Welcome – I’m so glad that you’re here
A Life Hidden was created in 2018 as a resource for those living with severe ME. This remains its focus, but much of what is shared here is relevant to any long-term condition. Many of the themes explored also relate to the universal human experience, irrespective of health.
Whatever your reason for visiting A Life Hidden, I hope that you will gain insight and find comfort in these pages.
“Never feel that your struggle to exist is not enough. If all you can do today is breathe and cling on, that is an act of courage and daring.”
From The Trouble With Recovery Stories
Discovering a new website can be overwhelming for those severely ill. I therefore suggest the following pieces as a starting point for anyone new here.
If you want to understand ME
- What Is ME? – a brief overview of the illness, with a focus on those severely affected
- The Power of Listening – on medical mistreatment and the importance of being heard
- Voices from the Shadows – a powerful, award-winning documentary about severe ME. My story is one of those featured
If you live with ME or any long-term condition
- The Trouble With Recovery Stories – on the distress caused by well-meaning recovery narratives
- Thoughts on Reaching 40 – reflections on a life changed by severe illness
- On Gratitude and Grief – finding the balance between mourning what is lost and making the most of what remains
- The Day I Touched the Sea Again After 30 Years – on the emotional conflict of rediscovering the world after lengthy illness
If you’re here to reflect, whatever your life circumstances
- Is There Hope in a New Year? – finding comfort in nature’s rhythms
- Reclaiming the Narrative: Finding the Real Me – discovering my true self beneath others’ stories
“We speak of illness as a battle, with winners and losers; of grief as a temporary state from which we must move on. In reality life’s greatest challenges shape us forever, and more realistically must be lived with rather than defeated.”
From On Gratitude and Grief
The above represents only a small selection of what is available here. You’ll also find the Media section, containing articles published in the national media; In Memoriam, commemorating beloved friends; and the Blog, which contains a wealth of posts on living with long-term illness.
Take your time, move gently and see where you are drawn.
Thank you for visiting.
Naomi
A Life Hidden 