Wednesday 27 August 2014

Time Spenders

I spend around 60% of my time in bed, resting from the other 40% of my time out of bed. It's just what happens when you have a chronic condition! Spending that many hours in bed can make you really really bored, but you're not feeling well enough to do schoolwork or something that involves a lot of thinking. So here are my top 3 time spenders when you are stuck in bed

1. Youtube
I am an avid watcher of youtube videos, especially beauty ones. I'm not particularly into makeup, but any videos about how to make yourself look more awake and alive than you really are can be a great help! Also the girls that film beauty videos are always so upbeat and cheerful, so it's nice to watch and lifts me up when I'm wallowing.

2. Reading
I know a lot of people don't like reading, but I am head-over-heels in love with it. I like a mix of non-fiction, young adult, suspense, and heaps more. At the moment I'm reading The Diary Of Anne Frank, and it's incredible.

3. Brainstorming
Just because you feel crappy now, doesn't mean that you'll feel terrible forever. I like to spend my down time researching POTS, looking for activities that I can do that I'll be able to do, looking up recipes that won't hurt my salt-riddled stomach. I've gotten really close to giving up because of everything I can't do, so it's good when I can see all of the things that I still can do, as it gives me hope.

So there are my top 3! There are lots of other things that I do to keep myself occupied and away from self pity, but these are the easiest. What do you do to keep yourself distracted?

Good luck!
Bridge

Thursday 21 August 2014

POTS and Exercise

If you have POTS, you know that when you exercise you feel like your head is going to roll of your body or float up to the ceiling because you're so lightheaded. It sucks, there's no lying about it. But there's also no way to avoid it - keeping your exercise to a routine and making goals is essential to any POTS treatment. 

So what's my plan? I bike Monday, Tuesday, Thursday and Friday for half an hour with little/no resistance. It's not to work my muscles, but to train my body to get used to being upright. On Wednesday and Sunday I do yoga, to help stretch and tone my muscles, and on Saturday I have a day off. It's only four hours of exercise a week, so it's not that bad and it's definitely working!

Every couple of months I change my cardio to something a bit more challenging. I've been on the recumbent bike for a while (my base level, but you could also use a rowing machine as it's also recumbent exercise), and this last week I've moved up to the regular upright bike. It's definitely more challenging, but the more I'm on it the easier it will get and the better I will feel when I'm upright, on and off the bike! The key is not to push yourself too far and relapse your symptoms - baby steps please. 

So that's my plan! Do you have an exercise routine, or any tips and tricks to share? Leave a comment telling me what they are!

Good luck,
Bridge

Tuesday 19 August 2014

Ballin'


With POTS you have to miss out on a lot of social stuff, no matter how hard you push yourself you just can't make everything. In fact from experience, pushing myself has just made me miss out on more. 

So when I decided I was going to my school's midwinter ball this year, I knew I needed a game plan. I rested for the weeks leading up to it, so that I didn't tire myself out before it began. I got ready with my friends, and then went home and rested while everyone went to pres, and we all met up again at the ball. I planned everything ahead of time so that I wouldn't be stressing. Oh, and of course, I had A LOT of salt. 

But it was all worth it in the end! I got pictures, I saw all of my friends, and I had my boyfriend looking after me and watching out for me the entire time. I couldn't quite make it out on the dance floor - the standing up and loud music was just too much for me - but I still had a fantastic time!

Now I'm experiencing the aftermath, of course. I knew I'd feel terrible afterwards (this is the worst I've felt POTS-wise in quite a while), but I made the decision to go for it. Sometimes you just have to choose your battles, and being able to look at ball pics with a smile on my face makes it completely worth it.

What battle are you conquering this week?

Good luck, 
Bridge

 

Thursday 14 August 2014

Spring Is In the Air!

We've been dealing with some pretty terrible weather here in NZ recently. The torrential rain and high force winds have been particularly bad, even for Windy Wellington. But for the past couple of days it's been clearing up, the sun's been coming out, and it's been SO NICE. So today I thought I'd talk about my spring wish list: one for fashion, one for beauty, and one for life.

Free People Halter Neck Bralette
Is it awkward that I'm talking about bras? Just roll with it. This bralette (bralet? bralette?) has no underwire which means that it doesn't feel nearly as uncomfortable as normal bras, plus the lace details means that it looks really nice peeking out from under simple outfits. So it's a win win! If you're bigger chested you might need a little more support, but for us members of the IBTC (itty bitty titty committy), this is a really nice one to go for! I particularly like the duck egg blue colour, as it's a nice pop but not too bright, and the copper is really nice too.

Topshop Sheer Lip in Red Alert
I love the look of red lips, but am always so paranoid about wearing them in public! The sheer formula makes it easier to wear, and the warm orange undertones makes it a bit more spring appropriate. Only downside is that it's from Topshop, which means crazy shipping, but a girl's gotta do what a girl's gotta do!

Do More Yoga
The bad thing about spring for me is that that means it's exam season (cries inside). I have school exams in a few weeks, leading up to the big catastrophe in November, so stress levels are going to be through the roof. My stress repellent this year will be yoga! I love how my body feels during and after yoga - completely relaxed, stretched out, refreshed. So the aim is twice a week this spring, to help me through the hectic season.

So that's my Spring Wish List! What's on yours this year?

Have a great day!
Bridge


Tuesday 12 August 2014

R.I.P.

Hearing yesterday that Robin Williams had died from suspected suicide wasn't a massive hit to my life at first. I thought it was terrible, while visions of Jumanji ran through my head, and then continued stacking the dishwasher. It was once I'd logged on to social media and saw everyone talk about all of the amazing things that he had accomplished and how he had changed people's lives that it really hit me; this was a man who had made fantastic movies that made people laugh and cry and feel something real throughout his life, why did he choose to end it?

I suppose that's the point, though - people with depression don't choose, it just happens. They can't see the light at the end of the tunnel, they can't see a point to their lives. I recently read a book by Viktor Frankl, (Man's Search For Meaning) and it was all about how people find a way to survive if they have something to live for. It was what helped himself get through the holocaust.

And now that I think about it, it's true for me too. I attempted suicide earlier this year - one of the blackest times of my life. I didn't feel like there was anything to live for, that nothing was going right and nothing was ever going to be right. I couldn't see the love and support that I was getting from the people around me. It took an attempted overdose to realise that I have so much left to accomplish, so much more love to give. Now when I'm feeling down, I tell someone about it. I don't want to take the easy way out.

This blog post is a bit all over the place. And a bit scary to post. I've been feeling a bit down and my head's been spinning, I needed a place to vent. It's always better to talk than to keep it all bottled up inside.

R.I.P. Robin Williams.

Bridge

Sunday 10 August 2014

Hall Time

It's that time of year - time to apply for university halls of residence. In a weird way this is more daunting than applying for the actual university.

Applying for halls in New Zealand seems easy, until you get to the bit where they ask why you think you should be admitted. I hate answering questions like that, because there's no way you can write a convincing argument without seeming like you have a ginormous ego. Not only that, but what can I contribute to the dorm community when I spend 80% of my life dizzy in bed? That's when you have to make up bullshit about how you push through it all, even though it feels like you're lying through your teeth.

Part of the application asks about what you've accomplished over the years academically, culturally, and leadership-ally. I whipped out all my school reports, all of my certificates and awards that Mum's  been hoarding for years. And it was depressing. Seeing how POTS has directly affected my life, and not being able to avoid it... it's hard. Seeing how much I used to accomplish, and watching it dwindle year after year until you have no academic achievements or leadership positions this year just sucks.

Anyway, after two hours of filling in forms, I've handed it in. Now just waiting for the gods (a.k.a. University Admission Board) to decide.

Anyone else applying for uni this year?

Hope you have a great day!
Bridge

Friday 8 August 2014

Coaster Love


My Mum's birthday is coming up on the 26th, so I've been experiencing the annual conundrum of what to get her for a gift. Until I was browsing Anthropologie, and I came across some gorgeous coasters. I know what you're thinking - really, Bridget? Coasters? (That's certainly what my boyfriend said). But these are a whole new level. I love the crystal design, and the colour range is fantastic, so I knew I'd find one of Mum's favourites. I had to snatch them up. (And I was impressed with super fast shipping to NZ!)

Kind of random, I know. But if you're looking for a great gift to buy a member of the fam or a friend, these coasters are definitely something to look at. 

Hope you have a great day!
Bridge

Monday 4 August 2014

Book Favourites #1

If you know me, then you know that I LOVE to read. It is one of my favourite past times, I find it relaxing and exciting and sometimes life changing, when I come across something particularly special. So I thought I'd start a series on my blog, where each month I go over the best books that I read from the previous month. Hope you enjoy!

Memoirs Of An Imaginary Friend by Matthew Green
Wow. Wow wow wow. I loved this book so much. The premise is that a boy has an imaginary friend, who then has to save the boy when he disappears. It is such an amazing book, that really makes you think, along with lots of comedy. It might sound a bit immature, but I found it incredible. Definitely one to recommend.
You can find a link to it on Amazon here.

I Am Malala by Malala Yousafzai
This is an inspirational novel about a girl who was shot by the Taliban for standing up for women's rights and education. Malala is an incredible woman, having accomplished so much while still being the same age as me. It shows the importance of standing up for what you believe in, as well as the difference that one person can make when they are passionate and vocal. You can find a link to it on Amazon here.

Neverwhere by Neil Gaiman
Gaiman, you've done it again. A fantasy novel about the underside of London, I found this such an enjoyable read with lots of twists and turns along the way. Even if you're not a fantasy reader, I think this would be one to browse just for the phenomenal writing throughout. You can find a link to it on Amazon here.

Hollow City by Ransom Riggs
This is the sequel to 'Miss Peregrine's Home for Peculiar Children' - another great book - and this sequel is an excellent follow through. The book is written alongside photographs which are showed every few pages, which really helps the reader to visualise and find themselves in this peculiar world. If you've read the first one, I'd definitely recommend the sequel. If you're looking for a new series to dive into, this is it. You can find a link to it on Amazon here.

The Man Who Couldn't Stop by David Adam
If you're interested in psychology, you've come to the right place. This book is sll about Obsessive Compulsive Disorder (OCD) - its history, challenges, variety, and how debilitating it can be, as well as ideas on how to overcome the condition. I thoroughly enjoyed this book, especially the examples of people who have OCD along the way - from the beginning you realise that OCD isn't just about people who compulsively wash their hands, but so much more. Probably my favourite of the month. You can find a link to it on Amazon here.

So there you go! A mix of non-fiction and fantasy this month for the favourites, and they were all excellent books that I'd highly recommend.

What was the best book you read last month? Or your favourite book in general?

Hope you have a great day!
Bridge