Early indications that I wasn’t well was when the pain and anxiety got to be too much that I couldn’t function. I relinquished my well-being to my partner, which was the opposite of self-sufficient me. I have full body small fiber neuropathy. Anxiety comes, not only as a mental illness, but as a physical illness, as nerves in my body die. In short, chronic illness equals chronic pain and severe anxiety.
It wasn’t easy to get to where I am today. The self-sufficient part of me knew though, that I am the only one in charge of my health and happiness (Stoicism)
I have painful, anxiety ridden days. I have less painful, bountiful days. In my professional life, I have experience in peer support, crisis intervention and patient navigation.
As a peer supporter, I am walking along side of you. After we meet, you will have an action plan for something you'd like to work on (if you feel up to it), but most importantly, you will know you have been heard and you are not alone.