Ep. 62: Why freelancer Melissa Geczy finds skincare crucial in living with the daily pain of Trigeminal Neuralgia

TW: the subject of suicide comes up briefly in this episode.

This week’s guest is Melissa Geczy, a freelance editor and student, living in Puglia, Italy, who also lives with Trigeminal Neuralgia (TN). Very simply put, it means that on a daily basis Melissa deals with excruciating pain. Anything from a slight breeze touching her face, to chewing food to putting on her makeup is incredibly painful.

I first came across Melissa after LA-based aesthetician @labeautyologist, Nayamka Roberts-Smith, had shared one of her Stories. If you follow Nayamka you’ll know she is the creator of the #60secondrule - meaning you must wash your face for minimum 60 seconds morning and night. Melissa had posted about it saying that she’s a major fan of the #60secondrule and in this episode she says it has actually changed her life, because her skincare routine has become a luxury.

We also talk about the changes her career has gone through due to TN and how no-one should have to give up on their dreams because of disability - and she also lets me know that she doesn’t plan on giving up chewing any time soon.

If you know someone who might be dealing with TN or something similar and could benefit from listening, please share this episode with them. And please do rate, subscribe and review - it really helps BM be seen ♥️ TW: we discuss suicide briefly in this episode. For more information on TN and other chronic conditions, see below, and you can follow Melissa @melissagatesee.

Trigeminal Neuralgia Association UK: https://www.tna.org.uk

Facial Pain Association: https://fpa-support.org

Some Instagram accounts dedicated to chronic illness:
@dialecticdee - sickle cell/chronic illness advocate
@crutches_and_spice - Comms Director and disability blogger a digital space for chronic illness
@youlookokaytome a digital space for chronic illness
@natashalipman - chronic illness journalist
@asickmagazine
@ablezine disability without stereotypes
@sicksadgirlz #telluswhereithurts