Jennie's Pain Lab

I do this all the time.
Sometimes because people wouldn't understand, sometimes because I don't have the energy, but most of the time because I don't want to burden people.

What is your reason, tell me in the comments, or send me a DM if you want to be private.

I started a company called Jennie´s Joy Lab.
Why did I choose that name? To adequately explain that, you need to understand the illness that I live with. I have an aggressive form of Psoriatic Arthritis. I live a life in constant pain. Me and the doctors have been looking for a way to alleviate my pain, and halt the progression of the arthritis. So far we haven't been all that successful. Some days it is my sheer determination that gets me out of bed, other days are easier.

As my illness progressed, and the pain increased, I noticed that joy and fun moved further and further down my priority list, to the point of being virtually illiminated. I only had the energy to get the basics done. My energy was depleted by lunch, after a 2 hour nap I could make dinner, but there just wasn't room for having fun.

I lived like this for far too long. I got help in planning my days, and in doing so, I kstarted to schedule in things that I enjoyed, things that was beneficial only to me. Something I did for the pure joy it gave ME, and no one else. Self care stopped being an ugly word synonmous with selfish. I firmly believe that this shift in perspective saved my mental health in the end.

What does self care look like for you? Let me know in the comments.

P.S. the photo is my idea of fun. It was a birthday gift.
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