14 sort of useful and fun things being hypermobile is good for

1) Reaching the bottom of a Pringles tube.

2) Shaking cocktails.

3) Reaching into your rucksack while it's still on your back.

4) Freaking people out for fun on public transport.

5) Baton twirling.

6) Back scratching.

7) Fitting onto packed tubes.

8) Seeing what's going on behind you.

9) Picking things up with your feet.

10) Turning things around in your hands to be the right way up when you're carrying too much.

11) Moisturising hard to reach bits.

12) Draining Pasta. Fancy pan-to-colander work.

13) Getting out of small spaces.

14) Turning a steering wheel.

10 simple ways to cheer up and combat stress

Being chronically ill is no laughing matter. It's stressful, tiring, draining, often painful, sometimes expensive, repetitive, frustrating...You could go on and on with the negative talk. However, every so often, I see amazing inspirational stories shared online, by charities or fundraising accounts about how people are getting on with their lives and about incredible achievements.

It's good to have ways to perk yourself up when you're having a bad day (or a bad week) so here's 10 good places to start:

1) Do something therapeutic. Writing is my number one therapy, as you may be able to tell. I write this blog as often as I can , and I also have a lifestyle blog which focuses on other topics. I've found lately that having a really nice notebook to jot down ideas in has motivated me to write more, and this is a big step to feeling refreshed when I'm having a down day, or when my shoulders have been throbbing for ten hours at work.

2) Find an 'easy hobby'. It's all good and well doing something like golf or swimming or taking classes as a hobby to take your mind off of your stresses, but for the chronically ill these kind of things can be a stretch. I've read a bit of stuff about 'laying down hobbies' which sounds like sex, but it actually means things you can just do while lounging on the sofa. My newest hobby is Pinterest. Laying and 'pinning' photos of amazing kitchens and beautiful home decor provides me enough of a distraction to start to feel better about my day. I can also do it in pyjamas in bed or while having a break at work.

3) Go outside. If it's a nice day and you can, go and breathe some outside air, even if only for five minutes.

4) Write a list. When you can't achieve much it's easy to forget about the small things you do get done. A list with even the smallest of tasks on is satisfying to tick off. Shower- TICK.

5) Arrange a moan date. I do this with my friends a lot. We literally gather in my kitchen on a Friday evening to eat food and moan. The moaning soon subsides to laughter and we make each other feel better. If you can't do it in person, do it on Skype! You can even have a glass of wine 'virtually' together.

6) Look into mindfulness. Meditation is something I'm slowly being persuaded to try. I can't say for myself that it's been of help, but my biggest stress is health woes and I've been told by about five different people now that meditation is the answer to feeling calmer. You can get phone apps for it, some for free, so I am going to give it a go. If it's amazing I'll obviously write it on here sometime.

7) Look through old photos. I am addicted to photos and picture albums and even scrolling through tagged photos on Facebook. Looking back on a time or even a single event where you were clearly very happy can remind you that it's not all bad. Good things DO happen.

8) Think about deleting some things that make you stressed. A while ago I culled loads of Facebook I joined about symptoms and illnesses because seeing these everyday on my feed stopped being a form of support and started making me freak out about things I didn't need to. I have re-joined some and found different ones I find more useful and it's much better.

9) Schedule in an hour a few days in advance where you do something for you. A facemask, read for an hour, have a bath, read to your child, go for a walk, online shop, paint your nails, have a nap. Whatever you fancy,

10) Try and have something to look at that cheers you up. Not everyone can continually fill their house with flowers, but what about a framed print with some motivational words? Or even just something funny. Etsy do tonnes of these. This is a personal favourite:

5 awkward hypermobile situations

5 situations I have faced with hypermobility.

5 situations that have been awkward. 

5 situations that I fully expect to happen time and time again. 

1) The public dislocation

 'Hi there, can you come pick me up? My hip has come out and I can't move.' This is a conversation I have had on the phone a fair few times. There you are, just going about your daily business, when suddenly your leg gives way and you can't continue. Not so easy to explain to passers by why you are awkwardly half-perched on a wall with limbs at strange angles. It's even less easy to explain this to colleagues when they watch your manager half carry you into a lift.

2) The moaner

Spending a great deal of time with someone who moans constantly about even the tiniest twinge of pain or treats a common cold like the plague can be awkward and VERY annoying. Deep breaths. It isn't their fault. They don't feel ill often, give them a break. It's easier said than done though. What you really want to do is bellow directly in their face 'YOU DON'T KNOW PAIN' and then just get back to your day, but of course hypermobile beings are of the thick skin variety. Most of the time anyway.

3) The 'phoning in sick' conversation

'Yes it is my joint again. No I don't have a cold.' Getting an employer who understands or sympathizes with a condition like hypermobility is tough going. The idea of phoning in sick because you have unbearable pain for seemingly no reason can be demeaning, awkward and frustrating.

4) Getting undressed

Having to ask for help getting jumpers, sports bras and sometimes even jeans off has become a normal part of my life. It's more often the tops, but being found in bathroom tangled in various clothes with the shower running and a shoulder half out of it's socket is all fun and games until it really isn't fun and games.

5) Really nice clothes, really weird shoes

Let's face it, when you have dodgy hips and ankles and are prone to knee pain, you can't totter round in a pair of Louboutins looking fabulous everyday. Comfortable shoes are everything. Receiving some strange sideways glances when your lovely dress is teamed with sketchers is absolutely worth it to be able to walk home at end of the day without an episode of 'we need to stop. Something's come out.'

If you have hypermobility and or EDS, come follow me on Twitter. I tweet resources and bits of my medical story. I tweet about other stuff too! @laurenrellis