15 thoughtful Christmas gifts for friends and family with chronic illness

This post includes affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy for more details.  We’re heading into the holiday season, and with a million things on our minds it can be hard when someone asks what we want for Christmas. I know I generally have a wish list a million miles long, but when someone asks…Continue reading 15 thoughtful Christmas gifts for friends and family with chronic illness

6 tips for coping with chronic illness in the winter

6 tips for coping with chronic illness in the winter

Last week I shared some tools that can help people with chronic illness keep warm with the long cold winter. I received so much great feedback about dealing with winter and chronic illness that this week I have some general tips on what you can do to cope. When winter hits it can cause both…Continue reading 6 tips for coping with chronic illness in the winter

How to start an exercise routine when you have Fibromyalgia

How to start an exercise routine when you have Fibromyalgia

This month the Fibro Blogger Directory is running a series on answering questions about fibromyalgia that readers have sent in. One of the readers asked this question: Can you please help explain how I can get started with exercising – I want to but can’t get up off the lounge most days and can’t even…Continue reading How to start an exercise routine when you have Fibromyalgia

when your body needs rest, but your life won't let you

When your body needs rest, but your life won’t let you

This blog first came about in 2011 because I was a parent with young kids, and I found that much of the advice about managing chronic illness didn’t apply to me. I couldn’t pace, exercise, or sleep like I was told to because my kids weren’t (and still aren’t) like the TV children who magically…Continue reading When your body needs rest, but your life won’t let you

7 tips for reducing stress when you live with chronic pain

Living with chronic pain causes stress, thanks to the “just get over it,” attitude put forth by doctors and politicians. Of course, it’s never that easy. Living with chronic pain has long term side effects that we often don’t discuss. One thing that most people don’t realize about living with chronic pain is how stressful it…Continue reading 7 tips for reducing stress when you live with chronic pain

9 things people with chronic illness don't have time for

9 things people with chronic illness don’t have time for

One of the most aggravating part of living with a chronic illness is navigating other people’s expectations and opinions. It’s incredibly draining and can actually make chronic illness worse. I came out with a blog post called shit I don’t have time for a few years ago, but I felt like it was time for…Continue reading 9 things people with chronic illness don’t have time for

how to survive a chronic illness flare up

How to survive a chronic illness flare up

Living with the unpredictability of chronic illness is incredibly stressful and the possibility of a chronic illness flare adds to that stress. You never know how you’re going to feel on a certain day. You have a tiny bit of control of your health through pacing, sleeping right, and eating right, but for the most…Continue reading How to survive a chronic illness flare up

the only disability in life is a bad attitude (and other nonsense)

The only disability in life is a bad attitude (and other nonsense)

I’ve been wanting to write a post on this topic for a long time but didn’t know how exactly to go about it in the right way. A lot of my able-bodied friends are obsessed with their weight and their fitness. I don’t think that their obsessing is super healthy, but it’s not my body…Continue reading The only disability in life is a bad attitude (and other nonsense)

5 tools to relieve chronic pain without pain medication

5 tools to relieve chronic pain without pain medication

This post includes affiliate links, please see my disclosure policy for more details. A while back I wrote a post called “5 tools for chronic pain.” A lot has changed in my life and in my health since then so I thought it was time for an update. I’m a big proponent of allowing people…Continue reading 5 tools to relieve chronic pain without pain medication

how to find the right doctor to treat your chronic illness

How to find the right doctor to treat your chronic illness

Finding a doctor willing to treat a chronic illness can be a long and difficult process. Finding a doctor who will believe you and take you seriously is easier said than done, and it’s even harder to find a doctor willing to treat an illness with no cure. In my personal experience, it took me…Continue reading How to find the right doctor to treat your chronic illness