How I Host the Holidays Without FlaringIt'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...reactions3comments
How I Manage Money While Living with LupusDuring 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...reactions3comments
Lupus and Domestic AbuseContent 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...reactions1comment
The Grief of Losing the Old YouOne of the most difficult symptoms of lupus isn't fatigue, joint pain, or sun sensitivity. It isn’t the rashes or hair loss. It’s the grief of losing the life we...reactions5comments
Has Your Doctor Ever Gaslit You?"You're too young to be sick." "There's nothing physically wrong with you. You're depressed." "You're tired because you live far away from your family, and you must be homesick." Nearly...reactions11comments
2 Ways of Explaining Lupus Fatigue to Others"I have chronic fatigue, but that doesn't necessarily mean that I'm tired 100 percent of the time," I explained to a new friend over dinner. He nodded, then looked confused...reactions7comments
A Brain Inflammation Flare Made Me Forget What I Liked and DislikedIn 2014, I stood up after teaching a violin lesson one day and forgot how to walk. A severe episode of lupus cerebritis, or brain inflammation, followed and lasted for...reactions3comments
Lupus and Personal FinanceMaking money when you are chronically ill can be a challenge. It is not easy maintaining a job while dealing with achy joints and fatigue. It can also be difficult...reactions7comments
Words I Invented for Fatigue Because the English Language is InadequateWhen I first got sick with lupus, I was not a stranger to feeling tired. Throughout high school and college, I had spent many late nights studying or practicing the...reactions10comments
I Was Misdiagnosed 7 TimesThe first time I saw a doctor about my chronic illness, I was 22. I had just finished my first semester of graduate school. For months, my hair had clogged...reactions8comments
Accepting I Have a DisabilityWhen I think of the word "disability," I often think of the universal symbol for disability: a simple blue picture of a person sitting in a wheelchair. Wheelchairs and other...reactions4comments
How I Beat Post-Exertional FatigueA month ago, I decided to change up my workout routine. Instead of my usual Pilates and light weight-lifting, I searched YouTube for workout videos and stumbled upon a beginner...reactions5comments
What to Do if You Are Misdiagnosed or UndiagnosedSome people collect coins, stamps, or rocks. Most lupus patients collect misdiagnoses, unfortunately against our will. By the time I was finally diagnosed with lupus at age 22, I had...reactions2comments
How I Handle Housework With LupusLike many lupus patients, I don't have as much energy as a healthy person my age. I sleep 10-12 hours a night yet still feel tired every day. Between balancing...reactions4comments
Lupus Taught Me About CreativityWhen I was a child, my brother was the creative one in the family. From a young age, he loved to draw and paint. Over days and weeks, a pencil...reactions4comments
How Lupus Made Me Fall in Love with Thrift ShoppingWhen I was at my sickest with lupus cerebritis, my mother-in-law, who had moved in to take care of me, introduced me to thrifting. My Other Mother, as I call...reactions9comments
5 Creative Hobbies or Outlets For People with LupusStill haven’t found a creative outlet? Here are more ideas to try! (Energy Level: Moderate) When I was a young child, my mother used to sew dresses and jumpers for...reactions1comment
How Lupus Changed My Approach to Setting Life GoalsI've always been a Type A, goal-oriented person. In the weeks leading up to New Year's Day every year, I research the best type of planner, then fill it with...reactions3comments
Creative Outlets for Lupus Patients, Part 2When you have lupus, it can sometimes feel like you are just surviving instead of living. Making time for creativity can help relieve stress and add some joy to your...reactions3comments
4 Creative Outlets for People Living With LupusAccording to Brene Brown (author, social scientist, and researcher), "Unused creativity is not benign. It metastasizes. It turns into grief, rage, judgment, sorrow, shame." I have found these words to...reactions2comments
