Ever since I was first diagnosed with cerebral palsy, I have worked tirelessly to find out as much as I can about it, but the more I meet with a brick wall, the more determined I am to find out what I deal with.

Ever since I can remember I have always worked with logic. If something makes sense and I understand it, I go with it. The problem is that I know what I deal with is logical to me, but because there is little or no information out there, it's not always easy to verify my view of things.

I knew that when I started my journey, I wasn’t guaranteed a diagnosis, let alone an understanding of my symptoms, but in many ways, having both has made life even more frustrating. When we have no information at all, we tend to muddle through without asking questions and accept where we are.

Speaking my own truth for the first time brings a little comfort. Just having someone to listen for the first time, helps.

Ilana Estelle is a mental health and wellbeing advocate who combines educational insight with her personal experience of living with physical, mental, and emotional disabilities. She holds diplomas in Counselling, Diet and Nutrition, Nutritional Therapy, Psychotherapy and Counselling, and Stress Management. Through her writing, Ilana supports others in navigating their emotional, mental, and physical health challenges. In addition to writing for The CP Diary, her work has appeared in healthy lifestyle magazines. Ilana is also the author of three books: Cerebral Palsy: A Story – Finding the Calm After the Storm, Spirituality, Healing and Me, and Survival: The Covid Years – Time for Change.

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