Neurodiversity and Chronic Illness

WHAT IT'S LIKE

When I first learned about POTS two days ago, it didn’t sound that serious. So what if you get dizzy when you stand up? Occasionally happens to us all, right?

But that’s the thing about chronic illness: it’s constantly by your side. And just when you think you’ve found a solution, it pops back up again. Like a lingering infestation. Or that ex you thought you were finally getting over. 

Imagine having to prepare your head every time you change positions. 

Imagine being greeted by a UTI just as you’re about to go on a promising date. 

Imagine the grumblings of a volcano eruption in your tummy right before a big job interview. 

WHAT CAUSES CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Busy Brains

Neurodivergent brains are ON all the time. It’s talking to us constantly. We may not know which voice to listen to, which can result in neglecting our body. 

Stress

Mental stress leaks into physical stress, and manifests in symptoms such as sleeplessness, which causes other health issues like skin irritation, depression, migraines. 

Masking

Neuvodivergent brains are often told we’re imagining pain or making things up. Our shame can often make us put on a tough exterior and fight through symptoms. We also don’t want to miss out on life, so we might ignore them. FOMO makes them linger around for longer. 

Drawn to Dopamine

We do love our vices. I feel unsettled without them. But our bodies? 

On the one hand: we work hard. We deserve to play hard. On the other: how do we learn to be gentle with ourselves? Is satisfaction possible in moderation?

HOW TO COMBAT CHRONIC ILLNESSES

Talk to your therapist about how embrace the self-care goddesses that will keep the chronic illnesses at bay:

Diet

This can be the choice to include leafy greens in at least four meals per week, or keeping your multivitamins by your bedside table. 

You know your body best. Find a way to create internal harmony, which will translate to the external.

Exercise

Find an exercise that works for you. 

You don’t have to love a 40-minute marathon right away. Start with plugging in your favourite podcast and going for a walk. Or a 20-second plank. No matter your age, gender, location, exercise is your best friend. Your brain and body will thank you. 

Routine

Starting your day with tarot or ending it with a nighttime stretch is what gives you a sense of intention and power over life. Our routines anchor us, giving us control over our mental state which helps us cope with our physical state. 

Meditation

Meditation doesn’t have to be sitting in a yogi position for a whole hour. 

Even 1 - 2 minutes of simply being still and returning to the present calms your nerves. It may seem counterintuitive, but in moments such as polishing up a final project or wondering why he hasn’t texted back is exactly when we most need to slow ourselves down. 

Humour

I know doom scrolling is bad for me, but reels and memes have maintained my sanity. They’ve pulled me out of depression and kept me connected to friends. The magic hormones from laughing have worked the highest wonders. 

Art & Hobbies

The activities we enjoy make life brighter. They improve focus and calm our nervous system. Our brain pays attention to something other than our body, giving less weight and power to chronic symptoms. They also add colour to our routine, and give us something to look forward to. 

Acceptance

When we try to deny the way we are, our brain undergoes this process called cognitive dissonance. This is super exhausting. Yes, life would be perfect without migraines. But treating them as a part of life diminishes the frustration. 

Whether I like it or not, the laundry needs to be hung. The floors are mopped every week. The cat needs to be fed. The legs are getting shaven. 

Sometimes, my back aches. Some nights refuse to let me sleep. Sometimes, despite my most attentive of attempts, my arm breaks out in rashes. 

Whenever you encounter dialogue about being too fragile or sensitive, remember: it’s YOUR body, and YOU’RE the one who has to live in it. 

You have the tools to enjoy it.