How to Set (and Respect) Boundaries Live to Better with Chronic Illness
Boundaries can be an important part of mental health and when you have a chronic illness, they are an essential tool to maintain your physical health. But what are boundaries, exactly, and how can they help you create a better life with chronic illness and pain? In this post, I share some of my insights…
Let’s Redefine “Lazy” for Chronic People
We get a lot of judgements when we rest — from others and ourselves. But when you live with rheumatoid arthritis, rest is actually a very active state. In my new column for HealthCentral, I look at what people with chronic illness do when they rest: “EVERY DAY I fight a battle against my body: It…
Dismantling Your Inner Ableism to Live Better with Rheumatoid Arthritis
Systemic ableism is ingrained in our society and we internalize those messages. In my new essay for CreakyJoints in Canada, I share tips on how to start dismantling your own internalized ableism to create a much better life with chronic illness: “It was productivity that got me. Or rather, yet another instance of overdoing simply everything…
10 Ways You Can Show Support for People Who Are (Still) High Risk
The pandemic isn’t over for those who could get the sickest from COVID. Here are some ways you can show up for them: “SO MANY PEOPLE have celebrated going back to normal after COVID restrictions lifted, but did you know that a lot of us are still on lockdown in many ways? As many as 7…
It’s Time That Chronic Illness and Disability Become Election Issues
In my new essay for CreakyJoints Canada, I talk about why and how to make issues like mask mandates, pharmacare programs, and affordable accessible housing front and center during this year’s Ontario and Québec polls: “All over Canada, mask mandates, capacity limits, and all other protective measures have been lifted as the country collectively hit…
Made WIth RA: You’re Back to Normal: I’ve Been Left Behind
The COVID-19 pandemic has revealed the depth of ableism and discrimination against people with disabilities. In this column for a HealthCentral, I share the experience of being high risk and the emotional impact of being swept under the rug of pandemic ableism: ““Why should I change my life when you have to be careful anyway?”…
Rheumatoid Arthritis Is Not a Competition: Why the Urge to Compare Hurts Us All
Comparison and competition with chronic illness gets us tangled up in stress and sadness. In my latest article for CreakyJoints Canada, I share my thoughts on this, as well as four ways to start learning how to unlearn the urge and find acceptance in your own rheumatoid arthritis reality: “Comparing yourself to someone else seems…
Is Social Media Worth Your Time? Thoughts from a Content Creator with Chronic Illness
When I first started on social media you could reach your audience with a reasonable amount of work, steadily building your account. This is no longer the case. In fact, it is becoming almost impossible to be found on social media, even by the people who have liked or followed your account. Now, with a…
Made With RA: A Mobility Aid May Be the Ticket to RA Freedom
If you’ve been wondering if it’s time for a cane or a wheelchair (and maybe hating the thought), my latest HealthCentral column is for you. A mobility aid can be your key to leaving the house and having a life: “I WAS 16 years old the first time I used a power wheelchair and the moment…
Do You Have ‘Visible’ or ‘Invisible’ Rheumatoid Arthritis? A Look at the Pros and Cons
Whether or not your chronic illness is obvious to others can affect how you’re treated — and sometimes, how you feel about yourself. I write about the benefits and drawbacks of visible and invisible RA for CreakyJoints Caanda: “One glance at my hands will tell you I have rheumatoid arthritis (RA). They show the classic…