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Where it's totally chill to be chronically ill
If you suffer from anything that keeps you from living the dreams you've dreamed, whether that's your own illness or you care for someone else, welcome to Ch/ill Town. Here, we face the things that've kept us down, and take away their power.
No one likes to admit they have a chronic illness. Chronic illness. Chronic illness. Chronic illness. Blech. It does NOT roll off the tongue. So I don't use those words. I'd rather think of myself as ch/ill. Cool. Easy going. Come what may, fa-la-la, c'est la vie.
I'd consider it an honor if you'd join me in navigating writing life while ch/ill, and let me impart what I've learned on to you. You can take the Write-Rest-Publish Success! course, join my free Facebook community, or read the blog entries tagged "ch/ill" (of course). Ch/ill Town doesn't have to be lonely. Let's be friends.
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Introductory Chapter from my Upcoming Book
THE CH/ILL AUTHOR:
Navigating Writing Life with Chronic Illness
Let's kick off this party by getting to know our uninvited houseguest a bit better. What exactly is chronic illness? Well, it's like the friend who crashes on your couch for a weekend and ends up staying for years. And by 'friend', I mean 'pain-in-the-neck' (usually quite literally!).
Chronic illness is a long-term health condition that may not have a cure and can affect a person's life in more ways than one. From diabetes to heart disease, rheumatoid arthritis to Fibromyalgia, these conditions come with a special party mix of symptoms that can be managed (with varying success) but not necessarily eliminated.
Remember those magic tricks where something is there one moment and then - *poof* - it's gone the next? That's kind of like the invisible symptoms of chronic illnesses. They're not apparent to the outside observer, but they're very real and often debilitating to those who experience them. Magic, right? And not the fun kind.
But wait, there's more! Chronic illness isn't just about the physical symptoms. Oh no, it's also about the impact on mental health. Think of it as a two-way street. Chronic illness can lead to mental health problems, and those problems can make the symptoms of chronic illness worse.
For us writers, these physical and mental health issues can create major plot twists. The physical symptoms can turn the simple act of writing into a Herculean task. Fatigue can make it hard to concentrate, while pain can make it uncomfortable to sit and write for long periods. Mental health issues can also throw a wrench in our creative gears. Anxiety can lead to self-doubt and procrastination, while depression can drain our motivation and make it hard to find joy in the creative process.
And just when you think you've got a handle on it, the unpredictability of chronic illness swoops in like a surprise cliffhanger, making it hard to maintain a consistent writing schedule. One day, you're J.K. Rowling, and the next, you can barely spell your name.
But here's the thing. Understanding these challenges is the first step toward overcoming them. In the next chapters, we'll explore how to be the hero of our own stories, managing the physical and mental health challenges of chronic illness, and adapting our writing process to navigate these plot twists.
Yes, having a chronic illness means that your path to achieving your dreams might look different than you initially imagined. But hey, who likes predictable stories anyway? Get ready for an adventure, my friend. This is life, and writing, with chronic illness.