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ed story

9 maj 2012

May 9, 2015

(Short summary in English, below)

För tre år sedan hade jag två “val”. Det ena var att de, de professionella, skulle tillkalla en ambulans eller att de själva skulle köra mig till akuten. Ja, det var illa däran. Jag hade inte stoppat i mig någonting alls under en alldeles för lång tid och knappt någon vätska heller. Ja, ni hör ju. Detta var inte hållbart. Idag, fast för tre år sedan, började min riktiga resa till tillfrisknad. Det var då de hjälpte mig att stoppa allting. Det som gick alldeles utför i totalt fel riktning. Bort från livet och ännu djupare ned i helvetet.

Det kan vara ganska så ledsamt och sorgligt att alltid uppmärksamma denna dagen. Men det var också den dagen som ledde till en förändring i mitt liv. Den dagen och perioden på sjukhuset som jag också fick möjligheten till att träffa personer som skulle komma att betyda otroligt mycket för mig där och då, men också även idag. Sköterskor som alltid fanns där och som även finns här idag. Jag är så otroligt tacksam över allt alla gjorde för mig då. Men egentligen var det jag som drog det största lasset. Det var jag som kämpade tillbaka till livet. Det var jag som så småningom gjorde det där stora engelskatestet, klarade det, ansökte till ett universitet och kom in, flyttade över Atlanten, studerade där för att sedan få jobb här i Sverige inom det jag hade drömt om – grafisk design. Mycket har hänt sedan den där dagen i maj, 2012 och för varje år som går från just den dagen, tänker jag tillbaka och förundras över vad livet överraskar och ger.

lina

Så hur är det idag med allting..ja, det är otroligt mycket bättre än vad det var då. Jag har mina dagar eller perioder då det är tuffare med tankar/vissa gamla mönster och jag har mina dagar och perioder då det är lättare. Vill poängtera att jag äter. Att bli både frisk och fri från något som har funnits med en i så otroligt många år, är en process och så får det vara tänker jag (även om det är svårt att acceptera processen ibland och jag bara vill att det ska vara 110% bra direkt). Det viktiga är att finnas i processen, vara medveten om den, kämpa på och fokusera på saker och ting som är bra! Förstärka det som är bra och minimera det som är mindre bra för en, vilket är lättare sagt än gjort många gånger. Men vad är det en säger, övning ger färdighet och så tänker jag kring detta också. Ni i min omgivning behöver inte vara oroliga om ni anser eller tycka er se att det är mindre bra…för det är en del i processen och utan mindre bra dagar, kan det vara svårt att uppleva de bättre dagarna för det finns liksom ingen kontrast i det hela i sådana fall. Som en fin person sa till mig en gång;

“Det kan inte bli lugnt om det inte har varit storm.”

Nu ska jag ut och fira livet tillsammans med min älskade Liz ♥ och så ska jag iväg och plinka piano i en pianoaffär (har inte tillgång till något piano här i Uppsala) för jag saknar musiken. Saknar att spela piano så därför har jag fått det i uppgift av min terapeut att göra det. Yep. Hej svejs.


Short Summary

May 9th 2012

Three years ago today, I had two “choices”, one for them, the professionals, to get an ambulance to drive me to the emergency, or for them to take me there themselves. I was really sick with an eating disorder, anorexia. One might think it’s a sad day to think about and remember..but this day, three years ago, was the beginning of my new life. Thanks to all the professionals, but mostly thanks to me, who fought hard get better. So how am I doing today? Some days are less good and some days are good, but I believe that’s the process and how it has to be. Without any bad days, you can’t really experience good days, because there’s no contrast then. Or as a wise person once told me,”It can never be calm unless there has been a storm.” So, today I’m gonna celebrate life, together with my Liz and we’re gonna check out a piano store here so I can play the piano a little since I miss music so much and playing on my own. Got this challenge/project, to play a little, from my therapist, so that’s what I’m gonna do. Yep. Bye bye.  Please try the more or less good Google translate, if you want to translate the whole text.

INTE BARA FRISK UTAN ÄVEN FRI

March 23, 2015

(Short summary in English, below).

Jag har tänkt så mycket fram och tillbaka hur jag vill att denna blogg ska vara, eller vad innehållet ska ha för inriktning, vad som jag skriver ut eller vad som jag inte skriver ut. En del i bloggvärlden väljer att vara relativt privata i sina blogginlägg medan andra verkligen inte vill publicera alltför mycket om sina privata liv. En bloggare kan också vara personlig men inte alltför privat. Jag delar naturligtvis en respekt till samtliga över vad de vill eller inte vill göra. Dock så ger denna blogg, min blogg, en tankeställare om hur jag vill göra. Jag tror också att denna tankeställare har lett till att det inte har blivit så många inlägg den senaste tiden. Så vad har jag kommit fram till? Jo, att inte tänka för mycket på allting hela tiden. Är så himla bra på att analysera allting och ibland kan det bli för mycket analyserande. Jag ska helt enkelt skriva vad jag vill här, hur mycket jag vill och känner jag för att skriva av mig, om personliga saker, så gör jag det helt enkelt. Sluttänkt på det.

Liz och jag har bott i Sverige i två månader nu och det känns riktigt riktgt bra att bo i Uppsala. Jag rentutav faktiskt kan säga att jag älskar Uppsala. Jag älskar också mitt nya jobb och är så oerhört tacksam över att jag får jobba med sådant som jag verkligen älskar. Vi bor i den nya lägenheten med våra saker från vår lägenhet som vi hade i USA så det är en blandning av amerikanskt och svenskt – perfekt. Det yttre känns helt för bra för att vara sant. Boende. Jobb. Stad och land. Visst saknar jag Asheville och USA varenda eviga dag men känner att beslutet vi tog, att flytta till Sverige, var bäst för oss. Men omställningen att flytta tillbaka till det land jag föddes och växte upp i, var större än jag någonsin hade kunnat ana.

Att flytta tillbaka till ett land där, senast jag bodde här, var så otroligt tufft…det trodde jag inte att det skulle vara så svårt. Aldrig hade jag anat att jag skulle genomgå inre kris och lite av en kulturchock.

Jag måste försöka hitta mig själv igen. Hur Lina är. En frisk Lina som bor i Sverige. Där det inte finns en skola full med studenter som inte har en aning om mitt förflutna. Där jag inte är en svensk som bor utomlands. Osv. Osv. Jag vet inte vad det är med mig och att bo i Sverige, men jag blir alltid så mycket mer stressad här och ställer alltid så otroligt höga krav på mig själv. Blir så ofantligt trött på det. Att jag bara inte kan slappna av och bara vara. Och hur blir det då när denna stress infinner sig? Jo, jag går direkt tillbaka till gamla beteenden eller tankar där jag känner mig “trygg” i. En otroligt falsk trygghet och som bara är sjukt. Och vad händer då jag börjar känna igen vissa mönster? Då blir jag otroligt rädd och stressar upp mig för det…och såhär håller det på. En riktigt jäkla ond cirkel.

Jag påminner mig själv varje dag att jag inte befinner mig i den livssituation jag befann mig i, innan vi flyttade till USA. För det gör jag inte.

Men jag måste försöka hitta Lina igen. En Lina som bor i Sverige och som inte kan gömma sig i skola eller att bo utomlands, en som inte kan försvinna bortom ett anoreximonster. En som inte kan leverera precis allting i livet till 200% för det är inte mänskligt. En Lina som sänker sina otroliga krav på sig och det viktigaste: En Lina som inte bara är frisk, utan även fri.

Jag vill inte lägga ut några bilder på från då jag mådde som sämst, men någon gång går jag igenom dem för att påminna mig själv var jag var och var jag är på väg. En bild, som inte är på mig, men från tiden då jag mådde som sämst, tänker jag dela med mig av och det är från den plats som jag spenderade så himla mycket tid på våren/sommaren 2012. Sjukhussängen. Den får bli en otroligt ledsam bild, men ack så viktig påminnelse i och med detta inlägg.

 

bed


Short Summary

About my goal to not only be healthy, but be free from the eating disorder. About moving back to the country where so many dark moments have taken place. How to find who Lina is. A Lina without sickness, without the possibility to hide behind school stuff or being an expat. To be true to yourself, but in order to reach that, find yourself. Picture is of my hospital bed – the place where I spent the major of my time spring and summer 2012. Please try the more or less good Google translate, if you want to translate the whole text.

 

THE HOLIDAY SEASON CAN BE TOUGH

December 15, 2014

The picture above, totally borrowed from Frisk&Fri’s website, and says; “We work for a society without eating disorders where everybody is free to be themselves.”  

It’s the holiday season, and I love every bit of it. Decorating at home, lighting a bunch of candles, planning, buying, and wrapping gifts, cooking and baking, and so on. But it has not always been like that. There was a time where I faked my happiness in front of everybody, a time where I had to fight my thoughts and fear of eating, and I was completely stressed out about it all. I was sick.

I know I could focus on the poor, the homeless, and so many other life situations that are going on in the world today, but there’s one thing really close to my heart and something I have first hand experience from- those who suffer from an eating disorder and literally fight for their lives. Imagine your biggest fear (could be heights, spiders/snakes, being in big crowds…), and then have to face it about six times per day. That’s what it is like suffering from an eating disorder.

There’s an organization in Sweden, called Frisk&Fri (Healthy & Free) that works on spreading information about eating disorders, supporting people who are sick and their close ones, working on preventing the sickness, and influencing better professional care. They have mentors spread out around Sweden, chat and phone supports, support groups. It’s pretty much an amazing organization. Check out their website!

 


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This it the first page you come to when you get to their website (which you can find here), and where you navigate around to find what you need. Read about what Frisk&Fri does, support for people who are close to the sick one, how to get help for the one who are sick, how to support the organization, and facts about eating disorders.

 


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You can also check out what kind of support there is, based on where you live. This is an organization where the volunteers have been sick themselves, but have recovered, and therefore have first hand experience of eating disorders. You find this page, here.

 


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The organization’s support is really important, but it’s also significant to get professional help, which list you can find here.

 


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So why do I write about this now? Of course, this is really important year around, but during this holiday season, it’s extra tough for someone with an eating disorder since there is so much is focus on the food. Frisk&Fri needs extra economic support so they can offer extra time to be there for people who contact them. You can easy donate money by texting:

FRISK50 or FRISK100 to 729 80 and you donate 50 or 100 kr (Sweden only!)

 


Lastly I want to share this text I found on Facebook

ed

 

Don´t talk to your kids about their bodies, except when trying to explain how the body works. Don´t talk to your kids about their weight, even when they have gained or lost weight. If you think your child will have an amazing body when he or she is grown, don´t say it. Here are tips on what you can say instead: “You look healthy” is a really good alternative. Or what do you think about “You look strong!” or “I can tell that you´re happy, you are glowing!”. Even better is talking about things that don´t have to do with their bodies, at all.

Do not comment on other peoples bodies. Not even once, even if it´s a positive comment. Teach your children to be nice to others, but also to themselves . Don´t you dare, even for a second, talk about how you hate your body, in front of your children, or talk about your new diet. Don´t do diets in front of your children. Buy and cook wholesome food, but don´t say “Oh I´m not eating carbs right now!”. Your kids aren´t supposed to be thinking about if carbs are good or bad, or feel shame about eating things you are not. Shame only leads to more shame. Encourage your kids to run, since running reduces stress. Tell your kids to dare to climb mountains, ’cause there are few places that are so perfect for finding inner peace. Teach your kids to surf, climb or bike far or high (or both) so they know it can be good to challenge themselves.

Teach your kids to love sports. Sport makes you a better leader and increases your self confidence. Tell your kids that age doesn´t matter, you will have to cooperate in groups all of your life. Don´t ever force your kids to participate in sports they don´t like. Maybe you have a daughter who isn´t as tiny or thin as other girls? It is very easy for her to start hating her body. Tell her that she, if she wants, can run a maraton with her strong legs and that her broad frame lets her scream high or sing or lift the world.

Maybe you have a son, who is smaller than other boys. Tell him his worth doesn´t lie in his muscles, but in his thoughtful being. Tell you children that they with their strong, healthy bodies, can move their beautiful souls wherever they want.

Freely translated from Spanish by Erika Geraci Ulvstranden

2 years ago.

May 9, 2014

twoyearsago

As I will never forget, April 12th, 2013 (which I wrote about here), I will also never forget May 9th, 2012.

Everything started with a doctor’s appointment to check on how I was doing since my Anorexia Nervosa had gotten worse. That doctor’s appointment turned into being admitted to the hospital under the law (which means I couldn’t decide to leave whenever, because I was too sick = I was committed). As I did last year, I spent my birthday at the hospital, had to cancel a trip to Paris, completely missed the spring, and the beginning of the summer. Every day was a really big war inside of me, filled with anxiety, depression, anorexic thoughts, and obsessive behaviors. I was a wreck. But with small steps, a lot of support from professionals, and my amazing wife, I got better. Not free from Anorexia Nervosa, but more stable. It was gonna take another 1.5 years for me to recover to the stage I am today. But being sick with an eating disorder for so many years, it takes a while to get better, and I’m still recovering as of today.

twoyears1My bed in my room. I asked if I could get a second pillow, and an amazing nurse brought me three to make it cozy and soft. My love bought me a really cozy blanket as well. I tried to make it as homey as possible…

twoyears2Tried to smile a bit, but it was all chaos inside of me…

twoyears3Once I found myself be able to focus a little bit longer, I folded several paper cranes, which I decorated my room with.

twoyears4I spent many hours in this spot (once I was allowed to go outside together with a nurse). After about 2 months I was able to go out by myself for some time in between meals, and this is where you could find me then.

For you who might read this and are going through a similar situation; Don’t give up, keep fighting. It’s worth it.

Me, nowadays – a way more healthy, and happy Lina!

me

1 year.

April 12, 2014

oneyearago

I will always remember April 12th, 2013. It was the day I was admitted to the hospital for a second time because of my eating disorder, Anorexia Nervosa. The professionals wanted to prevent me getting even deeper into the Anorexia again, since my goal was to move to the States, and start studying in August the same year. Just a few months away. This was my chance to get professional help 24/7 again, and I took it.

I stayed at the hospital for about 1.5 months that time, and all together I’ve been to the hospital for almost 5 months the past two springs (spring 2012 and 2013). The first time, May, 2012, was the worst, but more about that in another post.

oneyear

Every day was a fight, and in between meals/resting times, I entertained myself by solving hundreds of sudokos, did puzzles consisting of thousands of pieces, and watched TV-series… I had so many Anorexic thoughts though, and was stuck in a really sick way of living which forced me to cancel a trip to China, celebrate another birthday at the hospital, and miss the spring and early summer arrival, because I was too focused on sick things instead of seeing and being aware of the surroundings and life in general.

I would not been able to have gone through this whole process without some special people in my life – Liz, my amazing wife, supportive J & S at the clinic who totally believed in me and my dreams, M – an amazing nurse/massage therapist, and S – another amazing nurse! I’m so deeply thankful for all what you’ve done to me, in order to help myself recover ♥

Today, I’m thinking of how my life was only one year ago. It has been (and still is sometimes) a fight, but my life today is soooo different than just a year ago. I’m living in the States and studying New Media – a dream of mine, and the most important, I’m happy, and healthy.

I know several friends and people around me who still suffer pretty bad from an eating disorder, and I want you to all know; If I did it, you can do it! It’s a really hard road to take, but it’s so worth it. Don’t give up, keep fighting!

Sending you strength and happy thoughts ♥

My happiness/lucky stone.

August 11, 2013

I got this stone, as a gift, from an important person in my life, and I keep it beside my bed so the first thing I see in the morning is this. And also one of the last things I see at night. It reminds me about my past; but the most important thing is that it makes me think of how lucky I am today. Happier than I’ve ever been in my whole life! Today, I encourage you to think of all the things that make you happy; and if you aren’t, what can you change in order to reach happiness in your soul?

lyckosten

It was a goodbye, for good.

July 31, 2013

There was a time when I was freezing all the time. I wore warm and big clothes in order to hide myself and to be warm…

sick1…all I pretty much did was stay in the hospital bed, surfing on my iPad or watching short series (since I couldn’t concentrate that well)…

sick2…or folding paper cranes. Plenty of them…

sick3

…my eyes were sad, I had no energy, but a lot of anxiety, and I was really sad…

sick4

…sometimes one nurse, who turned out to mean so much to me, braided my hair, and I loved having my hair up like that…sick5…once I was finally allowed to go outside, I liked to lay down in the grass, and look up in the sky. This was one of the views one warm summer day…the summer of 2012, though, that never felt that much like summer to me…

sick6…and once I was finally allowed to go outside by myself, I cheated and took walks in the woods while listening to music. I pretended everything was ok and that I didn’t have to return to the hospital and my hospital bed…

sick7

One year ago today, I was signed out from the hospital the first time, after being there for almost three months. The end of July will always remind me of my past. All the sickness. All the horrible anxiety. All the bad memories.

BUT

I will also think of all I’ve done, how far I’ve gone away from all of that. Today, I’m living in the States, feeling good (still have some thoughts to fight against  – but it’s not taking over my life), and about to start college here. I can’t believe what a big change I’ve made!!!

healthy2

healthy1

This is my last post where I’m mentioning the sickness, the eating disorder and the past years of anorexia nervosa that I’ve been suffering from… for too many years. I left all of that in Sweden with all my therapists. They told me to leave everything with them, so I did.

Gosh, I’m getting emotional now. There are so many people that have meant everything to me the past years. J, S, S, M, Y, D and Å…and so many others – especially Liz.

I love you, and thank you for all you’ve done to me in order to help myself to recover. Without you, I wouldn’t have survived and be where I am today.

Hey there!

July 5, 2013

Again. It’s been quiet here for a while. Why? I don’t know. Well perhaps I do..I’ve sold my computer, and even though I can borrow Liz’s (which I am now), I don’t do it very often. I’ve also been busy celebrating different things, grilling out a few times with friends and family, been to Gothenburg, done some shopping, checked out exhibitions in town, met up with people, said good bye to people (or more like; see you later!). I have also prepared for the move by filling in plenty of papers and forms, and scheduled appointments for various things, etc. There are so many people I love and care about. Will miss them so much, but the bittersweet part is to also be able to be closer to our American family and friends. I can never feel a hundred percent good inside of me when it comes to being physically close to some people, and not being close to others. I guess that’s the price you have to pay when you are married to someone from another part of the world. But oh, it gives us so many opportunities as well.

Tomorrow we are heading to one of my favorite places in Sweden, the archipelago. Going to be so much fun and such a good time to be around people I love, before the moving day. It’s less than two weeks now, and once we are back in town, after the week out in the archipelago, it’s only four days left in Sweden!!! CRAZY. We have already started to order furniture, and set up electricity and TV/Internet plans. We are staying at my parents’ house right now, which is really nice, but I’m literally living with my clothes in a box with everything squeezed in every place, here and there (not so optimal for me, an almost “OCD-diagnosed” person…). But I’m hanging there. Since I’m really taking the time to update here now, why not go on some more…hehe.

Today, I had a lunch date with an amazing woman who means so much to me. She was one of the nurses I had last year when I was in the hospital for some months. We have run into each other before (or mostly Liz has), e-mailed some; and in the beginning of this week we suddenly ran in to each other and decided on a lunch date so I could give her some updates about everything in my life pretty much. It has been such a change in e v e r y t h i n g in the past year so it was really great meeting up with her, and chatting for a couple of hours while eating lunch (Yeah! It was totally fine and I wasn’t anxious-at all -YAY!!!). But I also feel so safe with her. Last year, in the hospital, this nurse and I talked about different dreams, and tried to focus on the positive parts of my life, and about continuing to fight since it will be so worth it. I’m there today. Today, I’m fulfilling my dream – to move to the States, study, and start a new career! I’m so blessed and happy! Today we also talked about that the most important part of getting better, is to find your own motivation and your own will to actually leave the sickness behind and to start to live a healthier and happier life. You have to decide and the professionals (or your spouse/family/friends/whoever you have close to you) will help you to hold your hand along the way, but you are the one who needs to do the real hard job in order to change and get better! You have to make a decision and fight for it for 110%. I’ve been so lucky with all the support I’ve received and felt from my love and all the professionals I have had. I want to thank them all, in a way words aren’t enough. They held my hand, motivated me, have been the strength when I have felt weak, and so much more. ♥

I know that some of you, who are reading this right now, are the ones who were there when it was my darkest times in my life (but also when it became lighter). I’m so thankful that you care about me and Liz so much, and want you to stay in contact a bit and follow us on our adventure. It means a lot. Feel free to leave a comment or e-mail me. All I can say is that I will always keep you in my heart, be thankful, and remember you deeply in my soul for taking such a good care of me. You know where we live so if you ever come over the Atlantic Ocean, give a call or send an e-mail, and we’ll show you our favorite parts of the States.

Gonna end this post now, and will probably not be that active the coming week since I’m where Internet hardly exists. But I don’t want to focus too much on that then anyway. Check liersees on Instagram for hopefully more frequent updates in a picture form. Take care, and see ya’ in the end of next week!

beachAtlantic Beach, North Carolina, USA summer of 2010

A bit emotional, and an update!

June 20, 2013

I feel really emotional today, in both good and sad ways.

There are so many goodbyes right now (or I prefer to say; “See you soon, again!”, instead). I hate it. There are people who have been so important to me the past years, and mostly the last year. Who have saved my life, supported me, and been the strength when I have needed it. Who have believed in me, and that this move to the States IS gonna be something positive and good for me. Some have wondered how it is gonna be there, and if I will have any professional support. So I’m thinking of giving you an update about that (not in too much detail though)…

I was signed out from the hospital in the end of May and have been 100% home since then, but of course connected to the eating disorder clinic where I have still been seeing my therapists. I’m also part of an eating training group during the summer, which feels good. I’m feeling waaaaay better than I did just a month ago, but it’s still a lot to work on, to process, and to face. Not that an eating disorder is only really connected with being underweight (only Anorexia Nervosa is, and that’s just one diagnosis among several other eating disorders!!! Really important to think about since you can’t tell that the majority of the ones with an eating disorder, have an eating disorder by looking at their body). Anyway, I’m back to normal weight after a really tough period and I have a really hard time finding it ok…BUT to able to live life, attend dinners with friends and family, have more energy, be more happy is so much more important to me. I want to live life, and you don’t when you starve yourself and have no strength, no social life, can’t sleep, find it really hard to eat, can’t talk properly, can’t think and so on. It’s not fun at all. And I get so upset over all the commercials, all the (mostly) young people who get stuck in this. It’s so freaking crappy down in that dungeon.

So in other words, I’m still fighting really hard. Every day. But I haven’t lived like I am now in many years. Haven’t been this true to myself in many years, and Liz has seen sides of me she’s never ever seen before (in a positive way). We have so much more fun now, and I’m so thankful for having her by my side. With all this happiness in my life, I know it’s important to find a balance in the middle of that as well. It’s hard, but even though I’m doing things now, I haven’t done earlier in this way (actually enjoying eating out), things need to move slowly so it doesn’t turn totally upside down and end with back-steps.

I saw my therapist today for almost the last time. She’s gonna have vacation now for some weeks, and once she’s back, it’s only a few more days for me in Sweden until I move to the States. GAAAAAH (exitement!). I will continue with some other treatments while she’s gone though.

I’m also saying goodbye to our apartment in the next week. We are gonna stay at my parents’ for some weeks before we move. It’s hard to leave it still, although three is a lot of sickness within the walls; but it’s gonna be amazing to move to our dream apartment, and decorate it with new, old, and cool stuff.

So, as a summery. It’s going pretty good for me, and I’m feeling pretty ok!!! So I’m thinking about pretty much leaving this subject now, and not writing about it anymore. Well, perhaps a final post in some weeks, when I’ve said goodbye to all the professionals. Other than that, it’s goodbye to that, and hey healthy future instead!

Do something today that your future self will thank you for.

strawberriesYummy strawberries we ate the other night. Love that the strawberry season is here!

I’m not gone, I’ve just been breathing through tough moments.

May 5, 2013

So it’s been a while since last time I gave you an update, and a lot has happened..

First of all:

I’m still connected or signed in at the hospital, but as a day patient. They were literally running out of beds and asked if I wanted to sleep at home and just spend the days there. Of course I wanted that, so a cab comes and pick me up every day before 8 am and drives me back home at 6pm. It’s pretty nice, except that I don’t really have my own space at the hospital during the days.

Secondly:

I’ve been to an interview at the eating disorder day treatment in the next city to my mine. It went ok BUT if I were to start there, I will be forced to eat meat; and since I’m a vegetarian and will not change that, I can’t participate. They said I need to start with fish and seafood and later on move on to also eat chicken. For those who don’t know me that well, I have truly never liked fish or seafood in my entire life, so there’s no way I would like to eat that when it’s also already hard to eat. The day treatment is also only three days per week where I need to make it with dinners and late snack at home all seven days. Today, when I’m a day patient at the hospital I,
1. Get to eat vegetarian food.
2. Have support ALL meals ALL seven days.

So I’m hopefully gonna be able to continue at the hospital and have my therapists coming there on a regular basis. After a while we can also start to plan permissions where I eat some meals at home instead.

Thirdly:

Of course, I got sick in my stomach and had to be signed out from the hospital (stupid process and I still don’t get why I just couldn’t get “permission”) and they told me to come back after 72 hours. Oh, well. So I need to go to the emergency room tomorrow and sign myself in again. I was really upset when they called and told me about it… but they have promised me that the sign in process won’t take several hours (as it usually does). The clinic will contact the emergency room and notify them in the morning that I’m coming, and it should just be a (hopefully) short formal process of signing papers. Still…it’s such a process for me, instead of just showing up at the clinic. But they needed my name out of their system during the weekend so they could sign in other patients instead. Sigh. Ok, enough of this.

It’s Sunday and the sun is shining. I might go out a little bit and get some fresh air after spending most of my days almost completely inside for the past month.

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April 17, 2013

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A Saturday greeting!

April 13, 2013

Tired and a bit of everything emotional wise right now but so ready to fight so I can start to live again. For real. I’m in good care even if it’s really tough and crazy right now…Anyway, just wanted to leave a short note to you all <3 20130413-110259.jpg

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April 12, 2013

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Hospital

April 12, 2013

Just a short update..I need to be in the hospital now. Again. Don’t know for how long but there are some plans that will hopefully go through, and I don’t need to stay for that long. Please, cross your fingers.

An update.

April 6, 2013

I’m alive.
I was close going to the hospital Thursday.
I will get special care at home during the weekend (instead of being in the hospital).
There’s a plan for next week.
If the plan doesn’t work out..we’ll see.

In other words, it’s not that great right now. But I’m trying to fight!

I’ve written a blog post (below this one), called Password safe 1, with more detailed information about everything. Feel free to ask for the password. It’s pretty private, but I know many of you know me or care some extra about me, so you can request an access to it if you want to. Please do not be shy asking for it (I just want sort of control).

Would you like to request the password in order to read the password safe blog posts?
Send an e-mail to: lier[@]lier.se and name the e-mail “Password“. You’ll receive an e-mail back with the password.

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April 6, 2013

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Saturday morning chat and an old note!

March 30, 2013

I just love chatting with my wife about everything. Life things. Hard things. Happy things. We are really open and talk about everything. I love the honesty in our relationship. (Even though my anorexia part is crawling like crazy under my skin sometimes because of the honesty we have.) But I believe it’s only leading to something good. I truly hate when people are lying, which I know some do around me…Why? They are just hurting themselves in the long run anyway. Oh well. I’m not gonna dwell on that right now. The sun is shining. It’s Saturday, Liz is off, and we’re gonna spend time with my family today. I’m trying not to focus on the tough things, and just enjoy the good moments.

I found this note the other day when I was going through some stuff. I got it from one of the most important nurses who took care of me when I was in the hospital last spring and summer. She did so much for me, and gave me such strength, when I felt completely hopeless. I saved the note she gave me, and every time I see it, I think of her and her words/pep talk. I need that now…

note

Translation: For you, Lina! You have the power to change everything to what you want 🙂 Within you there is so much more than you realize. /love.

Hope you will have a great Saturday!

It’s hard to find the words right now.

March 26, 2013

I’m so sad, so disappointed in myself, and feel so bad in general about everything..

I’m not good at all right now so we have had to cancel our upcoming trip to China. All I do is cry about that decision..but I’m not healthy enough. The goal right now is to not have to go to the hospital again. Gonna meet a doctor tomorrow, together with my main therapist, and we’re also gonna try to figure out a plan of how things are gonna be in the near future for me. Just wanted to let you all know…

Love.

You will make it, it will work out, and it will happen!

March 21, 2013
“No matter what happens, no matter how far you seem to be away from where 
you want to be, never stop believing that you will somehow make it. Have
a unrelenting belief that things will work out, that the long road has a
purpose, that the things that you desire may not happen today, but they
will happen. Persist and persevere, your desired path remains possible.”

– Brad Gast

Another really personal blog post, that scares me so much to post, but I’m doing it anyway.

March 19, 2013

Today has been a pretty crappy day. A g a i n. It feels like I’m writing that all the time…But that’s how I feel. I have no energy, I’m not feeling positive at all, and I’m really sad. Today, the nutritionist said that I should drink seven nutrition drinks per day if I don’t eat any food. I almost freaked out (or I did, but not necessarily because of the mentioned seven nutrition drinks); so three is sort of the deal now (way too few if you compare with the amount I should eat, energy wise). I can’t do seven and I can’t do real/cooked food…but I can’t do three nutrition drinks either right now. Great. Or not. Will see what happens tomorrow when I’m seeing my main therapist. I know it can’t continue like this, since it will lead to something I definitely do NOT want it to. I need to fight hard so I’ll have energy for China, but first for the rest of the week, the weekend, the funeral of my granddad, and Easter!

I’m gonna go to bed now and hopefully wake up tomorrow with some more energy and some more positiveiness so I can let others (professionals and my love) help me to fight. It just needs to let them do that. It’s so hard.

Love.

balloons

I walked down memory lane.

January 27, 2013

A person walked in to the same room where I was standing. I glimpsed first, turned my head away, and then directly turned it back again. I recognized her from somewhere. Another person walked in, and it was the same process. I was trying to place them somewhere in my memory lane. It took just a few seconds, but felt longer. I ended up recognizing the whole group of around fifteen people. I understood at that time they were all having an evening out together. And a reunion as well since I know some of them have stopped working…at the hospital…Yes, they were all nurses and care givers from the hospital where I was staying for several months. The same department, the same floor, the same rooms…Oh, my. Such a roller coaster feeling-wise when I saw them. But mainly, I just felt, thankfulness to all of them. They saved my life, and here I was standing, about to pay for my bowling session I just had have with my friends. They where all having their night out (at least in the beginning), at this bowling place and that’s where I was, celebrating a friend’s birthday. I freaked out in the beginning, and didn’t know what to do. They must have seen me, but because of their professionalism, I’m the one who must say hey first in order for them to say hey. I recognize them, and then they can say hello to me. I appreciated their professionalism, but deep inside of me, I actually wanted to say something which I didn’t at first and they all passed me. So I walked over to where they were all trying out their bowling shoes, saw my main contact nurse, and she saw me, hugged me, and we chatted some, while more and more of my old nurses came up and said hey, nice to see me and so on. They were all so sweet! Even though they represent the worst time in my life, I’m so thankful for what they did for me, and it felt pretty good seeing them. Crazy.

Even more crazy is, that I saw them, a part of my past, I’m doing things next week that will be representing my future, and will probably (and hopefully) also be more clear about some more stuff connected to my future. It felt like it was all meant to be. Just wished I had seen two more of the care givers…the ones I was with the most. I wanted to tell them more about everything. Not because I matter in their lives so much, but somehow it matters to me, showing them how much they have helped me to change myself, and how much I have changed in the past months, compared to this time last year.

I walked down memory lane by seeing all these people, but I’m not stuck. I processed it yesterday but also through this post now. I believe in the bright future. I’m not saying everything is totally good nowadays, I’m working hard on several things in my life and have my crappy days (as everybody has), but I believe in life, and want to live life. Just that thought will help keep me moving on.

———

A totally different subject (but connected to this blog post in some ways), I’m so curios who’s reading this blog. Some of you leave comments every now and then which means so much to me. Thank you. Although I wish I could hear some more from others as well. You see, I’m really curious as a person. I have statistics on how many views I have every day and it’s always more than I would think it would be. Sometimes, I’m writing pretty personal things, and have no idea who’s receiving all the information about myself. Pretty scary in some ways..but I have also therefore chosen to not write too personal things here. I also do not want to focus on only diseases, because I want my blog to focus on life, and positive things. Anyway. If you feel like it, and if you want to make me a little more happy this Sunday afternoon, leave a little greeting in this blog post so I can find out who else is reading this blog – and who’s patient enough to read this pretty long blog post. Hehe. Happy Sunday, I’m off to my sister’s to celebrate a delayed Christmas. Better late than never!

lina

When 2012 becomes 2013

December 30, 2012

It’s the end of the year, which means that many blogs have year summaries. You look back to 2012 month for month, show pictures, and write about what happened during each period. I’ve been thinking a lot about this kind of post, and if I want to do something similar..You know what…2012 has been my worst year ever in my life. Full of sickness, treatments, hospital visit for about a forth of the year. It’s been a year full of scary things, challenges, canceled/reduced timed trips and so on.

I started off the year working some, went to the States for about two weeks (visited relatives in northern part of the States, skied, did road trips, and visited friends). So far, pretty good. Winter became early spring and I got more and more sick. In the end of April, I wasn’t allowed to work anymore due to health (according to nurses and doctors). In the beginning of May I was taken to the emergency room and then had to stay in the hospital. I had no choice to leave (according to the law). I stayed in the hospital May through July with just a few permissions so I could, for example, celebrate my cousin’s graduation in mid June and celebrate Midsummer with my love, family, and friends. I fought really hard to be able to be released in the end of July (earlier than some treatment people really wanted me to), and I was. Then it was August and I was not able to work. Still. Or I worked really hard, but treatment-wise, which I have been doing the whole fall, and still am. In the end of August/beginning of September, I was allowed to leave the country for a long weekend in Ireland which was gonna be the highlight of 2012! My love and I attended the most amazing wedding between two of our friends, in the countryside of Ireland. It was so much fun and I also sang and played the piano during the wedding, which was a huge honor! Another friend of mine got married just a couple of weeks before, so August was pretty much a wedding month. So I have had some glimpses of fun and life during the year.

I’m in the States now and I’m so thankful that I can be here. Been celebrating Christmas and about to cheer in the New Year. I’m gonna celebrate that 2013 will start, and be happy about leaving 2012 behind. A year when I was about to die. A year when I had to celebrate my 28th b-day in the hospital with three nurses coming in to my room singing to me (although I got permission to leave for some hours, and my parents and my love took me out to my favorite place – the archipelago). A year when I had to cancel a trip to Paris because I was too sick…Too much negative stuff.

2013, I welcome you warmly. Even though I’ll continue my treatments in the beginning of the year, and probably during the whole spring, I can’t wait for other life changing plans to begin. Something to help me start over. I have some huge projects in my life right now. Future plans that I still keep for myself right now since it’s not all set. But as soon it is, I’ll let you know. Pretty soon, I hope.

Although 2012 has been a year of hell (with a few positive glimpses), I believe in 2013. It can only get better and better. I’m happy to be alive, and all my experiences has just made me grow even more as a human being. I have written a really hard passage in my life book, and I’m hopefully close to the end of that, and to the next chapter to begin and what it all will bring.

I wish you all a Happy New Year filled with amazing moments, good health, and with dreams coming true!

Love.

20121229-101029.jpg

the past few months

August 1, 2012

i haven’t really been active here lately (except the past few days or so), and i wrote a post in the beginning of july (link) telling you all that i’ve been busy with other things and that i’ll one day share my story. that day hasn’t come yet though, since i’m still in the middle of everything right now. what i can tell you is that i’m sick and i’ve been to the hospital for about three months. it’s been really tough and i was close to dying, BUT i’m alive and back home now and will continue being that.

in the midst of everything i’ve been able to do some fun things such as…

…spending a little time in the archipelago on my birthday in the end of may. 

…hugging my cousin when he graduated from high school

…celebrating midsummer with flowers in my hair

… just being in the archipelago with my love, family, relatives, and friends – people i love.

… and eating ice cream which i haven’t done in ages.
it was yummy and i might actually like it. cool.

it’s so important to focus on the positive things in your life. make sure to have good people around you, do what you like to do, take care of yourself, and the most important – breathe. it’s easier said than done many times, but it doesn’t have to be any “big” thing. i’m ok right now, getting help in other ways than staying/living in the hospital and trying to take care of myself and focus on positive things.

love.

a tiny note from me.

July 3, 2012

it’s been a while since i wrote a post here and the reason is that i’ve been busy with other things. i’m alive which i’m deeply thankful for but i will come back here when i’m feeling even better.

one day, i’ll share my story.

love.