Rare Disease

A new week, a new theme, Mighties! 💪

This week we'll be focusing on joy. 😊

To get us started, let's think of three words or phrases that come to mind when we hear the word joy.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks says the three words and phrases that come up for her are "a bright, sunny day," "worry-free," and "love."

What's yours?

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

As many of you know, I'm the co-founder of Hird, a company developing technology to help people better understand and improve their focus, stress, and mental effort at work.

One of the ways we want to make a difference is by sharing practical, science-backed knowledge that anyone can benefit from. That's why we're launching Hird Mental Fitness Week.

Every first week of the month, we'll be sharing a short video each day exploring practical strategies to help you improve your focus, manage stress, and support your mental wellbeing at work.

This month's theme is Returning Strong.

If you've just come back from your summer holiday and you're wondering why you're already feeling overwhelmed or mentally exhausted, today's video is for you.

Your brain hasn't forgotten how to work. It's simply switching gears.

I'd love to hear from you. What's the biggest challenge you face during your first week back after a vacation?

Also, if you're going through a tough time right now, I want you to know that I post daily mental health videos about how to deal with painful thoughts. So if you or anyone you know is struggling and wants help, click on one of the links below or write me if you have any questions you want me to answer:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

www.tiktok.com/@thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

This week is a little bit busy. Tomorrow at noon we're going to the Henry Ford medical center for labs. Then we were gonna go out with Pauley's mom but I decided I don't want to. We were gonna make pizza. I wants potato.
On Thursday I have a follow up appointment with my pain specialist. I'm gonna schedule nerve ablation for my lumbar and cortisone injections for my hips. I need to talk to my doctor about the fat deposits along my spine. She doesn't know I had spinal epidural lipomatosis and my surgeon removed a huge amount 3 years ago. According to the MRI, the fat deposits grew back and now I've got more stenosis. Fun times for all.
Oh and it's a rare disease. Of course. Because gods forbid I get the sniffles.
#spinalepidurallipomatosis

Happy Friday, Mighties! 💫

As we wrap up the week (and the month!), let's take a moment to share goals we have when it comes to our overall health, a specific symptom, or your treatment plan.

What's something you hope to better understand? What would you like to be more consistent with? What questions or feedback do you have for your doctor or care team? What challenges do you want to overcome or need clarity to approach?

Feel free to share your goals below! 📋

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

Let’s broaden our horizons this weekend by trying something new or different. This can look like checking out a new restaurant, trying white noise to help you sleep, traversing a new trail, or starting a new art or craft project! Whatever you want to try, give it a go over the next few days.

What do you want to try?

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

👍 Pro: Trying new things can put us in positions to learn and grow our perspectives and skills.
👎 Con: It can also be intimidating, especially when we might not know what to expect or when there’s a possibility for setback or failure.

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks finds that she holds herself back from trying new things because she’s afraid she might not do a good job in learning or understanding what she needs to be good at in the first place.

What do you think holds you back from trying new things? (P.S. Trial and error is a normal part of life, not everyone succeeds at everything!)

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

When we put ourselves out there and broaden our horizons, we’re allowing our curiosity to take the lead (that can be scary, but rewarding!). This can look like: learning a new language, trying a different type of art or cuisine, taking a chance on an entirely new career path, or dabbling with a new-to-us movement or exercise.

What topics, skills, or hobbies spark your curiosity? What interests you most?

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

We put so much pressure on ourselves to always be positive that we start believing there’s something wrong with us the moment we feel sad, anxious, frustrated, or overwhelmed. But emotions aren’t signs that you’re failing. They’re signs that you’re human.

One of the biggest turning points in my own recovery was realizing that healing didn’t begin when I finally felt happy. It began when I stopped fighting every uncomfortable emotion and started listening to what those feelings were trying to tell me. Pain isn’t always something to get rid of as quickly as possible. Sometimes it’s a signal that something in our lives needs attention, compassion, or change.

You don’t have to pretend you’re okay to be making progress. You don’t have to smile through the hardest days to prove you’re strong. Real healing comes from being honest with yourself, treating yourself with kindness, and trusting that no emotion lasts forever.

What emotion have you been giving yourself permission to feel lately?

Also, if you're going through a tough time right now, I want you to know that I post daily mental health videos about how to deal with painful thoughts. So if you or anyone you know is struggling and wants help, click on one of the links below or write me if you have any questions you want me to answer:

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

www.tiktok.com/@thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether