Interview With Crafting A Path Through Illness – Germaine Hypher

An Art Therapy Interview With Crafting A Path Through Illness – Germaine Hypher

As May 12 approaches — recognized internationally as Fibromyalgia and MECFS Awareness Day — I look forward to sharing conversations with chronically ill artists, writers, and creators whose work exists at the intersection of illness, identity, survival, and expression.

Over the years through My Several Worlds, I’ve interviewed dozens of chronically ill artists and authors whose work reflects not only pain and limitation, but adaptation, resilience, vulnerability, and truth.

Living with chronic illness changes the way a person moves through the world. But it does not erase creativity, insight, talent, or the need to create.

Today, I’m honoured to introduce Germaine Hypher, the author and artist behind Crafting A Path Through Illness. Germaine’s artistry speaks powerfully to the realities of creating while living inside a body that requires constant negotiation.

MSW: Hi Germaine! Thanks so much for joining us today. I’m so pleased to be able to feature you, your advocacy work, and your artistry on MSW.  Let’s start with a brief introduction. Who is Germaine Hypher at Crafting A Path Through Illness?          

How to define myself? Having turned 50 this year but never having felt fully grown up, I’ve decided I’m now a vintage child! 

I live on the edge of the New Forest in the south of England. It’s a beautiful place that I would love to explore and spend more time in but, being mostly stuck at home, and often bed-based, I allow other people’s writings, photography and forest-finds to bring this experience to me. 

When not following my body’s frequent commands to lie flat with an eye mask on, I love all kinds of creativity – from growing plants and inventing recipes (both with practical assistance from my husband) to writing poetry, textile crafts, mixed media arts and (occasionally, when I have the energy) piano playing.

My days are also enriched by looking at, listening to and reading other people’s creations. 

MSW: Welcome to the 50s Club! I think I’ll start using vintage child too. It sounds like we’d get along so well in this chronic life of ours. Having read through your website, I understand that you have suffered from fibromyalgia and ME/CFS since a young age. Would you tell us a bit about your health journey?        

I first showed signs of illness when I was about eight, with frequent joint pains, muscle aches, fatigue, headaches and nausea. This gradually worsened and led to a diagnosis of M.E. from a paediatrician when I was twelve.

By then, I was mostly unable to attend school and was being educated at home. 

In my late teens I married a man who I had met when he visited our family home and I had my daughter with him. I was attempting to deny the reality of my health – temporarily being able to pretend I wasn’t as ill as I was and pushing my body beyond its safe limits.

This led to my health severely declining when my daughter was very little, leaving me mostly bed bound for a significant portion of my early twenties and predominantly housebound ever since.

The fibromyalgia developed somewhere along the way, along with worsened orthostatic intolerance. 

When my daughter was five and her dad left us, she and I required care in our home to look after us and keep us together (the alternative that was suggested was for her to be fostered out).

We were incredibly fortunate to have a great social worker who put this in place for us. 

There have been months when I’ve been able to leave the house in my wheelchair for a couple of hours a week and there have been years when I’ve only been out once or twice in total, if at all.

Having stabilised for a bit in my thirties, and even enjoyed occasional local weekend breaks in accessible accommodation, my condition worsened again in my forties. 

I am still predominantly confined to a horizontal position, and weighted by symptoms that affect my whole body, including all kinds of autonomic functions, any muscle use and cognition. Fortunately, most days I’m able to move a little around my house and garden.

When well enough, I enjoy sitting up to practice arts and crafts for short periods of time as regularly as possible. It’s been a difficult journey but also one seasoned with many joyous moments and much appreciation. 

Art Therapy Interview with Germaine Hypher – Crafting A Path Through Illness by Carrie Marshall

MSW: What a wicked thing these diseases are, but in a strange way, I feel grateful as they have allowed me to pursue things I never dreamed of before. It’s those tiny moments that I lived for. Can you tell us about your creative process with art therapy for pain and fatigue?                                             

From a very young age I’ve enjoyed creative pursuits. The more unwell I became in my pre- and early teens the more I turned to them as hobbies that I could manage with limited energy. Ones that could be easily enjoyed in bed or on my lap, such as drawing, hand sewing or polymer clay modelling, were great for occupying my mind and bringing  me pleasure when unable to do much else. 

The more I’ve delved into different creative practices over the years, the more I’ve found them filling a therapeutic gap for me. Just playing freely with colours or textures that call to me in the moment can be very soothing.

This can be for as little as ten minutes or so. Sometimes I have an idea of what I want to make or express, other times I’m just exploring. 

I find that examining pain like a painter studying their subject matter and deciding how to depict it can help me to experience discomfort more objectively. It encourages curiosity rather than fear, which can have a therapeutic effect even if I don’t actually bring the concept into physical form. 

I’ve often resented the severe fatigue, and felt frustrated by the ridiculous amount of time spent lying in bed with my eyes shut that M.E demands of me. Writing poems or producing artworks that not only represent this experience but, to an extent, elevate this enforced burden to a valued action helps me to better accept, and therefore accommodate, my body’s needs.

I make functional items that are a joy to use, such as cushions and blankets, with the same intention. 

MSW: How does creating help you cope with pain?

It mainly helps through momentary distraction from the intensity of what I’m experiencing. Even when the act of creating induces further pain, being absorbed in an enjoyable activity focuses my attention. I have to bear in mind that pain is a message from my body and distracting myself too much from it will only lead to deeper and more numerous symptoms but some temporary respite is an important coping mechanism for me. 

Another bonus is that I can sometimes use artwork or creative writing to externalise a difficult experience. If I can capture an essence of it as a visual or verbalised form I find it easier to feel less emotionally entangled with the intensity of the pain or suffering.

The physical sensations may still be horrible but at least I’m not adding layers of extra discomfort by feeling so trapped inside myself, alone with its invisible presence. 

MSW: Do you have any thoughts about how the creative process helps us with stress and other aspects of life with illness?      

I explore this quite extensively in my book, Crafting a Path Through Illness, as so many physical, mental and emotional aspects of living with illness can be positively impacted through creativity. 

The rhythmic movements of various crafts can bring about a sense of calm very like that of meditation. I definitely find certain actions, such as tearing paper for collages, can help to exorcise tension while others, such as knitting or sewing, provide a gentle and constructive outlet for nervous energy.

Many find crafts like these helpful when awaiting medical appointments or test results. 

Meanwhile, exploring our reality through art or creative writing can enable us to better adjust to our circumstances. Sometimes expressing our situation and our feelings around it releases tension simply by acknowledging the depth of experience.

We may choose to throw away what we have made once we’ve drawn it out of ourselves.

However, sharing these expressive pieces with others, if we feel comfortable doing so, can instigate supportive connections, reducing some of the isolation or misunderstanding that can accompany chronic illness. 

Creating anything reminds us that we haven’t lost all ability to effect change and yield positive results. Through making things we rebuild a sense of purpose when so much has been lost. We can also express our personality traits and passions, even if our body can no longer fully engage with them.

Our creations can be cathartic, joyful, awareness-raising, practical, given away or kept private, all the while speaking to or from different parts of ourselves that may have felt suffocated by ongoing illness. Through them we affirm our ongoing value.

We may feel consumed by chronic illness and have much of our identity reshaped by it but we are still more than just our health conditions. Remembering this is an important part of coping with illness related stresses, and our creativity actively demonstrates it to ourselves and others.

MSW: You mentioned your book Crafting a Path Through Illness – exploring creativity while chronically ill, which was recently published. Can you tell us what inspired you to write it and what your mission is with your book?      

For years I’d felt there was a non-fiction book in me about my experience with chronic illness but I couldn’t find the angle to approach it from.

Then, one day, a friend left me a voice note saying that she was fed up with all the books about chronic illness that only celebrated healing and recovery. She wanted to see those of us who don’t get better being represented and felt people would like to read about how I remain creative and live well with severe long term illness.

That sparked something inside of me. Her comments made me realise that my approach (along with the experiences of other disabled and chronically ill artists, crafters, musicians and writers) could help others in similar circumstances. From that point on, the book clamoured to be written.

I knew I didn’t want the book to focus just on me. My mission was to encourage others to embrace all kinds of life-enhancing creativity via a variety of relatable experiences, and accessible suggestions, as well as information about how the mind and body respond to creativity.

It grew into something much more encompassing than I had at first imagined, with the addition of optional exercises and projects at the end of every chapter, and taught me many facts, tips and approaches as it was being researched and written.  

I want those who live with debilitating chronic illness to be able to access a sense of fulfilment and empowerment, whether or not their health improves.

Hearing from readers about how my book contributes to this brings the whole endeavour full circle, in that my biggest creation has helped me fulfill my own sense of purpose despite being so unwell.

MSW: If someone picked any art activity from your book, what would you love to see them start with?     

Whatever brings them relaxation, self-expression or joy! 

Collaging and black out poetry are two activities I mention that are great for beginners as well as proficient writers and artists. (Black out poetry, for those who haven’t encountered it, uses any piece of existing text as its starting point. Colour over or black out all the words that don’t contribute to a poem or a message that you can find hidden in the text and leave just your discovery visible.)

With collaging and black out poetry, no drawing skills or mastery of complicated technique is required. The words or images are there in front of you to choose from and the results will still be unique, with the option to convey a meaningful message or emotional state as well.

I love to see all kinds of recycling used within creative practice and both of these offer that component. 

Germaine #WarriorWords by Carrie Marshall

MSW: What are some essential art supplies you cannot live without?       

Pencils and paper. They’re such basic equipment but with these I can doodle, sketch, record ideas, pour out heavy feelings and paint images with words.

As well as a mound of pillows, a generous supply of pencils and paper would be the luxury items I would choose were I to be exiled to a desert island. And needles and thread. I’d probably find palm leaves or seaweed to patchwork together and embellish with stitch. 

I have to admit my smart phone has also proved invaluable. I can record pieces of writing in voice notes or via the speech to text function when unable to use my arms.

The camera is ideal for capturing sights that I might want to use as inspiration later, as well as enjoying photography as an art form in itself. It’s also great for snapping pictures of partially completed compositions so that if the components get moved or I erase something I end up wishing was still there I have a reference point to return to.

And then, of course, there’s all the online inspiration it gives me access to.

MSW: If you could give advice to someone who is new to art and might be using it to help with pain, what would you say to them?     

Play. Experiment. Have no expectations of what art should be. Feel your way through. Do what brings you enjoyment while listening to your body’s needs. 

Don’t push through pain or fatigue in urgent pursuit of a finished creation.

Take as many rests as you need. Do it in short sessions and regularly shift your body posture, if able, to minimise exacerbation of pain caused by muscle tension or stiffness.

Be willing to take it slowly and trust that most creations go through an ugly phase. If it stays ugly or refuses to be what you wanted, perhaps that’s a therapeutic result in itself for you to explore. If not, have another go or try something else. 

Don’t aim for perfection but for enjoyment, temporary distraction and emotional expression – your skills will develop along the way.

Symptoms can make this a slow process so approach it as a leisurely meandering journey full of new experiences and self expression. 

MSW: What are some things you want newly diagnosed patients to know?   

There is contentment and joy to be found even within the difficult confines of chronic health conditions.

Creative thinking can help you adapt to your new situation (or a new understanding of an ongoing situation) and to accept your limitations while still living to the fullest of your personal abilities.

Life with chronic illness can at times be demoralising or scary but there is support out there and, sometimes, a brighter slant on the day is just a creative perception away. 

You are not alone! Even some of the stranger physical, mental and emotional foibles that you fear are unique to you may be part of the complex mosaic of chronic illness and pain conditions.

Explore other people’s creative offerings – artwork, music, books, poetry, blogs and social media posts – to find pathways that will help you feel validated, better able to understand your needs and connected to a supportive community.

There are lots of us out there!

MSW: I love those words! Finally, how can we support you, Germaine? Where can we find your book online? Where can readers learn more about you?

Crafting a Path Through Illness – exploring creativity while chronically ill is available around the world. It can be bought from Amazon and other book retailers, either as a paperback or an e-book.

It’s also available on Hammersmith Books.

You can find out more about me, follow links to listen to me on a couple of podcasts, and see many examples of my art and craft creations, as well as some poems, on my website.

Website: www.germainehypher.weebly.com 

Please do follow me on social media where I regularly share my latest work, inspiring thoughts, and creative opportunities within the chronic illness community. I’m always open to sharing other creations by chronically ill people there, too. 

• Facebook: Crafting A Path Through Illness
• Instagram: @craftingapaththroughillness
• Germaine Hypher on Bluesky: @germainehypher.bsky.social

Thank you so much for your time and energy, Germaine. I know your words and creativity touches many others.

Readers, I hope you enjoyed this MSW interview. Visit our MSW Interview page to see Germaine’s interview with dozens of author chronically ill authors and artists who are thriving with creativity.

Chronically yours,

Carrie