Rhiann Johns
@serenebutterfly.bsky.social
86 followers 54 following 82 posts
Blogger documenting life with chronic illness and disability. Aside from posts about the chronic life, I am an avid reader, and a square-eyed binge-watcher of TV and films http://brainlesionandme.com
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serenebutterfly.bsky.social
“The decision whether to take a painkiller is a catch-22. Whether I choose to endure the pain or take a painkiller and face the side effects, it feels that I lose either way.” www.brainlesionandme.com/pain-or-pain...

#ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #ChronicLife
Pain or Painkiller: A Difficult Decision To Make –
When experiencing chronic pain, the choice of whether to take a painkiller is not a simple one. Instead, it becomes a choice between pain or painkiller.
www.brainlesionandme.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you so much @achronicvoice.com for sharing my deeply personal essay on how I feel afraid and unable to trust my #disabled body and the #anger that comes from that 🫶
achronicvoice.com
"When I do speak of my #anger, people flinch. They want to hear a story of #acceptance & peace, not the rage & discontent inside me. But I want both peace & acceptance; I fight for it, but my #body won’t let me have it.": buff.ly/22JhJu4

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicPain #disability
Disability And Its Hidden Anger: This Body Betrays Me –
An exploration of living with disability, where anger is both a shield and a source of grief and how it feels to have a body that betrays you
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
I remember reading #TheIllustratedMum many years ago! So it felt so nostalgic reading #PictureImperfect from #JacquelineWilson to revisit the characters from my childhood now as adults! Such a beautiful, sympathetic and tender depiction of #mentalillness.
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
It’s getting toward the end of the year - and that means the search for a new #diary for next year begins now! I really need one that has a pocket for documents - somewhere I can keep my hospital letters in so I don’t list them! Any recommendations?

#Spoonie #ChronicIllness #ChronicLife
a woman sits on the ground writing in a notebook with a pen
ALT: a woman sits on the ground writing in a notebook with a pen
media.tenor.com
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
achronicvoice.com
"saying yes to a marathon visit to bookstores..or a voyage..is a way of reclaiming some of the stolen #joy #illness snatches away. I do so despite knowing the heavy price to pay for these small snippets of #normality.": buff.ly/Puz81fs

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness
'Joy Existed Even if My Memories Were Not Free From Pain.'
It can be hard to feel joy abour travelling as a disabled person because of physical pain. But my favourite memories were not free from pain
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you @AChVoice for sharing my #blogpost on how I’ve learnt that joy can coexist alongside #chronicpain and #chronicillness! 🫶
achronicvoice.com
"saying yes to a marathon visit to bookstores..or a voyage..is a way of reclaiming some of the stolen #joy #illness snatches away. I do so despite knowing the heavy price to pay for these small snippets of #normality.": buff.ly/Puz81fs

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicPain #ChronicIllness
'Joy Existed Even if My Memories Were Not Free From Pain.'
It can be hard to feel joy abour travelling as a disabled person because of physical pain. But my favourite memories were not free from pain
buff.ly
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
“It’s so much more than a holiday; it’s a reason. A reason to get through the next appointment, the next flare-up, the next moment of despair when the walls of my bedroom feel like they are closing in.” www.brainlesionandme.com/magic-of-hop...

#ChronicIllness #ChronicallyIll #Hope #Travel
The Magic of Hope In the Storm of Chronic Illness –
Through chronic illness and pain, hope becomes a lifeline — found in travel, memories, and the magic of looking forward to something new.
www.brainlesionandme.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Chronic illness shrinks your world — #hope expands it.
Here’s how a #cruise helped me remember #joy still exists. Read: www.brainlesionandme.com/magic-of-hop...

#ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #ChronicallyIll #Disability #Travel #Cruising
The Magic of Hope In the Storm of Chronic Illness –
Through chronic illness and pain, hope becomes a lifeline — found in travel, memories, and the magic of looking forward to something new.
www.brainlesionandme.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
The Magic of Hope In the Storm of Chronic Illness

Living with chronic illness can feel like being trapped in an endless storm. In this deeply personal essay, I explore how hope — whether in the form of travel, small joys, or quiet moments — helps me find light in the darkest days.
The Magic of Hope In the Storm of Chronic Illness
Living with chronic illness can feel like being trapped in an endless storm. In this deeply personal essay, I explore how hope — whether in the form of travel, small joys, or quiet moments — helps me find light in the darkest days.
www.brainlesionandme.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you @achronicvoice.com for sharing my latest blog post on the anger that often rears its ugly head from living inside my #disabled body and how I feel scared of my body 🫶
achronicvoice.com
"people expect me to feel #grateful for the #SmallThings & the lessons that #illness can teach, be #inspirational & smile. I often feel pressured to paint a smile, brush the pain aside & find the silver linings underneath.": buff.ly/dxjrdAC

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#NEisVoid
Disability And Its Hidden Anger: This Body Betrays Me –
An exploration of living with disability, where anger is both a shield and a source of grief and how it feels to have a body that betrays you
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
“For many, #reading is merely a hobby. But for those of us confined to bed, incapacitated by pain or from numerous other symptoms from #chronicillness, there are magic and power in those printed words.”
www.brainlesionandme.com/the-magic-of...

#ChronicallyIll #ChronicPain #InvisibleIllness #Books
The Magic of Books For The Chronically Ill –
Books are a passion of mine. When living with chronic illness magic can be found in the pages of books, transporting you away from sickness
www.brainlesionandme.com
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
achronicvoice.com
"Having a ‘ #SelfCare box’ has really helped, especially on the days when I am unable to get out of bed..contains everything that comforts me, enabling me to cope better during times of #stress & suffering. - @serenebutterfly.bsky.social ":
buff.ly/9PMmgy9

#ChronicPain #PainManagement #spoonie
40 People With Chronic Illness Share Their Best Pain Management Tips (What To Do If An Unforeseen Pain Flare Hits)
A roundup of best chronic pain management tips from 40 people who live with chronic illness, for when a pain flare strikes without warning.
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you @achronicvoice.com for sharing my #blogpost on my experience of #travel when living with #chronicillness and #disability and how pain and joy can coexist 🫶
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
nationalbooktokens.bsky.social
It's Disability Pride Month! ♿ ✨

This July, we're celebrating disabled voices that embody a rich spectrum of lived experiences 📚

Discover cutting-edge memoirs, swashbuckling fantasy, ravishing romance, pioneering disability activism manifestos and much more 📖 🧚⚔️ 💏

buff.ly/zCwuaWc
An orange border frames a collage of book covers. Text reads: Celebrating disabled voices: must read books for Disability Pride Month. Featured titles in the collage include: Get A Life, Chloe Brown by Talia Hibbert, Hits Different by Tasha Ghouri and Lizzie Huxley-Jones, All Tangled Up in Autism and Chronic Illness: A guide to navigating multiple conditions by Charli Clement, Meaty: Essays by Samantha Irby, Disability Visibility by Alice Wong, Haben: The Deafblind Woman Who Conquered Harvard Law by Haben Girma, Out on a Limb by Hannah Bonam-Young, Always Only You by Chloe Liese, The Hearing Test by Eliza Barry Callahan.
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
achronicvoice.com
"My #body moves in ways I can’t #control —or it refuses to move at all. It aches quietly, collapses without warning & spasms for no reason. It hides things from me, keeps its secrets & exposes me in the worst ways.": buff.ly/MWdkmQ9

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicIllness #FND #disability
Disability And Its Hidden Anger: This Body Betrays Me –
An exploration of living with disability, where anger is both a shield and a source of grief and how it feels to have a body that betrays you
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you @achronicvoice.com for sharing my latest blog post on the anger that often rears its ugly head from living inside my #disabled body and how I feel scared of my body 🫶
achronicvoice.com
"My #body moves in ways I can’t #control —or it refuses to move at all. It aches quietly, collapses without warning & spasms for no reason. It hides things from me, keeps its secrets & exposes me in the worst ways.": buff.ly/MWdkmQ9

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicIllness #FND #disability
Disability And Its Hidden Anger: This Body Betrays Me –
An exploration of living with disability, where anger is both a shield and a source of grief and how it feels to have a body that betrays you
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
…accidentally ordering two of the same item! Not being able to take it back straight to the store I am out of pocket of a few quid for a courier to come to my house to pick it up instead! It all adds up and helps that I have #PIP

#TakingThePIP #Disability #DisabledLife
a person holding a cardboard box with curology written on it
ALT: a person holding a cardboard box with curology written on it
media.tenor.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Another costly outgoing when you become #disabled which isn’t mentioned enough is the cost of postage and packing. Not being able to get out and about easily, I have no choice to have things delivered to the house. And now I have to send something back after…
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
For anyone looking for a book that has authentic and relatable #chronicillness and #disability representation then I thoroughly recommend #TheChemistryTest. I am almost half-way through and am loving it. So many of the situations/thoughts/comments are ones I too have experienced
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
achronicvoice.com
“Because living with a #ChronicIllness is terrifyingly #unpredictable, it has no neat beginning, middle and end. Chronic illness offers no arc, no gratifying climax or satisfying resolution.":https://buff.ly/z8DhTNn

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicPain #NEisvoid #disability
Depression: The Darker Side of Chronic Illness –
When living with chronic illness and struggling to cope with its many symptoms, depression and thoughts of suicide can quickly appear
buff.ly
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
Thank you @achronicvoice.com for sharing my blog post on the #depression that often sadly rears its ugly head when living with #chronicillness and #disability
achronicvoice.com
“Because living with a #ChronicIllness is terrifyingly #unpredictable, it has no neat beginning, middle and end. Chronic illness offers no arc, no gratifying climax or satisfying resolution.":https://buff.ly/z8DhTNn

by @serenebutterfly.bsky.social
#ChronicPain #NEisvoid #disability
Depression: The Darker Side of Chronic Illness –
When living with chronic illness and struggling to cope with its many symptoms, depression and thoughts of suicide can quickly appear
buff.ly
Reposted by Rhiann Johns
bigissue.com
Disability benefits cuts will harm hundreds of thousands of people and cost some individuals almost £900 a month, MPs have warned.
Labour's disability benefit cuts set to be a 'disaster on all fronts'
www.bigissue.com
serenebutterfly.bsky.social
What a phenomenon! And thank you DisneyPlus for sharing this with us. I would love to physically see the show, but cannot due to ill health and disability. But for nearly two hours tonight I was transported to Arendelle and forgot about #chronicillness for a while! Pure magic!🪄