TinyZebraNotes

Here’s today’s Instagram post from #TinyZebraNotes
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If you’re like me, the phrase ‘ask for help’ may either make your skin crawl, your mouth smirk or your eyes roll. Seriously? You think asking someone to help will make things better? YES! I’ve been testing out this theory more often this year, tagging in my partner when I’m tired of wrestling with myself. I have difficulty staying focused, seeing my symptoms for what they may or may not be and making a plan of action. That’s when a supportive person can be extremely helpful- they may organize differently, be able to connect those blurry dots and validate your feelings and experiences. And while each new or worsening symptom is important to address, your body and intuition can guide both your caregiver/support system and you to begin the process of identifying needs and addressing them in a logical way.
*Disclaimer seems appropriate here: Always check in with your health team to seek medical advice; this post is meant to inspire you to find support and should not be taken as professional, medical advice. 🤓
#Selfcare #ChronicIllness

Here’s a recent post from #TinyZebraNotes on Instagram:
Hello, speedy zebra - slow down. It’s okay to meet yourself at your own pace and enjoy moving at a level that best fits your mental and physical needs. You are strong and valued at whatever pace you choose is right for you.
#Selfcare #ChronicIllness #Selfworth

Here is the latest IG post from #TinyZebraNotes
Yup, you guessed it. Today was one of those days. The migraine monster woke me up to let me know she was going to keep me company all.day.long. Moving my eyes, talking, thinking and walking were all too hard to do. I had my planner filled with things I wanted to accomplish, but I opted to listen to my body and just rest. I’m wearing sunglasses at night just to look at my dimly lit phone to post because it’s important to empower others who may be feeling like doing nothing equates to not being productive. Not true! You are being a nurturer, a caregiver to yourself today and each day when your #ChronicIllness flares up. Self care = productivity
#ChronicIllness #Migraine #ChronicPain #Selfcare

Let’s hear it for us awesome #neurodivergents who gift ourselves with surprises because we easily forget! That’s one of many upsides of being someone with frontal lobe and executive function deficit disorder and multi factorial
#ADHD (inattentive type), I don’t always remember the productive things I’ve done until I stumble across it later on. It makes the stumbling feel less like a distraction and more of a purposeful discovery. What will you accidentally gift yourself today?
#neurodivergence #Neurodiversity #MentalHealth #executivefunctiondeficitdisorder #PTSD #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #FrontalLobeDeficit #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #InappropriateSinusTachycardia #AutonomicDysfunction #ChronicPain #TinyZebraNotes

It can be all too easy to begin losing pieces of your identity to your diagnoses, especially when it invades your thoughts, forces you to spend your time scheduling appointments around it and drains your energy. There will be moments when it feels like we are more of a patient than a father, wife, sister, creative being, an individual worthy and deserving of compassion and love.

It’s okay to let go of that overwhelming power that our diagnoses can have over us - it doesn’t validate our experiences any less by consciously accepting what is and telling your diagnosis that it is not who we are.

I fight this internal conflict often because, like our conditions, managing the mental and emotional comorbidities are also chronic, constant and difficult to navigate. It helps to take a few purposeful breaths and remind ourselves that we are doing our best.

*If you enjoyed this post, feel free to follow along my #neurodivergentzebra journey on IG: @TinyZebraNotes

#RareDiseases