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Sensory Overload and Flare Audio

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Hello all,

I hope you are enjoying your Monday… well as much as you can enjoy a Monday.

One of the things which I really struggle with is sensory overload. Senses are wonderful things, but for me they can all become a bit too much. When there is a lot going on, if it’s too bright, too loud, too many people making it feel like you are stuck in an enclosed space and you just wan to leave. It is all very intense.

The best I can try explain it to you is  this: it is as though your computer has too many applications open and you are trying to get it to do all the things you want it to do at once. It is not going to happen, it starts to slow down and if you try and push through by just continuing, your computer will freeze.

It is the same with sensory overload. Try and keep going, keep powering through. Eventually you will stop. You will not be able to do anymore. You have pushed yourself passed the point where you are overstimulated and you have not given yourself time to process all the different senses going on around you. You have opened all the browser tabs you can while refusing to close some of the others to make space.

You have crashed.

With people it is very similar. There are different ways you can manage sensory over load. But by keeping  going ‘pushing yourself a little further’ is not one of them. You are not giving yourself time to regulate or reset.

Anyone can succumb to burnout, but for those who have sensory processing issues that tolerance is a lot lower.

One of the ways I manage sensory overload is through music. When on the way to work I will listen to music. But there are times when I don’t want to listen to music. I just want to reduce the level of sound I can hear.

I decided to try something which would do just that. I bought myself some calmer earbuds from a company called Flare. I tried the Calmer range.

A square cardboard pouch with Calmer written across the front.

The packing for them is recyclable as it is in a cardboard pouch. There was not a lot of excess packing either which is more environmentally friendly. The buds are washable and made from silicon which is again better for there environment as they are not a one use purchase. 

I got the clear ones, but in hindsight as a visually impaired person this was not a good idea. When you put them down they are harder to find. But they do come with a nice little bag for them go in when you are done with them. The bag is black and has a tiny draw string. Perfect for putting in your pocket.

A small black drawstring pouch with a 'flare' label on the side.

They are made of silicone which I normally hate the feeling of. But these ones are quite soft and squidgy. They are easy enough to put in your ears and they have a tiny piece that sticks out agains the side of your ear so you can pull them out.


I was a bit unsure of them at first as trying new things takes time. I wore them around the house to get used to the feel of them in my ears and it did help a lot. They were comfy once I got used to them. Eventually I decided to try them out on the train on the way to work.
Unfortunately they did not help dampen the sound. I could hear people talking and I could hear annoying keyboard clicks on phones (why do people leave these turned on? I presume some people do it just to be annoying).

I didn’t write them off straight away so I tried them again in work. I work in a busy environment. I thought I would try wearing them to reduce the background noise. Reducing background would be a major help to me so I can just focus on what I am doing, but unfortunately they did not reduce the background noise too much at all.

I put them back in their little bag at the end of the day and slipped the into my coat pocket.

While they did not reduce background noise as I hoped they would I was happy with the comfort of them. Once you got used to them you couldn’t tell they were in at all. Which is a major bonus when you are trying to find ways of working with your sensory needs to try make your day better.

If you are wanting to try the Flare Audio Calmer Range please follow this link. They come with a nice little carrying pouch and feel very comfortable. They do have some great reviews. They just weren’t for me. Flare has a ton of other options available for different needs. Maybe I just haven’t found the right one.

When I am sleeping I use a brand called Beary Quiet. These are wonderful.

Thank you or reading,
Philippa.

New Lush Stuff

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Hello all,

I this week has been tiring. I am looking forward to seeing a freind later on this week.

A little while ago I bought some new bath stuff from lush. Got some of the usual stuff I like, Blue Skys and Fluffy White Clouds and the Comforter.

But I also bought Rainbow. I have been wanting to try it for a while so I thought why not.

It is brightly coloured, just like the rainbow. Who’d have thought? The smell is very zesty- lemon fresh. I love how when you run it under the water it will make your hands turn blue, yellow, orange or red. There are a lot of bubbles from this one.

A bubble bar in the colours of the rainbow. Sat on a pink exfoliating glove. There is a bubble on top of the bubble bar.
A nice soak

I prefer bubble bars which are foamy because I love a good bubble bath to relax.

Relaxing is important. Having a good bath is a great way to unwind.

Besides my treat from lush I have listened to another audiobook. I’m going to make time to write about these later on.

Anyway, until next time.

Saint Ives

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Hello all,

I am back. I was off for a while feeling unwell so writing took a back seat.

We have just come back from our holiday in Cornwall. We stayed in a new house this time. Whilst we were on holiday the weather wasn’t too great. But it is still Cornwall, which is lovely.

No matter what the weather the colours are always stunning. You get a lot of Artists in Cornwall, whether it’s Rowena Cade the creator of the stunning Minack Theatre or Barbara Hepworth, whose sculptures you may be familiar with if you have visited Cornwall or the Hepworth Museum in Wakefield.

Peering through two sets off rock the right side is higher than the left. The ocean cam be seen in the distance. The sky is cloudy. Shot in Black and White.

Saint Ives is full of artists and it’s an amazing place to draw, paint and just be. The lighting hits things differently in Cornwall. More specifically in Saint Ives. Even if it is raining the blues, green and greys from the ocean look tinted with silver as the light ascends on the town.

I really wish I could live there. Here are a few of the photo’s I took this last week. 

This is a photo looking out from the  headland. Peering between two rocks over the cliff. I think black and white photography can be quite intense as it shows more detailing.

The is high, the layer of rocks in front go out to meet there blue ocean. Harbour of Mousehole is in the distance, to the right side.

We went out to Mousehole to have some lunch at The Ship Inn. You can walk from a car park past the rocks around to the harbour. On Sunny days like this one the see glistens as it is struck by the sunlight. 

Being Visually Impaired I find photography to be more accessible to me, if I see something which I think I like I can just grab my phone or camera and just capture that moment.


In my blog I have tried to share a few other photos I have taken to share with you one of the things which I enjoy doing with my time.

We really enjoyed our holiday and we are looking forward to going back soon. 

CVI

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Hello all,

Today I thought I would write about Cerebral Visual Impairment (CVI) as I have not written about this in a while.

I have mentioned previously CVI is the way in which my brain and my eyes don’t always communicate with one another. This means I can be looking at something but not recognise what I am looking at. I could be walking straight towards someone and not understand I am about to crash into them.

The CVI society describes it as ‘Cerebral Visual Impairment (commonly referred to as CVI) is a form of visual impairment caused by the brain not being able to process information from the eyes passing along the visual pathways in the brain. It is the commonest cause of visual impairment in children in the developed world.’ CVI Society, 2023.

Another issue is that I can’t visualise in my head what people or places look like. This makes it exceptionally difficult if I need to go somewhere new. I cannot go somewhere new independently. For me to learn a new route I have to do it a number of times. Even then I will still struggle.

A good way to think about an area of CVI, for me anyway, is to think of it as though you have gaps in your memory. It is just blank. Nothing there. I don’t know if this is a feature of CVI, but it is something which I experience.  

These elements make life quite daunting and very challenging. However there are ways around things. As I say, doing new routes multiple times. When you go out and are with someone try break down descriptions of that person. For example, what colour jacket are they wearing?

Tiredness absolutely has an impact on my vision, as I am sure it does for all of us. But for me when my eyes are tired I kind of go into auto pilot. This is where my cain is important. Because you are putting your safety  in the hands of tactile thinking.

My left hand holding out my long cain in front of me. Ahead of me is the sea on the beach.


The other day I went to get into the taxi, but I didn’t realise until I was about to open the door that someone was already in it. This is where it is very dangerous because you don’t always see things, sometimes until the last minute.

CVI is only one of the conditions I have. Please check out CVI Society for more info.

Thank you reading and checking in. I hope my musings have been of interest. 

Scoliosis and Community

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As it is June I will be writing another post about… you guessed it… Scoliosis Awareness.

I have only ever met 3 people who have the condition. One of them is a friend of a friend. The other is a person I know through work. They are both really lovely and it is nice to be able to speak to people who have Scoliosis as it can be quite lonely at times.

It can be lonely because people don’t always understand when you say ‘my back hurts’. People may respond with ‘oh… mine too’ or ‘have you tried Pilates?’ Please don’t do this when someone who has Scoliosis or, any chronic condition tells you their back, or something else hurts.

My spine hurts because it is so curved my spine curves into my shoulder blade. It doesn’t go underneath but it goes rather close.

The other person I know who has Scoliosis is my Mum. Her spine is not as curved as mine, but it’s still curved.

As not a lot of people know about Scoliosis is can be quite lonely. This is why it is important to share our experiences. So we can raise awareness and allow people to feel less alone.

This is important because it helps reduce the negative impact on your Mental Health. If you know there are other people out there who have the same condition as you then you can talk to them. Talking about things like diagnoses, pain management or even just activities you enjoy which are low impact. I joked with the person at work about the gym and we were both just like ‘nope…. Physio exercises are enough thank you’. These little things really do help you to feel less alone. 

If you have stumbled across this blog and you have Scoliosis please follow me on Twitter and join the community of Scoliosis Warriors. 

Heart Disease and Mental Health

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Hello all, 

I hope you’re all well.

A while ago I had a chat with the Lead Nurse for the Yorkshire and Humber Congenital Heart Network. We had a great conversation about the staff and their jobs and how they support people living in our region who are living with Congenital Heart Disease. We also discussed what I have been doing with my fundraising. 

So for this blog I thought I would write about the impact of Mental Health when you are living with Congenital Heart Disease. 

Mental Health is important, but I often wonder how much emphasis is put on it for those of us living with the Congenital Heart Disease, or those of us who are living with Heart Disease. 

One thing which may not be aware of is that the congenital heart service has a dedicated counselling service for those who are under the care of the Heart Unit in Leeds. This is pretty amazing. Let me give you a bit of an understanding as to why mental health is so important to people like myself. 

Living with a heart condition whether it is something that has come at some point in your life or you were born with it, has an impact on your quality of life and therefore your mental health. 

Here are a few things you must consider, if like me you were born with Congenital Heart Disease. 

It is advised not to get to get tattoos or have piercings, but if you chose to you are advised to keep the broken skin clean. 

Oral Hygiene is important, for the same reason you are advised not to get tattoos or have piercings. You are at risk of Endocarditis.

‘Endocarditis is a rare and potentially fatal infection of the inner lining of the heart (the endocardium). It’s most commonly caused by bacteria entering the blood and travelling to the heart.’ The infection is caused by bacteria getting into your blood stream and making its way towards the heart.’ This was taken from the NHS website. 

For this reason I carry a medical warning card. (I will be writing another blog about this where I will go into more detail)

Here’s something people don’t often think about when going on holiday abroad: insurance. Due to my Congenital Heart Disease I have to get a high level of insurance when I go on holiday. So it costs a lot more money for me to just go on holiday with peace of mind. The other problem with insurance is that a lot of companies won’t even insure me. That’s a nice thought isn’t it, that my heart condition is too expensive. 

Another way of looking at this is, my life is too expensive for these big insurance companies to want to cover it. That it’s not worth the investment of their company to cover the cost of my life. That really takes its toll on your mental health. Am I not worth it? I am not worth them making money out of me because they know they would lose money insuring me. Let that sink in. 

The other thing which can have an impact on your mental health, which you may not consider is family planning. Yes, pregnancy and heart health are obviously linked. But did you know that if you had heart disease the chances of you having a baby with Congenital Heart Disease is slightly higher than the normal population. The normal population has about 1% chance of having a baby born with Congenital Heart Disease. If I ever have children that goes to between 2-4%. It could be as high as 50% in some cases. 

Imagine carrying a child knowing you are at a higher risk of having a baby with Congenital Heart Disease. This does not mean you shouldn’t have children. There are plenty of resources and support available to those who want to start a family. Knowing that there is support is important. I suppose you could always get in touch with the congenital team at Leeds  and discuss any issues and concerns, but your Doctor will also be able to help.

These are just three things which can have impact on your mental health. Three very big things, which are either big life events, or things which stop you from being able to do what you want. Well, they don’t stop you, but they will have major implications if things don’t go to plan, mostly these things involve your life. 

I am not saying these things to make you feel woe is me. I am saying them because they are true and they can have impact on your Mental health because you have to be a lot more careful than others. It’s not as easy as just go an do whatever you want, because you can’t. You have to really think before you plan a holiday. I don’t want to risk Endocarditis so I don’t have piercings or a tattoos. No I am not boring I just read the warning label and decided a piercing isn’t worth it. 

Over the past year I have been cycling and walking to raise money for the British Heart Foundation and The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. I have just over 2 months to go and have raised £1467. I aim to raise £3000. 

In terms of miles I have done 943.77 miles. 

Raising the money is hard, but what’s harder is getting people to realise why I am raising the money. It’s not just about immediate implications of heart disease, it’s also the aftermath. Not being able to live your life how you fully want to due to the nature of your condition. This really takes its toll on those living with a heart condition. By supporting my fundraising you are helping to support those living with Heart Disease. 

Heart Disease doesn’t care that you can’t buy life insurance because of the Heart Attack you had. Heart Disease doesn’t car e you’re exhausted after walking up the stairs because of the Cardiac Arrest you had. It also doesn’t care if you want to have children. 

But the British Heart Foundation, the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, they do care. They care about supporting those living with Heart Disease, they care about improving quality of life. They also care about beating heart disease. But they can’t do that without your support. 

Thank you for your support with my fundraising. I turn 30 in August. I was born with Congenital Heart Disease and had open heart surgery at a week old. It was on the 21st of August 1991. My Brothers 5th Birthday. 

Donate Here. 

All the info I have got for this blog has either been through my own conversations with Doctors or from this handy website here. 

April Update

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Hello again, 

How are you?

I am dropping in to tell you about the last few weeks. 

It’s been quite difficult in some ways as I had a piece in the news paper about my fundraising. Talking about being born with Congenital Heart Disease is very difficult. It was hard to articulate my emotions around it and my feelings now I am going to be turning 30. Having my story shared in the paper was a good thing overall as it hopefully has allowed me to make other people feel less alone. 

One thing I have aimed to do with this fundraising is to share my story as it may help others feel less alone. When you are going through something as horrible as my family did, you are feeling alone. You don’t know what do. So by me sharing my story I hope to also make other people feel like there can be hope. Hope that their child can have a future. 

As well as raising the £3000 for the British Heart Foundation and the Children’s Heart Surgery Fund, I also want to encourage people to think about the long term impacts of Heart Disease. For myself it was just the beginning. If you have read any of my other blogs you will know I am also Visually Impaired. This has a massive impact on my life. Heart Disease is not just about your heart, it is everything else which goes with it. 

But this blog is not a woe is me, it’s a look what I am doing with the problems I have. I am aiming to raise awareness in the hope that others know that they are not on their own. That no matter what happens I hope they can find the support they need to live their lives as much as possible. I know I am very lucky. Even with all my other health problems. It’s about what you make of what you’ve got. 

Please do not assume that I am happy all the time, everyone has days where they feel down. Emotions are a part of life. If you need help I hope you can find someone to help. That help can even be in the form of just reading this blog to know you are not alone and someone out there understands a bit of how you’re feeling.

I have found it so moving hearing from people who they have in their lives who has a heart condition. It makes me feel connected to them in some way. It makes me really want to keep pushing on and raise this money. 

Me on the front page of the Yorkshire Evening Post. Headline 'I will be forever greatful'
Yorkshire Evening Post

In the past few days my fundraising has reached £1347!!! I have to reach £3k. That will be £1500 for each charity. If you can donate please follow this link. If you can share my page please do. Thank you so much for your kind donations in helping me to raise this money. It really means a lot to me.

Thank you for reading my blog.

If you want to follow me on instagram it’s @VisuallyImpairedPip

or my fundraising Twitter @PhilippaB 

A Quick Update

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Hello, 

This week I have been taking some time away from Twitter. That’s why my blog didn’t go up on Monday as it normally should do. 

Part of the reason for taking time away is the need to reduce screen time. Working from home is nice and I like it in some ways. Not having to deal with public transport. Not having to put up with people staring at me as use my cane, yes I’m Visually Impaired, I can see stuff- just not as much as I’d like. 

It has been nice not being on Twitter, putting my phone on silent and just spending time away from my devices. I’ve also had 4 days off in a row as I booked in some holiday. So this was the perfect time to take time away from my devices as well. 

Over the past two weeks I have found myself busy with work, which is another reason for me to have some much needed screen time. I get quite involved with areas which I am passionate about and then I tend to use up a lot of energy in doing so. Maybe this was a bit of burn out? Who knows. 

The other thing I have noticed is that I need to be kinder to myself with my cycling challenge. I feel as though I need to push myself more to get the miles done. Which I do, but I also need to remember that this is a challenge for myself to raise the money. I have been quite open about my Scoliosis and how it effects my cycling challenge. I am pleased with myself, I have raised £1087 without gift aid. The charity’s which I am supporting are The Children’s Heart Surgery Fund and The British Heart Foundation. I aim to raise £3000 before August 2021. Here is a link to my ‘What’s virtually happening page’. 

A yellow daffodil

So that is me for this week. Just a quick update. Be kind to yourself. Remember Spring is coming, so we’ll be able to play outside more soon.

I’m on Twitter: @PhilippaB

I’m on Instagram: @VisuallyImpairedPip

Checking in

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Hello, 

It’s a busy time of year again. Although with everything that is going on it should be a lot quieter this year. I am looking forward to Christmas, even though it will be different. 

Most if not all the shopping is done. I just need to wrap stuff now. So today I have I been getting on with some cleaning and I will be hopefully getting on with some wrapping if I have the time. The tree was put up last week so that is all done. Mum has made her centre piece for the table which is beautiful! 

Christmas is here

I have been a bit busier the past few weeks than normal so I have been glad for today as a day off to get some cleaning done. If you’ve been following my blog for a while you’ll know I have a page on here for my fundraising. I am currently trying to raise £3000 for the British Heart Foundation and Children’s Heart Surgery Fund. So I’ve been cycling on the bike in the garage and counting my daily steps. In total aim to complete 660 miles. It has been very hard because I have a curved spine and it causes me pain on a daily basis. However, it is nice being able to do something for two charities I am very passionate about. Click here if you want to know more. 

For now, I am just sitting here writing this. I knew I hadn’t written a post in a while and wanted to drop in. I hope you’re all well. 

In terms of wrapping presents I am going to try get that done this evening, but being Dysrpaxic might make it more difficult. I have a very big box to wrap and its quite heavy so wish me luck. 

See you soon, 

Philippa B.