Dyslexia, Being Sick And The ‘Anger Monster’

Being sick is never fun, right? But have you ever noticed how it can turn up the volume on dyslexic challenges? I found myself stuck in bed, feeling like a soggy tissue, and my usual reading and focus troubles took on new life.

In this episode, I explore how physical illness can make dyslexia symptoms flare up. I talk about brain fog, mental fatigue, and why the smallest distractions can become full-blown hurdles. If you’ve ever wondered whether feeling under the weather has an impact on your dyslexia, you’re not alone. Here’s a quick look at what I discovered before I finally started feeling human again.

Being Sick & Dyslexia Awareness

It’s easy to overlook how connected our bodies and minds are. When your immune system is working overtime, your brain might face a few roadblocks. You might lose your train of thought more often or read the same sentence three times, only to realise you have no clue what it said.

I used to think dyslexia was all about letters flipping around and words blending together. Now I see that’s just a part of the story. When your energy levels dip, it feels like your usual coping strategies need more effort, and everything becomes that little bit harder.

The Fog That Rolls In

Brain fog is that sense of haze you get when your mind refuses to cooperate. For someone with dyslexia, brain fog can be a real pain. It can make once-simple tasks feel like algebra equations written in invisible ink. I'd sit down to answer an email and forget what I was writing halfway through the first sentence.

Stress amps this up even more. When you’re unwell, you’re extra sensitive to everyday pressures, like a phone call you don’t want to make or a text you keep putting off. All those little tasks pile up. It’s the perfect storm of feeling lousy and losing mental clarity, which can make you wonder if you still remember how to read in the first place.

Keeping Calm & Carrying On

When I finally recognised how illness intensified my dyslexic tendencies, I started looking for ways to stay afloat. The biggest shift came from letting go of unrealistic expectations.

Instead of pushing through loads of tasks, I tried to:

• Prioritise rest above everything.
• Give myself tight but realistic deadlines.
• Keep a notepad by my bed for those fleeting bright ideas.
• Allow more time to read or write essential messages.

I also told close friends and family I was having a rough few days. Once they knew what was going on, they helped pick up the slack or just offered a kind word, which makes a huge difference.

Lessons From My Sickbed

Illness has a way of reminding us how vulnerable we can feel. It also reveals places in our day-to-day life where we rely on our normal routines to keep the wheels turning. When those routines break, everything feels shaky. Yet, this forced pause can lead to insights that might help in the long run.

Reflecting on my own experience, I noticed that my dyslexia is more than just an occasional stumbling block. It's part of how I process the world. When I’m healthy, I can manage it with simple tools and strategies. When I'm down for the count, I see just how much energy I've been investing without even realising it.

“It's amazing how your brain just shuts down when your body is under the weather. I'd try to think straight, and my mind would just wander off to take a nap.”

Hearing this during the podcast made me laugh. It captured exactly how I felt. Sometimes, when you're too tired to focus, laughter is the only relief. It reminds you you're not alone in battling this weird mix of runny noses and dyslexic detours.

Wrapping Up: The Silver Lining

Getting sick isn’t something you’d ever choose, but it can give you a fresh appreciation for the usual coping strategies that keep you on track. If you can get through a week feeling like a zombie and still manage the basics, that’s a testament to your resilience.

It also highlights how important it is to be kind to yourself. Dyslexia might make daily tasks a bit trickier, and adding cold sweats or sneezing fits to the equation can push your frustration levels to the max. Yet, you get through it. And once you’re healthy again, you might find new ways to manage your dyslexia even better than before.

• Physical health and mental clarity go hand in hand.
• Allow yourself downtime when illness creeps in.
• Build a support system that understands your struggles.
• Use simple tools like to-do lists or voice memos to track random thoughts.
• Celebrate every win – even the small ones.

There’s so much more to unpick in the full episode. The podcast player is right at the top of the page, so give it a go, especially if you’re curious about how to juggle dyslexia and those pesky colds. You’ll hear all the nitty-gritty details of what went wrong, what went right, and how I found my way back to feeling like myself again.

Ready to listen? Jump in and discover the surprising ways being sick can reveal your strengths and push you to make life a bit easier, one sniffle at a time.