<div><strong>It's my 41st birthday on July 8, which also marks 10 years since I became chronically ill. And my biggest wish is to have the time I need to rest, recover, and re-stabilize. </strong>
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<div>Hi sweet humans! My name's Margeaux -- but many of you might know me by my Instagram handle <a href="https://www.instagram.com/softcore_trauma" target="_blank" rel="noreferrer noopener">Softcore Trauma</a> . I'm a chronically ill writer, artist, and educator who is passionate about mental health, social justice, and community building. I’ve spent the last decade researching, writing, and educating about trauma, while on my own healing journey.
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<div>In 2016, I began to experience the symptoms of what would later be diagnosed as fibromyalgia: a chronic pain condition that causes widespread pain, brain fog, and chronic fatigue, and is intimately linked to complex trauma. Over the last six months, as my mental health has been in a prolonged state of crisis, my physical health has declined dramatically. I honestly haven't had pain flares of this intensity and duration since I was first ill.
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<div>With so many weeks spent in bed, I’ve now also entered a season of financial crisis. In order to gain financial stability, and a life, perhaps, with less or even no pain, I must hustle. And yet it is the hustling that exacerbates the pain, making it impossible for me to achieve financial stability and a body free from pain. The reality is: I need time to rest, recover, and re-stabilize so that I do not reach a state of total debilitation.
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<div>What's also become clear is that even on my best days, I have a limited capacity for work, and must allocate all of my time to creating content for my Instagram, as that is how I make my living. This leaves me with little time to work on projects that would bring greater financial stability into my life, including a YA novel I've been working on.
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<div>And so I find myself here, turning to the magic of mutual aid and community care. The money from this GoFundMe would enable me to take two weeks off of work so that my body can get the rest it needs to recover, knowing that I'll still be able to pay my rent in August. From there, I can focus my energy on the book manuscript, while also finishing a DIY version of my 8-week long course on intimacy for those living with trauma.
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<div>In order to do this, I will need to pay for someone to manage my social media for me. I wish I could simply take a break from posting altogether. Unfortunately, the platform's algorithm punishes you for taking time away and because this is the main way I promote the work I do in the world, and thus pay my bills, I cannot risk taking that hit.
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<div>Anything that I bring in above my initial goal will go towards hiring a business coach who can help me plan for the long-term and realize other dream projects that support your healing.
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<div>I truly believe that there is a life in which I'm in less pain -- and your contributions will help make that dream a reality.
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Margeaux's Rest, Recovery, and Re-Stabilization Fund

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