Q&A with author Daphne Self: “Never give up. There is always someone out there that understands.”

Daphne Self is an author whose books include fiction, a devotional, and soon, a book about living well with chronic illness. In this interview, Daphne shares how she uses her love of writing to encourage others and point them to Jesus, all while dealing with one of the worst cases of fibromyalgia pain her doctor has seen.

Daphne’s fourth book was just released this June. You can check out Alabama Days, the second book in a series, here. The book follows a paramedic, who has seen too much suffering to believe God can be good, and a reporter who both get caught up investigating a series of suspicious accidents.

Her nonfiction book on chronic illness will be available this fall—it will chronicle the ups and downs she went through when she was first diagnosed with fibromyalgia and chronic pain.

I hope you’re encouraged by this conversation with Daphne on chronic illness, faith, and perseverance.

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Interview with Daphne Self from Iowa, age 45
On writing, challenges of chronic illness, and leaning on God for self worth when living with fibromyalgia

Cassie: What is something you love or something God has given you a passion for?

Daphne: Writing. I love penning tales of broken people who find hope in Jesus. This eventually expanded into writing nonfiction books and books for children. And because I love art, too, I found another calling in making short videos of book trailers for authors. With each of these things—the writing, the art, the creativity—I try to use it to glorify God in everything I do.

Cassie: Please briefly share the names of your chronic illnesses along with a brief description.

Daphne: I have fibromyalgia, one of the severest cases my pain specialist (one of the top doctors in the state) has seen. I live with pain 24 hours a day. My regular, good days would be a 7 on the pain scale for healthy people. The fibromyalgia has also caused chronic fatigue. Along with these two conditions, I have chronic, intractable migraines. For years it went untreated because medications didn’t work…until recently. I was approved for BOTOX, which works wonders on keeping the migraines at bay. Of course, these conditions have caused secondary ones: IBS, interstitial cystitis, neuropathy, and I have an undiagnosed autoimmune disease.

Cassie: What is one of the most difficult challenges you’ve experienced due to your illnesses? How has that challenge shaped you? 

Daphne: Learning that I cannot do what I once did has been the most difficult challenge. Lack of strength and mobility has caused weight gain and loss of muscles. I see myself as undesirable and ugly, but I have to remind myself that I am loved by Christ. He sees the true me through all the imperfections. And knowing what I have lost has made me determined to find ways to help myself. I’m still researching the foods and exercises that will work for me. By helping myself, in return I can help others.

Cassie: What is something you would like people to better understand about your illnesses?

Daphne: It isn’t a one-size-fits-all. My illness of fibromyalgia, migraines, chronic fatigue, etc. have varying degrees. And when I try to push myself to do something, for example walk more than 30 to 50 steps, I will pay for it with extreme pain and severe muscle spasms that leave me in the wheelchair for a few days. I wish people understood that with fibromyalgia, my brain processes messages, especially pain message, wrong and misdirects messages to my nerves.

Cassie: What advice or encouragement would you offer to someone going through chronic illnesses?

Daphne: Never give up. There is always someone out there that understands and with today’s technology, we are just a click away. It will be hard. It will be difficult and you will cry, scream, get angry, become depressed, and everything in between. And that’s okay. But NEVER GIVE UP.

Cassie: What is something God is teaching you recently?

Daphne: To slow down, to pay attention to my body, to listen to Him and His direction for me. I am learning more and more, still having to remind myself over and over about things I have learned. Yet God is shaping me to help others because He led other people to me who have helped me.

Cassie: What is something you are most thankful for right now?

Daphne: Life. I am still alive. I can connect with others through Facebook, Instagram, etc. There are still things I can do with my family: video games, board games, movies, etc. So life…I am thankful that I still have that.

Cassie: Are there any resources you can recommend that encourage you through your chronic illnesses?

Daphne: There are a lot. On Facebook there are a few groups of Christians who support each other: Christian Women With Fibromyalgia And Chronic Illness/Pain Support Group and Christian women dealing with Chronic Pain (Fibromyalgia, Diabetes, etc).  

There are also a websites, such as Mayo Clinic, National Fibromyalgia Association, The Mighty, plus a new one I found, Sunshine and Spoons. 

There is also a book titled Chronic Love: Trusting God While Suffering with A Chronic Illness by Brooke Bartz that I enjoyed.

Cassie: I’m a bookworm and I have to ask: Read any good books lately?

Daphne: I’ve read a few! Mission Hollywood by Michelle Keener. I finished At First Glance by Susan L. Tuttle not too long ago. Inception of a Brigade by J.M. MacLeod and Into the Gloom by J.M. MacLeod.

Cassie: What is something else you would like people to know about you?

I love connecting with others and can be found at authordaphneself.blogspot.com and on Instagram: authordaphneself.

Thank you for sharing some of your story Daphne!

We hope you enjoyed this interview and learned something new!
We’d love to hear from you in the comments, so please let us know if you related to Daphne’s story, discovered new information, or have any questions for us!

 

Read more Invisible Illness, Visible Worth interviews here.

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Opinions and views are those of the interviewee. This blog post is meant for informational purposes only and is not intended as medical advice.

 

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