In 15 years of writing for The CP Diary, I think I've written to myself twice. Today, I’m doing it again, hoping it might help me process what I’m facing. Growing older with cerebral palsy isn’t easy.

This Is My Letter:

"You know that living with cerebral palsy means every day comes with its own set of challenges. Some days, you feel strong and capable. Other days, it physically reminds you just how much effort it takes to do things that others don't even think about – like eating a meal without discomfort or managing the stress that builds up from everyday struggles and has a knock effect of your digestion again.

The Digestion Battle

One thing that often goes unnoticed, which many people don't know or understand, is how cerebral palsy affects your digestion. Cerebral Palsy isn't just about mobility – your muscles don’t co-operate when it comes to eating and processing food. For years you've had acid reflux to deal with and that physically catches you out and through stress makes it worse. But these days you're doing better with the reflux. Other days, constipation makes you feel sluggish and uncomfortable. You try to be mindful of what you eat, but even that doesn’t always guarantee you a smooth day, particularly when you have stress to deal with and your IBS plays up.

Some things that can help you include:

Eating smaller meals

Large meals can overwhelm your digestive system, so you should break them into smaller portions.

Drinking lots of water

Hydration helps prevent constipation and keeps digestion moving smoothly. Try to get yourself into a better routine so that you are hydrated.

Choosing the right foods

Fibre rich foods like fruits and whole grains help, but you must also be careful with anything that might upset your stomach.

The Stress Factor

Stress is another constant battle. Stress builds when your body won’t do what your body needs to, when you feel exhausted from trying to work things out, or the extra effort it takes to get through the day. Of course, your stress makes your digestion worse, sometimes feeling like a never-ending cycle.

You love to write and are fond of that, but you need a distraction that doesn't keep you focused on your mind, your anxiety. Since you moved further out to the countryside, being outside in the garden has become your happy place. It's the place where you don't have to think, worry, or become anxious. It is your happy place. It's where you get to clear your head of thoughts, worries and concerns, brought about through Anxiety and autism.

Finding Balance

A day without digestion issues? Well that’s a win. A sluggish bowel that doesn’t leave you feeling awful, drained and ill? Another step forward.

You need to put yourself first, something 'you have never done' and you need to Listen to YOU."