Challenges Archives — The Invisible F

Challenges

I’ve been lonely all my life – Mental Health Awareness Week 2022

For most of my life I’ve felt alone and lonely. I never realised this was a thing, it’s just how I’ve always felt and I…

Challenges

The road to diagnosing my chest pains and digestive issues

potofcallaloo March 31, 2022 2 Comments acid reflux barium swallow BRAVO ph monitoring test breath tests chest pain digestive issues endoscopy fibromyalgia and chest pain fibromyalgia and digestive problems fibromyalgia and stomach pain gastritis pain gastroscopy gut problems manometry stomach bacteria stomach probems

After years of being suffering with relentless chest pains and other digestive symptoms that have largely gone undiagnosed, I’m finally closing in on an answer.…

Borderline personality disorder C-PTSD Challenges Depression Mental health

Why do we stay?

potofcallaloo February 16, 2022 No Comments Depression how to support someone who is suicidal Mental health mental health support suicide awareness suicide awareness training suicide prevention you are loved

I wish there was an easy answer to this. For those of us who struggle, who want to leave, who don’t feel like we belong.

Challenges Meds & Remedies Moods

Making the most of bittersweet holidays – My top 7 Christmas (holiday) posts

potofcallaloo December 15, 2021 No Comments christmas chronic pain and depression over christmas coping with chronic pain over christmas depression and christmas fibromyalgia and christmas holidays and mental health Making the most of Christmas mental health and christmas pain and depression

HOW is it even Christmas already? Don’t bother answering that. You know how I feel about the holidays. Bittersweet time of year. I love to…

Challenges

The season is changing so I’m flaring, send help!

potofcallaloo October 29, 2021 No Comments change in season fibromyalgia chronic pain compassion coping with fibromyalgia coping with fibromyalgia pain fatigue fibromyalgia fibromyalgia and fatigue fibromyalgia pain fibromyalgia painkillers pain self-love stabbing pain throbbing pain

As the autumn air ushers out the summer sun I, like many of my friends around the world living with fibromyalgia reel from a flare…

Challenges

A night in the life of… an insomniac living with fibromyalgia

potofcallaloo October 4, 2021 2 Comments anxiety chest pain chronic health problems chronic pain fibromyalgia fibromyalgia and insomnia fibromyalgia and sleep fibromyalgia symptoms insomnia lack of sleep Mental health migraines sleep problems

Monday 4 October 2021, 1.27am Luckily for me I don’t have work later today, because it is 1.27am and I am wide awake. I am…

Challenges

‘Thought I was going crazy’ – fibromyalgia patients on the impact of not being able to regulate their own body temperature

potofcallaloo August 1, 2021 4 Comments embarrassing chronic health symptoms embarrassing fibromyalgia symptoms excessive sweating Fibro night sweats fibro sweating fibromyalgia and sweating fibromyalgia sweat glands fibromyalgia symptoms fibromyalgia temperature fibromyalgia temperature dysregulation strange fibre symptoms temperature dysregulation

[Feature image: Yes that is me sweating like I’ve run a marathon. No I didn’t] People living with fibromyalgia have described how the often overlooked…

Challenges Moods

Advocates excited but say more research needed after latest fibromyalgia research say it could be autoimmune

potofcallaloo July 4, 2021 4 Comments autoimmune fibromyalgia fibromyalgia autoimmune fibromyalgia research is fibromyalgia autoimmune latest fibromyalgia research

I welcome the new research (any research really, please) that suggests fibromyalgia may be “an autoimmune response that increases the activity of pain-sensing nerves throughout…

Challenges Depression Mental health

How a plant, a cat and conversation brought me from the brink of a mental precipice

potofcallaloo May 9, 2021 2 Comments anxiety Depression grief love Mental health Mental Health Awareness Week nature therapy suicidal ideation suicide

Last June, at the height of the covid-19 pandemic and lockdown, I wanted to die. Quite suddenly, I had lost my Ma. Grief fed my…

Challenges

International Women’s Day: Choose to challenge

potofcallaloo March 7, 2021 2 Comments fibromyalgia gender health gap gender inequalities inequalities International Womens Day women's health women's rights

As if facing a barrage of inequalities, and discrimination in our relationships, communities and workplaces isn’t enough, inequalities facing women also extend to our health;…