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19 months y'all! I can't believe it, but I'm grateful that I'm no longer waking up with my eyes swollen shut, my face flaking off and my skin oozing. I've been monitoring my time on social media for my mental health and have been more diligent about my diet, yoga and breathing exercises. Winter definitely has my skin feeling dryer than usual, but overall I feel good. Check out the update for more details!
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It's month 15 and emotional healing, less stress and surprisingly being unemployed has really contributed to my overall healing. With theatre not being a career option at the moment, I've been able to take a step back and assess what I ultimately want for my life. This time of reflection has shown me that to maintain balance and optimal health, there are certain spaces that I won't be returning to when my field opens back up.
 I have officially been going through topical steroid withdrawal for a whole year. What?!? I have more energy, my skin is healing, and I've finally learned to find peace within the storm, which has been such a blessing during this time. I've been feeling guilty about being so okay in the midst of a global pandemic, but then I remembered how long I haven't been okay. As I see peers, colleagues and family struggle with anxiety, depression and cabin fever, I wonder why I’m taking this colossal transition the entire world is going through with such ease. The short answer is topical steroid withdrawal prepared me for COVID-19.
I have officially been going through topical steroid withdrawal for a whole year. What?!? I have more energy, my skin is clearing up, and I've finally learned to find peace within the storm, which has been such a blessing during this time. I can honestly say that going through topical steroid withdrawal has given me so many tools to evaluate and process my emotions in a healthy way so that I'm able to deal with anything that's thrown my way. I wasn't expecting a global pandemic, but here we are. I share some of what I've learned in the update, as well as how my health has progressed since the last update. Scroll down for some progression pics. Much love and until next time friends!
 I started writing this months before this COVID-19 crisis, and while I do want to address what’s going on in the world and how I’ve been boosting my immune system and staying sane, I thought it was important to get this post up first. Adrenal fatigue is a huge obstacle during topical steroid withdrawal, and I want to share the raw truth about my experience so you won’t feel as crazy as I have this past year, or at the very least know that you’re not alone. As I sit here having mountains of trouble focusing on writing about my experience with adrenal fatigue and Topical Steroid Withdrawal, I wonder as I have millions of times before, am I being lazy or is my inability to focus a symptom of the illness I’ve been fighting for the past 5 plus years? That question could be the slogan of my 2019. Do I need a break or am I not working hard enough? Am I tired or do I just not feel like working? Is it me or is it me?
I can't believe it's been eleven months friends. Topical steroid withdrawal take two has been kicking my butt, but the good news is I'm sleeping again, I have more energy, and my skin has been clearing up. I still have inflammation in all the same spots, but my skin has been smoother, less dry, and sometimes less itchy. I've also started taking Vitamin D which I think has been a huge help. Check out the update video below for all the deets. I've also added some pictures so you can see the progress and improvement of my skin.
 So about a week and a half ago I saw that For Women Who Roar (a dope platform you should check out) was accepting submissions to be published in their next print. The prompt was to write a letter to your younger self. I hopped on it, but unfortunately wasn't able to finish my letter in time to submit, because, life. Even so, I'm posting my letter here, because one thing I try to accomplish with this blog is being someone I wish I had around when I was younger. I'm still working through some childhood insecurities, to be quite honest, but this letter really helped me put things into perspective and honestly, is great advice for my present self, too. Thank you to For Women Who Roar for this amazing idea. I encourage you to write a letter to your younger yourself! It's a great exercise in seeing how far you've come and also how you can be kinder to yourself as you continue to grow and evolve. Check out my letter below!
 I boldly proclaimed 2019 as my year of leveling up and did in multiple ways, but boy oh boy, I was not prepared for how “leveling up” was going to manifest in my life. The best way to describe 2019 is it was a thrilling, terrifying, gratifying, frustrating rollercoaster with the highest of highs and lowest of lows. Last year was a big lesson in living in the moment, even when the moment is not what you want it to be. It’s a lesson I’m still learning and probably will be for the rest of my life, but in the meantime I want to share what I know now.
After almost nine months of Topical Steroid Withdrawal, I have abandoned moisture withdrawal (again), started acupuncture, and finally understand how adrenal fatigue has been affecting my mood and emotions. It's been a roller coaster friends, but I'm starting to feel better mentally and emotionally. I wish I could say that overall my skin is doing better, but that would be a lie. I'm dealing with hypo pigmentation again, redness, itching and of course dryness. What would Topical Steroid Withdrawal be without without dry skin and flakes?
I am currently in the seventh month of topical steroid withdrawal, and things finally seem to be improving. Returning to moisture withdrawal has significantly reduced the amount of flake-age, and I'm so grateful. However, I did use Shea butter this weekend, because I was itching like crazy! I'm learning that what my body needs varies from day to day, and I'm doing my best to listen and provide.
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I'm Lauren, aka Just Du Pree, and I want to thank you for reading. This is a space where I share my very personal journey healing from eczema and topical steroid withdrawal (among other things), life lessons I've learned along the way, and occasionally the thoughts of an awkward Black girl (no Issa Rae). I'm a performer and filmmaker, so if you feel so inclined, pop over here to see what goes on in my mind on the regular. If you like what you see, you can stay up to date with my work here. Much love, friends!
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November 2020
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