Giorgia Soleri: “I’m not my disease”

Beijing Express in one sentence: «The kick in the ass I wanted to give myself». Giorgia Soleri she is used to not going around things, on the contrary, she always goes straight to the point, as is used on social networks, where she carries out feminist campaigns and awareness campaigns on the vulvodyniathe disease he suffers from, shares his mental health issues, posts photos of his unshaven armpits, and gets shitstorms to no end. On Instagramwhere she has 770,000 followers, defines herself as a «feminist killjoy e proud cat mama», while in life, for some years, the fame of activist has been joined by that of girlfriend of Damian David of the Maneskin. «But I’m not talking about Dami», she cuts short, even when we ask her what effect it has on her, as a feminist, to be defined as «her girlfriend». Milanese, 27 years old, today she also officially becomes a television personality, because with her friend she is an influencer Federica Fabrizio (on social media it is Federippi), form the pair of “Activists” who compete in the new edition of Beijing Expresswhich began on March 9 on Sky, and shot between India, Malaysian Borneo And Cambodia. On the eve of departure, Selvaggia Lucarelli attacked her (“So the pain that forced her to bed for weeks and didn’t allow her to plan anything (her words), is now no longer disabling but has become manageable, depending on the occasion which he cannot give up (Beijing Express)”. Words that Giorgia does not comment on but to which she implicitly replied with a long post on Instagram (“the will to live is stronger than any pain”).

Why Beijing Express was a kick necessary?
«Because before accepting I had a thousand doubts: can I do it? Am I risking too much? With the diseases I suffer from, it’s always a gamble, and then other useless thoughts came.”

Guy?
«Like: I have to behave everyone expects a sick person to behave. That is, that you give up».

And at the end?
“I told myself I’m not a perfect patient. I make choices consciously even if they are not the best for my disease. When the offer came Beijing I had just been diagnosed with fibromyalgia, I was really down. But then I said to myself: I want to have a life beyond the disease. I don’t have to refuse anything out of fear of pain, because giving up would bring me even more».

I can or I can’t physically: is this your first thought in life?
“Often it is. When I have to travel, go to a concert or an event I wonder. But there’s another aspect: I always consider the people I’m with, and I wonder if I want or can afford to feel bad in front of others. Life with chronic diseases is a continuous emotional balancing act».

How strong was the football of Beijing?
«Very strong. I was very lucky that Federica was there, the only one with whom I would share this experience. Also because she is used to seeing me feel bad and therefore I always feel at ease with her. Last year I had an acute attack of fibromyalgia that brought me severe sciatica: pain so strong that I hit my head against a wall. They also gave me oxycodone. Well, Federica and other friends took turns so I didn’t have to be alone at home».

What impact do illnesses have on your daily life?
“Depends. They are unpredictable diseases: in the same day I can feel good and suddenly very bad».

Have you found a way to live with it?
«Today, fortunately, thanks to my medical team, we are finding a more solid balance, not only pharmacological but also psychological. Many doctors tend to give you behavioral rules and then blame you if you don’t respect them: if you do these things then you can’t complain. But then the problem is mental health.

Because life is limited.
“Yes. Today I have an incredible gynecologist who encourages me to live. Once I had to go to the US for two weeks and I was in doubt. She simply told me: don’t you dare give up, you have to live your life, if you’re sick we’ll face it”.

During Beijing was it bad?
“Yes, and I couldn’t predict it.”

Did she reproach herself for leaving?
“Never. I’m glad I did it, indeed I’m nostalgic and even a little sad».

Why?
«It was a unique experience, with very intense emotions. On the one hand it made me stronger, because that journey, now going out to dinner is a piece of cake. But on the other hand I had a psychological backlash: it was such a beautiful thing that I always want to live like this. I wish I wasn’t sick.”

How did you meet Federica?
«She is my best friend, I met her on social media and we met in Rome, where I had just moved, in 2020. After a while it was clear to me that I could no longer live without her».

Why?
«He is a person who wants to feel good, it’s simple. I am edgier, more complex. And she knows how to take me: when I complain about my problems, people usually tend to look for a solution at all costs, because they don’t know how to stay powerless. She on the other hand is just empathic, she has an attitude like, man, I can imagine she’s tough and we can tell she’s awful. Point”.

Did you move to Rome in 2020 to live with Damiano?
«I can only say that I moved for love».

What is life like with a rock star?
“Like anyone living with someone who has made their dream come true, I am very proud. I say no more.”

At what stage is the bill on the recognition of vulvodynia and pudendal neuropathy?
«When we presented it we knew that there would be a stop because we were at the end of the term. Today we are raising awareness and we will not stop until all people have access to treatment. It takes many years to get a diagnosis. I used eleven of them».

What do you think of Elly Schlein? As a feminist, are you happy that you are the first woman at the head of the Democratic Party?
«I met her a year ago, she is a person who is very involved in social work. I can’t give preliminary judgments, but certainly the fact that there are two women at the head of the major Italian parties is strong news, despite the fact that I disagree with one of them. Women can replicate patriarchal dynamics: the thing that matters is not that she is a woman, but that she is a feminist ».

Was it a relief to arrive at the diagnosis?
“Yes. For me, life is divided into two: before and after the diagnosis. Giving a name to your pain legitimizes it. If before I thought I didn’t have the right to rest, now I know I can. It is also a social legitimation: now the others know too”.

Did your parents always support you?
«My mom believed me, but after years of visits and doctors who couldn’t figure it out, she too had begun to think it was a psychosomatic disorder. What then – and here we should open another chapter – psychosomatic illness is certainly not of series B ».

Do you remember the day of the diagnosis?
“Of course: it was September 2, 2020. With my mom we got into the car and we started crying”.

Why had she removed herself from social media at the beginning of February?
“My mental health has been reeling lately. The online comments had become intrusive thoughts. I read them and felt bad to see such hateful words. So I decided to take a break.”

And how did it go?
“Very good! Now things are much better and I’m back on social media. But the most important thing is that I’m learning to listen to myself. And that’s taking care of myself.”