I often refer to my depression as a cloud that envelops my world in a foggy mist. The cloud then progressively gets darker, tinting everything in its path to shades of gray and black. I can distinctly…
Living Healthy
Addressing the Stigma of Living with Narcolepsy
I’m waiting patiently in the coffee line, desperate for an afternoon pick-me-up. The mom of three kids behind me says she should be in the front, because no one needs coffee more than she does. In fro…
How I Manage My Work-Life Balance
When I think about inflammatory bowel disease (IBD) and my quality of life, I think about more than just being symptom-free. I also about think about striving socially and personally. People with IBD …
3 Things I Wish People Knew About Living with Schizophrenia
There are many things that I wish people knew about living with schizophrenia, but I’m going to only focus on three issues that I think you should know. I live with schizophrenia and I’m not violent, …
What I Learned About Lung Surgery
My lung surgery had several stages. The short haul, which consisted of my initial biopsy and my lobectomy, and the long haul, which was the recovery from the surgery. It overlapped with the start of m…
My Afib Episodes May Be Early Warnings of Other Health Issues
In the first half of the 20th century, coal miners took canaries into the mines with them as an early warning system of toxic gases in the air. The canary was more sensitive to polluted air than the h…
How I Handled “The Heartbreak of Psoriasis”
Many, many years ago, years before I was around, a product was advertised to deal with psoriasis, or as the advertisement said, “the heartbreak of psoriasis.” That brings me to the 2000s and my own “h…
Coming to Terms with My Sleep Apnea
You may not know who to turn to or might feel afraid once you get your sleep apnea diagnosis. Understand that you’re not alone with your struggles. According to the American Sleep Apnea Associat…
Finding the Best ADHD Therapies for Your Child
If you search “therapy for ADHD” on the internet, you will likely get links to thousands of different therapies. It can be a daunting task to find something legitimate or, even more, something safe an…
My Psoriatic Arthritis Diagnosis Started With a Fall
It started with a fall. On solid pavement. Yes, ouch indeed. I was crossing the street on my way to work as I had done for years. I knew this crosswalk well, despite its odd construction. For some rea…