Finding Strength: How Blogging Made a Difference in My Life with Lupus

Diagnosed in my early twenties, lupus has been a large part of my life for many years. Although, I feel that I had been suffering from lupus symptoms for many years before my actual diagnosis.

At the beginning of my lupus journey, I felt isolated, fatigued, anxious, confused, and constantly in pain as I collaborated with medical professionals to control my condition. 

Yes, I had my family around me who tried to understand and support me, plus my mother also had lupus and had previously gone through the same process as me, yet, I still felt alone and unsure how to communicate what I was feeling and, most importantly ask for the support I desperately needed during the darkest times, I found it hard to see how I would improve my situation. 

I was already writing my blog, Wots Her Name Again? for which I wrote about fashion, beauty, and events. With the extra time on my hands, especially when steroids would not allow me to sleep, I used the time to research and write engaging posts that I shared on my social media channels.

Even though my blog, Wots Her Name Again? did not initially focus on my lupus journey, it provided a platform to share my experiences and ideas.

This sharing fostered a sense of belonging and connection, not just in the digital realm, but also in the physical world. 

By creating and engaging with content, bloggers, and their audiences, I started to build relationships with fellow bloggers and individuals interested in my content, as well as PR agencies that wanted me to review their products and share them with my audience. 

This also led to invitations to fashion shows and blogger events, which I attended under the care of supportive friends and family that I roped in with the promise of a free goodie bag.

Not only was I slowly rebuilding my social life, but I was also learning transferable skills that could be applied to my day job at the time as an e-commerce supervisor; through blogging, I learned HTML, how to create a website through trial and error, and by watching YouTube videos. 

I still experience anxiety and depression, alongside my lupus symptoms, but as I continued to find and interact with communities whose interests and values resonated with my own, I started to feel more confident with myself and more optimistic about my future as a Lupus Warrior.

After my mother, advocate, cheerleader, and best friend passed away, I had no idea how I would cope without her. However, I pushed myself to channel her strength and resilience and slowly learned how to advocate for myself. I often thought of Lee-Anne, a fictional character representing a person at the start of their lupus journey, and how she would have coped without the support of her mother.  This inspired me to try to give that support to others in the hopes of helping them through their lupus journeys.  

As I slowly began to share my lupus journey and tips and life hacks that I had picked up along the way, I started to find other Lupus Warriors like me, and suddenly, I was feeling even less alone and isolated.  Researching, sharing, and learning life hacks not only benefited my readers but also enriched my life. It led me to explore self-care techniques, creativity, critical thinking, and the exchange of diverse perspectives. This journey of learning and sharing contributed significantly to both my personal and professional growth.

This loosely clustered theme benefits from the writing process and other themes that relate more to the self than others, holding me accountable and giving me something to do/look forward to, resulting in a great sense of accomplishment.

These intrinsic benefits include the sense of purpose, the joy of connecting with others, and the personal growth that comes from sharing my experiences and learning from others. 

Also, my email address book is filled with friends around the world, many of whom I have never met. I have used my blog to connect with hundreds of people and form strong bonds with dozens of them. Blogging is not just a tool for posting thoughts or making measly AdSense checks. It can be a tool to boost your career, further your business, or meet interesting people.

Guest Post by Lee-Anne Weise

Click for her blog: Home - Wots Her Name Again?

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October 2024