Welcome to the Audio Deep Dives, a subscriber-only space where every article finds new depth in spoken word. Here, you're taken beyond the written page, sharing honest reflections, untold stories, and personal perspectives in each recorded exploration. It’s an opportunity to listen in, connect on a deeper level, and experience the journey behind the articles, where vulnerability and insight come to life in every episode.
Accepting a chronic illness isn't about pretending to be happy or putting on a brave face. It's about recognising what we can't control and learning to coexist with it. By becoming aware of our thoughts, allowing ourselves to feel, we can navigate our conditions with greater resilience and grace
In long-term relationships, intimacy can change because of life and health challenges. This discussion explores how these issues impact both physical closeness and emotional bonds. By addressing these realities openly, we can deepen our understanding and strengthen our connection as partners.
Who needs enemies when you have 'friends' like these? Overhearing strangers mock disability benefits reminded me how deeply prejudice runs, and why the fight for compassion and understanding around disability must continue.
Worse than the pain, the discomfort, and the fatigue, worse than the multitude of side effects from the medications thrown at me to try to alleviate my symptoms, is the loneliness. That feeling of complete and utter isolation goes beyond merely lacking people around me - it runs deeper than that!
The day the lights went out, I realised something was profoundly wrong within me. Dealing with my chronic illness, I felt a deep lack of motivation and a sense of aimlessness. I realised that asking for help is not a weakness, but an important step to improve my mental health.