#HAWMC Day 4 – Sharing Resources

Today’s Prompt:

• Create a “care page” – a list of your best resources that someone who is newly diagnosed could go to when starting to advocate for themselves or a loved one. Remember to include sites that lead to successful self-advocacy!

The first and most beneficial resource for me has been CCFA, which is the Crohn's and Colitis Foundation of America. It is a great organization that not only has a website with a lot of information, it has webcasts and patient forums. In addition, CCFA has patient support groups, which meet once a month, in most cities.  About twice a year, CCFA organizes a patient education symposium, wherein doctors hold sessions to cover a multitude of isses, from medications and side effects, to symptoms, to the latest treatment, to nutrition. A patient education symposium is a great way to not only get geat, up-to-date information, but also to network and meet fellow patients.

Through CCFA, I have met fellow Crohnies who have become good friends, and have served as a good support system.

#HAWMC Day 3 Wordless Wednesday

Today’s Prompt:

• Post a picture that symbolizes your condition and your experiences.

 
Frida Kahlo, Without Hope, (1945)

HAWMC Day 2 – Introductions

 
  Me: Hi, My name is Kat, and I am an illness hoarder. (You: Hi Kat!)

Because I am indecisive and an illness hoarder, I carry not one, but four diagnoses: Crohn's Disease, Fibromyalgia, Depression, and PTSD. They are all rather lovely, and I coudn't decide, so I chose them all! Haha.

This year marks my 2nd participation with HAWMC, and my 2nd year as a health activist. I'm not a formal activist in the sense that I'm bringing about anything other than awareness to my illnesses, via my blog. My writing makes me a health activist.

I write about my health because it helps raise awareness about: Crohn’s Disease, Fibromyalgia, Depression, and PTSD,  from a personal perspective, that goes beyond the “textbook case” of the diseases, by humanizing them. These chronic, debilitating, life-threatening illnesses don't just affect the body, but the whole person, and even beyond the person, the person’s surroundings, loved ones, friends. So far writing has been a cathartic experience for me. The ease with which I have written these pieces has surprised me, as it tells me that I have kept my feelings bottled up for far too long. The fact that these pieces flow out of me so easily reinforces my decision to write about my health. I have something to say that needs to be told. I have been silent for far too long, which has affected my mental health. Repressing my feelings is one of the symptoms of my depression. It is my hope that I can begin the healing process by writing about my health, to help me get closure on what I’ve been through in the past, as well as to help me grow.



I write about my health because it helps me connect with others.  I’ve tried to be as open as possible, in the hopes that others can relate to what I’m going through. To help them see that they are not alone, to help ME see that I’M not alone. To not only raise awareness, but HOPE. The responses and support I’ve received thus far have been great. I’ve heard from fellow Crohnies who find something in what I’ve written to which they can relate, which then opens up a discussion. And by talking about what we are going through, we begin the healing process. We see that we are not alone, we help each other cope, we feel hope, we feel encouraged, and the healing process is set in motion.



Some of my old posts that I feel capture my  identity as a Health Activist and about my condition,
include the following:

• #HAWMC Day 2: Quotation Inspiration  - in which I reflect on my ability to "give myself good advice but seldom follow it." 

• #HAWMC Day 3: Superpower - Fearlessness - in which I reflect on what it takes to be fearless, and realize that those of us who are chronically ill, already are.

• #HAWMC Day 5: Ekphrasis Post - in which I reflect on having looked death in the face because of complications following a surgery to treat my Crohn's disease.  

• #HAWMC Day 18: Open Book- in which I reflect on being vulnerable, and why that is such a challenge for me. 

• HAWMCDay20: There Is No Miracle Cure- in which I reflect upon there being no miracle cure for my illnesses, specifically Crohn's Disease, and all the feelings that arise as a result of living with an incurable disease. 

 ” I write because there is a voice within me that will not be still.” - Sylvia Plath



I too have a voice within me that demands to be heard. We all have a voice, we all have our stories, and we deserve to be heard. I choose to use my experience as a tool to transform myself and grow. And each day I feel myself growing stronger and transforming into a chronically awesome individual who amongst other things, happens to have a chronic illness. I am discovering my gifts and talents. I have a chronic illness, but it does not have me. And that is a very powerful feeling.

#HAWMC Day 1: Getting Started

Today’s Prompts:

• Why you write – tell us a little bit about why you write about your health online and what got you started.
• Why HAWMC? This is our third year of the Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge – why did you get involved this year? Are you a newbie to #HAWMC or a veteran?

 This year marks my second EVER participation w/#HAWMC. Last year I was very hesitant about participating because a.) I'd never written about my health, and b.) to do so for a whole month felt beyond overwhelming. Yet, not only did I do it, I'm back for more! Last year's participation turned out to be very therapeutic for me. It was challenging to gather the strength and energy to write on a daily basis, however the prompts proved rather helpful (yes, even those to which I felt a bit resistant). I found the prompts to help me remain on point, and I sometimes need that structure, especially on those days in which I have writer's block.

The only reason I ever got started writing (and continued to do so) was because of my #chronicallyawesome superwoman mentor, Jules (check out her blog, or follow her on twitter) This woman is ah-mah-zing! really and truly! love her! Jules not only gave me a space on her blog for my #HAWMC posts, she provided me with endless support and encouragement. Without her mentorship and support, I don't know that I would've made it as far as I did. But I didn't want to let her down, so I blogged away. And she was right to encourage me to do so, because writing proved to be very cathartic. It helped me look at my life in regards to living with Crohn's Disease, Fibromyalgia, and PTSD. And by that I mean, it validated my existence, because I was able to reflect on what it was like for me to overcome so much on a daily basis. Because let's be honest, I am my own worst enemy, and don't give myself enough credit.

Through my participation with last year's #HAWMC, my writings became not only a part of the health blogging project, but served as my online journal and even led to the creation of this blog . I enjoyed my participation w/#HAWMC and was sad when it ended. I was able to keep up my writings on my blog for about a month or two, and then.... I don't know what happened. I got lazy, I slacked. I will not make up any excuses. Life happened. A lot of changes have taken place since last year, and I'm hoping that by participating again this year, I will be able to get out of my writer's block, and also reflect on and process all my experiences from this past year.

Whilst I don 't consider myself to be a newbie, I'm far from a veteran, though when it comes to my health experiences, I am a veteran, complete with battle scars! In the year since I last participated with #HAWMC there have been many changes where my health is concerned. In some ways things have changed considerably, and in some ways, things feel as if they are the same. #HAWMC serves as a great platform to help me self-reflect and process, as well as record, all my experiences. Stay tuned.

**********Spoiler alert: I survived***********