5/6 also SO grateful I've had the cross-stitch to do, because it means that after a prolonged period of being even more restricted than usual, I still have something beautiful from it.

1/6 "But you did it before, so I know you can" is something I often hear. In reality what I can do is affected by many variable factors - And right now, for me, that includes weeks of heatwave, plus low B12 and hormones wreaking havoc on my PoTS and hypermobility. So many -

Did you know that #hyperfocus is common in the neurodivergent community? Being so focused on one thing that nothing else is noticed for the duration - including hunger, temperature, pain, needing the loo. www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

I was going to write something insightful, but nope. Not got the brain for that. So instead: solidarity with all those of you who are in that strange no-mans land of 'kinda capable of doing stuff, but also kinda a zombie' - May you all find the right way to be kind to yourself, and

Cataplexy is another widely misunderstood condition, that has a big impact on daily life. These cards allow people to explain even if they aren't able to talk in the moment. Clipped to a bag or on a lanyard, it can be easily to hand when needed. From www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

Touch can be deeply unpleasant for people with pain, sensory processing issues, PTSD etc. We know it might be meant as caring or connecting - but when it's painful, overwhelming, or causes flashbacks, it won't create connection or trust! Quite the opposite. This is why -

Really loving my new cross stitch - and it's coming along nicely. It's been absolutely lovely having something I can potter at while lying down in the heatwave.

When wanting to be supportive of someone who has an eating disorder, it can be hard to know what to say or do - do you ignore it? Do you encourage eating? What should you do? Creating this card took a lot of input from people with lived experience - what they find helpful, what they -

As someone who isn't hearing impaired, I have found myself exaggerating lip movements when I'm talking to someone with a hearing impairment. This is really unhelpful, because the distortion makes it much harder to lip-read! So -

1/4 So many people assume that if you aren't using a mobility aid (wheelchair, crutch, walker etc) then it must mean you are 'better' - but actually it is often about whether the environment is accessible, and any symptoms that might be preventing me from using my usual aid. For example:

Being in the middle of a medical emergency is when you have least energy/headspace for explaining. Having a card that gives clear instructions and doesn't rely on your in-the-moment coherence can be extremely useful. The back of this card is blank so you can write the information relevant to you.

Just discovered google thinks I'm selling prescription drugs because some of my keyring cards cover needing taking insulin! Not quite sure how this was mistaken for selling actual insulin...but hey, anything is possible with AI making the decisions.

Sometimes when I'm feeling functional and quite good while lying down (I actually slept last night!)- but also kinda floaty and fragile, I do a quick standing heart rate check just to confirm that my #PoTS / #autonomic dysfunction is playing up. When I start to doubt whether I might -

Absolutely gutted. I've had to stop all overseas shipping. Today I discovered that Royal Mail has updated the requirements for sending post overseas - and it's now completely unusable for stickman orders. (massive amount of admin, only permits tiny orders, and stupidly expensive.)

Being prepared for flare-ups makes them a lot easier to manage - having a routine to follow instead of needing to remember in the moment what I need and have to come up with a plan when I'm least able to function. However, I find it easy to forget to

Check out our 'Time out' cards - for when taking a break to manage fatigue, sensory overload, overwhelm etc. Because sometimes you need to explain why you are on your own/not joining in, but don't have the energy to explain it with 'mouth words'. www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...

This is the new version of the 'Eating is challenging' card is here! I've made lots of small changes based on feedback, to try and make it as helpful as possible to people who don't have an eating disorder - but do have a health condition that affects eating - for example ARFID or sensory issues,

The relief! A new batch of cards arrived today, so the #Fibromyalgia explanation cards are back in stock. (You can find them here www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page... )

With #Fatigue, listening to you body is so vital in being as productive possible. Instinct (or possibly: societal/cultural pressure!) says 'Push through and do it!' in a very loud and persuasive way. But often the opposite is much more effective. For example: I got to my office this morning and

#Phobia doesn't just mean feeling scared or uncomfortable with something, it means extreme, uncontrollable fear and anxiety. This also makes that when the phobia hits, it's really hard to explain what is going on, and what support might help. Having it pre-written can help -

For me, one little understood thing about hitting the 'severe fatigue' stage - often when I've overdone it and crashed afterwards, is that it takes a long time to recover from it. Not just the initial days of needing to stay in bed, but the days (or weeks) following I have to be extra careful,

Yesterday we ran out of our 'Thank you' keyring cards (communication cards) They've been a very slow seller, so should I reprint or not? Also, if there are changes/updates you'd like to see to the card to make it more useful, let me know in the comments or DM too.

1/2 Trying to keep myself occupied enough for my mental health while also managing my #PoTS in this heat, is really tricky - even with air con in my room. Lying down as much as possible, no fast movements, and no concentrating tasks are essential rules. I've listened to many audio books, but -

I thought 'I must get some design consultation posts done' when it dawned on me that no one in the UK is going to have the spare brain power for that right now! We're all doing our best to get through this heat - and won't have capacity for much else. Plus,

This heatwave has (unsurprisingly) amplified my fatigue. One side effect of this is finding speaking harder - both wordfinding, and physically getting the words out. In addition, speaking worsens my fatigue. As a result, I sometimes need to not talk in order to be able to function. So -

I finished my big cross stitch alpaca, and I love it! I still need to wash the ink off, but that will probably wait til I've moved into my annex (which isn't built yet) - so that might be a while 😀 ) This is the first time since I was a young child that I've done a printed cross stitch -

We're reviewing our gastroparesis card. We'd love your feedback, whether you are someone who might use it or be shown it. ● Would you find this helpful? ● Is the info clear? ● Are any key points missing? ● Any improvements to suggest? (we plan to stock plain and striped versions)

1/3 Reminder to any of you who get overwhelmed easily: In this heat, it'll probably be more than usual. I find it easier to handle the overwhelm when I'm prepared for it. So I'm making myself rules like "Air con or fan on between 11am and 8pm - at least!" "If I randomly feel I want to cry, I will-

Here we go again! Gearing up to get through another heatwave with a body that can't handle heat #PoTS I'll be visiting sainsbury's chiller aisle, using a portable air con unit in my bedroom, using a water spray for my wrists/neck, and a phase change cooling vest. And doing a LOT of lying down and

This has been one of the most popular items this week: A card aimed at helping other people to understand that being able to do something one time doesn't mean being able to do it always, on demand! #HiddenDisability #VariableDisability Card from www.stickmancommunications.co.uk/product-page...