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Thank you so much to Nicole from Coolncreative for nominating me for the Blogger Recognition Award. Nicole blogs about loads of creative activities and ideas for the young and old, which can be especially helpful at de-stressing and taking some time out to look after ourselves. Which I’ve mentioned loads of time before – is crucial for those of us with health conditions.
Give a brief story of how you started your blog
I started my blog back in December 2015 as a means for me to express my frustrating journey with a new diagnosis of hypothyroidism. I didn’t turn it to public until March 2016 because it was never really my intention to -I just wanted somewhere to vent and deal with my conflicting emotions, and writing has always helped me with that.
In March 2016, I eventually decided to set my blog to public and the feedback I received straight away from readers was crazy. Other thyroid patients were experiencing the same as me and feeling the same way as me. And that’s where The Invisible Hypothyroidism was born really.
As soon as I realised that my writing and personal journey was resonating with others and helping them to not feel so alone, I knew it was my calling.
The Invisible Hypothyroidism has given me more opportunities than I could ever have imagined. I’ve been on the radio, interviewed, on podcasts, worked with the BBC, republished across many other websites, worked with other thyroid advocates and leaders/experts in the field, I’m writing my very first book and I can even say that one day I’ll be able to do it all full-time. Right now, The Invisible Hypothyroidism takes up half my working week but the plan is to be fully self-employed with it one day. It’s my dream to be able to be the best thyroid advocate I can.
It has also helped me to build on my writing skills and develop my style of writing. My tone and voice have developed over time and I’ve learned a lot of valuable lessons from feedback too!
Two pieces of advice to new bloggers
To anyone else who wants to blog and write about their own experiences with any chronic illness or health condition – including mental health conditions – just do it. Write from the heart, write in your own, natural style and don’t you ever think that no one will be interested in it. I promise you, there are hoards of people out there who need to hear your story.
My nomination to now take part in this wonderful blog writing activity is Caz, at InvisblyME.
Written by Rachel, The Invisible Hypothyroidism
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Rachel Hill is the highly ranked and award-winning thyroid patient advocate, writer, blogger, speaker and author behind The Invisible Hypothyroidism. She has two books: ‘Be Your Own Thyroid Advocate‘ and ‘You, Me and Hypothyroidism‘. Her thyroid advocacy work includes authoring books, writing articles, blogging and speaking on podcasts. Rachel has worked with The National Academy of Hypothyroidism, BBC, The Mighty, Yahoo, MSN, ThyroidChange and more. She is well-recognised as a useful contributor to the thyroid community and has received eight 2020 WEGO Health Award Nominations.
I am the same. I dream that one day there will be a world where we can all be self-employed and actually all be given an equal opportunity to pursue our dreams and get paid to do what we love. It is very difficult having to manage medical appointments around work.
Huge congratulations on the well-deserved award, and some wonderful advice. It’s amazing the opportunities your blog has opened up for you; I’d love to earn money from mine for it to become a full-time job given the difficulty I see in future with returning to a ‘regular’ job because of my health too. Here’s to hoping… I definitely think you can do it, you’ve already achieved so much with it. Thank you so much for the kind nomination 🙂
Caz x
It was my pleasure to nominate you for this award. 🙂 I hope to one day do what you’re doing and advocate for my conditions, although it’s hard when you haev more than one.
I hope you liked my blog and Happy reading!