Ahh, the blustery breeze and falling leaves signal the start of my favorite season, fall, which means I sweat less since it’s cooler. It also ushers in Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month (#HhAM) during the month of November.
This year, let’s Stand Together to bring awareness to the condition of uncontrollable excessive sweating, also known as hyperhidrosis.
The Reasons Behind This Year’s Theme
The Stand Together theme I’ve chosen for this year was inspired by two things: a clip from the Rachel Hollis documentary Made For More and a T-shirt I found at Old Navy that says Stand Together. I don’t believe in coincidences. I believe in synchronicity and the Divine order of the Universe.
I watched this documentary back in January. I went by myself to the movie theater, and at the end the entire audience was standing and singing along to the final song, This Is Me by Keala Settle from the The Greatest Showman soundtrack. Watch the video below and pay attention to the lyrics.
As I left the theater that night, I was in tears. So many of the women in the audience had come with their friends, their arms linked as they swayed back and forth to this song. I didn’t have my best friend of 23 years with me that night. She stopped speaking to me back in March 2018 for reasons I will never know. Despite my numerous attempts to reach out to her and have a difficult conversation, I have been unable to speak with her and listen to why she made this decision. So that night in the theater, I felt deeply alone. Sad. Isolated. Ashamed of what I might have said or done to contribute to her feeling the way she does. I’m human, not perfect.
These feelings I was having felt an awful lot like what people who have hyperhidrosis might feel. I know I’ve experienced these same feelings with regard to excessive sweating in my own body.
The lyrics in This Is Me combined with Rachel Hollis asking her audience who attended RISE to stand up for their sisters made me think I could do something similar with regard to hyperhidrosis. When I feel bad about myself, it helps me to focus on others and how I may be of service to the world.
So, I’m standing up for you. I’m standing up for the men and women, boys and girls, and those who are gender nonconforming who have hyperhidrosis. And now, I invite you to join forces with me so that we can Stand Together for Hyperhidrosis.
How You Can Stand Up for Sweat
Do you feel alone because of your hyperhidrosis?
Ashamed of your skin?
Sad?
You’re not alone! 365 million people worldwide have hyperhidrosis. That’s 5% of the global population.
Now is the time to Stand Together. Stand up for your fellow sweaty brothers and sisters.
You don’t have to have hyperhidrosis yourself to participate in this hyperhidrosis social media challenge. You can support others and become an ally in the fight to promote hyperhidrosis awareness.
Download My Stand Together for Hyperhidrosis Image and Snap a #SweatySelfie
Right click on the image below, print it, and then snap a selfie of you holding it. Post it on social media and tag me in your caption – @mylifeasapuddle – and I will reshare it!
Use the hashtags #MyLifeAsAPuddle #HhAM and #StandTogetherForHyperhidrosis
Consider talking about the following things when you post:
- Who are you standing up for with hyperhidrosis (yourself, a family member, a friend)?
- How does your hyperhidrosis make you feel?
- Why did you choose to Stand Together For Hyperhidrosis?
Right click this image, print it, then snap a selfie. Post it on social media and tag me using the directions above.
What Else to Expect During Hyperhidrosis Awareness Month
I have a few other sweaty things up my sleeve this month, including a very special guest who will be helping me create hyperhidrosis hope and awareness one drop at a time.
Make sure you subscribe to my hyperhidrosis email list so you don’t miss the big reveal of my sweaty guest. I’m pretty sure you’ll love her just as much as I do!
Another round of bullets hits my skin
Well, fire away ’cause today, I won’t let the shame sink in
We are bursting through the barricades and
Reaching for the sun (we are warriors)
Yeah, that’s what we’ve become
– lyrics from This Is Me by Keala Settle
