Quick Christmas Update

I’ve reread my last post; I was fairly fraught with nerves and anxiety wasn't I? Luckily I’ve calmed down a lot and it wasn’t depression, which I’m incredibly relieved about. It turns out one of my medications was making me a bit loopy and out of sorts! I attempted to go cold turkey but that only made things 10x harder so I’m back on the medication (a pain reliever) and coming off it slowly and carefully.

Although this now means I’m in more pain, I’d rather deal with that than cope with panic and anxiety attacks. I now have a real empathy for real depression sufferers, who deal with those horrible feelings and thoughts 24/7 and can’t see a light at the end of the tunnel. I also can see why drug addicts find cold turkey so hard and distressing.

Anyway, on a lighter note; It’s Christmas!! I’m in Hastings visiting Mike’s family and finally feeling festive; I’ve kind of missed all the build-up due to being so I’m my own little world but I’m looking forward to seeing our niece and enjoying the company, the food, TV and the presents!

I’m wishing all my readers a pain free, stress free Christmas, try to enjoy it all, saviour the build-up, the day and the winding down to the closing year, it will all go so fast that we’ll be in mid-January before we know it!
Much love and festive wishes
L x

Shhh don’t talk about it...

There are things in life I try not to bring up in social situations; PMT, bowel movements and lastly depression.

People don’t want to hear how rubbish you’re feeling; or at least I thought not. People I’ve spoken to have been great.

I have been finding this relapse really hard work, I have felt at my lowest ebb this past week and am breaking out the tears and tissues regularly. You see, about three months into a bad bout of illness you get fed up not being out seeing people going to events or even just meeting for coffee, I want to go see my friends but on another hand I don’t. What do I talk about when the main thing is my life at the moment is how miserable I feel – not great chit chat!

I apologise to my friends far and near for my lack of contact. I’m alive but not very well. I’ve found myself leaving my phone in other rooms so I don’t have to contact or talk to people, I’ve left my e-mails into the hundreds of unread and it’s ridiculous because not one person I know doesn’t realise what I’m going through at the moment.

Even as I write this I’m tearing up and getting all jittery, which is again silly as it’s not as if any of you can see me right now!

That’s the thing with depression it causes a self pitying feeling verses a “get over yourself” fighting fit nature. One minute I’m in bits on Mike’s shoulder the next I’m plough through e-mails and forcing myself to get one with texting people back.

I have a lot to be thankful for, I’m never ungrateful for my family, Mike, Friends, flat and the clothes on my back but sometimes you need to be a little self indulgent and just let it take hold for a while. Pain is a stressful entity that can almost make you feel like you’re going mad, and at the moment I do feel a little just that....mad.

I’ve had this silly thought going round and round my head that I don’t want to be known just as the girl who is in pain and talks a lot but that is me. I may just be on this earth to talk about the pain but to be honest about it and tell you all when I’m feeling rubbish because then you’ll know that the drugs certainly do not work and in my case I think they’re possibly causing the depression. What can I do but take them, ride the storm of spasms and madness and see you all in between and on the other side!

Forgive my ranting!

L x

Fun in Fundraising

Hi All,

Thought I’d give you all a little update on how fundraising is going for Motivation (see Plans for Motivation by clicking here).

Motivation is an international charity who aims to provide wheelchairs tailored to peoples different needs. I have, sometimes, struggled with being disabled and not being able to do all the things I want to because of my health (Bungee jumping, driving, Parachuting) and sometimes forget how lucky I am to live in a Western country that provides wheelchairs and a country that although sometimes lacking in disabled access is trying to become a free and accessible country for all to enjoy.

So, some months back I pledged that I would fund raise for Motivation and help others enjoy the freedoms I sometimes take for granted. Unfortunately my health has been so bad that I’m struggling to get out of bed some days let alone plan big events.

Luckily whilst I’ve been ill friends and family have started, in my honour, raising the much needed cash for wheelchairs!

My friends husband Ben raised £110 in sponsorship by running a 10k race! This is only £30 shy of a whole new wheelchair bought and paid for – amazing isn’t it? Such little money to us is a whole new world to someone else!

My favourite restaurant is The Sunflower Eaterie. The Sunflower is a small cafe’ on Queens Road (just off Southend High Street for locals here is their Facebook page), I take all my friends there for lunches, fry ups and roast dinners. The owners Michelle and Scott are a lovely couple and they hold quiz nights with raffles raising money for charities, and after my piece in the localpaper, they chose Motivation on my behalf!

I went to my first quiz night a couple weeks ago with Mike, My Dad and our friend Siobhan. For £10 you get to enter the quiz and for that you’ll also get dinner too! We had a ball, our team – Three Cripples and a Carer, came 5^th out of 10 teams – not bad eh? The Sunflower will be giving me the proceeds of their hard work in January J.

The Sunflower - Borrowed from Michelle's Facebook

Although I’ve yet to start my fundraising I want to send a huge thank you and hug to Ben (and Helen for “encouraging” him to do the race ;) and to Michelle and Scott for starting to really make a difference to people’s lives and believing in a cause that is so close to my heart!

Family and Friends get ready as I’m planning on hosting a dinner at the Sunflower next spring amongst other things, so get ready to buy tickets!

L x