Cosy, warm, cosy or just plain cosy? And what is it that I just can’t stop talking about? It has to do with my illness and being happy.

 

ES.. WHAT IS IT WITH YOU AND COSINESS?

For a long time I’ve PTSD (post traumatic stress disorder). I’m super happy now and can live with it very well. And what helped me a lot is… you guessed it right! Cosiness!

 

WHAT IS COSINESS?

Cosy: ‘giving a feeling of comfort, warmth, and relaxation’

A feeling of safety, warmth and relaxation. In Dutch there isn’t a accurate word for it. The word ‘knus’ is most accurate I believe.

For me, cosiness is exactly how the British mean it. A feeling of warmth, shelter, safety and relaxation. Bu how you generate this feeling of cosiness, is different for everyone.

For me, most of the time there is tea, chocolate, blankets, my dog Bram, candles, amazing books and me time involved. And.. of course, my drawings!

MY STORY

PTSD means feeling unsafe, anxious and all the other effect that are coming with it. They are different for everyone. Panic attacks, depressions, burn out(s), anger attacks and not being able to trust anyone were part of my daily life for a long time. A body can’t keep up with that, so physical symptoms appeared. I can’t handle stimuli like sounds, temperature and light very well and I’m chronically fatigued. Also, my body goed in ‘red alert’ with every suspicion of stress, which causes muscle pains, headaches, digestive complaints, shaking and other things like this.

One moring, I woke up and wasn’t able to get out of my bed anymore. I felt so fatigued. It was time to get help. That’s about 7 years ago now and for the past 7 years I got to know myself. It sounds cliché but for me it was the key to being able to live with my PTDS. I know myself, I know my body, I know my PTSD. Therefore I know exactly what I need, what I can (and cannot) do. I know exactly how to take care of myself.

 

 

COSINESS WAS THE KEY

Creating my own world, cosy, safe, warm and full of tenderness turned out to be important to me. I started with a journal, but instead of writing I drew. When I registered on instagram, and pinterest, I found this whole world you can create for yourself. I bloomed and my creativity started to flow.

And now I’m here. I love to draw, paint and let my immagination run to where ever it wants to go. I enjoy being a business owner and I love to make other people happy (and hopefully feeling cosy) with my illustrations.

 

 

IS MY PTSD GONE?

No, unfortunately not. I lead an adjusted life, but I don’t care. It won’t stop me anymore, I embrace it and I’m being the best version of myself WITH my illness due to taking good care and being gentle with myself.

 

 

YOU AND COSY?

What means cosiness for you? How would you describe your cosiness?