One of my key self-management tools is movement while 'sitting still'. Tensing and relaxing big muscles, and wiggling my feet helps get the circulation going and reduces my #PoTS symptoms, and gentle position changing using my core muscles reduces my back pain. It's easy for people to assume -

It's easy to think 'my fatigue is less today, so I must now do *all the things*' - when in reality it's still having a big effect on my capacity. Pottering at low-brain tasks is something that I can do very nicely at particular fatigue levels - For me -

1/2 Definitely feeling this today! I'm improving through careful rest and pacing, but still somewhat below my usual baseline and spending a LOT of time napping. Knowing that my house moving effort will be well worth it in the long term really helps dealing with the physical fallout. My -

Yesterday’s top achievement: clearing the last things out of my old house and cleaning it (With help) Today’s top achievement: brushing my teeth. The reality of life with variable disability.

Yesterday’s top achievement: clearing the last things out of my old house and cleaning it (With help) Today’s top achievement: brushing my teeth. The reality of life with variable disability.

Our 'difficulty speaking' card is now available in the new synthetic material - waterproof, durable, and lightweight. A practical way of letting people know when you just need them to give you time to find your words. #Fatigue #Autism #Aphasia And

I will get back to proper work soon...well, soonish. Today has been doing the final clearout of my old house. Room by room. Ready to say goodbye to it tomorrow - and then at least a few days of sleep. After which I should be more back to normal (and hopefully less symptomatic!) I've been -

Given that food is so often a key part of social interactions, having to explain dietary needs over and over again gets really draining - whether it's allergies, texture aversions, swallowing issues, health management issues. This card can be a quick way of giving clear, info quickly and easily.

Often neurodivergent people are told asking for more info is rude, confrontational, demanding etc. In fact: we need more information so we know what to expect, and can best join in and manage our needs. It's a literal request with no hidden agenda. www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

For some people eye contact can be overwhelming, or stop them concentrating on the conversation. So although eye contact is natural for some people, it's not for everyone, so it's important not to insist on it if you want a meaningful interaction! #Autism #SensoryOverload #Fatigue

Help!! The pavements outside my house have been resurfaced today (I’ve not had any info about it, unless it was put through my letterbox yesterday). I need to get in. anyone know how long before you can wheel over tarmac? or better, drive over it?

Recognising which tasks I'm well enough to do here and now - and which I am not - is a big part of my fatigue management. Instead of trying to force it, "But I should be able to!" I've learned that thinking this is a red flag which means I can't right now, and should step back and try again later -

1/3 One challenge with severe #pain is that for the person with it, it’s mind-blowingly obvious. In-your-face. It fills your world, and is a huge weight that has to be carried through everything you do…but to another person it can be completely invisible. They can’t tell. Even if they truly care.

Yay! Alpaca cross-stitch progress. Still loving it. #SundaySelfCare #Crafting

“why dont you just explode the chicken so it chases you out of the farm?!” Unexpected sentence from small nephew (yes, they are gaming)

This has been popular recently - a way to explain your needs without having to find the words, handy for ppl who struggle with queues due to pain, heat intolerance, fatigue, bladder/bowel issues, sensory overload, autonomic dysfunction, etc. From www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

This has been popular recently - a way to explain your needs without having to find the words, handy for ppl who struggle with queues due to pain, heat intolerance, fatigue, bladder/bowel issues, sensory overload, autonomic dysfunction, etc. From www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

Eek! We are nearly out of our 'pocket book of pacing' - I thought we had another box - but it turns out we are down to about 3 books! Gotta get that reprinted ASAP. I've nearly finished reviewing it, so I'm hoping it'll be ready to send to the printers in a couple of days. But -

On burnout recovery: "If your autistic kid goes thru a bored-&-grumpy, then hyper-focused-on-screens/interests, then exhausted-from-doing-just-one-tiny-chore cycle post-stress, they may be way smarter & more tuned in to their neurological needs than I am, b/c it took me ~40 yrs to figure this out."

What have you done to recharge today? I think that recharging might be one of my most important pacing/condition management skills. To step back and rest - without stressing about it or feeling guilty. To see this rest as a hugely productive essential task. And also -

It's #InvisibleDisabilities week - a huge amount of our work is about enabling people with disabilities that aren't obvious to communicate their needs in ways that non-disabled people can understand, and to support their symptom management. Here are a few of the hundreds of products on our website:

I wish I could see on my phone what is in my freezer! So I could decide on dinner without having to move. (And yes, I did overdo it the past week, and am now in a fatigue crash. How did you guess?)

Extra space along the side of the car isn't a luxury, or a comfort thing for disabled people - it may be the only way we can get to our vehicles! Rollators and wheelchairs can't fit in the gap usually left between parked cars - so if you see a sign asking for more space, please take it seriously.

Extra space along the side of the car isn't a luxury, or a comfort thing for disabled people - it may be the only way we can get to our vehicles! Rollators and wheelchairs can't fit in the gap usually left between parked cars - so if you see a sign asking for more space, please take it seriously.

Shortness of breath can be a standard part of many health conditions - something people have to live with. But it can make other people panic - so instead of quietly managing their symptoms, they also have to explain it, and calm other people down. And so our 'breathing difficulties' card was born.

The most important pacing tip for me this week is: "don't give in to 'I'll just...' - always stop/swap before your symptoms force you to." With so much to do, it's easy to believe "I have to" and try and keep going. However, for me pushing means crashing and having far less capacity overall.

Look what arrived today! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the initial draft. I've tried to make it gentle enough that I wouldn't mind it being left on my car if I forget to put my badge out, but clear enough that someone not disabled might think twice before taking a disabled space again.

intro post!🎊 hi angels!🧚 we’re two best friends, mash & lola, we’re autistic and love to dip our toes into everything creative👩🏻‍🎨 to help cope with the stress and isolation of life with chronic illness and caring🧸 here we’d like to share our jewellery with you☺️🔮 our stuff: madewithsash.etsy.com 🪩🛍️

Look what arrived today! Thank you to everyone who gave feedback on the initial draft. I've tried to make it gentle enough that I wouldn't mind it being left on my car if I forget to put my badge out, but clear enough that someone not disabled might think twice before taking a disabled space again.

It's hard to explain to non-disabled people how you can be pleased how much something is helping - but still be highly symptomatic, disabled and very limited! I just started B12 jabs and they've eased a layer of fatigue and brain fog. It's lovely. I still have lot of other fatigue, fog etc. It's -

Hypermobility is a key issue for me - and its important to remember that hypermobility can cause all sorts of other issues too, so it's rarely 'just hypermobility' - for me it means pain, joint instability, fatigue, autonomic dysfunction, gut issues, heart burn. -

Stage 1 of moving house is complete and I have survived. I've moved into a rented room that will be my home until my wheelchair accessible annex is built - which is at least 6 months away. To say it's been challenging is an understatement.

Not being able to easily spot a disability doesn't mean it isn't disabling! Someone healthy looking who parks in a disabled bay may not be wrong, selfish etc. They may have a disability that you haven't noticed. (sticker from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page... )

Waiting for a bed frame to be delivered at some point in the next hour. Absolutely cannot do anything else while awaiting. The world is on pause til it arrives.

There are SO many conditions that can affect our ability to speak and make it harder - from conditions like TMJD which make moving the mouth painful, to strokes, to fatigue, to neurodivergence. But often what we need is similar: people to give us time to find our words - and listen to them.

🎤 Ask the Experts: Hypermobility Edition 🆓Event🗓️ 16 Oct⏰ 7pm BST📍 Zoom + ▶️ 👩‍⚕️ @Jo Southall (Occupational Therapist) + Reema Chadha (Physio + Bollywood dancer!) share their tips on pacing, joint protection, mobility aids & more 🔗 hypermobility.org/events #Hypermobility #AskTheExperts #JointWellness

This week is TOUGH, and next week will be too. Lots of house-move related stuff going on, plus many health-related appointments. All things I have to do at the allocated times/dates. So this week pacing means doing as little as possible of routine stuff to give myself the best chance -

1/2 Previous feedback about this idea made it clear it needs to be OK to receive if you have a hidden disability - as well as clear enough for non-disabled ppl to maybe think twice next time. So here's the current draft. What do ppl think? It will be printed as an A6, single sided, coloured flyer.

1/2 Previous feedback about this idea made it clear it needs to be OK to receive if you have a hidden disability - as well as clear enough for non-disabled ppl to maybe think twice next time. So here's the current draft. What do ppl think? It will be printed as an A6, single sided, coloured flyer.

I know I keep saying this, but I can't believe how much more accessible printed cross stitch is for me than counted! #BriainFog #Fatigue Here's how my alpaca is coming along.

1/3 As it is #AutonomicDysfunction awareness month, here are some of our cards that explain some of the practical realities of living with #AutonomicDysfunction, including #PoTS:

The problem with having a VW caddy with seats in is that I never know whether it’s a car or a van. Today I got muddled and called it a ’Can’. kinda accidentally appropriate for an accessible vehicle.

Today I'm driving further than usual, so to manage my #PoTS I'll stop at service stations to lie down and recharge/manage symptoms. I put a red beanbag and blanket on the front passenger seat. These mean I can go from sat in the drivers seat to lying down with minimal effort - and nap! #Dysautonomia

We have these dividers for our keyring cards - a great way to separate them into sections for ease of use. My sections are: Red: Condition explanations & key health info. Yellow: Fatigue and brainfog cards. Green: Coping strategies. Blue: Speech related & choking. -

I've been struggling financially since September due to the tariffs. My business Bibipins is in trouble. Not only am I making less sales and with smaller amounts. But people have been refusing their orders (which I don't get back) due to the tariff costs & wanting full refunds.

Was starting to get really down about not having a single order through our shop for 3 days. For a tiny business like mine that doesn't have much slack in the system, that's really scary! 😱 ... 1/2

We are periodically asked why we have some keyring cards in laminate and some in synthetic material - and what is synthetic material. So at long last (been meaning to do this for ages) here is a blog post that explains it: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/post/why-syn...

We are periodically asked why we have some keyring cards in laminate and some in synthetic material - and what is synthetic material. So at long last (been meaning to do this for ages) here is a blog post that explains it: www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/post/why-syn...

Super pleased with today's time in the office: I tidied a whole section! Here are the before and after photos. (Ok, so it's not perfect, but SO much better than it was, and makes my head feel much less cluttered)