Spoonie Essentials

This post is sponsored: I have been given this product as part of a product review through the Chronic Illness Bloggers network. Although the product was a gift, all opinions in this review remain my own and I was in no way influenced by the company.

I'm going to get painfully honest with you for a moment. Having a chronic illness sucks. I have fibromyalgia and panic disorder, and everything that I do is controlled by these conditions. 

There are days where I resent having kids because I can't do all the things they want me to do. When my three-year-old leaps off the couch, fully trusting that I'll catch her, I admit that I've had to fight the urge to step aside and let her faceplant rather than suffer the shooting pains in my neck and back from catching her. I can't rough-house or play with my son like he wants me to because every joint and muscle hurts. Telling the two of them that we can't go to the park because Mama's having a bad pain day or that we can't go to a birthday party because my anxiety level is too high sucks. 

How about trying to explain to my fiance that I don't want to go out because there will be crowds of people or turning down intimacy because my hips and back are killing me? 

Having fibromyalgia makes life a living hell, and no one knows what you are going through unless they, too, are going through it. 

One thing that makes it a little more bearable is knowing that there are other people out there dealing with the effects of having an invisible illness. We chronic illness sufferers are known as Spoonies, and finding spoonie communities has really helped me keep a grasp on reality.

Needless to say, when I had a chance to review a Spoonie Essentials Box, I was super excited.

If you have someone in your life that suffers from a chronic illness, get this for them. I mean it. If I had received this from a loved one as a gift, I probably would've started crying. It's packed with some seriously thoughtful items that you'd have to be a Spoonie to understand.

Like socks. I have perpetually cold feet, and there's nothing better than a good pair of socks. The February Spoonie Essentials Box is loaded with awesome pamper-yourself products sure to remind any spoonie that they need to be sure to take care of themselves. 

There are also a couple of treats to help bring out your creative side. A cross-stitch "Happy Pills" bag and a paint set, to remind us Spoonies that we have to nourish our minds and spirits as well as our bodies.

Because so many chronic illnesses can't be seen, it's really up to us Spoonies to share information and spread awareness for our conditions. Like mental health. The stigmas are still there, because there are so many people who are uninformed about chemical imbalances and frontal cortex development and other causes for psychological illnesses. 

I love that the Spoonie Essentials Box came with some conversation starters.

Is a "Chronically Fabulous" tumbler, a "Chronic Illness Warrior" keychain, or a necklace with spare spoons really going to change the world? No, but they have the power to open dialogue so we can talk about our chronic illnesses and raise awareness.

Along with these awesome items, there are treats and snacks and candies for a little "pick me up" when you just need to #TreatYourSelf. 

If you know someone with a chronic illness, the Spoonie Essentials Box will definitely be something they'd love. Trust me.

Check out the Spoonie Essentials Box here.

Do you know any Spoonies that would love this box? Share my review with them!