Counting My Spoons

Inspired Living with Chronic Illness

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You are here: Home / Archives for Close to My Heart

Topics Close to My Heart

These posts discuss various issues and events that are close to my heart. Perhaps it's me sharing something that happened, or just sharing my soul.

How I reclaimed my life from chronic illness

Last Updated: May 13, 2021

How I Reclaimed My Life from Chronic Pain Life is a constant state of reclaiming. At least my life is. For every loss I faced, I must then reclaim a life I want. Whatever the struggle, I have to come back and reclaim the life I have chosen. What other choice is there? Giving up? That's no choice … [Read more...]

2 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, My Life, sponsored Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, recovery

Dear Fibromyalgia

Last Updated: May 13, 2021

Dear fibromyalgia (image of hand-written letter) - Counting My Spoons

The book A Return to Love talks about the idea of writing a letter to your illness and letting go of all the negative thoughts you have towards it, the "why are you doing this to me" thoughts. When I read this I thought it was interesting and I thought I'd write a letter to Fibromyalgia. … [Read more...]

1 Comment Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Fibromyalgia

An Open Letter to Caregivers

Last Updated: April 15, 2021

An open letter to caregivers

Off and on for the last 8 years I've been the one needing care. I've struggled as a patient, but I never knew how much my caregivers struggled as well. I only saw my pain and my struggles. Recently, that has changed. I'm learning what it's like to be on the other side and just how … [Read more...]

6 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping, Extra Spoons, relationships Tagged With: self-care

Finding the Strength to Get Through Bad Days

Last Updated: April 13, 2021

Finding the strength to get through the bad days

It's not always easy to find strength in the bad days. You already feel overwhelmed and are struggling to just get through. This idea of staying strong is a bit over-rated sometimes, and sometimes the best thing we can do is allow ourselves to just rest. Let someone else be strong.  The more … [Read more...]

3 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping, Extra Spoons Tagged With: decreasing stress, pacing, positivity, stress

8 Songs to calm you when everything seems out of control

Last Updated: November 3, 2020

9 songs to lift you up when you're feeling down

8 Songs to Calm You When Life Feels Out of Control Stress and anxiety are not friends of chronic illness. Sadly, sometimes it seems like those two seek us out and harass us to no end. Not long ago, I had a situation arise that really stressed me out. I was feeling pushed to do something that was … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping, Extra Spoons, inspiration Tagged With: anxiety, feeling better, mental health, music

Who are we to judge another’s illness?

Last Updated: August 5, 2020

Why do we waste energy comparing our struggles and judging others?

How many times have you seen a comment from someone on social media commenting on how someone else with an illness can't possibly have it as bad as they claim (or as the author of the status).  I ran across the below "migraine status" meme on Instagram. "If you're typing a status update that … [Read more...]

2 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Extra Spoons, relationships Tagged With: acceptance, support

The Importance of Asking For Help

Last Updated: July 30, 2020

The importance of asking for help

Too often we don't ask for help because we assume that others will not be there for us, or that even if they want to be there, they won't be able to help. The problem is that we'll never know if we can depend on others if we never ask. This quote came straight from my Psych book: "Social support … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping, Fibro and Marriage, friendship, relationships Tagged With: asking for help, support

Understanding Invisible Illness: Walking in Our Shoes

Last Updated: June 14, 2020

Walking in our shoes: Understanding invisible illness

  Before I got sick with fibromyalgia I had no understanding of invisible illness. I would look at some of the people I'd see using handicapped spaces or the electric carts at the grocery store and think "they don't really need that". I once had a discussion with my (then) husband about how … [Read more...]

6 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Extra Spoons, inspiration Tagged With: decreasing stress, invisible illness, spoon theory, stress

Sometimes Rest Is The Answer

Last Updated: July 15, 2019

sometimes rest is the answer

Sometimes we need to be reminded that a flare doesn't mean a return to the worst. A bad day doesn't mean it's going to be a bad week, and a bad week doesn't mean it's going to be a bad month, and none of these mean we are going to keep feeling bad forever. The last 6 months have been really busy, … [Read more...]

4 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping Tagged With: chronic fatigue, pacing

Chronic illness does not mean you are a failure: You are a success story

Last Updated: September 17, 2018

chronic illness does not mean you are a failure. You are a success story (image of woman on top of the world)

Chronic Illness does not mean you are failure Originally published on Prohealth Inspiration Corner There are many ways to gauge success. My view of success has always been a little different than most. Perhaps it’s because of how I was raised, or perhaps it’s just something in how I see the … [Read more...]

8 Comments Filed Under: Close to My Heart, Coping, inspiration Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic illness, positivity, suicide

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About Julie

Spoonie. Fibro Warrior. E-health advocate.

Julie Ryan was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2010 and endometriosis in 2012. She's lived with chronic migraine most of her life. In 2019 she was diagnosed with inter-cranial hypertension.

Julie has a degree in Psychology, and works as a freelance writer and marketer. Freelance work allows her to work when she can and not be tied to a desk or a schedule. Julie believes in living an inspired life despite chronic illness.

"I have chronic illness, it doesn't have me."

More about Julie

Blog title inspired by The Spoon Theory, by Christine Miserandino, an excellent explanation of what it's like to live with invisible illness. Read More…

Disclaimer:

I am not a doctor. I do not claim to be a doctor. I do not play a doctor on TV or the internet. I simply share my experiences and what has worked for me. We are all different and before you try any new treatment, exercise, supplement, etc you should talk with your doctor (the real one, not the one on TV).

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