16 Feb Sex Work with a Chronic Illness
Posted
in Industry Knowledge
If you ever find yourself scrolling through job listings online, you’ll see that a lot of places will list their benefits packages before they even get to the salary. Perks like paid time off, sick leave, and health insurance can often be a bigger draw than the actual money you’d be earning. That’s obviously not the case for sex workers; we’re responsible for finding our own health insurance coverage, we can’t call a coworker to pick up a shift for us when we’ve got the flu, and you’ll see many of us working up until the end of a pregnancy. That is hard enough to swing when you have an immune system or body that functions properly, but what are you supposed to do when you have a chronic illness?
UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE
A chronic illness is a long-lasting health condition, typically one year or more, that requires ongoing medical attention, limits activities of daily living, or both. About 76% of Americans have at least one, and globally, one in three have multiple. They can be something fairly easy to control, like hypertension (high blood pressure) or conditions like lupus or thyroid disorders that wreak havoc on you regardless of how well you follow your doctor’s instructions.
Autoimmune diseases make you more susceptible to common illnesses than a typical person, treatments for cancer can often make you more sick than the cancer itself, and blood pressure medication can have sexual side effects that make life miserable for our comrades with dicks. When your livelihood is tied directly to your physical performance and presence, these conditions aren’t just health hurdles—they are direct threats to your business model.
THE SELF-CARE HUDLE
Getting proper treatment when you’re experiencing a flare-up or thyroid storm should always be your first priority, and preventing further damage follows close behind. What often makes self-care difficult for us is that we know we have to keep a routine for ourselves and a schedule for our fans. Neglecting self-care is harmful for even the healthiest of bodies, but ignoring it while you have a chronic illness could have you circling the drain before you realize it’s happening.
In this industry, stepping back is stepping up for yourself and your brand. Let’s assume here that you’ve gotten over that hurdle and committed to taking care of yourself; now you need to keep your business running while you recover. Giving yourself the rest you need is an investment in your future; skipping a week of recovery now can cost you a month or worse down the line.
MANAGING FAN EXPECTATIONS
You’ll probably think that your fans will be annoyed if you announce that you’re taking some time off, and some totally will be. But one of the great things about modern online sex work is that plenty of our fans like us for who we are as human beings and want to see us happy and living our best lives.
If it’s not too personal for you, be honest when you make that post or send out the mass DM to let everyone know that you’re taking some time to recover. You’ll be surprised at how many well wishes, tips, and purchases follow. Authenticity builds a connection that “perfect” consistency never could.
BUILDING YOUR SICK TIME TOOL KIT
Having a sick time tool kit in place beforehand is also key. If you know that you’re going to be down a few times a year, keeping a diverse lineup of secondary income sources will help cover you. Make sure you have a couple of platforms that you’ve uploaded your video library to, such as Clips4Sale, APClips, or IWantClips, and keep your subscription sites queued up for a few weeks in advance at all times. Knowing that you have a few sources of residual income will relieve a lot of stress and anxiety when you can’t be actively grinding for your bag.
PROTECTING YOUR PEACE
Most importantly of all, don’t beat yourself up over being sick. You’ve done nothing wrong, and you’re not being lazy or slacking off. Allowing yourself time to heal is the only reasonable option for yourself, your business, and your fans. Most of your friends and fans will understand and support you, and the ones who don’t probably weren’t spending money on you to begin with.
No matter what, you should always be your first priority. Setting boundaries around your body and your work isn’t just for your fans, it’s for you as well. Listen to your body; it’s the only one you have, and it’s how you make your living. You’ll feel better knowing that nothing will come crashing down the next time you’re sick. So, step in front of a mirror and repeat after me, “You’ve got this.”
Riley Cyriis is a New England-based indie content creator and mortician. She owns Cyriis Studios with her partner, Ryan Cyriis. She’s a cult survivor, a heavily-armed liberal, and the enemy of corruption and greed.
If you ever find yourself scrolling through job listings online, you’ll see that a lot of places will list their benefits packages before they even get to the salary. Perks like paid time off, sick leave, and health insurance can often be a bigger draw than the actual money you’d be earning. That’s obviously not the case for sex workers; we’re responsible for finding our own health insurance coverage, we can’t call a coworker to pick up a shift for us when we’ve got the flu, and you’ll see many of us working up until the end of a pregnancy. That is hard enough to swing when you have an immune system or body that functions properly, but what are you supposed to do when you have a chronic illness?
UNDERSTANDING THE LANDSCAPE
A chronic illness is a long-lasting health condition, typically one year or more, that requires ongoing medical attention, limits activities of daily living, or both. About 76% of Americans have at least one, and globally, one in three have multiple. They can be something fairly easy to control, like hypertension (high blood pressure) or conditions like lupus or thyroid disorders that wreak havoc on you regardless of how well you follow your doctor’s instructions.
Autoimmune diseases make you more susceptible to common illnesses than a typical person, treatments for cancer can often make you more sick than the cancer itself, and blood pressure medication can have sexual side effects that make life miserable for our comrades with dicks. When your livelihood is tied directly to your physical performance and presence, these conditions aren’t just health hurdles—they are direct threats to your business model.
THE SELF-CARE HUDLE
Getting proper treatment when you’re experiencing a flare-up or thyroid storm should always be your first priority, and preventing further damage follows close behind. What often makes self-care difficult for us is that we know we have to keep a routine for ourselves and a schedule for our fans. Neglecting self-care is harmful for even the healthiest of bodies, but ignoring it while you have a chronic illness could have you circling the drain before you realize it’s happening.
In this industry, stepping back is stepping up for yourself and your brand. Let’s assume here that you’ve gotten over that hurdle and committed to taking care of yourself; now you need to keep your business running while you recover. Giving yourself the rest you need is an investment in your future; skipping a week of recovery now can cost you a month or worse down the line.
MANAGING FAN EXPECTATIONS
You’ll probably think that your fans will be annoyed if you announce that you’re taking some time off, and some totally will be. But one of the great things about modern online sex work is that plenty of our fans like us for who we are as human beings and want to see us happy and living our best lives.
If it’s not too personal for you, be honest when you make that post or send out the mass DM to let everyone know that you’re taking some time to recover. You’ll be surprised at how many well wishes, tips, and purchases follow. Authenticity builds a connection that “perfect” consistency never could.
BUILDING YOUR SICK TIME TOOL KIT
Having a sick time tool kit in place beforehand is also key. If you know that you’re going to be down a few times a year, keeping a diverse lineup of secondary income sources will help cover you. Make sure you have a couple of platforms that you’ve uploaded your video library to, such as Clips4Sale, APClips, or IWantClips, and keep your subscription sites queued up for a few weeks in advance at all times. Knowing that you have a few sources of residual income will relieve a lot of stress and anxiety when you can’t be actively grinding for your bag.
PROTECTING YOUR PEACE
Most importantly of all, don’t beat yourself up over being sick. You’ve done nothing wrong, and you’re not being lazy or slacking off. Allowing yourself time to heal is the only reasonable option for yourself, your business, and your fans. Most of your friends and fans will understand and support you, and the ones who don’t probably weren’t spending money on you to begin with.
No matter what, you should always be your first priority. Setting boundaries around your body and your work isn’t just for your fans, it’s for you as well. Listen to your body; it’s the only one you have, and it’s how you make your living. You’ll feel better knowing that nothing will come crashing down the next time you’re sick. So, step in front of a mirror and repeat after me, “You’ve got this.”
Riley Cyriis is a New England-based indie content creator and mortician. She owns Cyriis Studios with her partner, Ryan Cyriis. She’s a cult survivor, a heavily-armed liberal, and the enemy of corruption and greed.
