Approaching the New Year With Care
Boy, what a year. I distinctly remember this day, exactly one year ago, when I told my partner “Thank goodness 2022 is over! Here’s to a better year in 2023!” At the time, things were looking up – the wildest, scariest year of wildfires, pandemics, and world-wide chaos seemed to be winding down. I thought, […]
4 Ways to Find Connection From a Distance
Snow has begun to carpet the world outside my home in northern Vermont, and I find myself taking slow, grounding breaths, as if my body is bracing itself. I — like most people I know — am dreading another COVID winter. Despite having one of the highest vaccination rates in the country, my little state […]
Keeping Thanksgiving Accessible
The beauty of holiday traditions is that they give us a structure within which to celebrate. We make the same foods, often with the same people. We share what we are grateful for or swap gifts. We have preset themes for decorating. And, holidays are built to be inclusive, providing entertainment and connection for family […]
Real people sick
My chronic illness friends use the term “real people sick” to refer to illnesses that could affect anyone — regardless of health status — such as a cold, flu, or stomach bug. Often it’s in moments of realization that the illness we experience daily can be so much worse comparatively, like when the whole office […]
5 Tips for Building An Awesome Caregiving Team
Learning to thrive with a chronic illness is a team effort; it’s not something you can simply do on your own. You’ll need to work on building a caregiving team of people supporting you throughout your journey. You may need specialists, non-traditional or non-medical practitioners, a primary care physician (PCP) to see the big picture, and […]
4 Tips for a Safe and Accessible Halloween
The air feels crisp and leaves rustle in the wind. Store windows and neighborhood displays remind us that spooky season is here! Seasonal changes and holidays give us the opportunity to slow down, take stock, and come to terms with what is to come. Halloween is a chance to have fun in whimsical ways as […]
Preparing for the Unexpected
Getting organized for daily life can be a challenge. Being prepared for potential unexpected detours — like a trip to the hospital — can feel overwhelming. But now more than ever, it is helpful to have a plan in place, just in case. Hospitals are under strain, and so wait times may be longer and […]
Sick at School
Most kids stay home from school when they feel sick. It’s comforting to not have to be around others, to let your brain unplug from the rigor of classes, and to just care for yourself — whatever that means in each moment. For those of us with chronic illnesses, we have to find a way […]
Back to School?
At the start of summer, it seemed I would be writing a joyous “back to school!” blog about the successful reopening of schools for the fall thanks to vaccines and the drastic decline of COVID in most states. Apparently I was not alone in my optimism, as the back to school commercials this year show […]
Avoid these 4 Types of Foods to Reduce Inflammation
Whether you have an autoimmune disease–or just want to limit inflammation in your body–the foods you eat can have a remarkable impact on your inflammatory response and thus the way you feel. While each one of us is unique and will respond differently to different foods, some foods and ingredients are more likely to exacerbate […]
5 Tips for Chronic Pain
Living with chronic pain is exhausting. It’s so much more than just the sensation of pain — it’s the part of your brain that’s constantly distracted, it’s the painsomnia from not being able to get comfortable at night, the grief of giving up activities made impossible, the emotional toll of trying to push through and […]
6 Tips for Talking About Your Chronic Condition with Family and Friends
If you have a chronic illness or condition, you know how quickly a flare-up can seem to take control of everything in your life. You may be in extreme pain, unable to sleep, experience digestive issues, and feel incredibly tired. When you’re suffering, it’s essential to have support from family and friends, but talking about […]