Columns

Learning to Accept My Body

Have you ever wanted to just tear all the fat off your body? Have you grown tired of the weight it bears on your self-esteem, and how every day it becomes harder to lift a foot and plant it in front of the other? What about being so frustrated from…

Turning Survivor’s Guilt Into Advocacy

Surviving a life-threatening event or other trauma can create guilt, even when others who’ve been through similar trauma may not have the same result. This condition is known as survivor’s guilt, and it’s an important mental health concern. A question related to this from an audience member during a…

Learning to Identify My Medical PTSD

Last week during a panel discussion, fellow columnist Claire Richmond, who writes for Porphyria News, talked about the effects of medical post-traumatic stress disorder. It took me some time, but I eventually realized that it was something I had suffered from, too. After reflecting on my own journey,…

I Have Cushing’s, but Cushing’s Doesn’t Have Me

I’d love to say that I’m always strong, but the truth is I’m not. Positivity is a look I wear well, but everyone has bad hair days. In my weaker moments, I try to remind myself that the beauty of being human is that we have imperfections, but sometimes the…

These Routines Helped During My Cushing’s Recovery

An advocate’s most important characteristics are authenticity and transparency. When we share our stories with others, it’s important to tell the entire story, not just the best parts. Journeys are not always beautiful. They can be dark, nasty, and ugly, but if you can persevere, rewards await you. Never lose…

Brain Surgery: The Second Time’s a Charm

The crisp morning felt surreal. Whimsical frost on leaves outside my window reminded me that life has its seasons. Some seasons we succumb to struggles that we think hold us back, and other seasons we live in celebrations of triumph, with knowledge that there is sunshine after rain. It was…

Navigating the Unknowns of Travel and Accessibility

Traveling with an invisible illness can be physically demanding and emotionally taxing. So much planning is involved, along with so much physical movement and running around. Being away from your normal element and comfort items can be a difficult transition as well. Living away from my home state, where my…