Invisible Disease and Mental Health
I want to talk about mental health today. I have Ankylosing Spondylitis. This invisible disease is an immune disregulation, that causes my immune system to attack the body. It comes with arthritis and fusing of the spine and hosts of other issues. I have “significant osteoarthritis”. And the list goes on. The pain of AS has been with me for nearly 25 years.
I also have 30 years of mental health therapy under my belt. It is never a straight line forward. There is progress, then things happen. It’s the natural order. This past week has been groundbreaking for me. It’s caused lots of pain in the processing and releasing of deep trauma. I’m sure also to people I love and do care for.
Community
My community, this rockhounding community has been instrumental in helping me through this. There are kind words. People I barely know except online sharing to me about their experiences or discussing possible solutions. The folks on Facebook and Instagram who are algorithmically engaging my content, and of course those who make purchases of the beautiful rosebud agate I sell. All of you thank you!!! ❤
Special Thanks
My great therapist has checked in by text this week. I also have two amazing close friends I count on to help me work through it. One I call sister, has a background as an EMT, law enforcement dispatch, and massage therapy. A practicing death midwife providing hospice care and finding resources to help families with death planning. An amazing human being all the way around, she has seen a lot and can empathize with many situations.
The other a long time dear friend who always listens, helps me re-frame the problem, and challenges me if I’m stuck. Having a family member who suffers from serious schizophrenia, she can empathize with my pain, while challenging me in a way that is productive. She is currently finishing a nursing degree, and someone I’ve counted on for decades.
Mental Health And Ankylosing Spondylitis Content Moving Forward
Moving forward, I will be including content about mental health and living with Ankylosing Spondylitis in my rotation. After having my disease and pain minimized, and being asked when I am to get a real job, yet again, I am done.
Done as in being profoundly tired in my soul with no bandwidth left for those who fail to understand even after all these years. I do not love them any less, I just can’t be minimized anymore, and must take care of me. But thank you for inspiring me to do something about it to maybe help others.
My Path
The path forward is fraught with pain, breakthroughs (means you have to work) and the potential for relapse into old patterns with family or other outside factors.
Financial distress is still a major player in my life, but I’m looking at any possible solutions including one that will set me ok, but risks permanently fracturing family relationships and breaking a 100+ year legacy. I am working on some other things, but they are not immediate.
Healing is not easy. It’s hard work. And quite often options are limited.
I have been working on my deep trauma and also gaining understanding of complex generational trauma through reading and study over the years. This past weekend it all started clicking, and the dam is broken. Healing is occurring.
I can only tell my story and highlight the toll that an invisible disease like Ankylosing Spondylitis, mental health struggles, and financial distress take on a person. I can reflect on the effect living with a person with chronic pain has on our loved ones too.
My story is mine and yours is yours, but all of our stories share common themes of pain, suffering, and hope. If you have been following me in this journey, thank you. If you have just found me, I look forward to connecting.
The act of rockhounding, of deliberately being in the outdoors and focused in the moment is healing. It is meditation. It is an opportunity to escape even briefly from the disaster that is the life for a spoonie.
Rockhounding & Mental Health
Geology, rockhounding, and the beauty of rocks and minerals provide analogies we can use to generate hope for ourselves and maybe understanding from those who love us but can’t truly understand our pain.
If this resonates with you because you have an invisible disease, please share it with others who may need to hear it. You and I know the difficulties, but not everyone does. One thing we can do is plant seeds to grow understanding with our loved ones and in our communities.
Happy Birthday to the United States of America
With this latest big ugly bill that just became law, many in the disability, mental health and chronic illness communities are going to needlessly suffer more than they would otherwise. Tens of thousands of people are going to die because gutless coward politicians got some signed merch and clout from Emperor Felonius. We must speak out and support each other.
Time to Pay the Bills
The best way to support my content is to visit my shop for rosebud agate.
I offer rockhounding tours on our family ranch to collect rosebud agate and other rocks and minerals.
I’m also a freelance writer, website designer and digital marketing consultant. Reach out to Homestead Digital Media Services for a free audit and consultation for your small business or creator operation.
You can find all of my important links and contact info at .
Thanks!!