For much of my life, I felt like I was navigating a maze blindfolded. I didn’t have the words to describe who I was or why the world around me felt so overwhelming. I only knew that I was different, and that difference carried weight. It wasn’t until I began to unpack the layers of queerness, neurodiversity, and disability within myself that I started to piece together a fuller picture. In that space where all…
For years, my days followed a carefully crafted rhythm. I cooked homemade meals, kept every corner of the house spotless, managed the schedules of my entire family, and prided myself on being the dependable center of our little world. I was the “near-perfect” housewife—organized, nurturing, tireless. Or so I thought. Then everything changed. A diagnosis of fibromyalgia took the life I knew and unraveled it, strand by strand. What followed was not just a medical…
Living with fibromyalgia means managing more than just chronic pain. One of the most frustrating and often overlooked symptoms is brain drain—also known as fibro fog. It’s the mental fatigue that makes it hard to focus, remember words, or follow simple conversations. It can feel like your mind is wading through thick mud. Over the years, I’ve tried countless methods to fight this mental haze. But one strategy has stood out above the rest. It’s…
Growing up, I learned early that the world doesn’t always know how to treat those who are different. As a child with a visible disability, I quickly became a target. The names they called me still echo sometimes. The way they stared, laughed, or excluded me wasn’t something I could ever forget. I didn’t understand why I was treated differently—I only knew that I was. But what began as a painful childhood of bullying slowly…
There was a time in my life when I would have done anything to be invisible. As a child with a visible disability, I didn’t just feel different—I was constantly reminded of it by the way others treated me. Classmates whispered behind my back, teachers overlooked me, and strangers stared without apology. I learned to shrink myself to avoid attention, to keep quiet when I wanted to scream, and to fake smiles that hid the…
The Realities of My Life With Hypermobility and Fibromyalgia Living with hypermobility and fibromyalgia is like constantly walking a tightrope with no safety net. The balance between managing pain, fatigue, and mobility can feel overwhelming, even isolating. To the outside world, I might appear fine, maybe even flexible and active. But the truth of my daily life is hidden beneath the surface, woven with discomfort, unpredictability, and mental resilience. These two conditions—often misunderstood on their…
18 Reasons People With Fibromyalgia Are Great Friends (Or More) Living with fibromyalgia is a daily journey of managing pain, exhaustion, and uncertainty. But out of that struggle often arises a deep strength of character that makes people with fibromyalgia some of the most caring, resilient, and reliable individuals you could ever have in your life. Whether as a friend or romantic partner, they bring qualities that are forged through perseverance and compassion. Here are…
I’m Not ‘Lucky’ to Be on Disability Benefits Due to Fibromyalgia When someone hears about a person receiving disability benefits, especially for an invisible illness like fibromyalgia, the word “lucky” may slip out—sometimes with the best intentions. But let’s be clear: there is nothing “lucky” about battling a lifelong, incurable condition that affects every aspect of daily living. Disability benefits are not a jackpot or a free ride. They are a hard-earned, often fought-for lifeline…
Introduction: The Big Power of Small Shifts Living with fibromyalgia often feels like an overwhelming battle against invisible pain. But what if relief didn’t always require grand, dramatic solutions? What if small, intentional changes in daily life could gently guide your body toward comfort and ease? This is not about miracle cures or quick fixes. Instead, it’s about exploring simple habits and lifestyle shifts that, when practiced consistently, create a powerful ripple effect in reducing…
Introduction: Shifting the Lens on Fibromyalgia Fibromyalgia often feels like a confusing and painful mystery. For many people living with it, one haunting thought keeps resurfacing — If I feel this much pain, there must be something seriously wrong inside my body. But here’s a powerful truth worth exploring: Fibromyalgia does not mean your body is broken. In fact, fibromyalgia is proof that pain can exist without structural damage. In this article, we explore the…