sapphic-pink-kryptonite:

My anxiety drives a lot of my behaviour. I feel if my environment is disorganised and messy, I have less control over my illness(es.) However, I have learned to harness it productively, so listen up because here’s how I manage my illness. A few people have asked me about it so here’s a post. 

THE ROOM

I wounded my savings but it was worth it for a proper mattress, pillows, blanket. Flannel sheets are my sooth texture, which helps me feel better in flares. 

Yes, I’m boring af but minimalism is how I manage to keep it clean and organised (there’s dust cloths and disinfectant wipes in my cupboard.) Everything can be wiped down in a few minutes. The vacuum cleaner is small but light enough that I do a quick once over every few days because I can’t move the big one. The bland colour scheme helps me during flares (where I get bad sensory overload.) The oil diffuser is beautiful for anxiety.

THE PREPPING

Medical Table (all three draws of my side table)

Medication lives by the bed (in the bottles and cookie tin.) Old cookie tins make great medical storage because you can use magnets for chemist/emergency contacts without digging around for them. 

Medication gets sorted once a week into the pill box. Water bottles are filled because meds dehydrate you and you can’t always get up for water. Emergency things also stay by the bed – inhaler, ear plugs, disinfectant, lip balm, glasses cleaner etc. Deoderant for even if I can’t shower. 

Keep things you need/help you during flares. Mine contains painkillers and nerve blockers, lavender spray, eReader, peppermint gum (for nausea), medical tape for joints, jellybabies, earplugs, stim cube, bubble blowers (yes, really), teddy bear, hand cream, gels, iPod, fun books, letters from loved ones, TENS machine, and lavender oil (for my diffuser.) This of course includes my phone with Netflix, Spotify, and Stan. 

Bottom draw is all physio bands and heat packs, which help immensely. 

My First Aid Kit

Every spoonie everywhere should have one of these, and its saved my ass so many times. I just got an old cosmetics bag off eBay (which looked less clinical than the big red ones.) Small enough that it fits in a little backpack with water, umbrella etc

(Top) Medication, gels (heat/ice/anti-inflammatory)

(Middle) Tissues, bandaids (a wheelchair shreds your hands when you’re learning), and disinfectant

(Bottom) Vomit bag, wet wipes, mints (for nausea), more bandaids, inhaler, disposable heat pack, disposable ice pack, stim cube, migrastick (for headaches), ear plugs, jellybabies

This is all obviously tailored to my needs, so you might need different things to me. What I’m suggesting is be prepared. Have some kind of a plan in case things go south. 

I highly recommend a gym bag of overnight clothes/toiletries/entertainment/phone charger in case of a sudden hospital admission. If I ever need to go in without warning, I just have to tell my mum “Get the black bag on the floor of my wardrobe” and everything is set and I don’t have to worry about things I need. 

I have my study next to my room with a makeshift kitchen but that’s a post for another day.

If anyone has any questions, please feel free to ask!

Please share because this could really help people and potentially save lives.