Crocheting for Comfort: How One Woman’s Crafting Journey Supports Her Neurological Health

A crocheting community was born when Bethan Cannell made it her mission to #createalittleaday.

Bethan, who is now 27, had too quickly come to terms with a neurological condition unexpectedly.

Functional Neurological Disorder (also known as Functional Neurologic Disorder) is a condition that affects how the brain and body communicate. The symptoms include weakness, sensory symptoms, movement problems and convulsions.

Due to it being a functional disorder, there is no known disease process affecting the structure of the body, however the person affected will experience symptoms that affect their bodily function.

Bethan describes it as: ‘A human software issue’.

Bethan Cannell

During Bethan’s time at Ramsey Grammar School, where she was  completing her A Levels, she began to experience symptoms.

These included verbal and physical tics. After going to the doctors, they came to the conclusion that this was due to a specific medication Bethan had been prescribed. These symptoms were put down as a side-effect to the medication. Once Bethan completed her A Levels, the symptoms went away, with Bethan continuing on life as normal.

Fast forward to 2019, when Bethan suffered an accident which left her taking medication again. This then caused a flare in the same symptoms. Bethan went through the process of stopping the medication, as a pattern had been established between medication and the tics.

Diagnosing the condition proved to be a slow but humorous one. Bethan’s optimistic and resilient mindset, along with the support of her peers and family enabled her to make light of an otherwise scary situation to come to terms with.

Bethan said: ‘Over the next year and a bit, the symptoms were kind of just there, I referred to it as entertainment level, I’m someone who just naturally tries to entertain people. It’s not always the best thing.

‘It was obvious that they were there, but it was funny because you know I was trying to order chocolate and just keep saying cheesecake instead. It was frustrating at times, but it was quite funny.’

The Coronavirus pandemic had arrived whilst Beth was working on a Christian mission ship.

Bethan Cannell sporting one of her crochet creations.

With the whole world spinning on uncertainty, she made the decision to come home for her health. Like many others, this resulted in Bethan struggling to adjust to the isolation of lockdown.

The official diagnosis for FND was given to Bethan in August 2021. It began with her using a cane to support herself, she now uses a wheelchair.

Her condition has made it difficult for her to walk long distances, also resulting in her not being able to work.

After being out of work for nearly a year, Bethan made it her mission to set a different goal each day. The aim of these goals were to hold herself accountable for something and bring joy to her everyday life.

Just one of the beautiful pieces completed by Bethan.

After discovering a knack for crocheting, amongst other things such as painting and Lego, Bethan found herself doing something different each day. Whether it be a large project or a small one.

She said: ‘I need a goal that makes me happy. I thought well let’s try. It started off as just creating a little bit a day. For the last six months it’s just been crocheting.

‘But to start off with, it was a mixture, then the whole idea of posting, it was to kind of give me that accountability. Because if it’s just me by myself in my room, and I’m saying “Oh, I’m gonna do this every day, and no one else knows it’s not gonna happen”.’

Continuing on Bethan said: ‘If I post it every day then it means I’ve got that personal accountability. Not that someone’s going to tell me off if I miss a day, but it just kind of helps to keep it going.’

Through regularly updating her Instagram page (@bethan.maed) Bethan has created a Crochet community. Inspiring others to tap into there creative senses, even when life throws you a curveball.

Bethan completing one of her crochet blankets.

Bethan is on day 290 of #createalittleaday.

Bethan plans to continue on with her crocheting past the year mark, due to the positivity it has created for her and others.