Flic | Spoonie Style &Advocacy (@functionallyflic)

Category is old Chihuahua realness 🐶 💖 Having one of those days … I was feeling really beat this morning, so I sat in the bit of sun that we had to try and reset my circadian rhythm, and I doubled up on vitamin D, but I just can’t shake the fatigue today! #fatigue #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #chronicfatigueawareness #cfs #hiddendisability #hiddenillness #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #chronicmigraine #fibromyalgia #chronicillness #chronicillnesshumor #chronicillnessawareness #spoonielife

I swear if i wasn’t chronically ill and disabled i’d actually be healthy AF… 😆 #chronicillness #chronicillnesswarrior #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #spooniecommunity #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #mcas #pots #potssyndrome #dysautonomia #chronicmigraine

Your tired is not my fatigue… Simply being tired is not the same as chronic fatigue, but boy does chronic fatigue make me sleepy. 😴 #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #chronicfatiguesyndromeawareness #mecfs #mecfsawareness #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisabilities

The “you don’t look sick” effect in full force for the 1 hour I leave the house… Dynamic disabilities are confusing, I don’t fully understand it myself, but what shouldn’t be confusing is to treat people with respect. Symptoms fluctuate. That parts not that hard to grasp. #hiddendisabilities #inclusivefashion #adaptivefashion #fyp

Hi I’m Flic 👋🏼 33, chronically ill, disabled, and still trying to figure out how to build a life in a body that doesn’t exactly make sense… Most days I’m wiped out, fighting to be believed, but some days I manage to “look fine” and even laugh at myself a bit. Both versions are real. Neither one tells the full story. You’ll find me somewhere in between chasing referrals, trying questionable holistic things, and attempting not to burn out while advocating for myself (again). It’s exhausting. It’s isolating. But it’s my reality now and I know I’m not the only one trying to figure all this out. So if like me, you’re trying to navigate this journey, learn how to start over, rework your identity, coming to terms with the fact that you don’t have to be “cured” to experience joy, then you’re in the right place. I talk openly about the bits of chronic illness and disability that we don’t always say out loud. The grief, the gaslighting, the humour, the ridiculous contradictions of “looking fine” while it feels like your body’s falling apart. Let’s just be real. Let’s be kind. And let’s laugh when we can - even if it’s at how bizarre our symptoms are (because mine are honestly more all over the place than the Labour Party). If we don’t laugh we cry. In fact we will probably do both. Come as you are. You’re so welcome here 💖 #invisibleillness #hiddendisability #hiddendisabilities

The fact that I was up before 7am on a Saturday for a hospital appointment whilst people are still dancing is a travesty. #chronicillness #chronicillnessproblems #chronicillnessmemes #invisibleillness #hiddendisabilities #hiddendisability #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #fibro #chronicmigraine #spoonie #spooniecommunity #spoonieproblems #spooniehumor

If it looks medical I don’t want it… Well maybe not entirely true, but there is something to be said for having aids that feel more me. 💖 Whether it’s the @neowalksticks cane that doesn’t look like a walking stick, the compression socks that are fun and comfortable or the @porttanger sunglasses to help my photosensitivity, there is something empowering about everyday aids that don’t look medical. When you first start needing aids for your chronic illness or disability, it’s as if you are just supposed to feel comfortable using them straight away because it’s ungrateful if you don’t, but the reality is that I’m almost 4 years into being sick and I’ve still not fully got my head around it. One of the first times I used a cane, a girl laughed in my face and honestly it traumatised me. 🦯 I’ve had snide comments from security guards in shops about wearing tinted glasses when it’s darker and it didn’t feel great. 🕶️ I know the value of feeling good from a good aid and how that helps me feel more confident in my day to day life. ✨ Now I know that when people are staring at me it’s more because they’ve never seen a cane like it, rather than taking the piss. How do your medical aids make you feel? Did it take you a while to get used to them? 💬 ⬇️ #walkingstick #mobilityaids #compressionsocks #spooniestyle #disabledfashion #hiddendisability #invisibleillness #chronicillness

Is it just me that feels like their “hidden disability” isn’t actually that invisible? It shows up in the way I stand up too quickly or have to suddenly sit down because I feel like I’m about to black out. 🫀📈 🧂 It shows up when I wear sunglasses 90% of the time because the lights feel like knives in my eyes. 💀 🗡️ It shows up in the with uncontrollable eye movements or a random intolerance that causes my face to swell up but I try and hide behind the sunglasses. 🕶️ It shows up when I laugh at a joke that I didn’t actually understand because my brain didn’t process the words and struggles with unfamiliar voices. 🧠 ⚡️ It shows up when I cancel plans and feel like a terrible friend. 🪫 It shows up in the tremors I try to disguise with oversized clothes, in the meds and aids crammed in my bag, in the look I give my partner when I can’t speak… To me, my disabilities are SO visible because they affect every aspect of my life; but it’s not uncommon for invisible disabilities to be dismissed, belittled or ridiculed. Even when I’m out with a walking stick, I still get asked “What have you done?” Or “What do you need that for then?” or “Is that a real cane?”… The instant assumption that I’ve had an accident or I’m just using a mobility aid as an accessory because I don’t fit someone else’s stereotype. Have you experienced this? It’s so strange because I’m at a point where I’m trying to relearn to live in this new body and figure out what I’m capable of but I’m still being dismissed for looking a certain way so the assistance or adaptations that I need aren’t always catered for because people deem me to be healthy solely based on what I look like? Eh???? Have you experienced this? Let’s talk about it 💬 ⬇️ #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #hiddendisability #invisibleillness #chronicillness #pots #mcas #spoonie #spooniesoftiktok #spooniesupport #spooniecommunity

Just go to bed babe… What was I thinking staying up so late doom scrolling in bed? Honestly though how did I do it? What was life before the spoon theory?! 😭🥄 The guilt is guilting today. #spoonie #spoonielife #invisibleillness #hiddendisability #chronicillness #chronicillnesshumor #functionalneyrologicaldisorder #fnd #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome #chronicmigraine

I worked my whole life, and then it was gone… I built a career I loved, filled with creativity and purpose. I was always on the go, always busy; and then just like that my life changed. I didn’t choose this. Nobody chooses this. Disability isn’t a trendy lifestyle, it’s frustrating and lonely. The world keeps moving but you’re stuck watching from the sidelines. Disability can affect anyone at anytime, and in that instance, there should be support available. Through my journey I’ve been met with suspicion, disbelief and cynicism because “I look fine”. It is degrading to have to prove again and again that I am sick, and that I am sick enough to need assistance. This could happen to anyone. It’s not a “disability problem” it’s a human rights problem. Me not being able to function without additional support in my daily life does not make me less of a person and it certainly doesn’t make me lazy. Please take 2 minutes to contact your MPs. There’s a template in my linktree that you can copy and paste in an email. Don’t let them take PIP away, you never know when you may need it ❤️ #disabled #benefits #ukpolitics #hiddenillness #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisabilities #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome #chronicmigraine #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome

Make it make sense… It is abhorrent that a minority of people are being targeted due to the wrong doings of less than 0.1%. Our own government are guilty of tax fraud, they do not pay inline with their earnings, yet warrant millions of helpless people being penalised just to line their own pockets. Anyone can become disabled overnight, and that’s what happened to me. In the instance that happens, support should be available. I’ve worked all my life, until the point where I couldn’t. Until the point that I needed 24 hour care and my email address signature stated I was in and out of hospital so may not be able to reply. Until the point I needed help just to lift my head up to drink water, to get me dressed, to help with everyday things that others may take for granted. Please contact your MP’s and ask them to reassess what is happening. There are templates online so that you only need to change add your name and email it to them. Anybody can become disabled, and this decision affects millions now and more to come in the future 💔 The amazing @Scope have lots of advice on their page for anybody who needs it. #disabled #benefits #ukpolitics #hiddenillness #invisibledisability #invisibledisabilities #fnd #pots #mcas #chronicmigraine

I only go for the treats 🏥 #chronicillness #chronicillnessawareness #invisibleillness #hiddenillness #hiddendisability #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #pots #mastcellactivationsyndrome #mcas #fibromyalgia #fibro #chronicmigraine

Now That’s What I Call Chronic Illness 25 🎶 Having an active mind and an inactive body is infuriating, but sometimes rest is the most productive thing we can do for ourselves. Whether the fatigue is fatiguing, we are resting ahead of plans or we’re riding the PEM wave, bed really is our best friend. If you have to tell yourself you like it to get it done, then do it. 💪🏼 💤 Best believe I used all my spoons for this and had to nap straight after 😂 *PSA for anyone that isn’t chronically ill and/or doesn’t get it then no I don’t like naps and feeling fatigued all the time, this is a parody. I’d much rather not be sick and living a life outside of these same four walls…🙃* #chronicillness #hiddendisability #invisibleillness #spooniecommunity #chronicfatiguesyndrome

Invisible means invisible, it’s not that hard to grasp… This is a snippet from a real conversation, and whilst I generally like to assume that people mean well when they say things like this, it doesn’t mean that it doesn’t ruffle my feathers - especially when it’s from someone who also has chronic conditions. It’s giving passive aggressive and I’m not here for it. How someone looks is not always a factor in their health. Please don’t try and belittle someone’s experiences because they look a certain way. Nobody chooses this life and if we could look fine for the sake of looking fine then we would! #invisibleillness #invisibleillnesses #hiddendisability #hiddendisabilityawareness #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome #cfs #chronicfatiguesyndrome #chronicmigraine #fibro #fibromyalgia #spooniesoftiktok

Seriously though, where do they get it from and do they have a referral code? #chronicillness #chronicillnesshumor #chronicillnessmemes #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome #cfs #chronicfatigue #chronicmigraine

It’s giving dizzy 😵‍💫 #pots #potsie #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #dysautonomia #dysautonomiaawareness #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #autonomicnervoussystem

If medical trauma doesn’t make you funny, I don’t know what will… #medicalgaslighting #medicalnegligence #medicaltrauma #bigpharma #hiddendisabilities #hiddendisability #invisibleillness #invisibleillnesses #chronicillness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pots #potsyndrome #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome #chronicmigraine #hemiplegicmigraine #cfs #chronicfatigue #chronicfatiguesyndrome #fibromyalgia #fibro #spoonie #spooniesoftiktok #spooniecommunity

Being told to drink more water does not constitute as treatment… I wish people understood that so much of chronic illness is basically you being expected to manage it at home on your own. Imagine having to wait years for an appointment to be so dismissed when your life has changed so drastically. So thankful for the online community because I’d be clueless without you all! 🫶🏼✨ There have been treatments that have enhanced my quality of living which I would have never heard of had it not been for someone going through the same. When I told my neurologist about it he said it was a placebo… 🙄 but here I am still waiting for my neurologist to pull something out the bag. Is it just me or have you experienced this too? 💬 ⬇️ #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #chronicillness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #chronicillnesslife #spoonielife #spooniecommunity #chronicillnesscommunity #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #fibro #fibromyalgia

✨ 2024 Glimmers ✨ A few days late to the party but what's new! 2024 what can I say... I spent the first 4 months recovering from a virus that absolutely flawed me and took me over 4 months to get back to my "normal" baseline. We then spent the most amazing 3 weeks in Mexico where I celebrated my birthday, to come back to the UK to find we had to move house (again). We spent a weekend in Amsterdam and I finally finished my year of Triple Therapy treatment for blood clots, Vascular Disease & Endothelial Dysfunction to then be put on meds for Epilepsy / Migraine & Blood Pressure, which left me housebound for about 2 months whilst I adjusted to them. After starting to work with Physio's and trying to get back to where I should be following a massive flare up, I was able to collaborate with a company that means a lot to me and the. finish the year in Venice celebrating @michaeljamesrigby 's birthday! Reflecting on the last year, and realising l've spent well over 50% of it housebound with health issues, is not how I ever thought l'd be spending my life but I remember a time where I didn't leave the house for 8 months straight because of my health so that's progress right?! Happy for the moments of beauty, and the small wins that I get to celebrate. As much as being sick sucks, I love how much more the little things mean and how much I value every interaction. Wishing you all a fabulous 2025, full of good health and happiness 💖 #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #hiddendisabilities #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #mcas #pots #potssyndrome

Rotting > Rocking… The holidays can be hard when you live with chronic illness and / or disability, so I hope Santa brings you lots of spoons… 🎅🏼 🥄 ✨ #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #invisibledisabilities #hiddendisabilities #hiddendisability #chronicillness #chronicallyill #chronicillnessawareness #disability #disabilities #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #pots #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #mcas #mastcellactivationsyndrome

Bonus points for stains on your clothes ⭐️ When I first got sick, I didnt really leave the house for 8 months, other than for hospital appointments… I would literally use any energy I had to shower and get dressed so that I looked presentable. Unfortunately it meant that I wasn’t taken very seriously. I remember spending £250 for a 10 minute private Dr’s appointment to be told “hmm well you seem like a pleasant girl so I cant see why you would be lying” and then prescribed some benzo’s, sent on my way, told I would be reffered through the NHS and still to this day I’ve never had that referral theough from a supposed top neurologist. Its been around 3.5 years now and they’re lucky if I shower for appointments now 😂 Have you experinced this treatment too? Let me know below ⬇️ #chronicillness #chronicillnessmemes #chronicillnesshumor #spoonieproblems #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #posturalorthostatictachycardiasyndrome #pots #mcas #chronicmigraine #fibro #hiddendisabilities #invisibledisability #invisibleillness

Well that wasn’t what I expected… Never in a million years would I have thought this appointment would be so validating or for the Neuropsychologist to suggest Sound Healing (which I’d actually been to the week before). So much happened during this visit that it’s hard to document it all but what stood out the most is that there are Neurologists out there who acknowledge that these FND symptoms present differently post V / CV and that they are triggered by a physical component. When I first started to visit a Neurologist after my reaction, it was always implied that it was in my head and that there was nothing physically wrong with me. As more and more unfolds, it is seemingly obvious and now recognised, that there are physical issues that have been induced and triggered by the 💉 and that these are causing a “functional” reaction within my body. A lot of the issues that have been labelled as functional in the past are actually due to other physical conditions such as POTS. I can experience Syncope or Seizures due to lack of blood flow / oxygen to my brain because my blood pressure is dropping too low to even detect. We spent time discussing the parasympathetic Nervous System and some of the similarities between the FND umbrella and Dysautonomia. She seemed surprised by how calm I was and I told her how I let go of the anger from what had happened a long time ago because it did not serve me. I told her how I practice mindfulness and try to make conscious decisions to better my body and nervous system, and how I have spent the last 3.5 years trying to connect the dots between my mind and body. She told me how most patients express that they feel gaslit and negligently treated. There is still so much unknown about these conditions and it really is ok to tell patients that you don’t have the answers as opposed to making them feel isolated and alone. Have you visited a Neuropsychologist for FND? Let me know your experience below ⬇️ #fnd #functionalneurologicaldisorder #invisibleillness #hiddendisability #hiddendisabilities #chronicillness #chronicillnessawareness #chronicillnesswarrior #dysautonomia #pots #mcas #spoonie

Truly terrifying… #xlbully #xlbullies #dogsoftiktok #halloweendogcostume #halloweendog #dogvideos #dogsoftiktok #funnydogvideos #funnydogs #dogsincostumes

Oops 🙊 Its so hard to keep on top of everything - chronic illness is a full time job! The best way to keep in touch with me these days is to send me memes and hope we see each other sometime in the distant future 😆 Please tell me its bot just me?? #chronicillness #chronicillnesswarrior #invisibleillness #invisibledisability #hiddendisability #spoonielife #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #pots #potssyndrome #mcas #migraine #chronicmigraine #dysautonomia

Asking for a friend… Honestly, I get so emotional during a migraine that in hindsight its laughable. 😂 #chronicmigraine #migraine #migrainelife #hemiplegicmigraine #vestibularmigraine #chronicillness #invisibleillness #hiddendisability

The ultimate nervous ststem reboot… Did you know that our 4 legged friends can help us to stay PAWSative 🐾 ??? Because aside from the fact dogs are the best thing on earth, it has been proven that they can help to calm your nervous system. 💫 Their innate ability to calm our nervous system is all down to the unique bond we share with them… When we pet, play, or even just sit beside a dog, our bodies release oxytocin - a hormone associated with feelings of love, trust and relaxation. Interacting with dogs can also lower cortisol levels, which is the hormone responsible for stress, meaning that hanging out with our furry besties is a natural way to ease anxiety, lower blood pressure and shift the body into a calmer, more regulated state. For those living with chronic conditions, these benefits can be particularly meaningful. I’ve always said that if it was ever financially viable, I’d love to open some sort of sanctuary with rescue dogs and animals, where people with chronic conditions could come and spend time with them for emotional support and to help promote a more soothed and balanced state. Wigs are optional but 10/10 would recommend and I know Sid loved the attention too! 😆 #xlbully #xlbullies #dogsoftiktok #dogvideos #nervoussystemregulation #nervoussystem #nervoussystemhealing #chronicillness #chronicillnesshumour #hiddendisabilities #hiddendisability #invisibleillness #fnd #pots #mcas

Did I miss anything? Honestly really happy for anyone that has found that any of this has helped but its important to remember that just because your Aunt Janices late cousins ex husband supposedly was cured doesnt mean that it will happen to everyone. #chronicillness #chronicillnesshumour #chronicillnessmeme #invisibleillness #hiddendisability #functionalneurologicaldisorder #fnd #potssyndrome #pots #mcas #chronicmigraine

The biggest lie we've been told... In 2021 | suffered a severe adverse reaction to a which turned my world upside down. Previously a healthy 29 year old with no health concerns to overnight requiring 24 hour care and with a number of incurable conditions induced within the body. Not quite the "safe and effective" that they marketed it as right? October is v@xxine injury awareness month and I want to encourage open conversations about the risks and those who have been affected, in hope that it can contribute towards informed choices and support for those who need it. In a recent podcast with @lifestylemedicinedoctor and @steven - Aseem states that as many as 1 in 800 have suffered adverse effects... Please help share the stories of the injured and bereaved so that we can push for more research and proper care so that no more have to suffer. 🫶🏼 #bigpharma #chronicillness #invisibleillness #hiddendisability #disabilityawareness #disability #longcovid #vaxinjury #fnd #pots #potssyndrome #mcas #mecfs #chronicmigraine

Don’t be scared… For a long time, I wrestled with the pointing, the gawps, and the assumptions. Not only had I lost my independence but it felt like everyone else could see that too. It was a catalyst for my internalised ableism and the views I had about myself. It took time to realize that my strength, resilience, and determination, far outweigh any judgments passed on how I move through the world. I've grown more comfortable, knowing that my worth is not defined by how I appear, but by how I persevere. If you need a mobility aid, please don't let fear or stigma stop you. Your confidence, your comfort, and your quality of life matter far more than the opinions of strangers. Embrace what helps you move forward-because your story and your worth is so much bigger than any glance or stare and the way you look is the least interesting thing about you. 🫶🏼 Do you use mobility aids? Let me know your experience using them and what made you feel confident using them! #d#disabilityd#disabilityawarenessc#chronicillnessc#chronicillnessawarenessm#mobilityaidsm#mobilityaidh#hiddendisabilityi#invisibleillnessf#fndm#movementdisorderd#dysautonomiapotssyndrome

Dont be scared… For a long time, I wrestled with the pointing, the gawps, and the assumptions. Not only had I lost my independence but it felt like everyone else could see that too. It was a catalyst for my internalised ableism and the views I had about myself. It took time to realize that my strength, resilience, and determination, far outweigh any judgments passed on how I move through the world. I've grown more comfortable, knowing that my worth is not defined by how I appear, but by how I persevere. If you need a mobility aid, please don't let fear or stigma stop you. Your confidence, your comfort, and your quality of life matter far more than the opinions of strangers. Embrace what helps you move forward-because your story and your worth is so much bigger than any glance or stare and the way you look is the least interesting thing about you. 🫶🏼 Do you use mobility aids? Let me know your experience using them and what made you feel confident using them! #d#disabilityd#disabilityawarenessc#chronicillnessc#chronicillnessawarenessm#mobilityaidsm#mobilityaidh#hiddendisabilityi#invisibleillnessf#fndm#movementdisorderd#dysautonomiapotssyndrome