I haven't yet recorded the first episode as energy isn't always on my side but it's given me more time to think about how I actually want to do this and now I know the direction I'd like to take it in. I would like not only to cover certain topics but to have it like a 'support group'. I'm not going to ask everyone to join me on a Skype call once a month and talk about our issues but I'd like stories to be shared. I've been thinking about what I would have wanted out of something like this when I was feeling alone when first diagnosed. There's a dark time where you're on your own, in denial, not speaking out, not asking for help but still sort of looking for information to make you feel less alone. I didn't always have a blog to write, to share how I was feeling, I never talked about it, I just silently searched around for other people stories to make me feel normal. If I had come across a podcast a few years ago that I could listen to after those nasty hospital appointments that I left feeling ignored and broken, if I could come home and just sit and hear other peoples stories shared without having to make my presence known, I think that would have helped me a lot. I know having the option to anonymously write in and then hearing my email read out and others agreeing and making my problems seem 'normal', would have helped me a lot in coming to terms and speaking about my feelings. So this is what I want to create, an environment that makes chronic illness sufferers feel united and understood, a environment where your presence doesn't need to be known but can be if you choose. I want listeners to tune in and leave feeling not so bad about their illnesses. Maybe family or friends want to listen, to build up an understanding from us, of what their loved one is going through.
I know there are many Facebook groups and other support groups out there but I also know some people aren't ready to put their name out and speak about it yet, I know I wouldn't have been comfortable writing as openly as I do now, 3 years ago. There are thousands of sufferers out there that have no one to speak to or anyone to listen to them, who could benefit so much from feeling part of a strong community, so my goal with this is to be the voice for the past me, I want to be the person to share what's going on in her head because she wants to be heard but she's not quite ready to speak up yet.
I'm of course, not expecting this podcast to kick off immediately, the first episode may just be me telling you my story and some topics I plan to discuss in future episodes but I would like to think we could get something good going. I'm going to record the first episode in the beginning of May, so if you run into any problems throughout April that you'd wish to share, please do, the contact information will be at the bottom of this page. Anything from a frustrating conversation you just had with a family member who just doesn't quite get it and you want to rant about it (we get it, don't worry!) to a concern about a new symptom that has decided to stop by this morning and you're wondering who can relate. I'm happy to talk about just the little things that we face every day or the bigger things that happen in relation to our chronic illnesses, so whether you'd like to come on the podcast and share your whole story with us or just send an email, asking to be read out anonymously or not; I'll look forward to any responses!
Email HERE
Message or post on Facebook wall HERE
Tweet HERE
I don't have a big audience to share this with but I think it would be a good, beneficial thing to be involved in, so if you could, please do share this around and hopefully we can start something great. Thank you!
