Just Julia: A short story about eczema (FREE)

I promise promise promise it will be business as usual in 2024, but I thought I'd mention that I have decided to make quite a number of my books free including Just Julia: A short story about eczema. 

If you've followed me for a while, you'll know that over the last few years I have started to question eczema as a condition as I find it's used as a blanket term for one million different skin conditions (and a lot of the time misdiagnosed when it's actually steroid induced), with only one treatment being used to treat them ALL...

With that being said, when I initially wrote this short story in 2019, I did believe that eczema was one condition, and when I went to reread it recently, I didn't really know what to do with it. At first, I thought about editing it to reflect my new feelings, but instead, I have decided to keep it as it was written, because it seems right to do so – although I have amended the author's note at the beginning which is more in keeping with how I feel today.

Just Julia is a short story that highlights the reality of living with a chronic skin condition, and the impact it can have on your life – and not just how it feels physically, but the mental toll it takes, and also the reaction from others. 

It's available worldwide on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Books, Kobo, Nook ... and many more. 

Amazon links for Just Julia by country:

UK (here)

US (here)

Canada (here)

Australia (here)

Germany (here)

France (here)

India (here)

Spain (here)

Italy (here)

Netherlands (here)

Japan (here)

Brazil (here)

Mexico (here)

Other links for Just Julia:

Apple Books:

https://books.apple.com/us/book/just-julia-a-short-story-about-eczema/id6473766433

Kobo:

https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/just-julia-a-short-story-about-eczema

Nook:

https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/just-julia-cara-ward/1144449750?ean=2940179229520

Google Play Books:

https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=4HfnEAAAQBAJ

It’s totally free to download with no catch, and if you read it, I really hope you find it helpful or comforting.

Sending love and healing to you all.

Cara x

Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania Journals available now

Just a quick one, but I am excited to share that I've just published three journals for those who have Trichotillomania (hair-pulling), Dermatillomania (skin-picking), or both compulsions. 

Journaling was something that was very important to me when I learned how to manage my own compulsions with Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania, and I've essentially designed them with me in mind and what I would have helped me. 

Two pages are allocated per day. At the start of every day, there is a new tip, reminder, quote or empowering message to keep you going, followed by a series of questions to track your feelings and progress. The second page is left blank to write about your ups and downs, how you’ve been feeling … or anything you want.

Included in this journal are twelve weeks’ worth of days to track your progress and share your feelings. You can start on any day and write in the journal as frequently or infrequently as you want. 

As always, the most important thing to mention is that you won't magically be cured by simply filling in a journal (I wrote my entries on word), but they are something which can support you on your journey to recovery. If you feel one of these journals might be able to help you, and you won't be financially affected as a result of buying one, they are there if you need them. 

As I said above, there are three journals in the series: My Trichotillomania Journal, My Dermatillomania Journal and My Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania Journal. I will share the Amazon links for the books, broken down by country, below.

Amazon links to My Trichotillomania Journal broken down by country:

UK (here)

US (here)

Canada (here)

Australia (here)

Poland (here)

Sweden (here)

Germany (here)

France (here)

Spain (here)

Italy (here)

Netherlands (here)

Japan (here)

Amazon links to My Dermatillomania Journal broken down by country:

UK (here)

US (here)

Canada (here)

Australia (here)

Poland (here)

Sweden (here)

Germany (here)

France (here)

Spain (here)

Italy (here)

Netherlands (here)

Japan (here)

Amazon links to My Trichotillomania and Dermatillomania Journal broken down by country:

UK (here)

US (here)

Canada (here)

Australia (here)

Poland (here)

Sweden (here)

Germany (here)

France (here)

Spain (here)

Italy (here)

Netherlands (here)

Japan (here)

Sending love & healing always,

Cara x

Fancy That: a heart-warming short story (FREE)

A slight detour from my usual TSW/Trichotillomania-related posts, but I wanted to share a little bit of book news. 

Recently, I re-edited my collection of short stories, Thirty-Minute Tales (here) and have decided to share one of the stories from the collection, Fancy That, for free. 

Fancy That is one of my favourite things I’ve ever written. It’s (hopefully...) heartwarming – a ‘tail’ of two old men and an Alsatian called Zelda. It’s available worldwide on Amazon, Apple Books, Google Books, Kobo, Nook ... and many more. 

Amazon links for Fancy That by country:

UK (here)

US (here)

Canada (here)

Australia (here)

Germany (here)

France (here)

India (here)

Spain (here)

Italy (here)

Netherlands (here)

Japan (here)

Brazil (here)

Mexico (here)

Other links for Fancy That:

Apple Books – https://books.apple.com/us/book/id6463496545

Kobo – https://www.kobo.com/gb/en/ebook/fancy-that-5

Nook –  https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/books/1143996435?ean=2940167287570

Google Play Books – https://play.google.com/store/books/details?id=IibTEAAAQBAJ

It’s literally completely free to download (no catch!), and if you read it, I really hope you enjoy it.

Sending love and healing to you all.

Cara x

10 Years (T)SW

I was meant to share this yesterday (oops!). 

This is just a little post to share that yesterday marked ten years since I last used any medication for my skin and began my journey through withdrawal. 

For a long time, I imagined that on this milestone anniversary, I’d be celebrating in some exotic location, sipping champagne … but I’m too busy right now for that - and, in a way, I suppose that’s something to really celebrate. I’m living my life after a hellish drug withdrawal which ended up giving me back my life. 

Before withdrawal, I’d never have believed that I would be considered an activist of a cause – but here’s the thing, this process gave me passion unlike anything I’ve ever felt in my life. This iatrogenic condition has such a big place in my heart, and so I’m afraid you’re stuck with me until they blooming well acknowledge what we have all been through is real and NOT ECZEMA. 

To the beautiful people in this community who have allowed me to share their experiences either on my blog or Instagram account – thank you so much. To the people who have messaged me and shared their experiences – honestly, it’s been an absolute honour, and I have been inspired by your courage and I’m in awe of your strength as you navigate this hellish process whilst holding down jobs, being parents or carers … or simply trying to get through the day. It’s mind blowing. It might not feel like it, but what you’re doing every single day is an act of bravery and you should be so proud of yourselves.

It’s weird to feel grateful for something that nearly broke me mentally and physically, but I’d like to end by thanking the bastard that is our iatrogenic condition. Because of you, you senseless monster, I have made friends for life, been given skin I never knew was possible for me, and learned so much about myself and my body. It has also made me stronger, too, so yeah – I can say with certainty that I’m glad I went through it, and if someone gave me the option, I’d go through it all again if it led me here … but I’d prefer not to go through it again – just for the record.

As I enter my eleventh year, I am sending all my love and healing to you, dearest skin friends. May this be a year filled with skin freedom and joy.

Cara x