August 31, 2017
How to Clean up the Mess in Between Illness Storms
“Now, what?” I asked myself a few months ago. After years, consisting of very long days, of family struggles with mental and medical conditions, the season began to change. At first, I dared not believe it. So many times, there had been brief glimpses of light as we forged through the darkness. But, those moments seemed to fade quickly. Once... Read morePosted in Mental Illness, Parenting and Chronic Illness | By Stacey Philpot
August 28, 2017
Rest and Care, Not Rejected Over Something As Silly As Hair
Over the last few weeks, my hair has been falling out at a steady and somewhat alarming rate. I posted about it on one of my social media accounts, saying, “It’s part of what happens during flares. It’s hard to say how many years it’s been happening on and off, or how many years I sought out physicians in an... Read morePosted in Chronic Life | By Stacey Philpot
August 24, 2017
The Words That Take My Life Away
Failure Loser Incapable Unwanted Unworthy Words my mental illness plants in my brain. They sneak in under the cover of dark, rearing their ugly heads when I least expect it. Defences down, I am bowled over by the intensity and severity of the words. I do my best to fight. I do positive self talk and affirmations. I stay away... Read morePosted in Mental Health | By Stacey Philpot
August 22, 2017
But Seriously, Stop Kissing Me
My husband has an immune system made of steel. I’ve often wondered if he has a stash of kryptonite hidden underneath the bed he isn’t telling me about. A few years ago, when little red dots appeared first on the tips of my fingers and then journeyed up my palms, I told myself I was having a reaction to all... Read morePosted in Chronic illness and relationships, Parenting and Chronic Illness, Relationships | By Stacey Philpot
August 17, 2017
3 Things I Want You to Remember on Bad Days
Just when we think we might be getting a handle on things, our latest diagnosis or setback, we find ourselves reeling. Be it a flare, a concerned call from the doctor, a flagged set of numbers in our weekly blood work, or a day when the pain is seemingly unbearable, it can be hard to remember things might ever be... Read morePosted in Chronic Life | By Stacey Philpot
August 14, 2017
How I Learned the Simple Life Lesson of Pause and Perspective
When I first met my neighbor Josie (who I nick-named ‘Trouble”) she was a feisty, kick-butt go get ’em kind of gal who ran circles around women 20 years her junior. She was a gourmet cook, an adjunct college professor and an all-around real-life know-it-all. For some reason she took a liking to me and chose to fit me into her... Read morePosted in Caregivers, Chronic illness and relationships | By Stacey Philpot
August 10, 2017
How to Find the Light When It All Goes Dark
Today started out on an aggravating note. The repair guy at the house there to fix some damage from our lightning strike showed up late, causing me to run late for a meeting with an editor. My head has hurt for days, and it decided to pick today to amp up the pain to ten. There were some troubles with... Read morePosted in Chronic illness and relationships, chronic illness; support, Chronic Life, Relationships | By Stacey Philpot
August 7, 2017
To the Ones Who Let Us Scream It Out When the Bottom Drops Out
This week I stood on a wooden platform. Sweaty, eager, teenagers in cut off shorts holding souvenir cups surrounded me. The soundtrack, a cacophony of nervous chatter about what might happen should the coaster become stuck or spontaneously fall apart and the click-click-clack sound of the coaster slowly rising followed by the thrilled screams of riders. My stepdaughter and I... Read morePosted in chronic illness; support | By Stacey Philpot
August 3, 2017
The Text of Shame
It’s your best friend’s birthday. You bought tickets to the show she’s been wanting to see for the last year and promised you would go no matter how sick you got in the hours leading up to your departure. Leaning into those words, your dear friend has skipped both the 24-hour and 4-hour check-in texts. She’s oblivious to the raging... Read morePosted in CVID, Rare Disease, Relationships | By Stacey Philpot
July 31, 2017
Learning to Love Our Broken Bodies
Some might say my body has been through a lot. Yesterday, I cleaned out my dresser drawers and found five pairs of hospital issue no-slip socks. I also discovered clothing in sizes 4-16, old nursing bras, the remote to my bladder pacemaker, and a bikini that would now fit one-third of my body. It’s hard to fathom the number of... Read morePosted in Chronic Illness and body image | By Stacey Philpot
