Reflecting on 2024

2024 was a year of note. Like most others it contained all the months, weeks, days and hours that the other ones have. However this year was wildly challenging for me, in so many ways. Personally there were many life changes and some big financial stressors. However here towards the end of the year things got really hard before they started to get better.

Now as I sit and reflect over the year I am in awe that I am still standing and that after all, I survived it all. My psoriasis was particularly challenging this year and has put me through my paces. I have made some great changes though and feel proud of that. After a good rest I am sure to be ready to face 2025.

A year for flares

Over the last few years I have been lucky and mostly gone into major remission in the summer months. However this year, I was not so lucky. Post-winter, it started clearing but never really got back to clear. With the constant barrage that was life this year, there seemed to always been a new flare waiting in the wings.

Whether is was emotional turmoil, a trip to the dentist, the weather or my bodies utter disregard for sleep. There has always been something aggravating my psoriasis. Gosh I am so tired of it all at the end of this year, and have been left feeling quite worn down.

Successes in 2024

Topical steroid use win

I have been needing to give topical steroids a break and been struggling to do so, and this year I got it right. I used one tube the whole year. Yes you read that correctly, one tube and only when I absolutely had to. There is still some left maybe an eighth. This is something that I am incredibly proud of. I have managed to do this without going into withdrawal, which is the reason I was so scared to stop using it. How did I even survive this you may ask? With a lot of patience dedication and A LOT of moisturizer and no steroidal creams. My most recent addition is a spray called Hypochlorous acid daily spritz. It is made my a local beauty brand called Silki and I love it. It seems to calm my skin down really well.

Mental health win

My mental health came first this year, and I am proud to say that it has helped me so much. Managing my mental health has so much to do with my psoriasis. When my mental health is in the toilet it affects me so badly and can quickly send my skin into flare. While there were times this year that I really struggled, instead of totally falling apart, I went into hibernation mode and processed and got up stronger each time. For this I am also really proud. I do feel that this will be a continued work in progress and not something that has an end date.

The end of the year can be hard as we reflect and miss those who have left us along the way. I can only pray that they have all found peace and that I will continue to go on and create my own peace.

Looking forward to 2025

What will 2025 hold, who knows, my one big goal is to get my weight and health under control and celebrate being 40, continuing my mental health journey and also staying on top of my psoriasis care. I would like to live a little more and laugh a little more I think.

How was your 2024 year? Has your psoriasis improved, stayed the same or gotten worse?