Counting My Spoons

Inspired Living with Chronic Illness

  • About Julie
    • What’s Helped Me Most
      • ToolKit
      • Vital Plan
      • Oska Pulse
    • Contact Me
    • Work With Me
    • Terms of Service
  • Warriors
  • Coping
    • Tips & Tricks
    • inspiration
  • relationships
    • Fibro and Marriage
    • friendship
  • Conditions
    • Fibromyalgia
      • Fibro Warriors
    • migraine
    • endometriosis
    • Medical Studies
    • Treatment
      • Diet and Nutrition
  • Reading List
  • Toolkit
You are here: Home / Archives for chronic illness

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

How Chronic Illness is Like a Marriage

Last Updated: May 5, 2021

I've been thinking about how in a lot of ways chronic illness is kind of like a marriage. This post isn't as serious as most of my posts, I wanted to have a bit of fun, and take a light-hearted (tongue-in-cheek) look at how chronic illness is like a marriage. Sometimes we get stuck in … [Read more...]

5 Comments Filed Under: Extra Spoons, Fibromyalgia, relationships Tagged With: chronic illness, funny

5 Mistakes those facing Chronic Illness need to stop making

Last Updated: May 4, 2021

5 mistakes people with chronic illness need to stop making

Living with chronic illness often leads us second guessing everything from our diagnosis to every possible symptom, side effect, and treatment. With all that second guessing it's important to know that there are a few things you may be doing that are worth second-guessing. Below are 5 mistakes those … [Read more...]

2 Comments Filed Under: Coping, Extra Spoons Tagged With: chronic illness

Someone Has it Worse Than You

Last Updated: December 12, 2020

Someone has it worse than you - But that doesn't mean you aren't hurting too.

Someone has it worse than you. How many times have you heard those words? Or, even said them about yourself. I shouldn't complain because someone has it worse than me. It's not that bad, there are so many others suffering worse. When someone else tells you that others have it worse it is hurtful … [Read more...]

2 Comments Filed Under: Coping, Extra Spoons, Fibromyalgia Tagged With: chronic illness, chronic pain

The Slow Death of Compassion For the Chronically Ill

Last Updated: December 10, 2020

The slow death of compassion for chronic illness

In "The Slow Death of Compassion for the Chronically Ill,"  Ken McKim makes several excellent points, about the lack of compassion towards those with chronic illness. It's not too long (30 minutes) and definitely worth watching and sharing, especially with those who question your illnesses, or … [Read more...]

4 Comments Filed Under: inspiration, Medications, Treatment Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, communication, invisible illness, pain relief

Gadgets that Make My Life with Chronic Illness Easier

Last Updated: November 28, 2020

I always find it interesting to read different lists of gadgets that other bloggers share. We each have different circumstances so we find different things useful and often in reading their list I find a new gadget that might help make my life a little easier as well. Over the years, I've come … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Coping, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: chronic illness, oska

Advice Overload Adds Stress to Chronic Illness

Last Updated: November 5, 2020

Advice overload increases stress in chronic illness

When you live with chronic illness, you find that advice comes at you from every direction. Everyone you speak to seems to know everything about your illness and exactly what you should do to feel better. All that advice is overwhelming... Eat this don't eat that! Exercise more! Don't … [Read more...]

9 Comments Filed Under: Coping, friendship, relationships Tagged With: chronic illness

The Chronic Pain Scale: Communicating Your Chronic Pain

Last Updated: November 5, 2020

Chronic Pain and the Pain Scale

The Pain Scale and Chronic Pain This is the pain scale they have on the wall in the rooms at the hospital. This is a terrible pain scale on so many levels! But, for someone in chronic pain it's pretty much useless. The faces that go with it are just, well, humorous. 0 - No Hurt - A person … [Read more...]

4 Comments Filed Under: Fibromyalgia, Symptoms, Treatment Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, communication, dealing with doctors

My Story of Recovery from Fibromyalgia

Last Updated: October 30, 2020

From Fatigued to Fantastic: my story of recovery from chronic illness

It's been a decade since I became ill and was diagnosed with fibromyalgia. I spent the first two years barely existing. Getting out of bed was a struggle. Thankfully, I did find some answers that helped me recover and return to a mostly normal life. My story of recovery from fibromyalgia Don't get … [Read more...]

5 Comments Filed Under: Diet and Nutrition, Fibro Warriors, Fibromyalgia, My Life, relationships, Treatment Tagged With: acceptance, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, diagnosis, health, recovery, TMJ Disorder

Communicating Your Needs When You Have Chronic Illness

Last Updated: August 12, 2020

Communicating Your Needs When You Have Chronic Pain

A friend in my local fibro support group asked a fairly common question about how you deal with family who just don't get that your energy level varies, they don't get that you really DO hurt and that you really DON'T have any energy. How do you communicate your needs when you have chronic illness … [Read more...]

13 Comments Filed Under: Coping, Extra Spoons, Fibro and Marriage, friendship Tagged With: asking for help, chronic fatigue, chronic illness, chronic pain, communication, family

  • 1
  • 2
  • 3
  • …
  • 8
  • Next Page »

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).

Common Tags

abdominal pain acceptance alternative therapies anxiety asking for help book review books brain fog cbd oil chronic fatigue chronic illness chronic pain communication dairy-free dealing with doctors decreasing pain decreasing stress depression diagnosis diet doctors documentary family feeling better flares food sensitivities gifts health holidays ibs interviews mental health oska pacing pain relief product review review self-compassion sensitivities sleep sleep aids stress sunday inspiration support travel

Copyright

All content copyright CountingMySpoons Any content reblogged from this site must adhere to the terms of © Copyright and TOS
That page states in part: "A brief excerpt of content that does not exceed 75 words may be quoted as long as a link is provided back to the source page on this blog and authorship is properly attributed."

Proudly Hosted By:

Wordpress Hosting Done Right

Proud To Be Included

 

Chronic Illness Bloggers
 

Privacy Policy

Counting My Spoons respects your privacy. Your information will never be provided to any third party unless you provide explicit permission to do so (something I'm not likely to ever ask you to do).

Read full privacy policy

Content Copyright © 2025 - Webz Plus Inc