Meghan Bea

With its pumpkin patches, apple cider, and promise of comfortable weather, autumn is many people's favorite time of the year. The hint of crisp, cool air offers a reprieve from...

I’ve spent most of my life living in between the lines; I’m too sick to work a full-time job, but not sick enough to qualify for SSD (Social Security Disability)...

When I first became sick with lupus, my life changed overnight. Fatigue, pain, and endless doctors’ visits replaced school, my social life, and my plans and dreams for the future...

We celebrate birthdays, weddings, and baby showers with gifts. But why is it less common to give a gift to someone when they're going through a divorce, have lost a...

Traveling always triggers my chronic fatigue. The long wait at the airport, having to stand in line, and carrying a suitcase all zap my energy. At home, I can use...

For most of us with lupus, chronic fatigue is unfortunately here to stay. My own chronic fatigue makes it especially difficult to do household chores. After waking up exhausted and...

A first date with a new romantic interest is enough to make anyone nervous. A dozen questions and insecurities jumble around in your mind. Will they look like their online...

A few weeks ago, I received a scary phone call from someone I cared about. An elderly relative who lived near me was very sick and needed to go to...

"But you don’t look sick." We’ve all heard this, and we all hate it. Every time someone said this to me, especially in the early years of my illness, I...

During the first 4 years I was sick, I didn't tell anyone about my illness out of fear of rejection. Now, I write and speak about my illness openly. Here...

I sat in my doctor’s office as the 1,000 grams of Solu-Medrol dripped down the clear IV tube and into my arm. Solu-Medrol looks like water, but I wasn’t fooled...

Lupus is an invisible illness. I don't walk with a limp, need a wheelchair, or show any of the typical physical signs most people associate with disability. My pain almost...

If you are struggling to get diagnosed, you are not alone. Most people search for answers for 7 years before they are diagnosed with lupus. The pre-diagnosis stage is one...

One of the most discouraging parts of being diagnosed with lupus was that my friends and family had no idea what lupus even was. More well-known diseases, like cancer and...

At one of my lowest points with lupus, I impulsively adopted a shelter dog. I had been feeling isolated from friends and family due to fatigue that seemed endless. Adopting...

When I first became sick with lupus, nearly everything about my life changed. I had once juggled my college classes with work and a social life without too much difficulty...

Affording Christmas decorations when you have lupus isn't always easy. Fortunately, you can find many different decor options at Dollar Tree and discount stores like Ollie's. Check out this video...

It's that time of year again: stockings hung over a crackling fireplace, mistletoe decorating the doorways, and carols sounding over the loudspeakers in every store. But the winter holidays are...

During the year I spent relearning to walk and speak after a severe lupus flare, I made the decision to leave my husband. There were many parts of being on...

Content Note: This article describes domestic abuse. If you or a loved one are struggling, consider reading our mental health resources page, contact the National Domestic Violence Hotline at 800-799-7233...