Don’t make me Angry

October 20, 2017

Don’t make me Angry, you wouldn’t like me when I’m Angry!

I believe the emotional side of a flare-up is dramatically underappreciated by people who do not have a skin condition. The emotional and psychological toll can be the biggest problem overall I believe. It can unfortunately also create a downward spiral, I feel rubbish because my skin is no good and my skin gets worse because my mood is down and so it continues. Exacerbated by guilty pleasure eating to make yourself feel better that is generally fatty, processed or sugary food. THis again makes the situation worse and on it goes.

This green photo above is me underwater in a bath with the green Pinetarsol, trying to calm my red itchy skin. Life just seems harder when there is a flare-up. GIven the down mood, I can go into during these times, I tend to also become a self-fulfilling prophecy. I see the bad stuff around me and that just reinforces my perception. It can kill confidence, motivation, engagement and joy. Contact with other people can wither away as you hide in your little hole of self-pity and frustration. If I have to go out and I have a flare up I tend to hide under a cap. It is a great place to hide for me, esp because an am short and people angle down to my sore face is blocked by the brim.

Luckily, I know these things a cyclical and there will be an up and out of this hole. I am by nature a positive and outgoing person. I love interacting with people. Discovering who they are, what makes them tick, what they have going on in their lives, what connection we have plus what can I learn from this person. Luckily, I know this will return soon and sometimes it is just a matter of kicking my own butt out of my comfort zone and realise this is a bigger deal to me than the others around me. People understand and are supportive. I will not let this skin flare up rob me of what I enjoy. I truly sympathise with the people out there who are in a hole and struggling with their skin. But I say that our skin has taken enough from us. I challenge you to layer up on the barrier cream and head out and do something that fills back up the bucket that life and flare-ups drain. Go to the beach, a river, a walk in the hills, watch a sunset, go bush or out for dinner. Please share with me what you have done to fill up the bucket.

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