Emotional Level

[Guest guest]

Hi Annette

Thank you for the insight.

Yes I wonder if it is part of the maturing process, or peer pressure.

I recall that initial Dermatology appointment like it was yesterday, in

reality it was some 25 years ago. Have I had psoriasis THAT long, a rude

awakening! I recall sitting in the chair of the clinic, viewing the other

patients and thinking, " This looks really bad! " Twenty five years ago

psoriasis was unheard of in England, unlike eczema or dermatitis, so it was

a new to me as everyone else.

When I landed here in Ireland, unfortunately I went through the same

ignorance, although at first it did not click. Blame thicko here for that.

Going into shops to purchase goods and seeing the shop assistants veering

away from my hands, I thought it was probably due to BO! Then going

swimming, only for the Life Guard to interrogate me, well the realisation

dawned.

Between my initial dermatology appointment and landing here, I got used to

having psoriasis, so to me it was normal. In fact I would so far to say, I

never noticed it!

Then by chance I was in the cloakroom at home and whatever way I turned, I

suddenly viewed my lesions in the mirror! Tell you I got one hell of a

shock! It was akin to a X-File, was that MY elbow, because I did not

recognise it! However I suddenly realised how 'other people' viewed my

lesions. If I got a shock and it was my condition, no wonder they thought I

was contagious!

It was a few weeks after that initial dermatology appointment that my Father

asked me what was wrong? He obviously could see I was not my usual self. I

told him and he replied, " Gill I would have hoped that by now, you would

have realised never to COMPARE yourself to others. You are as individual as

every star you can see in the sky! "

It took awhile, but I reckon my Father was right!

Love and God Bless

Gillian