I love my job. I love the responsibility and the feeling of empowerment that comes from self-employment - but most importantly, I love that I can manage my bookings to give myself optimal recovery and relaxation time. Before I began dedicating myself wholly to my Brookleigh enterprises, I was working as the aquatic supervisor at a local pet store (ensuring that the freshwater fish were looked after). This was an extremely physical job, and for 22 hours per week I would push myself to the limit to work within the scheduled hours of the store - even when I felt like I wanted to curl into a ball and cry. The reason that I had to push myself so hard is because of my chronic illness, Complex Regional Pain Syndrome.
I was diagnosed with CRPS (or Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy) four years ago, and it has been a very taxing time for myself, and my friends and family. I have had to rely on others to help with cleaning, home improvements, grocery shopping - every day tasks that I had to relearn how to successfully accomplish without pain and fatigue. I was started on a range of very strong nerve altering medications and opioids, each one with its own unique side effects that are sometimes as debilitating as the symptom that the drug is designed to treat. This all sounds very serious and overwhelming, and for a very long time it was, but over the last four (4) years I have learnt to appreciate the things that I am still able to do.
I grieve occasionally for my old self, which is a healthy part of the healing process, as long as I don't dwell on this grief and let it affect my ability to also move forward in my life. I was forced to leave my career as a veterinary nurse, which was arguably the most devastating part of my story, as my work with animals meant everything to me. However, I found a way to include working with animals into my new career - and without all the sadness and emotional turmoil of the veterinary work life. There are parts of my previous vet nursing life that I miss (such as taking blood and placing IV catheters), but there is so much joy to be found in my current work that I cannot see myself ever going back - even if I become able.
Living with CRPS is a constant challenge, and I cannot always predict what my symptoms will be or how my body will react to any given change in circumstance. However, what I CAN foresee is my continued enjoyment of photography and the mental & physical health benefits that this provides for me.