Raising awareness of, and supporting, young people with long-term health conditions
By Jenny Barron. Originally written as part of the Lost and Gained LUNA series. When I got diagnosed it felt like I had gained this huge weight of responsibility, like I had this massive load to carry around with me at all times. Luckily with Type One diabetes the advancement of the medication meant that … Continue reading Life with T1D: What I have Lost and Gained
There is no question of why lockdown is difficult. It’s tough being isolated from friends, families and the outside world. Events, celebrations and other markers in our lives that give us structure and purpose have been disturbed or cancelled. Often the isolation, the empty days, and the spare hours leave us with our own company … Continue reading Lockdown Conversations: Ableism, Eating Disorders, and Crohns
Hi! It feels very bizarre to introduce myself like this, but I’m Jamie, I’m 19, and I have OCD. I’ve been putting off writing this because I’m embarrassed both about having OCD and about being embarrassed. Go figure! In my title I’ve mentioned embarrassment and shame separately because in relation to my OCD, these two … Continue reading Obsessive Compulsive Disorder: stigma, embarrassment, shame.
Having a long term chronic illness can result in feeling like you are ‘ losing’ lots of things. Being diagnosed at a young age perhaps lessens these feelings; growing up you only pick the things which you are capable of. For instance, I never really have engaged in sport, apart from climbing from time to … Continue reading Lost and Gained: Beth
Jenny, 22 Jenny: When I got diagnosed it felt like I had gained this huge weight of responsibility, like I had this massive load to carry around with me at all times. Luckily with Type One diabetes the advancement of the medication meant that it can fit in a little case, so the weight was … Continue reading Jenny: Lost and Gained
The loneliness that came with epilepsy is one of the things that has taken me most by surprise and that I have found the hardest to manage. I feel we all know the difference between emotionally and physically alone, but it feels an important difference to emphasise. Especially because I would be doing an injustice … Continue reading In the Same Boat: Ally’s Perspective
Hi! I’m Mirren, I’m 19 years old and I’m a Gaelic student at the University of Glasgow. I suffer from seizures, usually a few times a day, and while my doctors believe they’re caused by epilepsy they are still not sure. It’s been a year and a half since I was first hospitalised, and back … Continue reading In the Same Boat: Mirren’s Perspective
I was diagnosed with Ulcerative Colitis (UC) at the age of 16 after falling ill with my first flare. UC is a form of Inflammatory Bowel Disease (IBD) and is an inflammatory condition that causes ulcers, which can bleed and produce mucus, to form in the large intestine. It is currently incurable but can be … Continue reading IBD: Conversations with Friends
By Isobel Crossley When Ally, Beth and Ross first asked me if I’d like to write a post, I was originally hesitant as I didn’t think I really had a place to say anything due to not suffering from a long term health condition myself, but I do have a sister with a chronic illness … Continue reading IBD: A Sibling’s Perspective
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