Day 1: I write about my health because...

So here's the first of my 30 posts! I decided to start off with one of the topic suggestions given to me on the Cushing's help and support website (www.cushie.info).

I write about my health because....

1. It helps me cope. The truth is, writing on my blog has been extremely cathartic for me. Sure I have friends and family who ask how I feel and I am quite happy and open to talk about it with anyone but there's a difference between talking about something and writing about it. Firstly, when you write there's no one there to interrupt you. You can just go with the flow, let everything come out! Also, you don't have to worry about whether you will offend any one. Sure, you have to be aware that anyone can read your blog but at least if they are offended or confused by what you say you don't have to see it on their faces. Sometimes when I'm talking about my disease with people I can't help but observe their facial expressions and think: they really don't understand me! or she looks bored by my ramblings! Sometimes I feel like I'm hogging the conversation going on and on about myself so in this way, if you're bored you can navigate away from my blog, I won't know and won't be upset!
   Also, writing on a blog gives you the freedom to be spontaneous and post as you type or you can really think about what you're typing and rework it until you are happy with the result. Usually I just type what I think/feel that day. Sure I make some corrections to ensure the flow is good but overall I try and keep it as raw as possible so that my readers get the "real me". The only parts of my blog I pay very close attention to are the static information parts because I think it is important to give accurate details. After all, many will come to my blog in search for answers or to find a kindred spirit. Which leads me to reason 2.
2. It helps me connect with others like me. Although it seems like blogs are one way streets i.e. the blogger writes and the reader reads. I have actually made several friends through it. In fact, I was fortunate enough to be contacted by someone who lives in Hong Kong (where I am at the moment) which is great because it means I had an opportunity to meet someone in real life who understands what I've been through. It is difficult to explain the isolation one feels when suffering from a rare disease. If I could say I have something that everyone's heard about I think people would have a better idea of how to react. Whereas now, most people just don't understand. The majority think that I'm overweight which is what has caused my health problems. They don't understand that it is my health problems that have made me overweight. I'm so grateful that thanks to the internet I am able to make connections with people all across the globe. I have made friends in NZ, OZ, Canada, USA, Hungary, etc.
3. It helps others realise they're not alone. When I was first diagnosed with Cushing's, the hardest thing was trying to talk to people about it and trying to get information on the disease. As I've mentioned several times, it's a rare disease and even doctors have trouble understanding it. To tell you the truth, I had never really liked blogs before. I thought they were just another way for people to draw attention to themselves (and not necessarily in a good way!) and didn't really think they could contribute anything useful. Boy was I wrong!! As I started discovering the world of blogging and more importantly finding blogs from people who have/had the same disease as me, I realised how amazing the internet is. It was comforting to know that somewhere, someone else could relate to how I was feeling. As I began reading more and more blogs, it felt like I was reading my own thoughts. I think that most people underestimate how good it is to feel "normal"! As my blog tagline says: I always wanted to be special but a rare disease wasn't quite what I had in mind... Thanks to Cushing's I'm 1 in a million (actually the prevalence rates are difficult to determine but it's around 2-5 per million) but it's not as exciting as it sounds. We like being special when it's in a good way but no one likes to be different when it carries negative consequences. So finding other blogs helps remind me and others that we are not alone and that others are going through something very similar. (click here for a list of other Cushie bloggers including those taking part in this challenge)
4. It helps raise awareness. Sure, most people who find my blog already have some awareness about Cushing's because they probably found it through searching google or something similar. But there is still the off chance that someone might stumble upon it by accident!? More importantly, my friends and family read it and pass it on to others which is how it helps. I think it's fair to say that my own family and friends have learned so much more about this disease and how I deal with it through my blog. I'd like to think that for every one person I can sensitise to the cause, I increase the chances of reaching more people by more than 1.