Reclaiming Your Mind: Overcoming the Mental Impact of Chronic Illness Picture this : I’m sitting on the couch, staring blankly at a cup of tea I can’t even muster the energy to drink. The person I used to be—the Tammy who could juggle a million tasks and still have time for a spontaneous lunch with a friend—felt like a ghost. Chronic illness had stolen my energy, my confidence, and, frankly, my sense of purpose. I remember thinking, What’s the point of all this? Who am I if I can’t do the things that used to make me… me? Sound familiar? If you’ve ever found yourself asking the same questions, you’re not alone. Chronic illness doesn’t just take a toll on your body; it sets up camp in your mind and starts whispering things like, “This is who you are now. Get used to it.” But I’m here to tell you: that voice is lying. Let’s dig into the messy reality of how chronic illness impacts your mind, the everyday struggles it creates, and how you can start fighting back to reclaim your se...
Reclaiming Joy in a Life Changed by Chronic Illness Introduction There’s a moment, or maybe it’s a series of moments, when life as you knew it starts to shift, slowly or suddenly, into something unrecognizable. For many women living with chronic illness, that moment marks the beginning of a new reality—one where daily life is shaped not only by plans and dreams, but by limitations and the unexpected weight of uncertainty. It’s a life you didn’t choose, but one you’ve had to adapt to, sometimes in ways that feel like letting go of who you once were. And yet, even within this changed life, there’s space to reclaim joy and find beauty again. It may not look the same as it did before—often, it’s smaller, quieter, and wrapped in simplicity—but it’s there, waiting to be noticed. The challenge lies in learning how to recognize it amidst the chaos, how to redefine what joy looks like for you now, and how to embrace a new kind of beauty that emerges from a life transformed by illness. ...