Counting My Spoons

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You are here: Home / Archives for stress

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

Controlling IBS with Probiotics and Stress Management

Last Updated: June 8, 2020

Controlling IBS with Probiotics and Stress Management

I've struggled with IBS for over 20 years. IBS was the first condition that became a chronic issue for me. And, it's the one condition I've continued to struggle with since it first hit me in my early 20's. Although, at the time I didn't realize what I was dealing with. After over 20 years with IBS, … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Treatment Tagged With: abdominal pain, ibs, mindfulness therapy, probiotics, stress

How living in an RV with a chronic illness is simplifying my life

Last Updated: September 30, 2019

Life in an RV with chronic illness

The last couple of years have been all about simplifying life. So, why would I seemingly make things difficult by choosing to live in an RV with chronic illness? How does life in an RV, when you are chronically ill, equate to a more simple life? How does any life in an RV make things more … [Read more...]

8 Comments Filed Under: inspiration, My Life Tagged With: decreasing stress, stress, travel

What it means to Let Go

Last Updated: May 20, 2019

title image - what it means to let go

I often struggle with letting go. Letting go of things, letting go of feelings, letting go of attachments. This past year I've let go of a lot of physical things, as I've worked to minimize my possessions. But, in other areas I've not been so good at letting go. The last few weeks I've felt stuck … [Read more...]

7 Comments Filed Under: Coping, Extra Spoons Tagged With: decreasing stress, stress

Is Your Stuff Making You Feel Worse?

Last Updated: November 29, 2018

Is Your Stuff Making You Feel Worse?

Are You Using Stuff to Fill A Void? Every once in a while I watch one of the Hoarding shows and on a couple of different episodes they've mentioned that the person has fibromyalgia. It got me thinking about how we try to fill the void that fibromyalgia puts in our lives. Fibromyalgia takes so … [Read more...]

6 Comments Filed Under: Coping Tagged With: anxiety, decreasing stress, mental health, stress

Handling the Challenges of the Holidays with Chronic Illness: The Ultimate Guide

Last Updated: November 5, 2018

The Ultimate Guide to Handling the Holidays with Chronic Illness Even for the most holiday-loving person the holidays bring stresses and challenges that just aren’t there the rest of the year. For those of us with chronic illnesses like Fibromyalgia, Lyme, and CFS/ME the challenges and … [Read more...]

3 Comments Filed Under: Coping, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: decreasing stress, gifts, holidays, stress, travel

6 steps for coping with stress and improving your Fibromyalgia symptoms

Last Updated: April 30, 2018

6 steps for coping with stress and minimizing the symptoms of chronic illness

Coping with Stress to Reduce Fibromyalgia Symptoms Learning to cope with Fibromyalgia is stressful. Your body becomes unpredictable and you rarely know what to expect from one day to the next. This creates stress and can often make us feel even worse. Coping with stress can be a key to improving … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Coping, Fibromyalgia, Symptoms, Tips and Tricks Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic pain, decreasing pain, decreasing stress, stress

4 Ways I Reduce Stress and Anxiety

Last Updated: March 13, 2017

4 ways I avoid stress and anxiety

Stress and anxiety are two things that I try to avoid, but I can't always. Sometimes I just get anxious for no reason, or I start thinking about all that I need to do and I stress myself out. I try to stay focused on the present moment but it doesn't always work. About 20 years ago I had one of … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Coping, inspiration Tagged With: anxiety, decreasing stress, mental health, stress

Can Mindfulness Based Stress Reduction Help Fibromyalgia?

Last Updated: December 16, 2016

Mindfulness-based stress reduction for fibromyalgia relief

Meditation is a topic that I've been interested in for a while, yet on the borderline. I'm interested and I've stuck my toe in the water a time or two using meditation apps but I've never really taken the plunge or made meditation a regular part of my life. I'm reading The Whole Health Life by … [Read more...]

Leave a Comment Filed Under: Fibromyalgia, Medical Studies Tagged With: chronic fatigue, chronic pain, decreasing pain, decreasing stress, MBSR, meditation, mindfulness therapy, stress

7 Things to stop doing if you want to decrease stress

Last Updated: December 12, 2016

7 ways to decrease stress

I talk a lot about stress here, because it really is a key contributor to how we feel. When we feel more stress, we hurt more, we are more fatigued, we generally feel worse. But, part of the problem with those of us with Fibromyalgia and other other chronic illnesses is that our stress meter is … [Read more...]

3 Comments Filed Under: inspiration Tagged With: chronic fatigue, decreasing stress, stress

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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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