Hi everyone! I was invited by the lovely Katie from Plus+ Beauty to join this campaign and given the essence of it, I decided to participate. Below is a description of what the campaign is all about and then my story of what I am taking back.

The #TakeBackWhatsYours Campaign was originally started by Chloe fromwww.chloesconcept.blogspot.uk.com, as a way to use our position as bloggers to inspire other people to make a positive change for good! Below is an excerpt from Chloe’s blog, for more details or for anything else you want to know, click HERE for Chloe’s page.

“..Many make New Year resolutions, so why not influence people to make their resolution to take back what once belonged to them… maybe their confidence, maybe their control or even their happiness due to whatever situation has made them lack that ability.

This is a lifelong commitment, if you want to change the way you feel about yourself, or you want to act upon the message of this campaign and ‘Take Back What’s Yours‘, when better to do that than the start of a new year… This is not one of those “New Year, New Me” unrealistic resolutions. When I say “New Year, New You”, I genuinely mean it.”

If you would like to get involved, all you have to do is this:

• Write a blog post talking about this campaign, the message it contains and why are you taking part.
• What “Take Back What’s Yours” New Year’s Resolution you are going to set yourself.
• Tag 10 bloggers to take part.
• Let Chloe know if you’re taking part by using the hashtag on Twitter #TakeBackWhatsYours, Also tag either @ChloesConcept or @TBWYCampaign so she can retweet!!
• If you can include a photo of yourself with a handmade poster (doesn’t have to be artistic!) with the words:

“TAKE BACK WHAT’S YOURS” –
MAKE YOUR NEW YEARS RESOLUTION TO TAKE BACK WHAT BELONGS TO YOU. #TakeBackWhatsYours
In 2015, I’m taking back: *i.e., “my confidence”

What I’m Taking Back

 I was diagnosed with hyperthyroidism at age 4, which was an emotional roller coaster to say the least, and switched to hyperthyroidism at about age 9.  Daily medication and doctor/hospital visits became the norm but even at a young age, I was aware that somehow I was different.  Despite being familiar with this process, I was never prepared for what was to come later on.

Shortly after entering my second semester of college, my world turned completely upside down.  I began to have sharp pains in my stomach and would have constant symptoms of a UTI.  For anyone who’s ever had a UTI, you know how painful and uncomfortable that could be.  The thing is, once you’re diagnosed and treated, you can go back to being normal.  Now imagine having to have all those symptoms with no cure to make it go away and that was me.  I would keep going to doctors but all tests performed came back negative.  I questioned myself at times and thought maybe it was all in my head, but the sharp pains that felt as if a knife were slicing me open were a constant reminder that it wasn’t.  The pain got so bad that I wasn’t able to wear jeans; loose fitting sweat pants and skirts were my only options and even then, it was a tad uncomfortable.

At this time, my parents were going through a divorce, I was going to school full-time and working part time and my emotions just piled up.  I would cry every single moment nobody was around that the feel of warm tears streaming down my face began to feel normal to me- it became as automatic as breathing. I looked forward to sleeping because, if only for a little while, my pain would be non-existent.  I was exhausted all the time and depressed because no one could tell me what was going on.  Fast-forward to about a year and a half later-after countless doctors visits, tests, and misdiagnosis- I was finally diagnosed with IC or interstitial cystitis which is a long-term (chronic) inflammation of the bladder wall.  My diet and lifestyle had to be changed. I have to avoid certain foods and really need to manage my stress, otherwise I have flares.  There is no cure as of now for IC and although it is manageable with medicine, I have my good days and bad days.

What I need to take back is my self-confidence that I am more than my illnesses.  It doesn’t matter what people left my life or if my life could have taken a different path had I never gotten this illness.  Nor can I let the looming fear that one day maybe my medications will no longer work, or what the future holds in regards to me having IC.  I need to constantly remind myself that the strength that carried me through this will continue throughout.

Thank you for taking the time to read this.  Trust me, it’s difficult to open up about something so personal but at the same time, I know there are people out there who may be going through a hard time and just know, you aren’t alone.  Don’t give up hope.  Everyone has a cross to bear, so to speak, and after enduring (and continuing to endure) this ordeal, I’ve learned we are more stronger and capable than we think.

What are you taking back? 

Stephanie