Nickely Challenged

Allergy & Lifestyle Blog

[nickelychallenged]

#tbt to the facebooklive video I did last weekend about dealing with discomfort. With allergies discomfort is part of the deal. When it comes to people's tolerances, rejection, isolation, craving, allergies, life. I swear where is the manual. But in all staying with your discomfort helps you stay with others discomfort and not leave people when they need you the most. When the turburn life chooses you.

[nickelychallenged]

This week has be such an annoying eye opening week. Being a creature of habit my routine was "leave home, gym, work, library home." Literally it, not going clubbing nothing really out of the ordinary except for that Jidenna charity event which was inside and didn't really get any smoke exposure. To this week just sheer pain. Like why sway. Body can we just work so I can at least go to the library so I can be productive. Mer! Even though I have nerve pain medication it doesn't stop my inflammation that I get from smoke exposure. So this week we are resetting our routine and when we aren't in pain everyday we can add more things through out the day.In this life, we will always have to reset our routine because worldly things aren't good for our immune systems. But we do want to feel connect, accomplished and progressing. But in all, the strength we have to just stop and see if we need to change our routine so we aren't next to allergens is seriously remarkable. We are flexible in the way we accept ourselves, be proud of that. #foodallergy #allergy #nickelallergy #multiplechemicalsensitivity #mcs

[nickelychallenged]

The last couple of weeks this has been so true. I feel like my allergy is a sure way to stop people from getting to know you. I am always told that when you meet someone don't tell them about your allergy. Ummm... I have to since that will be a factor if I have nerve pains or not. Also, I don't want to be disappointed if they are a smoker and they cannot chill with me showered and not smoke. I am also confused why my allergy should be a factor if you should get to know me. Like I am not a person. Either way, I understand people want to deal with what they know, but the problem I have is how does one sustain themselves with so much rejection. Like be allergic, but I don't want to here about it. Mute yourself but don't suffocate on your feelings. Mer! For the allergic people know that you have been with your allergy long enough, so you won't be the one who turns away when you are around someone who is dealing with any illness. Because of your willingness to be with your discomfort you are willing to be with others discomfort. You are remarkable in the way you show up in the world day in and out and how to show up for others. #allergy #illness #invisibleillness #foodallergy

[nickelychallenged]

I want to feature @nickeltestedbeauty this week. She is an Italian blogger who talks about nickel tested products. In Italy, they implemented a law that requires dermatological products to be nickel tested. And they need to be around 1 ppm (parts per million) or 1 ug. Unfortunately there are no dark skin foundation that are nickel test but I am happy this is a base and hopefully in the future we can start includieng all races in the nickel tested foundation make up game. #nickelallergy

[nickelychallenged]

My #allergyMCM is the funny @motokimaxted his energy is seriously contagious. Depending on your limitation, depending on how isolated you are in the world, Depending on how your allergy/sensitivity impact you daily. There isn't much room for emotional regulation. In all seriousness, I know we are all doing our best in this world, no matter if we have allergies we all have struggles. But that being said, if you have allergies/sensitivity on top of our struggles the expectation for someone to hold it together all the time, to change, to not do this or that is seriously unrealistic. We as human only have a capacity of dealing with so much and with additional health issues, our capacity doesn't increase it just gets pulled from other areas of our lives. So some areas will lack any control. For me it's my emotions, I cannot keep them in, or control them. But I know I am clear on why I reacted that way to someone who is with me. It's not you, my self-control is done today. I have eaten the same foods for the last 6 months, I cannot really go outside without fearing pain, and I am dealing with nerve pains. I am seriously confused where you think, the self-control for my emotions will come from. So if everyone is doing their best be compassionate to yourself and know even if you cannot control your emotions. You can be transparent and apologetic on where that emotion came from and that it's not because of them. Anyone who expects more of you and cannot do more to understand without an allergy is being very unrealistic. My self-control is just as much as yours I just need to use it in other areas of my life to survive. #MCM #allergy #foodallergy #nickelallergy #multiplechemicalsensitivity #MCS #life

[nickelychallenged]

Photo from Flickr by Silver Machine It took me a long while till I started believing this. After moving away from my families house due to the smoke exposure that almost made me bed ridden. I didn't know what to do with my sense of security that was stripped from me. The same of belonging as well as the willingness to feel safe. On top of that everyone, I asked for help would ask me if I asked my family for help. Ummm... yeah, it didn't work out so well. Every time I felt like I was the problem no matter how much I asked and pleaded no matter my health and live outcome people would be hold so much to their fixations. My brother or anyone for that matter saw smoking as a better option than a human life. In all, it took some time but I have realised that. People's perceptions are influenced on how much they need to change to keep you healthy. Our lives which we didn't ask for, comes with guidelines for everyone who has to come in contact with us. If they follow them, ignore them or don't want to deal with them isn't because of you, it is because of them on how they perceive your circumstances, if they want to help or if they want nothing to do with it. Be able to let people make this decision and be able to leave a place when their decision will harm your life. You as them are obligated to feel safe in your daily existence. #multiplechemicalsensitivities #mcs #allergy #sensitivity #airborneallergy #peanutallergy #perfumeallergy #perfumesensitivity #allergyquotes

[nickelychallenged]

Happy Sunday! #allergy quotes What does this diagnosis mean to you? Really. That what I told myself this week when I was meditating. Being sick and getting positive test results left and right. Is very stressful. On top of what you are dealing with you are expected to deal with more. Even before the doctor called my anxiety was through the roof like ... umm Universe you are putting way too much on my plate. Like seriously! I can to calm down and reevaluate. What does the nickel allergy mean to me? N I know it means nothing really. It changes my food, social interaction, anxiety, smoking exposure. But in a whole scope of things, it cannot change how I show up in the world. I still try my hardest to do everything I can as I am dealing with my limitations. I still love people in a way I don't' receive. And if this positive result means a new diagnosis I will still show up in the world as my fullest self. Trying to do what I can to remedy any situation that comes my way. Let me know if your diagnosis changes how you show up in the world? Not the technicalities. But who you are your efforts, your love, and your being.

[nickelychallenged]

Happy Sunday. Our #allergyquote this week is "It's not the load that breaks you down, it's the way you carry it." Last week a major life event happened which seriously removed 98% of my social interactions. And without having someone there then I needed to be by myself later to find out I don't even like being with myself. I don't feel like I am worthy of anyone else company or even my own. I know what you're thinking how can this be if you have an allergy that keeps you isolated most of the time. I know I know. Seriously I know. I can keep complaining or be hard on myself or whatever self-deprecating talk I had last week or even in the coming weeks. But I am trying, I am getting help to at least cope with being isolated this much and help me be more confident with who I am and my own company and take it day by day, minute by minute if you have to. I have to sleep at least 8 hours each day, exercise and meditate and wake up every day with a clean slate and try again. I need to use all my energy to not cheat on my allergy diet, or put myself in danger with my airborne sensitivity and deal with nerve and back pains on almost a daily basis. If the self-control slips out in other areas of my life I am trying my hardest and I'll try again tomorrow! Unfortunately, when we go through things in life we still need to be able not to cheat as we are crying all through the day trying to find comfort in something, or go outside to take a walk but you have airborne sensitivities. You just have yourself, you cannot numb yourself with anything like foods you like, people to talk to, places to go. You have you and in a way, I am trying to count it as a blessing. Because when I conquer the worthless feeling I always have. I swear I will be unstoppable. I won't care if someone rejects me, hurts me, etc. It's their loss. Let me know how you carry your load. I know mine is getting a little light each day. #allergy #foodallergy #airborneallergy #multiplechemicalsensitivity #mcs #smokingallergy

[nickelychallenged]

The beautiful model is @kiarapike photo from @jessyjphoto . Let's start with the #allergyWCW so reconnecting with people I have to tell them about my smoking allergy. Let's get this straight I don't care if you smoke or are a smoker since those are two different things. I care that you aren't truthful about it. If you smoke once every 6 months or ones every 3 days in a way you are a smoker and if anyone says they are allergic to smokers you need to be candid about your smoking history, so they know how to navigate themselves around you. You smoking 3 weeks ago in your house will give someone with smoking sensitivity since smoke stays in your house for as little as a month and stays in your furniture for way longer. It doesn't have to smell for someone to react. Literally cried when I found out someone lied since they didn't define themselves as a smoker but they smoke about 5 times or more in a month. Like umm... who how do I believe people do I wait a couple of months before hanging out with people. I swear! And being a smoker is not limited to just tobacco products, weed, hooker, vaping, crack, cocaine IDK if you smoke that. Oh and cocoa powder which is high in nickel. #nickelallergy #smokingallergy #smokingsensitivity #mcs #mulitplechemicalsentivity #wcw

[nickelychallenged]

Happy Sunday or Happy #allergyquote day. I got the inspiration from Charles Bukowski's quote "The problem with the world is that intelligent people are full of doubts and the stupid ones are full of confidence." This is so true when it come with allergies. We seem to be so doubtful about our experience because we start to lose the feeling of being "normal," when the people around us "seem" to have all the knowledge of what is really going on with us. It must be anxiety; you are probably over exaggerating, etc. People who actually aren't going through what we are going through will conclude to things they don't know since they haven't experienced it. People who actually want to hear you out will give themselves room to acknowledge that they don't know what is going on. We as a community need to be vocal, adamant and proud of our experiences as allergic/sensitive human being. We cannot put our all on people believing us; it's not their job, it is ours. This week I rejected about 30% of what I do with my allergy just cause my physical therapist said it might be anxiety from smelling smoke. I told her it wasn't the smell I get a reaction from the molecules attached to my clothes. I had pain for 4 days last week, on nerve pain medications that won't stop the pain. Friday was when I was like nope it is exposure, and I need to do a detox and wash my sheets since it is probably an exposure that found it's way to my sheets. Woke up on Saturday pain-free. Sometimes you need to wash, sanitize everything just to be healthy enough to go to work. People will reject something they don't understand but the few select people who know that they don't know everything will give you room to teach them.

[nickelychallenged]

FULL YOUTUBE VIDEO in the description ALLERGY IDENTITY CRISIS In a lot of our lifetime, we deal with an identity crisis, but little of us have to deal with an allergy identity crisis. When you start having a rash all over your body, you remove the security for yourself. When you start removing eating out you remove people. When you are removing touching you remove the ability to feel connected to any human being, only the ones who don't see you as too much to deal with. Yes, this is life! Yes, we don't get a pass on the other aspects of life that keeps getting thrown our way. But the only identity that defines me now is the ability to see another human being as a whole no matter their circumstance, limitation and isolation. I am able to be there for someone that the world sees as hard to love. #foodallergy #allergy #multiplechemicalsensitivy #mcs #nickelallergy #idenititycrisis

[nickelychallenged]

My #allergyMCM is @jaypfilm who is the most loving and compassionate man to his wife @jamieandniks. So yeah physical affection is seen as a sign of love. From a handshake to a hug, to a kiss on the cheek you name it. But for people with #multiplechemicalsensitivities or #airborneallergies this can send us to hell. A couple months ago I had to remove physical touch from my social interactions due to being allergic to smoke molecules that get attached to clothes. You don't have to be a smoker for me to react to you. You can hug a smoker, be around smokers when they smoke. Most people who want to be around me need to come showered, let's just say if you've been out and you need to stop by you need to go home and shower before coming to see me. In all with allergies and sensitivities, no touching without a shower is a sign of affection. #allergy #mcs

[nickelychallenged]

"Either you run your allergy or the allergy runs you." Can we take a minute to realise how relevant this quote is in our #allergyquotes series that I have been slacking on? You know life happens. April has been hard, I have stopped doing stuff for myself due to the demands of my life. So I have been running on auto-pilot. That's all great if you don't have to deal with limitations in your life and disappointments on a daily basis. My wake up call was when I went to work with a smoke exposure in the train and still hard to endure the day with nerve pains. So yeah in this life I have no control over my environment as much as I try to and each day gets harder every day if you don't start putting things that benefit you. Even though I cannot control my allergy I can control that my disappointments in a daily basis are minimised. Start your day with giving back to yourself. No matter what happens throughout the day at least in those few hours you accomplished something and were proud of yourself. #allergy #nickelallergy #mcs #multiplechemicalsensitivity #foodallergy #lifequotes

[nickelychallenged]

Today I gave myself a break no overtime. I woke up and meal planned the whole week so at least I don't have to worry about food next week. And if I feel less sore I could go to the gym and work. But I've been meal planning since 10am and it's 2pm. Yeah nope. Doing my hair for the first time in ages, my nails, Epsom salt and foot detox bath. I need the rest. #sundayquote #foodallergy #adulting

[nickelychallenged]

#mood literally left on the next stop to get on a different car. I am anaphylactic to people smoking in front or in a closed confined place I cannot remove myself from. Mer! This day! 🙄 #airborneallergies #nervepains Always rescheduling my life because of someone else ... mer! I think I should be crowned a monk cause I am accepting so many things and not lashing out. Like my nirvana is on point people. Lol Happy Saturday

[nickelychallenged]

#happyhalloween just so you know anyone with a teal pumpkin or bag has food allergies so a non food treat would be recommended. ➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖➖so lets start with a rant. I had a cold this weekend and of course right when I need to get a blood draw. Convenient 😒 in the mist of the allergic reaction and cold I still had to meal plan for the whole week. I've also been taking cinnamon and ginger tea twice a day to minimize the cold symptoms which works well but leaves me itchy. So yeah! Life giving us allergic folks a break is for the weak lol. 🙄 So yeah! I was thinking wouldn't it be nice if I could order in or grab lunch at work tomorrow. But nope DNA and it's wrath. I did adult to the fullest yesterday. Check your food privileges and make sure you treat others without the same privileges with care and understanding. #foodallergy #foodsensitivity #nickelallergy

[nickelychallenged]

This is how celebrities @deoncole take pictures with you when you tell them you don't touch people cause you are allergic to smokers. Mer! At least I got a pic was contemplating if I should say anything and how to say it and mer! Well he said he wasn't I am happy my allergy didn't prevent me from taking a pic. He was funny about it. You know the usual work day lol. I am the awkwardest person to live this life. It's not you it's me and my allergy. #nickelychallenged #smokingallergy