Tag: mental health

The wind around my knees

If you’ve ever watched this video I made about learning to love my body a little while ago, then you’ll remember that I really hate showing my legs, in public and at home, if I’m being honest.

During last year’s heatwave, (which probably lasted about three days to be fair), I did leave the house in shorts without tights, but I don’t mind admitting that I stood in front of my wardrobe and cried beforehand because I was so nervous about it.

Fast-forward to 2016 and this year’s heatwave (which has been going on for a week so far!) is even hotter last year and I decided that I was going to wear my denim shorts and try not feel bad about it.

I was so surprised when I actually managed not to get so anxious that I cried (yes!). but what surprised me most of all was that I loved the feeling of the breeze about my knees. It was so refreshing and so strange because I’m just not used to it at all. Don’t get me wrong, it’s not been so nice that I want to do it all the time, but still.

This is going to sound really stupid but I’m proud of myself.

Maybe I don’t need to be so scared of not wearing tights?

 

Three years of blogging!

Can you believe it’s been three whole years since I decided to take the plunge and hit publish on my first post for View From a Walking Frame? I’ll be honest and say that it some ways it feels like it’s been three very long years and in others in feels like it’s only been a couple of months. Yet here I am still typing away and here you are still reading.
I’ve changed a lot in these last few years, both as a person with cerebral palsy, and as a person in general when you don’t take my CP into account at all. In my life as a person with a disability, I’ve noticed that I’m having more and more bad days, and that I’ve been trying more and more things to help ease said bad days with varying degrees of success. I’ve extended this blog and now I’m a vlogger on YouTube as well.

I decided to open up to all of you about my mental health and talk about my anxiety and low moods. Sometimes I think I talk about that more than I talk about my cerebral palsy, but you’re all lovely and none of you seem to mind. These things especially have dragged me through the ringer quite a bit over the last couple of years, and this blog is always here to help me deal with that and so are you guys.

I like to think I’ve posted on this blog fairly consistently over the years, even if I have had the odd quiet patch. Having a quiet patch used to make me feel guilty, which would make me feel anxious and down, but I’m slowly starting to accept that it’s okay to write less sometimes. This blog will always be here when I feel like  I have something to say or like I need some extra support.

Seriously, knowing that guys are out there has helped me get through some pretty low times, so thank you. I only hope I do the same for you in some way, no matter how small.

So, who’s up for a similar kind of post this time again next year? I know I am.

Love,

Nic xx
 

VIDEO: Anxiety – what a difference my cat makes

Some of you might have seen on social media that my family got a cat a week ago.  Having Merlin around has really helped ease my anxiety (I’ve been in a flare up lately). I made a video about it on my YouTube Channel that I thought I’d share here.

I make videos about disability, mental health, and whatever else takes my fancy. Why not go check out some others?

Working out & Clearing out

There was a time when I thought I’d never be able to say this, but I’m finally feeling pain-free enough to get back to doing Zumba again! Of course, I adapt and modify the routines on my DVDs and games depending on how I’m feeling cerebral palsy wise, but it feels amazing to be back to it!

When I first got into it after my family bought a wii game for my sister about three years ago, it didn’t take me long to get hooked, because I can do it in sitting, standing or kneeling. However, with my hip pain that was bothering me quite a lot before my acupuncture sessions, and my various back pains, I haven’t done much of it over the last year or so, and the main bulk of my exercise has been walking around town instead.

I’ve always like working out at the gym but I liked Zumba even more because I can do it without anyone helping me, (I struggle getting on and off gym equipment by myself), and I can do it at my own time and pace.

I’m pretty sure I look like a fool doing Zumba, but I find it so much fun that I don’t really care if I’m honest. Plus, I do it all at home so that I can do as much or as little as I feel like without having the pressures of wanting to try keep up with a class full of people. That, and if I do it standing up at home, I can do it in front of the sofa so that I have a soft landing if I fall.

You may have noticed that I’ve felt in a bit of a rut lately with my anxiety and low moods, but being able to do some Zumba, along with a bit of sunshine, is starting to make me feel a lot more settled within myself.

I’ve even started to clear out my room today, and that’s quite a taxing workout in itself, believe me!