Living

I don’t know where to begin with this. I felt so anxious and panicky. I felt like I was not in control of my emotions. For the past two years...

Here in Ireland Arthritis week takes place between the 4th and 10th of April. I always like it when there’s an international or national day/week dedicated to arthritis or AxSpa...

One way in which disability has greatly impacted me is how much anxiety it has caused, specifically in social settings. I’ve always been a shy individual—carefully trying to find the...

Recently I made an Instagram reel regarding how abled individuals, or those we surround ourselves with, are so quick to have opinions on how we choose to cope and go...

Do you have a flare-up kit? If not, I highly recommend it. We never consciously thought about putting a flare-up kit together. But what I’ve noticed in the last few...

I have always been a bit of a night owl, but since AS forced its way into my life, it has taken things to a whole new level. The fact that I’m...

At the end of my article "Too Disabled to Employ, Not Disabled Enough to Help", I was about to apply a second time for disability allowance, following countless unsuccessful attempts...

I’ve noticed that my flare ups are 100 times worse when my mind, body, and spirit are not aligned. More pain. More tears. More feeling of a lack of control...

For many years now my approach to living well with ankylosing spondylitis has involved a healthy dose of curiosity and a willingness to try new things. Strategies that work well...

This is something I wasn’t sure I wanted to talk about openly. It’s hard when you’re in a relationship with someone and want to respect their privacy. Though this is...

Living with AxSpA is a daily fight, and yet on top of this we are expected to fight for ourselves as patients and humans. Doubt, misdiagnosis, and getting taken seriously...

One of the most frustrating aspects of living with a chronic condition like AS is that often our friends and family don’t fully understand our situation. I can’t say I...

When I'm in a major flare-up, I already know what I need to do in terms of physical pain management. I need to make sure I’m taking my medication, I...

I am often asked if there were early warning signs prior to my AS diagnosis. I used to believe that there weren’t any and it all happened suddenly.  I’ve spoken...

Today was my 3 month follow up appointment with my rheumatologist. I am trying keep a smile on my face and find some positivity out of today's appointment. I don't...

My paternal grandmother was Team Meal Prep before it was cool. She had no choice, working full-time while raising 4 kids on her own, taking in sewing and commissions, and dealing...

I feel like it’s almost impossible to have AS and not have mental health issues, too. It just affects every part of our lives. Having depression and AS feels like...

As Covid restrictions ease here in Ireland, my anxiety levels are doing the opposite. I understand that we can’t live forever in a lockdown, we as a world need to...

There’s a lot of weight that comes with living with a chronic illness. We often don’t show it, because if we did surrender to that struggle, it would be difficult...

I’ve returned to that point again, one I’m sure you’ll recognize. The dreaded flare. Bit by bit the pain has crept back in, interrupting my sleep and turning me into...