I’m never far away from the hardship of what has been life. Not knowing I had Cerebral Palsy, let alone dealing with its many symptoms, meant I was exposed.

The more something is ignored and driven underground, the more that thing becomes exposed in other ways. My website allows me to talk about things, so those things are out in the open. I'm so thankful that unbeknown to me, the universe has now given me a voice.

Away from the Diary, my disability is still exposed sadly, but if I happen to mention something about my symptoms, it is at least acknowledged.

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.

Most people who read this blog

went on to read these blogs next
Date 26 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

Living with Difference

Seen, Misjudged, Rarely Understood For most of my life, I lived in the dark. Not because I didn't know I was different, but because I didn't yet have the understanding to explain why life always felt harder than it seemed to be ...
Read more
Date 24 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

The Hidden Effects of Loss

Some consequences aren't immediate, they're cumulative It's five months into four years through twin loss, and I've split another tooth. On its own, it's an ordinary event. But it's an event that made me stop and look back ...
Read more
Date 19 July 2026
Author Ilana Estelle

What Writing Taught Me About Self-Understanding

How writing became more than a creative outlet When I started writing, I had no idea where it would lead. I simply needed somewhere to put my thoughts – a place to make sense of experiences I struggled to understand ...
Read more
1 2 3 681

2 comments on “Still exposed”

  1. I can see easily your progress over the years. So much so that I am regularly exposed to your self assurance; I'm pretty comfortable with that.

    1. Thanks Tim. Yes, perhaps one cancels the other out and perhaps looking at and homing in on this particular issue, is something I need to finally accept.

      Yes, I think my self-assurance comes through living inside my head for as many years as I did. I talked myself through so much as a child, but at the time I just wasn't aware that is what I was doing.

      I'm pleased you're comfortable with my self-assurance. I'm comfortable with being self-assured, not in a way that boasts or brags, but enough to allow us to work through our issues together.

      To find the answers we need to basically function in our lives.

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Subscribe to receive regular updates

Enter your details below to be the first to receive updates on new articles on my blog.