Category: Physical and Mental Health

Physical and Mental health posts. A spoonie blogging her way through Scoliosis, Chronic pain, Anxiety, Panic Disorder & Depression.

Discussing Feelings With My Mood Stars

Games / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

We’ve been discussing feelings with My Mood Stars this week from Wendy Woo. As mental health and wellness is the focus on the blog right now these fit in perfectly! Being able to discuss our feelings is important and learning that from an early age can only be beneficial. 

My Mood Stars

My Mood Stars

My Mood Stars are a fun developmental aid which encourages children to learn about and discuss their feelings. Through imaginative play children can find fun ways to share their feelings. There are 8 stars in total, Happy, Sad, Sleepy, Shy, Scared, Silly, Cross & Surprised. My Mood Stars comes with a Velcro board for the stars to attach to for £29.99

My Mood Stars Velcro Board and Stars


The Idea Behind My Mood Stars
 
Self-confident children in touch with their feelings find it easier to flourish in social situations. Indeed personal, social and emotional development and communication are key aspects of the Early Years Foundation Stage in the UK. Children who understand and can express and manage their own emotions, as well as those around them, are more likely to develop a positive sense of self and be assured and inquisitive learners.

Discussing Feelings

Discussing Feelings With My Mood Stars

We’ve spent the week discussing & drawing what makes us feel each feeling. We began with finding one thing for each feeling and I was pleased to see the girls could easily come up with ideas. We received a My Mood Stars book to record our feelings in which you can buy for £5.99.

Feeling Scared

Eva really enjoyed drawing each feeling and came up with some great pictures!

Feeling Happy

We’ve used the board to throw Stars when we want to discuss a feeling too. Angry has been used quite a bit with the girls off school and arguing. It’s had a very positive effect as they then take the time to listen to each other.

Discussing feelings with my mood stars

Another activity we have enjoyed is looking back at our day and through feelings and what made us feel that way. From waking up Cross because there’s too much noise in the building to feeling Happy because we watched a film. It’s lovely to see the girls discussing their feelings and I love the whole idea behind My Mood Stars.

Izzy showing Happy Stars

You can also buy a fantastic rhyming book called Rat’s Musical Band written by Wendy White which the girls really enjoyed reading. It really flows nicely and appeals to children with colourful illustrations by Claire Rollinson. This is just £9.99 on the Wendy Woo Site.

Rat's Musical Band

Another lovely addition to the Wendy Woo Site we were kindly sent are cute baby Tooth Pockets. The girls love these and now can’t wait until they lose a tooth! Right now they are only £2!

Baby Tooth Pockets

What do you think of My Mood Stars and the other Wendy Woo products?

Mental Health Benefits Of Crafting

Crafts / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Mental health benefits of crafting ranges from stress relief to a sense of achievement. There are several benefits of crafting, something I have written about before. I especially find crochet relaxing. Having anxiety, depression, PTSD and chronic pain (peripheral neuropathy) is hard work, focusing on a small craft project can be really beneficial.

Menta Health benefits of Crafting

Mental Health Benefits

Over the last few years, I’ve realised crafting is so much more than a hobby for me. It’s a stress reliever, a way to escape, a way to quieten my brain whilst I’m ‘in the zone’. For someone who struggles to go out and can’t work, it gives me a sense of achievement I otherwise lack. With low self-esteem and confidence crafting gives me a huge boost!

I encourage the girls to craft too as I know there are so many benefits. You’re are never too young to look after your mental health, a day at school can be stressful and crafting is great for winding down. 

I’ve teamed up with BestFabricStore.com to share the infographic below highlighting the many mental health benefits of crafting.

How Crafting Is Good For Your Health from BestFabricStore.com

Anyone that follows my blog will know I craft most days, whether it’s crocheting blankets, drawing with the girls, crafting Cardboard box dragons, I even learnt to make a felt woodland garland last year!  The Mr, having realised how much blogging & crafting is beneficial to me has encouraged me to create my own workspace too. It’s made crafting, writing and storing things so much easier. 

Especially as the cold weather closes in rapidly on us, crafting can turn dull days into something positive. You can turn your mood around completely by working on a craft you enjoy. From painting, drawing, crochet, knitting, paper engineering, sewing and countless other crafts, there is something for everyone. 

Do you craft to benefit your mental health too? What is your go to craft?

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 & Multivitamins

Parenting / 5 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
Basserrs Vitamins Omega-3 & Multivitamins

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles for 3-6 years come in a juicy orange flavour. We were kindly sent some samples to see what we thought about the multivitamins.


Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles
These Bassetts Vitamins are tasty, soft and chewy multivitamins. With no added sugar, natural flavours & colours, Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles contain some of the necessary nutrients to help support the health of three to six year olds.


Giving Your Child A Smart Start


With children starting nursery or school around these ages it gives you peace of mind knowing your child is getting some of the essential vitamins each day. Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 + Multivitamins Orange Flavour Pastilles contain Vitamin B6 to support normal psychological function and Vitamin B5 which contributes to mental performance to support a smart way to start the day.

Bassetts Vitamins Omega-3 % Multivitamins

Izzy’s Thoughts

Izzy thought the chewy multivitamin was juicy and delicious! She said it reminded her of trying the juiciest orange she ever had. She thought it was so juicy she could just squeeze all the juice out of it to make orange juice and drew this picture of the ‘juiciest orange ever!’. It’s definitely a thumbs up from Izzy.

*Sponsored Post

*Food supplements should not be used as a substitute for a healthy and balanced diet

Vaping for Beginners: Tips and Ideas

Helpful Ramblings / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Vaping is considered a better and much safer alternative to smoking. This is because vaping eliminates exposure to dozens of toxic compounds that come from the combustion of tobacco.

Vaping For Beginners

Only nicotine is delivered to the system hence giving you the satisfaction you need without putting your lungs and the respiratory system at risk. You also have a wide range of flavours at your disposal as well. Although a gratifying experience, many beginners struggle to adapt to vaping. This is mostly attributed to the fact that vaping is a lot different from smoking, and the user’s lack of knowledge on how to approach vaping. This article, however, outlines some of the basic ideas, tips, and tricks on how to start off your journey as a vaper.

Vaping For Beginners

1. Choose the Right Starter Kit: Don’t Go for the Cheapest Ones

The starter kit you opt for will define your experience as a first-time vaper. Although there are both cheap and expensive mods out there, the idea should be to buy the best quality starter kit you can afford. This however doesn’t mean you should break the bank for the starter kit, but instead do some research on the same before picking one.

A good quality starter pack should have a decent atomizer capable of producing a smooth vaping experience. Go for anything cheap, and you will probably find the vaporiser isn’t as efficient nor does it satisfy your needs. It would therefore be wise to invest in a good quality starter kit to make the journey exciting and enjoyable.

2. Consider Sub-ohming

Sub-ohming is very common with experience vapers. Although an enjoyable experience for experienced vapers, it isn’t entirely recommended for beginners. This practice involves massive airflow creating big, dense vapour that delivers a mouth-watering flavour. All this is thanks to organic coils that improve the vapour density.

One of the reasons newbie vapers should be careful with sub-ohming is that the vapour and flavour produced can be so dense causing you to choke in the process. If you’ve never experienced dense vapour before, it would be a wise idea to avoid it or have someone experienced show you how to do it. It only takes some bit of practice and experience to get used to the dense vapour.

3. E-Juice Maintenance

E-liquids are created differently. One therefore needs to consider several factors before going for a e-liquid. For instance, you need to understand the concentration percentage of both VG and PG, as well as nicotine concentration in the e-juice you opt for. It would also be advisable to shake the e-juice well before using it. This ensures the contents mix correctly thus guaranteeing an optimal experience.

E-juice also tends to degrade when exposed to direct sunlight. Consider storing your e-juice in an enclosed cabinet away from direct light. You also should ensure the bottle is tightly closed after use. Doing this helps preserve both the nicotine quality and flavour as well. Leaving the bottle open only causes the e-juice to lose flavour.

4. Manage the Batteries

Batteries are among the most important parts of the mod. Whether you chose the £20 or $250 mod, you need to ensure the cells are in their top condition when using the mod. Every manufacturer provides instructions detailing how the battery should be maintained, and its lifespan. As a rule of thumb, you should never allow the battery to discharge completely before recharging it. Be sure to connect it to its charger each time the low-battery indicator shows up. Be sure to disconnect it from the charger once charged overcharging only damages the battery.

If your mod uses 26650 battery packs, you then should ensure these aren’t overtasked. Overtasking these batteries cause them to become extremely hot. If the mod starts feeling warmer than it should, that is an indicator that something is wrong and should be checked immediately.

5. Always Stock Up

Always have the right e-liquid, a charged battery, and coils ready. You don’t want to run out of e-juice when you desperately need to vape. Having these ready and within reach can, therefore, help avoid a situation in the future. Among other risks, running out of e-juice, for example, can cause/tempt one to go for a cigarette pack just to quench the ‘thirst’.

6. Choosing the Right E-Juice

Determining the right e-juice to fit your needs and preferences can be a little intimidating even for an experienced vaper. Making the wrong choice on these can have a huge impact on your vaping experience. It would, therefore, be best if you try out several of them, or have the vendor help you find just the right one. This entails all elements are in the perfect proportions for an optimal vaping experience. You may have to try 3 or 4 combinations before identifying one that suits your needs.

E-liquids come in a variety of flavours ranging from food, tobacco blend, fruity, and other cocktails. The wide choice gives you the freedom to try different flavours, or even use these for separate occasions. Experts recommend trying out several flavours to determine your most preferred one.

Nicotine strength, or concentration, is another important factor you should consider before picking a starter pack. You can have the e-juice with varying nicotine concentrations depending on your needs. Light smokers can start with 6mg or lower of nicotine, with medium smokers going for 9mg or 16mg concentration of the same. Heavy smokers should, however, go for a much higher concentration, preferably 24mg – 36mg nicotine to ensure they get the satisfaction desired. Making the right pick or decision on nicotine strength and paring it with a preferred flavour holds the key to enjoying every bit of vaping.

Are you a vaping beginner?

T Plus Vitamin Super Teas Review And Giveaway

Giveaways / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple
T Plus Review & giveaway

We received T Plus Vitamin Super Teas to review this week and have a bundle to giveaway to one of our readers too!

T Plus Vitamin Super Teas

T Plus Vitamin Super Teas

T Plus Vitamin Super Teas blend powerful herbs, green tea & natural fruit flavours. With 50% RDA of 9 daily essential vitamins in every bag too. The vitamins include B6, B12, C and Folic Acid in every clever tea bag.

T plus is more nutritious, better tasting and better doing than any existing ‘health tea’. They donate 10p from the sale T Plus Vitamin super teas to spread the power of vitamins with charity partner, Vitamin Angels and help #sharethehealth.

T plus drinks are on a mission to make the world of tea a little smarter, one teabag at a time!

As someone who struggles to keep their vitamin levels up, I can really see the benefit of these teas. I couldn’t wait to try them out 

The T Plus Range

There are 4 teas currently available from T plus, each one comes as a box of 15 tea bags.

T+ Multea Vitamin Tea – Nutrient-dense lemon & peach flavoured Multea contains a blend of multi-beneficial herbs. These herbs include rosemary, cardamom, spearmint with green tea. With 50% RDA of 9 daily essential vitamins (including B12, folic acid, B6 and C) to ensure you have the perfect daily cup of super tea.

T+ Boost Vitamin Tea – A new generation raspberry and pomegranate flavour energy tea. Made by blending together herbs – yerba mate and ginseng with antioxidant-packed green tea. Plus 50% RDA in energy-releasing B vitamins (vitamins that support normal energy-yielding metabolism and the reduction of tiredness and fatigue).

T+ Immunitea Vitamin Tea –  An orange & blueberry flavoured immune system boosting blend of functional herbs & green tea. Immunitea contains 50% RDA in 9 daily essential vitamins including Vitamin C which contributes to the normal function of the immune system. Herbs Echinacea and ginseng along with antioxidant-packed green tea help keep cells healthy. 

T+ Detox Tea – An apple & blackcurrant flavoured cleansing blend of herbs, green tea & 50% RDA in 9 daily essential vitamins including vitamins B2 and Vitamins C. These vitamins help protect cells from oxidative stress. Herbs used are milk thistle, dandelion root and ginger root which have been used for centuries for internal cleansing to perfect this detoxing super tea.

T Plus Bundle

I tried out the T+ Detox Tea and the T+ Multea with this fab Keep cup! These teas are packed full of flavour (and vitamins!). The flavours work really well together, I love the Detox tea. If you are looking for a green tea that is enjoyable and full of goodness then T plus teas are fantastic. 

T Plus Vitamin Super Teas Giveaway

Fancy trying out T plus vitamin super teas for yourself? Enter the giveaway below for a chance to win all 4 vitamin super tea!

a Rafflecopter giveaway

12 Signs You May Have An Anxiety Disorder

Anxiety / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

There are 12 signs you may have an anxiety disorder which has been highlighted in the infographic below. As an anxiety sufferer myself, I think it is important to be aware of the signs. Several times I have shared posts about my own anxiety as well as tips to help others here & think this information is highly important.

Anxiety disorder is a serious condition that should be treated immediately. When you see signs that you or your loved one is under this mental condition, you have to seek for professional help the soonest time possible. Not doing so may lead to a more serious situation or condition that may not be treatable or may already deteriorate your or your loved one’s quality of life completely. But before you finally decide to seek for a professional help, you have to understand that anxiousness is different from an anxiety disorder. To help you in assessing your condition, read on the 12 signs you may have an anxiety disorder.

12 Signs You May Have An Anxiety Disorder

 

If you relate to most or all of these symptoms, you can get help & you are not alone! There are approximately 3 million people with an anxiety disorder in the UK. Anxiety disorders are manageable with professional help. Anyone who relates to the signs above, I urge you to seek help.

Treatment Options

If you need help there are plenty of treatment options to manage an anxiety disorder, from therapy to medication. Talking about your symptoms with your GP can help work out the best options. Counselling or CBT may be extremely beneficial. I know how hard it is to live with anxiety day to day & I am on medication to help control both my anxiety & depression.

Having support & professional help can be life-changing for anyone with anxiety so please, check on your friends & family. If you feel you have an anxiety disorder let someone close know if you don’t feel ready to face a GP. By having a close friend or family member aware of your symptoms they may be able to accompany you to appointments.

Helplines

There are many different organisations available & helpful to anyone with an anxiety disorder. I have put together a small list of helplines & services for anyone relating to the signs in the infographic who feel they need help. Most of the sites offer a range of FAQs you may find helpful along with local service locators.

Anxiety UK

03444 775 775 (Monday–Friday 9.30am–5.30pm)
anxietyuk.org.uk

 

No Panic

helpline: 08449 67 48 48 (10am–10pm)
nopanic.org.uk 

 

Mind

MindInfoline: 0300 123 3393

mind.org.uk

 

Anxiety Alliance

Helpline: 0845 296 7877 (10-10 daily)

anxietyalliance.org.uk

 

Do you relate to the 12 signs you may have an anxiety disorder? Please do reach out for professional help if an anxiety disorder is disrupting your life. Things can get better!

 

 

Recovering From A Low Patch

Family / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

I’m slowly recovering from a low patch. Having felt great following my personal month of blogging challenge, losing my ESA award was a huge blow. It left us struggling financially, we spent every single day and weekend focused on finding a solution. Trying to writing the right letter and applying for the right benefits with 2 kids around can be hellish.

Recovering From A Low Patch

Benefit Changes & Accepting I Need A Carer

DWP Assessors acknowledged all my health issues and agreed they impacted my health. However, I was basically told I could work if I used a wheelchair. Sod my mental health too, just get on with it basically. Luckily I receive PIP and with the Mr spending so much time at home caring for me, doing things I can’t, reminding me to eat regularly, take my medications on time etc allowed him to claim carers allowance which also entitled him to claim income support for us.

Having a Carer

I’m not going to lie, whilst accepting that I do need a carer was hard, it was also a relief. Passing on the burden of having to fill out the form correctly made things less stressful. After 2 months of barely any money to live on, we received the benefit awards the same day as our eviction notice. Luckily that meant we could notify the council and avoid being evicted.

Getting Back On Track

I still struggled for a while, kicking myself for putting us through 2 months of hell because of my health. After a few weeks spent catching up on bills though, things finally turned around. Being able to treat the girls to what they need plus a few extras have been lovely. I felt so selfish when we had nothing, the whole family suffered because of my assessment.

Slowly picking myself back up I’ve managed to get back on track with finding out what’s going on with me. I missed blood tests after losing my award as I felt it was pointless. So what if I was ill? Everyone else was barely able to eat. Obviously now I see it probably would have helped me to carry on with the tests so I have been back to the Dr and getting back on top of it all.

Instead of pushing myself through frustration I’ve slowed down, picked up my crochet hook more and read, having more me time has helped. Recovering from a low patch can be quite wobbly, I’ve had some low days reflecting on these last few months. I’ve also been trying to make the most of being in a better situation and accepting I need more help has helped me feel better about having more me time, something the Mr is always nagging me to do!

Having A Life Again

Knowing the Mr can pick up a few beers to relax after a day of school runs, shopping, clothes washing, reminding me to person and general tidying is a huge relief. The poor bloke barely has a social life, he spends so much time at home helping us. It’s nice he can sit and relax after a long day with a cold beer.

I’ve had the chance to finally try Contact Lenses with a push from the Mr and eventually decided to go with Daily lenses instead of monthlies without feeling hugely guilty. The benefits have outweighed the costs and as the Mr is now officially my Carer he is using it as an excuse to make me listen & treat myself more!

Contact Lens

Months of apologising to the girls because we couldn’t afford to do this or buy that was hard. Luckily we were able to get out to the Dickens festival & spoilt them slightly. We made the most of being out for the first time in months which felt great. Mum guilt is horrible when you are the reason your kids are going without so it was lovely to finally say YES. Izzy was ecstatic to see The Lamplighter and he sung the Charlie Mops song just for her even though he hadn’t planned to sing it!

Eva spent some birthday money and I treated her to a few extras too. Something I hadn’t been able to do for a while! As she has become a huge Harry Potter fan we picked her up some awesome bits like this box and sign!

Being Robbed By Royal Mail & Fonegiant

The Mr made sure I finally have a working phone (LG G5!) too which was a huge relief after months of phone stress. With Fonegiant and Royal Mail both failing spectacularly with Fonegiant sending out a locked phone, in the wrong colour, followed by Royal mail losing the £180 phone.

Royal Mail can only refund the person who paid the postage which is down to Fonegiant who refuse to claim and instead keep resending me the Royal Mail Claims site page. I certainly wouldn’t recommend buying a phone from Fonegiant as there is no guarantee you will receive a working phone and clearly they are unwilling to help once they have the money safely in their account.

Royal Mail did eventually give me £60 compensation and accepted they have lost the phone. They refused to refund me the £180 for the phone as Fonegiant have to chase it.. Which of course Adam who owns Fonegiant is refusing to do. Having been robbed by them both in the middle of all this just made me feel even worse. I felt suicidal for the first time in years.

That refund could have fed us when we had no money coming in! Without a phone, I couldn’t book the appointments needed or answer calls from DWP which helped my assessment fail. I was immensely grateful when Mandy offered to send me a phone to help me out. She warned me it may not work with a big crack in the screen. The phone worked enough for me to make those necessary calls and I honestly can’t thank Mandy enough!

The Mr eventually bought me a G5 for £40 less than the one from Fonegiant. It arrived working, the correct colour, on the correct network! Such a relief!

Recovering From A Low Patch

Since things fell back in place, the Mr has bought me a new (working!) LG G5, allowing me to feel connected again. I can keep up with everything again, I can moan on twitter and harass Martyn and Hannah on Whatsapp (Sorry guys but you kept me sane) again. I can call and book appointments and keep in touch with my brother again. All things I felt lost without!

Hopefully, now I’ll find my blogging mojo again. I’m determined to set myself a few goals over the coming months. Blogging definitely keeps me sane, whatever I’m sharing. From sharing cool products, covering my mental & physical health, crafts, books, it all makes me feel happier. Jibbering moany rubbish helps me get everything off my chest so my head can attempt thinking logically. Sharing our ups & downs has been a massive help to me & it’s lovely to look back & see how far we’ve come.

Looking back over the last few months, we’ve been through quite a lot but there are so many positives to focus on! I have realised I have some fantastic friends I can genuinely rely on, talk openly with and feel supported by.

Going through this has shown me we can get through so much as a family. The last few months have been so stressful for us all yet we still come out stronger than ever! When you aren’t worrying so much about where the next meal is coming from everything feels amazing. I’ve been in agony at times but still, I feel grateful to finally have everything back in place.

If you are ever having a low patch, reach out, there’s always someone willing to listen. My DM’s are always open! Sometimes things like this hit us hard & small things on top can tip us over the edge but we can recover from a low patch!

Affordable, Safer Skin With Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen

Physical and Mental Health / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

For affordable, safer skin this summer we’re using Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen. Formulated by two inspiring, ethically motivated altruists with the aim of producing the finest quality UV protection for the lowest possible price. Making safer skin more affordable and encouraging us to apply more sunscreen to reduce the risk of skin cancer.

Affordable, Safer Skin With Altruist Dermatologist Sunscreen

I make sure to cover the girls in SPF 50 sunscreen and top up regularly whilst we’re out. I have to admit, I do tend to forget about applying any sunscreen myself though. No doubt there are plenty of people like me who forget. It got me wondering so I had a little look around to see if I could find out just how many of us don’t wear sunscreen. According to YouGov’s research last year, almost 1 in 4 brits weren’t using sunscreen! That’s quite a shocking statistic really and one that needs to change through awareness and affordability of sunscreens.

 

Altruist Mission

Altruist aims to reduce the incidence of skin cancer with increased use of quality sunscreen along with better education and awareness. Conceived by a UK skin cancer specialist and top European scientists to provide premium quality sunscreen at an affordable price. Tinosorb A2B has been added for enhanced protection. Alongside providing an affordable sunscreen, Altruist also supports charitable causes supporting children with Albinism.

“Cost should never be a factor when decidinfg whether or not to wear sunscreen, or how much or how often to apply it. Everyone should have the basic right to take the necessary precautions to reduce their riss of developing skin cancer” – Skin Cancer Specialist and Altruist Founder DrBirnie.

Affordable, Safer Skin With Altruist

Why Should I Worry About Sunscreen?

Sunscreen prevents UV radiation from reaching the skin. UVB (ultraviolet radiation) causes sunburn and UVA cause wrinkles & brown spots (photoaging). Both UVB and UVA can contribute to the development of skin cancer so sunscreen is highly important. Dermatologists advise to cover up with clothes and a broad-rimmed hat when outdoors. They also recommend applying Sunscreen generously 20 minutes before going out and reapplying frequently.

Affordable, Safer Skin

The new Altruist range has some fab, affordable products to help you keep your skin safer this summer. It is also high in UVA and UVB protection, fragrance-free, non-sticky and water resistant. Suitable for all skin types with fast absorption leaving no residue. Altruist sunscreen is dermatologically tested and recommended and all products are available exclusively at Amazon.

The range includes:

Sunscreen Invisible Spray – 250ml for both SPF 30 & SPF 50 – RRP £5

Dermatologist Cream – SPF 30 200ml – RRP £4

Dermatologist Cream – SPF 50 100ml – RRP £3.75

 

Do you wear sunscreen?

Daily Contact Lenses Over Monthlies – End Of My Contact Lens Trial

Eye Health / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Choosing Daily contact lenses over monthlies isn’t something I honestly thought I would do by the end of my contact lens trial. I previously had it in my mind that due to the price difference I simply couldn’t justify it.

Contact Lens

2 Week Contact Lens Trial – Monthlies

Having spent 2 weeks trialling monthly contact lenses I slowly changed my mind. Whilst monthlies weren’t uncomfortable I did occasionally notice I was wearing them, especially by the afternoon.

I was mostly happy with contact lenses over my trial. Over a few days, I found them easier than I first thought to put in and out. My overly leaky eyes leaked less and less as the days went by. I could suddenly open the dishwasher or wash up without my glasses steaming up or sliding down my face.

Realising just how blind I am was a bit of a shock. Suddenly I could see clearly everywhere, no blind spots under/over or around my frames. Taking Izzy to the park, I felt less anxious as I could see her at all times.

I picked up a cheap pair of sunglasses just because I could and could finally see without squinting and coming home with a migraine! I’m sure I will find a much nicer pair but I could see so happily shared pictures on Instagram regardless.

I noticed plenty of benefits but I did have a few small issues over the 2 weeks. The girls shouted a few days in and I pinched my eyeball! Ouch! It was fine luckily and an eye check at the end of my trial showed no sign of damage. Phew! Also quite common during the first few months of wearing contacts apparently.

I also got smoke in my eye at the Birthday BBQ and managed to blink a contact out. Luckily I was overly anxious something would happen and had my solution and case on me. I managed to clean the lens and put it back in until later that evening.

Monthly Contact Lenses

Considering Daily Contact Lenses

Living 11 floors up when it’s warm can be great thanks to the breeze with the open windows. Until you need to clean your contact lenses. Then you suddenly realise how much dust and pollen is blowing in through the window! Also realising that I have a dust allergy by asking the Mr to completely hoover and dust our room. I spent two days feeling great, contacts fine, then boom! Dust everywhere, itchy skin, sneezing and contacts are near on impossible to rinse clean.

Which brings me on to my next point. If you have long, sharp nails then cleaning contacts can be a pain. I split my right monthly contact the day before the end of my trial when cleaning it. Luckily Belson & Sons Opticians were great and had a spare which the Mr picked up for me so I could complete my trial appointment the next day. Of course, I cut my nails down to save ruining another lens.

Had I been on my last pack of monthlies and I couldn’t get a spare, I would have to go without for a few days. I would also have to order 3 months worth of lenses each time making it a larger chunk to pay out at once.

Pros of Daily Lenses

With daily lenses, it does cost more but as you can buy one month at a time it’s an easier cost as and when I can afford it. I see contact lenses as a luxury if I can’t afford it for a while then so be it! The fact I don’t go out much also means dailies are more practical. One month’s worth could potentially last me 3, whereas once you open a pack of monthly lenses, you have exactly four weeks to use them.

I am rubbish at remembering dates. I’m regularly run out of my meds and panic at the Mr who goes and picks them up for me. Another thing I was a little worried about is forgetting when I have opened a pack of lenses.

With so much dust floating around, the girls being curious and my occasionally ridiculously sharp, long (natural!) nails, being able to put fresh lenses in each day will have me worrying a lot less about damaging my eye in any way.

End of Trial Appointment

When it came to the end of trial appointment I had made up my mind. If the optician was happy my eyes were suitable for lenses then I would continue but swap to dailies.

I had to wear my monthly lenses for at least an hour before my appointment. This gives the lenses a chance to settle on your eye and gives the optician a chance to check your vision and how the lenses sit. Afterwards, I was asked to remove the contact lenses so my eyes could be checked again to make sure the lenses weren’t causing any issues.

With the all clear, we discussed how I had got on with the contacts for 2 weeks. As Well as the points above, I also mentioned that I felt my left eye needed a slightly higher dioptre at the beginning of the tests and we agreed I did need the next lens up. The staff at Belson & Sons are lovely, they really listen to you which I really appreciate having had bad experiences elsewhere. Any question I ask is answered, everyone is happy to help and the whole team always have smiles on their faces!

Daily Contact Lenses

I was pleased to hear my eyes were healthy and I could continue wearing contacts. Having discussed my worries with monthlies we agreed daily lenses sounded like a good option. I was given a trial box of dailies to get me through and asked to put a set in to check they were comfortable. Daily lenses have a slightly different fit and are slightly thinner too as they are single use.

Daily Contact Lenses

It took me a little longer to put the thinner daily lenses in but they went in ok. After another quick check that they were ok and felt fine, I was pleased to notice a difference. Because the lenses are thinner I felt nothing after about a minute. They fit comfortably and I knew instantly I had made the right decision. I had a few days of contacts as well as my monthlies to help me decide what I preferred. Having noticed such a difference though, I decided to order a month of dailies there and then.

Having spent a few days wearing daily contact lenses I am so relieved I ordered more. I haven’t noticed that I’m wearing them. Even when I think about the fact I am wearing my contact lenses I can’t feel them! Going to the Dickens Festival on Saturday was lovely, I could see everything perfectly, I could wear my sunglasses whenever I wanted without having to keep swapping back to my normal glasses constantly. Daily contact lenses are definitely the way forward for me.

I would definitely recommend talking to your optician if you’ve ever thought about contact lenses. I think trying them is a game changer, they might not suit everyone but it’s worth a try, at least it was for me.

Have you tried Contacts before? Do you prefer Daily Contact Lenses or Monthly Contact Lenses?

Trying Contact Lenses For The First Time At 27

Physical and Mental Health / 6 years ago / RelentlesslyPurple

Trying contact lenses for the first time wasn’t something I expected to do at 27. It’s been on my to-do list forever but in all honesty, I thought at this point it would stay on that list forever more.

Trying Contact Lenses For The First Time At 27

The last few months have been stressful and at one point because of my ESA being stopped. I honestly thought we would end up homeless panicking about bills and rent. Luckily the Mr being recognised as my carer has got us back on track but If you had said a month ago I’d be typing this up I would have laughed at you. Having struggled these past few months, the Mr has been treating me to various things. From secretly ordering an LG G5 for me and making me stop at my local opticians to enquire about sunglasses. Two things that we just haven’t been able to do & kept getting moved to the bottom of the never-ending list.

Booking A Contact Lens Trial

My lens prescription is quite high and requires a lot of thinning. The cost of that plus frames for sunglasses almost had me running out the door. Contacts seemed a cheaper option as I can then buy any sunglasses I like. I asked a few questions and the Mr cheekily asked to book me in for a trial. I’ve said I wanted to try contacts for so many years

I have to admit I was extremely nervous. Even talking about eyes has mine streaming! The opticians were fantastic though and it really helped. First I was talked through the trial before putting orange dye in my eyes. This id to check my eyes were suitable for lenses. I worked through a good few tissues just doing these tests but everything was fine. Luckily for me, the streaming eyes should prevent dry eye haha!

Money-Saving

We decided monthly lenses would suit me best as I don’t intend to wear them all the time. I mostly want them for when I go out so I don’t spend all day squinting. The cost is roughly £60 for 3 months worth and just under £40 for the trial. Wearing contacts means I can buy a few different pairs of sunglasses instead of just one with prescription lenses! My vision has changed quite rapidly over the years and it can be quite costly to keep up with so this works quite well for me.

Once the optician was happy that contact lenses were a suitable option she went ahead and popped some in for me. When they do this you are told to look up then down to your knees so the lens fell into place correctly. This happened easier than I had expected to be honest.

Trying Contact Lenses For The First Time

We talked about the contact lens solution and how to care for the contact lenses whilst my eyes adjusted. It felt a little odd after almost 23 years of wearing glasses! I was told I may feel a little dizzy/light headed but I felt ok. I could feel my eyes slowly adjusting and everything coming into focus.

It reminded me of the first time I wore glasses at 5 years old, my world had always been blurry and suddenly it was much clearer. It felt amazing trying my first pair of glasses, everything was so bright & colourful. Suddenly there were so many shapes instead of blurs, trying contact lenses felt the same. I kept trying to adjust my glasses though, it felt odd not having anything surrounding my face. After a few minutes, I was taken through to another lady who took me through putting contact lenses in and out.

Putting Contact Lenses In & Out

I freaked out a little bit at the thought of taking the lenses back out and it took a few attempts for the nerves to settle. Having finally managed to take one out, I felt much more confident. The other came out much easier. I possibly owed the opticians half a box of tissues at this point though! To make sure I was confident putting the contact lenses in and out myself I was supervised another 2 times. By the end, I felt quite confident and felt when the lens suddenly needed repositioning before I left, as my constant tears made my eye a little too wet. Managing to pop the contact lens back in easily enough, reassured the optician I was confident (and myself!).

I spent 4 hours trying the lenses out on the first day and have to increase by 2 hours daily until I reach 10 hours per day. I go back on the 31st May to finish my trial and order my first 3 months of lenses if I am happy with these ones. It felt fairly normal wearing contact lenses even though I could feel my eyes adjusting. Taking them back out and wearing glasses was a whole different story! Suddenly I had blurry areas looking over/under or around my glasses making me very aware of my lack of sight.

The After-shock

Having worn glasses since I was a child, being short-sighted felt normal and whilst I joke about being blind it made me realise the severity. I’m lucky to have some vision left but over the years it has rapidly changed and until now I hadn’t realised quite how much! I’m really pleased to have finally been able to try contact lenses out and looking forward to being able to see properly this summer and not panic about where the girls are when my vision is off from squinting!

Surprise!

I kept it quiet that I was booked in for a trial because I was nervous it would go wrong. As soon as I knew everything was ok I shared a picture after my ‘secret mission’ was finished, asking people to figure it out on Instagram.I was quite pleased most people didn’t twig straight away that my glasses were missing as I was also nervous that I would look weird without.

Mummy Looks Weird!

Eva burst into tears when I showed her the photo though, saying I look weird, typical haha! Once I had shown Eva the lenses and explained I will still be wearing my glasses a lot, she calmed down. I can understand why she got upset, she has always found changes hard to cope with. Showing her the lenses really seemed to help, the unknown is quite scary at 8! Plus if I was nervous and not sure what to expect, its no surprise she felt the same.

Explaining The Benefits

I think it helped to explain the benefits of me wearing contact lenses. I can do so much more without the worry of glasses falling or getting knocked. Walking home in contacts and sunglasses felt like heaven. Usually, I end up with face ache from squinting all the way home. Realising I was less anxious with Izzy as I could see her constantly without squinting was a huge relief too. This seemed to really help Eva understand why there was a need for a change even if it seems strange to her at first.

Adjusting

Hopefully, with time we will both adjust and contact lenses will make life a little easier for me. This morning I let Eva watch me put the contacts in and she seemed ok. When I spotted she had chocolate on her face afterwards and wiped it off for her she teared up asking if I could see her clearly. When I told her I could, it seemed to make her really happy.

As the Mr was feeling poorly I took Eva to school (yep we were late, yay for broken lifts, not!). I decided whilst we waited for the one working lift we should take some selfies to help her get used to seeing us together without my glasses. That really cheered her up and I think she will slowly begin to accept the change, after all in 8 years she has only seen me without my glasses a handful of times!

Second Day

After my second day of wearing the contact lenses, I’m confident the trial will go well. I can finally stop hiding behind glasses all the time & buy nice sunglasses. I felt much more confident leaving on the school run. Being able to wear sunglasses and not be blinded was lovely, AND Eva said I looked COOL!

Have you tried contact lenses before or is it something you would like to try out too?