Differently Normal NZ

20/04/2026

Long Covid's impacts on health, social, and economic justify a well-coordinated national response focused on prevention, people-centred care, and research.

19/03/2026

Many Long Haulers used their spoons in the development of this tool. Share this with your GP/NP, to help them better understand and better manage your care

Dr Mona Jeffreys from Victoria University Wellington has shared a very useful new interactive Primary Health Care resource for adults with Long Covid for GP's.

Mona is speaking about it at our April Online Group meeting, keep an eye out for the event on our page.

https://www.wgtn.ac.nz/fehps/centres/health-services-research-centre/recent-projects/evidence-based-management-of-long-covid/management-of-long-covid-in-primary-care/Resource-for-GPs-2026.pdf

18/03/2026

New data from the Ministry of Health estimates 185,000 New Zealanders experienced Long Covid symptoms in the 12 months ending July last year.

Read more ⬇

13/03/2026

With Covid on the rise again, it's important to mask up and protect yourself. StickmanCommunications has communication resources for masks and invisible health condtions like ME/CFS, POTS, brain fog etc. You can order them through us at Differentlynormalnz for Aotearoa delivery (Discounts for health workers, students and CSC holders).
In the mean time to reduce your risk:
+ ensure you are up-to-date with vaccinations,
+ wear well-fitting masks in crowded indoor spaces,
+improve ventilation,
+practice good hygiene.
https://www.rnz.co.nz/news/national/589319/as-covid-hits-again-new-zealand-confronts-its-pandemic-past

09/03/2026

March is

On this important month, we stand with the millions of people living with Long Covid around the world.
* Raising visibility
* Driving understanding
* Pushing for better support
* Help spread awareness

This show your support and learn more about how to manage long COVID and how you can support someone living with long COVID in Aotearoa: https://www.facebook.com/longcovidsupportaotearoa

🥰💙💙

06/03/2026

Six years into the pandemic and we still need more research for Long Covid.

While there is research underway revealing helpful hints into the mechanisms of Long Covid, including viral persistence and endothelial damage, so much more needs to be done - and now.

We need research into how Long Covid affects the body and into treatments, and with everyone's experience with Long Covid varying (there are over 200 symptoms), this means an extensive world wide commitment to understanding and curing this debilitating condition.

01/03/2026

March 15 LONG COVID
Long covid awareness. Want to advocate but lack the energy? COVID-19 Longhauler Advocacy Project (C19LAP) has you covered! On it’s Month Website it has a calendar of events and participation guides to help individuals and advocates prepare and participate.
It has daily graphics, profile graphics, posters, etc, to download. 'Fact of the day with youtube info'. There's a 4.5 minute video guide to the website. https://youtu.be/t48DSF7BCjQ?si=sO3h_KjUZ4dRklJs
All actions are designed for low energy
It is US focused, but it is still very applicable for Aotearoa.
the idea is that you can
Share or repost the daily video across your platforms
Add your own lived experience or perspective to the conversation
Elevate the content in any way you can across platforms
Follow them on Social Media and Share 'Our Fact of the Day' Daily Throughout March

27/02/2026

Life with lymphoedema means looking different, and needing to do some things differently. 'Average' people often just don't get it - making all sorts of assumptions - like that by putting your feet up you are being lazy and selfish, not realising it's an important strategy to manage your condition! These keyring cards give a quick way to explain it.

From our website, browse by condition - lymphoedema. (see link direct to this card in the comments)

19/02/2026

Having means needing people to understand the symptoms, limitations, and variability that it involves. But at the same time, the and can also take away the ability to think and speak clearly - making explaining it a real challenge - or impossible. As a result this is one of our most popular cards as it provides a way of explaining without speaking.

You can find these cards, and many others relevant to fibromyalgia on our website. Browse by condition < fibromyalgia.

12/02/2026

Well said. Thank you

CCI Support Stands with International Best Practice for ME/CFS & Long COVID.

At CCI Support, we align with international best practice guidelines for the management of Myalgic Encephalomyelitis/Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (ME/CFS) and Long COVID. We do not support the use of Graded Exercise Therapy (GET) or Cognitive Behavioural Therapy (CBT) as primary treatments, as these approaches have been shown to cause harm.

For decades, GET and CBT were promoted by a small group of psychiatrists under the belief that ME/CFS was a disorder of perception. However, extensive research now confirms that exertion worsens symptoms—what we now recognise as Post-Exertional Malaise (PEM).

The global shift away from these outdated therapies follows key reports, including:

📌 The 2015 Institute of Medicine (now National Academy of Medicine, USA) report, which affirmed that ME/CFS is a serious biomedical illness requiring urgent attention.

📌 The 2020 National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE, UK) review, which reinforced that GET and CBT are not appropriate treatments.

As research evolves, so must healthcare practices. CCI Support remains committed to evidence-based, compassionate care that prioritises the well-being of those living with ME/CFS and Long COVID.

For more information and resources:
www.ccisupport.org.nz

29/01/2026

Another little change I've made to the website is that I now have a category under 'browse by symptom' for all the condition explanation cards - so if someone has lots of diagnoses, they can browse through them all in one place. This photo is just a few of the many conditions we cover

19/12/2025

Christmas is an odd time when you have a disability. We've had to make new downsized traditions. Before Long Covid, I'd make it a big event: music, baking, Santa hats; I even wrote poems....it was very jolly!
My family know how much I love this time of year. They sent me this meme, which is accurate!
Being the Kiwi stockist for Stickman Communications has been a new adventure for me, I love how the resources help people advocate for themselves in a lightly humorous manner.
I wish you all a good and joyful Christmas, no matter how different it is to what you would like it to be.
Roll on, 2026, 🎄🎁🥰❤️🫖