.jpg)
This is something I've been wanting to write about for quite a while, and have only just had the confidence to write about. As many know, even though I suffer from a variety of chronic illness's I take pride in my appearance, and truly love to make myself look as healthy and bright as possible, which is how make-up became a big part of my life. But over the past few months, things that only happened every now and then, have started happening often, and making being a girl, extremely difficult.
Now, girl problems for regular 18 year old girls could include friends fighting, what outfit to wear, how do I get my hair to look good and so on. Although I have these minor issues, I don't see them as issues or problems at all for myself. My new girl problem, is shaving my legs.
Whether it is from my EDS, ME/CFS or Fibromyalgia, I can no longer shave my legs, without causing myself a great deal of pain. Not from the razor, but from having to reach my legs to shave them. The pain is excruciating, and even though I have the flexibility to actually reach my legs, the pain is something I can't deal with. It has made me wonder, how many other's like me have this issue? Do they just no longer shave and constantly hide their legs underneath clothes? Does someone else shave their legs? Do they go get their legs waxed or body sugared? Do they no longer care and sport a hairy leg?
Maybe one day girls having hairy legs will be the new fashion statement, but I enjoy that feeling of smooth legs against my bed sheets, and of course, not having dark black hairs staring up at me when I look at my legs.
.jpg)
It's not that I'm ashamed of body hair, or that I believe all women should have smooth legs, underarms and so on (because I definately don't believe that, you should appear how you're most comfortable, not how society is most comfortable), it's just, it is how I like to be. It's how I am most comfortable and to not be able to be how I am most comfortable, is difficult.
When you're chronically ill, being comfortable with your body is so important. A lot of the time, you can't do regular exercise, or even go out dancing with friends (which can be a form of exercise anyway), so many people who are chronically ill, feel uncomfortable with their body because their body, can't do what other's can, OR, they can't work towards, what others are working towards physically. It's important, to recognise what your body can and can't do, and exercise while being chronically ill, is something I will talk more in depth about another time. Another reason those who are chronically ill feel uncomfortable with their body, is their inability to do as much for themselves as they used to be able to, or others their age are able to. Such as circumstances where you require a carer to help you do daily hygiene things, or maybe just wash your hair. If your chronic illness affects your hands, hair becomes a problem, and I often find myself just leaving it tied in a bun for much too long, and avoiding washing and brushing it, due to pain, and weakness in my joints, particularly in my hands, and shoulders. Another reason being that your body changes much differently when your chronically ill, from the colour of your skin changing, to how your skin hugs your bones and muscles, swelling, bruising easier, putting on weigh easier, hair growing darker or lighter, and so on. There are so many reasons, I could go on all day. So taking all of this into consideration, for me, not being able to do one of the things that makes me comfortable with my body, makes living with a chronic illness/s so much harder. It's actually making my self confidence fall, and I can seeing it affect me in more ways than just hairy legs. This is why I am writing this blog.
I don't want anyone to ever feel uncomfortable, or unhappy with how they look, and essentially, I am uncomfortable and unhappy with how I look. Stereotypes are thrown my way for being chronically ill already, I'm terrified of what people will also think of me if they see hairy legs on a person, who is so obsessed with makeup, fashion and all things beauty, feminine and pretty. I know, I shouldn't be. But I can't help it.
It is now my goal, to not feel this way. If I were brave enough, I'd wear my hairy legs like a badge of honour, but for now, I think I'll invest in body sugaring (for those who don't know, a less painful and natural way of waxing) or the more fun option, the boyfriend.
I feel like this blog was more of a ramble than anything else, but I hope this brought some understanding to someone, or made someone in a similar postition, not feel alone.
Let me know if you'd like to read more 'Girl Problems When You Have Chronic Illness'.
It's not that I'm ashamed of body hair, or that I believe all women should have smooth legs, underarms and so on (because I definately don't believe that, you should appear how you're most comfortable, not how society is most comfortable), it's just, it is how I like to be. It's how I am most comfortable and to not be able to be how I am most comfortable, is difficult.
When you're chronically ill, being comfortable with your body is so important. A lot of the time, you can't do regular exercise, or even go out dancing with friends (which can be a form of exercise anyway), so many people who are chronically ill, feel uncomfortable with their body because their body, can't do what other's can, OR, they can't work towards, what others are working towards physically. It's important, to recognise what your body can and can't do, and exercise while being chronically ill, is something I will talk more in depth about another time. Another reason those who are chronically ill feel uncomfortable with their body, is their inability to do as much for themselves as they used to be able to, or others their age are able to. Such as circumstances where you require a carer to help you do daily hygiene things, or maybe just wash your hair. If your chronic illness affects your hands, hair becomes a problem, and I often find myself just leaving it tied in a bun for much too long, and avoiding washing and brushing it, due to pain, and weakness in my joints, particularly in my hands, and shoulders. Another reason being that your body changes much differently when your chronically ill, from the colour of your skin changing, to how your skin hugs your bones and muscles, swelling, bruising easier, putting on weigh easier, hair growing darker or lighter, and so on. There are so many reasons, I could go on all day. So taking all of this into consideration, for me, not being able to do one of the things that makes me comfortable with my body, makes living with a chronic illness/s so much harder. It's actually making my self confidence fall, and I can seeing it affect me in more ways than just hairy legs. This is why I am writing this blog.
It is now my goal, to not feel this way. If I were brave enough, I'd wear my hairy legs like a badge of honour, but for now, I think I'll invest in body sugaring (for those who don't know, a less painful and natural way of waxing) or the more fun option, the boyfriend.
I feel like this blog was more of a ramble than anything else, but I hope this brought some understanding to someone, or made someone in a similar postition, not feel alone.
Let me know if you'd like to read more 'Girl Problems When You Have Chronic Illness'.
