By Wanda - As I write, there is a tub load of laundry in the dryer. For many of us there is always a tub load of laundry either in the washer or dryer. The thing is, both the wash cycle and drying cycle were labeled “normal.” Either one of your machines, and perhaps your … Continue reading There is No “Normal”
By Erin (Guest Writer) - There is often a reason why we get headaches: not enough water, too much alcohol, lack of sleep or even certain foods. Your medical condition can also be a factor in why you are suffering from headaches more often than you had been previously. These headaches are called secondary headaches, … Continue reading COPD & Severe Headaches
By Peggy - The pain will never end. I have failed. I can’t do this again. This is my fault. I’m overwhelmed. I’m hopeless. I’m helpless. I can’t figure this out. I can’t fix this. These are the thoughts that play in my head on repeat during a migraine attack when pain escalates. What do … Continue reading 5 Ways to Change the Negative Way We Talk to Ourselves
By Sarina - Chronic migraine is notorious for disrupting plans, preventing individuals from working, and overall reducing one’s quality of life. When my migraine disease became severe in my senior year of high school, my college plans went straight out the window. I had been dealing with migraines on and off since about age 12, … Continue reading How I’m Surviving College with Chronic Migraine
By Jenny (Guest Writer) - Traveling when you have a chronic illness can feel like an impossible dream. You can be struck by a whole heap of worries and doubts. What if I flare? What are the hospitals like abroad? What if no doctors there understand me? Will I be able to get the medicine … Continue reading Tips for Traveling with a Chronic Illness
By Liza - There are a small group of us within the R.A. community, who when the summer rolls round, you can hear the groans of despair clear around the world from whichever point you may occupy. You may wonder why. The spring and summer months are balmy and hot, whereas the winter months are … Continue reading Why Your Joints Hurt & Ache When it’s Hot & Humid
By Winslow - As a former early childhood educator, I grew very familiar with the game “Red Light, Green Light.” I can remember the children in my class excitedly running throughout the gymnasium with the sounds of their little tennis shoes squeaking against the floor. The concept of the game is to run as far … Continue reading Red Light, Green Light: The Chronic Illness Game
By Maria - We all have been there: having a horrible migraine, feeling like crap, maybe even nauseous. On top of that, anxiety kicks in to make a bad situation worse. When something similar to the cited scenario happens, we usually start hating ourselves and our bodies. We question things like, why does this happen … Continue reading How to Manifest Self Love when Migraine Gets You Down
By Robert (Guest Writer) - Dear Dr ______, I owe you a short note. I’m about to call a spade, a spade. I’ve been left in an anxiety dither for these months since I saw you in October. That’s why I haven’t followed up with anything. I was VA-stunned by deja vu when you asked … Continue reading A Veteran’s Story of PTSD & Headache
By Jeannette - Within the chronic illness community we speak a lot about the importance of visibility. We discuss the need to self-advocate, to have our rights heard, and the importance of speaking out against stigma, especially when you have an illness that has debilitating symptoms that impact our interactions with the world, but aren’t always … Continue reading The Vulnerability of Visibility
