After Munch #2 © 2012 Jane Waterman
Mental health challenges

Talking Isn’t Enough

I took part in a Twitter chat last night that debated the seemingly obvious impact of physical health issues on mental health issues, and vice versa. I say obvious, because it was obvious to everyone there. Unfortunately, the audience consisted of mental health professionals and mental health services consumers. As we confirmed

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WAAD 14 Blogger Meet and Greet
Invisible illness advocacy

Meet Me at World Autoimmune Arthritis Day 14

I can’t begin to catch you up on where I’ve been lately. Mostly, it’s the continuing saga of a long string of challenges. I can no longer categorize these challenges as either “good” or “bad”. I’m either in a really Zen place or I’m totally shut down, or I’m a bit

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Systemically Connected

I’ve long wanted to try my hand at vlogging (video blogging). Not because I think I’m a natural spokesperson (I’m not, I’m an introvert), but because I like to challenge myself with something new and because it’s a natural step towards some work I’d eventually love to do. So here

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Transformation @ 2014 Jane Waterman
Living with invisible illness

Life Interrupted, Again

I had big hopes for this year. I still do. However, the difference is those hopes have been modified from the impossible, unrealistic ones I had grasped for as I fled 2013, and have reformed as smaller, realistic, and somehow more magnificent hopes – ones that may one day manifest.

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Loss @ 2013 Jane Waterman
Interior life

Illness and Loss

The main symptom of the disaster was the kitchen. For the past four weeks, supplies from the constantly aborted deck painting project mingled with dirty dishes, even though not much food was eaten. Food was a source of rough comfort when remembered: an accompaniment to the usual pain pills, and

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Eternity © 2004 Jane Waterman
Invisible illnesses

Watermark

A watermark is an outline of the tide’s advance and retreat. In some ways I feel like I am part of that outline, lying at low ebb, among the beautiful broken detritus of the sea. These last weeks I have been merely functioning: meeting the very real needs of the

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After Munch #11 © 2012 Jane Waterman
Invisible illnesses

Fit, Fat and Chronically Ill

I wrote this post back on January 6, 2013. I suppose like anyone who is considered medically obese, I get nervous giving an audience ammunition. However, I’ve let that fear go enough to believe this needs to be said. This post began as a quiet plea – now it is

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Where I Stand © 2013 Jane Waterman
Interior life

Where I Stand

I’m taking part in WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge Day 16 #HAWMC – Tell us 3 things that are true about you, your condition, or your Health Activism. Tell us 1 lie. Will we be able to tell the difference? I’m improvising with this prompt. I’m in a weird

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After Vincent #5 © 2012 Jane Waterman
Invisible illness advocacy

Activist Love

I’m taking part in WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge Day 14 #HAWMC – Thank a few of your fellow Health Activists for what they have done. Call them out by name or twitter handle. Share your love. I concur with many of my fellow health activists, and as I

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Love © 2002 Carmen Waterman
Invisible illnesses

Guest Post: Caregiving 101

I’m taking part in WEGO Health’s Health Activist Writer’s Month Challenge Day 9 #HAWMC – As a parent with health conditions or parent to a child(ren) with health conditions, what do you hope you’re doing right? Today I’m thrilled to present the first guest blog post on Blackbird at Night, written

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