Raise awareness about chronic illnesses by understanding their impact, symptoms, and the importance of support and education.
The Turning Point: Choosing to Fight, Not Fade There was a moment I’ll never forget—a moment when I realized fibromyalgia had taken too much. My time. My confidence. My joy. I was existing, not living. That’s when I decided: this illness may be part of my story, but it won’t be the whole story. I chose to stand up, not just for myself, but for the life I still wanted to live. And from that…
At the 25th annual Women in Hollywood event, Lady Gaga delivered a deeply emotional speech that resonated with many. Her heartfelt words shed light on personal struggles and the broader challenges faced by women in the entertainment industry. A Defining Moment During her acceptance speech, Lady Gaga opened up about her experiences with sexual assault, mental health challenges, and chronic pain. She candidly shared the impact these experiences had on her life and career, emphasizing…
Fibromyalgia crept into my life quietly at first. A little ache here, some fatigue there. I chalked it up to stress, lack of sleep, maybe aging. But within months, the pain became louder, more persistent, and harder to ignore. It felt like my body had turned against me. Every movement hurt. Every attempt to explain my pain was met with blank stares or disbelief. I was tired, frustrated, and scared. But I’m here to tell…
Living with fibromyalgia is already a full-time challenge. The widespread pain, deep fatigue, brain fog, and disrupted sleep are enough to alter every part of your life. But for many sufferers, fibromyalgia doesn’t come alone. It often arrives hand-in-hand with other health conditions—some obvious, others harder to detect. This overlapping of multiple chronic conditions is so common it even has a name: comorbidity. And for those navigating fibromyalgia, identifying what else might be going on…
Understanding the Controversy In 2018, then-Attorney General Jeff Sessions made a statement suggesting that individuals dealing with chronic pain should “take some aspirin and tough it out.” This remark was intended to address concerns over opioid prescriptions but was met with significant backlash from the chronic pain community. The Reality of Chronic Pain Chronic pain is a complex medical condition that affects millions of individuals worldwide. It encompasses a range of disorders, including fibromyalgia, arthritis,…
“What fibromyalgia symptom are you working on managing right now?” It’s a question many who live with fibromyalgia quietly ask themselves every morning. This isn’t just a matter of checking in—it’s a survival tool, a strategy, a grounding moment. Because fibromyalgia isn’t predictable. It doesn’t follow a routine or respect a schedule. Some days it’s the deep, aching muscle pain. Other days it’s the crushing fatigue. And sometimes, it’s the fog, the forgetfulness, the feeling…
Living with a chronic illness like fibromyalgia, ME/CFS, or lupus means every space you inhabit needs to work with your body, not against it. Over time, many of us create what’s lovingly known in the chronic illness community as a spoonie room—a personal space designed to soothe symptoms, conserve energy, and provide comfort during long rest periods. This isn’t just a bedroom. It’s a sanctuary. A toolkit. A haven. Every item in it serves a…
Living with a chronic illness already demands an immense level of resilience. It often means adapting to physical limitations, emotional strain, and long-term changes to your routine. But when new symptoms emerge—particularly those related to memory loss—it can feel like a setback that’s hard to accept. Memory loss, even when subtle or gradual, can add a new layer of difficulty to an already complex journey. Understanding how to cope with these changes is essential for…
Hustle culture is everywhere. It glorifies productivity at any cost, celebrates late nights and early mornings, and rewards the ability to constantly push through boundaries in pursuit of success. But for those living with chronic illness, this relentless drive is not just unrealistic—it can be dangerous. I’ve learned this lesson firsthand, and that’s why I’ve chosen to reject hustle culture in my life with chronic illness. Understanding Hustle Culture and Its Consequences Hustle culture feeds…
The day of a Social Security disability evaluation is often filled with anxiety. It’s a moment where years of symptoms, personal hardship, and complex medical history are distilled into a brief appointment with a stranger. For many, that evaluation becomes a defining point in whether they receive crucial support—or walk away feeling unseen. Reflecting on my own experience, I’ve come to understand what the doctor who evaluated me for Social Security should have done differently.…