Columns

Coping and Thriving During COVID-19 Isolation

My last column focused on fear and other potential effects of being in isolation. As Australia continues to lock down, I have experienced different waves of emotions.   The first was anxiety. If you are overcome with anxiety, know that you are not alone in feeling a…

Remaining Optimistic During Times of Uncertainty

Lupus is unpredictable. If you have it, you might wake up feeling it’s a good energy day only to end up in the hospital. Now, in addition to already living a topsy-turvy life, we have a global pandemic to manage. Those of us already coping with depression and anxiety from…

Energy Is a Casualty of Coronavirus Quarantine

As the novel coronavirus spreads across the world, my native Australia is slowly being coaxed into lockdown. At the start of this week, state and federal authorities announced they would shut down all “nonessential” activities soon. In my life, this means that training at the gym, Brazilian jiujitsu, and yoga…

The Burden of Feeling Like a Burden

When the doctor told me that I have lupus, I first thought only of the diagnosis. I had no clue that so much more would come with the knowledge that I would be fighting my body for the rest of my life. Guilt, depression, anxiety are just a few…

As Social Distancing Professionals, We Have a Head Start

For those of us battling lupus, chronic fatigue is often the reason we cancel social engagements at the last minute. Some friends and family members don’t understand that our fatigue is not a normal type of tired. Sleeping for days on end is not unusual with lupus, and we…

Who Cares About Matching Body Parts Anyway?

Last week I went in for a day surgery to have a cyst removed from my left ear lobe. Unfortunately for me, the scar tissue trauma known as a “keloid” and my left ear lobe appear to have become staunch friends. This is the second time in less than a…

I Am Slowly Shifting My Mindset

Sometimes, I forget that I have lupus. Is that weird? I have spent so much time pushing my body and telling myself that many of the things I can no longer do are because I am not trying hard enough. Then I landed in the hospital followed by a…

I’ve Decided to Face Forward with a New Outlook

It’s been an interesting couple of months. I have learned, endured, and accepted (I hope) a lot. I am always doing checks and balances with my mental health, working to find joy on difficult days, being grateful for another day, and looking for opportunity amid my adversity. Following my…