17/10/2025
As someone who lives with a chronic illness, this time of year has a way of kicking my ass. 😭
But what is the October Slide?
It is described as the transitional period from Summer to Autumn where the air gets cooler, daylight is shorter, barometric pressure changes and seasonal illnesses are rampant. Great...
This transition will affect everyone, but for people living with chronic illnesses this time of year can wreak havoc on our symptoms, leading to flare ups, fatigue and worsening pain.
I would love to be able to take the whole of October off and stay wrapped up in a wee cocoon with my cats and husband, but that's just not practical in our society... Boooo!
So how, I hear you scream, can we make it through this time of the year?
Everyone has their own ways of managing symptoms and flare ups, and the key to surviving the October Slide is preparation.
If you can, set aside some time to batch cook some nutritious and comforting meals that you can just whip into the microwave.
Prepare some survival kits and have them easily accessible at home or work. Hot water bottles, pain medicine, hydration sachets, whatever gets you through.
Rest and recover. Easier said than done! But scheduling time for rest is so important. Get your comfiest pyjamas on, snuggle down into bed and stick on your comfort movie/show. Mines are Buffy and The Birdcage!
Scheduling self care treatments is also a great way to get you through.
As I will always harp on about, massage is a great way to help soothe and encourage restoration of your body and mind. It's definitely something I strive to incorporate in my life especially at this time of the year.
I would love to hear from anyone going through it just now, to share self-care hacks, maybe have a vent and discuss how massage can benefit you.
As always, if you are in an active flare, particularly joint pain, always discuss with your GP if massage is suitable and safe.
We got this!! ✨
