Rare Disease

Whether it’s navigating the healthcare system, dealing with a pet peeve, trying to build connections, learning something new, managing a frequent symptom, or something else entirely, frustration can show up in so many ways — and that’s completely normal and valid, especially when things feel overwhelming, unexpected, or out of our control. Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks has definitely been dealing with some frustrating experiences that feel a bit disorienting this month. 😫

Today, let’s take a moment to check in: What’s been feeling frustrating for you lately, and why?

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

Did you know that there are 7 different types of rest? Depending on what your body needs can help determine what type of rest would benefit you the most.

Here are the 7 types of rest:

🛏️ Physical rest: This type of rest is for your body from strenuous physical activities. Some examples of physical rest can include napping, relaxing, sleeping, and even massages or yoga.

🧠 Mental rest: Rest for your mind is important especially for those who experience racing thoughts or have trouble sleeping. Taking breaks, journaling, or other types of mental health self-care will allow you to mentally rest.

🤯 Emotional rest: To emotionally rest is to allow yourself to be real and authentic with others as well as yourself. Emotional rest gives you the time and space to feel your feeling and openly express them.

👃👂Sensory rest: Everywhere we look there is some type of sensory stimulation like TVs, phone screens, bright lights, and music to name a few. Sometimes we need rest, a break, and time to ourselves from all the outside stimuli that may overwhelm our senses.

🎨 Creative rest: For our creative minds out there, this rest is for you! To achieve creative rest is to take the pressure "to do" from yourself. Creative rest can look like taking a step back from projects or problem solving, and sitting in nature appreciating what you see around you.

👪 Social rest: This type of rest requires you to understand how you function around others. Do you gain energy from social interactions or does it drain you? Realizing your needs in social settings can help you to make decisions around how frequent and for how long you spend in crowds or other social spaces. This doesn't necessarily mean you have to separate yourself from others, but more so how and when you spend your time.

🕊️🧘 Spiritual rest: Spiritual rest relates to our connection and relationship with something deeper and greater than ourselves. This rest can look like intentional time in meditation, prayer, community building or other practices that give us life.

What type of rest do you need this weekend?

Want to know more about the 7 types of rest, check out this article here:
The 7 Kinds of Rest You Actually Need

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

When you live with a health condition, work or attend school every day, and/or have a boatload of responsibilities (like a family!), sometimes saying "no" is imperative. Those two little letters can help you preserve your very valuable energy, and allow yourself more time and space to do what’s best. Saying "no" is a form of self-care and can definitely be necessary in certain circumstances! 👏

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks says she’s saying “no” to negative thoughts. She wants to enjoy spending time with the people she loves.

What about you? What are you saying "no" to?

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

We don’t know about everyone else, but sometimes it doesn’t feel like there’s enough time in a day to get everything done, let alone practice self-care. More time in your day (we hope it actually comes true!) — even just 30 minutes — can provide the opportunity to take a break, watch a quick episode of your favorite show, or even indulge in a power nap if you find those helpful.

If you were able to get an extra 30 minutes today, how would you spend it?

Share in the comments below! ⬇️

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

Mighties, if you were to write a front-page article about your health—your condition, a recent breakthrough, or even an unexplained or unexpected symptom—what would your headline be?

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks headline would read: “Thoughts That Spiraled Into Place, Not Out of Control: A Breakthrough on Anxiety.”

What would yours be? 👀

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

A “core memory” (a phrase popularized in part by the 2015 movie Inside Out) is a significant moment or experience that stays with you and shapes you in some way. Core memories often connect to strong emotions — joy, fear, love, embarrassment, pride, belonging — and become experiences you can recall clearly even years later. They might be impactful conversations, milestones, turning points, once-in-a-lifetime adventures, difficult truths, important relationships, “firsts,” flashes of clarity, or life lessons.

Here is my poem:

The Tears that Shaped Me

The hallway glowed a bright yellow.
It was dark outside,
and I carried a faint excitement
that maybe it would be a good night for me.

My long dress — my favorite color — that exact shade of sky blue you see at noon on a cloudless June day with a soft, warm breeze.

Only then did I realize
I had no idea how to move in this space, how to belong here.

I walked into the lunchroom,
strange and unfamiliar in its new arrangement.
I missed my mom the moment she slipped away, leaving as quickly as she arrived.

Two hours, then three.
I watched, a puzzle piece that didn’t fit, a quiet spectator taking notes, seeing everything through a microscope.

I wasn’t “picked” that night.
Invisible.

A dance — a tiny stamp of approval — was nowhere for me.
This chapter of my life ended right then, ushering in a transition I didn’t ask for.

Was I even there?
Did it even happen?

Tears soaked the dress
until it became its own rainy day.
My chest tightened.
Regret and sadness painted my heart in black, burgundy, and navy blue. The sunny June afternoon turned into a December midnight storm —
cold and unwelcoming.

The unchosen.
A title I still carry,
a backpack glued to my shoulders.

Share yours below. 📜

#MightyPoets #Journaling #CheckInWithMe #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #Disability #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #ChronicPain

Happy Monday, Mighty friends! 🌟

As we continue to balance our health needs with our daily to-do lists—and navigate the holiday season—it’s important to pause and take note of how we’ll care for ourselves amid everything going on around us.

What’s a self-care goal you have this week?

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

When we use the term "self-care," we may understand it to loosely mean the practice of setting time and energy aside for ourselves and our needs in order to promote wellness and manage our health. This may look different for everyone depending on how they define what works best for them, but in reality, actually engaging in self-care may be roadblocked by unavoidable or unforeseen circumstances.

What are your thoughts on prioritizing self-care? Is it easy for you? What kind of roadblocks are in your way?

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