A heartfelt Tea & Whiskers reflection on living with chronic pain, the difference between despair and depression, and how Pilgrim’s Progress and Acts 16 remind us that God’s promises are the key out of Doubting Castle.

This may seem like something very small, and not at all worthy of commenting on, but often I think progress is the accumulation of tiny, little triumphs and not so much the great, magnificent trophy.

When I was first diagnosed with fibro my Mum took me along to a fibromyalgia meetup at Arthritis SA. I was all of nineteen, fresh off being unable to remain at university doing Creative Writing, despite trying so very hard to remain, and enjoying myself there.  

I was diagnosed with fibromyalgia in 2009. I was 19. I had dreams, hopes - honestly, I still have them, much hasn't really changed in the past 16 years in regards to my dreams of having a family of my own, but, I have grown stronger, and come to accept and love myself and that journey I would not change. Chronic pain can be crippling....