Rare Disease

Hi Mighties! 🌻

The holiday season has kicked off, and this time of year can be especially challenging for us Mighties who are navigating health conditions. Being intentional about how we participate or "show up" in group settings or around others matters, if that's something we choose to do (sitting out the festivities and doing what's best for us is also an option!). Knowing how to set boundaries that are safe and make sense for our individual needs can help us prioritize ourselves, even when we're surrounded by others. We get to enjoy ourselves too!

What are 3️⃣ holiday-related boundaries you can set this year? Why are those boundaries important for your health and wellness?

#MightyMinute #CheckInWithMe #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #Disability #RareDisease #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Autism #Parenting #PTSD #ADHD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #EatingDisorders #Depression #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Let’s end this week of storytelling by — finally! — sharing a piece of our health journeys.

For today’s activity, we want you to write 1-3 sentences in the comments (or in your own post) about what you consider the "turning point" in your health journey to be — that one event or moment that’s had a significant effect on you. This could be when you received your diagnosis, the moment you decided to seek treatment, or even a time of clarity or hardship that changed or shifted your perspective.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks says her turning point was the moment she decided to quit her food service job and look for a therapist. This moment was the first time she put herself and her needs before anything else.

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

First things first: It’s impactful, powerful, and brave to share what you’ve experienced in your life. But here’s the next question on our minds: Are you telling your story in a way that’s resonating the way you want? Has your audience grasped what you’ve shared and taken in the message you want to convey?

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks wants people to understand the importance of self-care, support, and community in moments of isolation and crisis.

What takeaway do you want others to walk away with when it comes to your story?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

I was scrolling through topics we've reflected on and shared here in The Mighty, and so many got me thinking, especially the ones my thoughts have shifted on over the years. Power, and regaining my sense of autonomy and control, is one of them.

So many factors shape what power dynamics look like in our lives: in the workplace, in public, in our immediate environments and homes, in socio-economic status and resource awareness, and of course in health care.

For me, it's being the eldest daughter in my family and my perception of that role, as well as being a worker and managing my energy in daily life. So much of how I function comes down to my proximity to others and where I fit in other people's lives, but I want to be my own person, do what I want, and exist on my own terms. It's been a challenging year figuring this out.

How about you?

#CheckInWithMe #MentalHealth #Anxiety #Depression #ChronicPain #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #Disability #Parenting #Undiagnosed

Sharing your story can make you feel a lot of things — overwhelmed, intimidated, liberated, and/or rewarded depending on where you are in your health or recovery journey. It can also feel like all the adjectives above at once.

Everyone has different levels of comfort and needs in times of vulnerability, and both parties can benefit from the telling or receiving of what you have to say.

When you are sharing your story, what do you need from the person or audience that’s listening to you? What would help you to feel safe and comfortable?

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks says when she shares her story, she needs the audience to listen quietly and empathetically — and not try to interject. She feels most safe when she has the space to think through what she’s saying and finish sharing her thoughts thoroughly.

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

We’re going back to our truest roots for this week’s self-care theme — storytelling.

Here on The Mighty, there are so many amazing people who share their experiences daily. We all benefit, resulting in a community for those who may share a diagnosis, have a similar experience, or can simply gain perspective through others’ vulnerability.

One thing we know for sure is that each of our stories are important and worth sharing (yes, yours too!), especially in those moments when we need support and a listening ear. When we share our stories, we not only build community, but we also let others know they are not alone.

Who could benefit from hearing yours?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Let’s talk positive coping strategies and self-soothing techniques today!

When we’ve had a tiring, stressful, or overwhelming day, knowing how to best practice self-care and comfort ourselves can make all the difference —especially when figuring out the ways that effectively help us unwind and recharge.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks likes to lay in silence in her dim-lit room, with all of her pillows surrounding her for comfort. It helps her to reground and re-energize.

How do you comfort yourself at the end of an exhausting day?

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

Knowing who you can share your story, symptoms, or health experiences with is an important (and very personal) choice that may take some trial and error, and careful deliberation to come to terms with. And that’s OK.

We all have different levels of comfort and trust when it comes to opening up to others. Perhaps you feel most comfortable sharing your health details with a doctor or other health professional, a parent or sibling, a friend, or even a stranger you meet at a grocery store or in an online community like The Mighty!

Who do you feel most comfortable sharing with?

P.S. Your story is important and you deserve community and support from people who understand. 💌

#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression
#Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie