  • Releasing
  • Eating

Missing: My late dog, Honey 

I’m not going to lie, but I have been struggling these past couples of months and been spending more time alone in the house.  And it’s during these times that I have been really missing the company of our late dog, Honey.  Although she may have been pretty useless if something happened to me such as a fall (which have also been increasing) however the mere presence of having her around was comforting.  Of course, I also miss her copious amounts of hugs and kisses which never failed to make a bad day better.

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Appreciating: Books

In my last post, I wrote about my love of books and reading.  As the pain and relentless trembling in the legs have worsened recently, I appreciate the wonderful world of books for allowing me to escape from the monotony of chronic pain and the other symptoms that have taken permanent residence in my everyday life.  These books, the many that I have read so far this year has taken to many different places that my body is physically unable to go.  It has proven to be a great distraction for me on the bad days, which unfortunately have been many.  And for that, I have been so very grateful.

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Striving: Striving for Progress 

As I have already mentioned, things have been challenging in regards to my health which is really frustrating especially as I take steps to try and improve it – I go to a local gym in the attempts to strengthen my muscles (which hasn’t happened). Or at the least ensure that the weakness does not get any worse.  I also ensure that I spend time every day to complete the vestibular rehabilitation exercises that I was given at the hospital to help with the dizziness and vertigo as well as the physiotherapy exercises to improve the functioning in my legs.  So far, they have been unsuccessful, but still, I persevere in the hopes of improving my situation.  Like all of us, I am never going to achieve perfection, but I hope one day soon I manage to attain progress and improvement.

Releasing: Positive Thoughts 

As a writer myself, I love words, and I love finding new and uplifting quotes to decorate my bedroom to raise my spirits and inspire me on my bad days, and those days I am stuck in bed.  I also own several pieces of jewellery that have a positive quote or mantra that I can wear and remind myself during difficult times.  I release these positive thoughts to elevate my mood.  I have even found some cards that have positive and inspiring quotes on them that I have even used to send to others also living with chronic illness and disabilities (such as the fun and brilliant #spooniepost) to help remind them of everything that is positive during their own struggles.

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Eating: Homemade Pizza

In our attempts to eat healthier, my Mum and I have been spending some time experimenting with some of the recipes from the beautiful cookbook ‘Cook Happy, Cook Healthy‘ by Fearne Cotton.  Our favourite meal from this book has been the Healthy Homemade Pizza which uses spelt flour instead of regular white flour due to its nutritious qualities.  I love this, as it’s surprisingly easy to make and it doesn’t leave your stomach feeling heavy and stodgy afterward, which I often get after indulging in a takeaway pizza.  It has also been enjoyable to make (despite all the mess!), and I have felt incredibly accomplished while enjoying the fruits of our labour!

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