Coping methods

I always feel like the start of a new year arrives with a certain amount of pressure. We make resolutions, talk about reinvention, and make quiet promises to ourselves that we’ll do better. As someone living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), that pressure can feel especially heavy. Chronic…

The winter solstice — the shortest day and longest night of the year — can feel daunting, but I see it as a powerful metaphor for hope, resilience, and the promise of brighter days. I’m writing this from a place of light, so that when the darkness returns, I can…

It’s astonishing how quickly life can shrink down to just the present moment when you’re living with a chronic illness like neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). Its symptoms have a way of pulling you into the now with an intensity that can feel all-consuming, whether it’s managing fatigue,…

They say that time heals all wounds, but when you’re living with a rare autoimmune disorder that has no cure, every relapse leaves lasting damage, both emotional and physical. Last week, I attended a patient day for the neuroinflammatory community here in southwestern Ontario, Canada, where I had the opportunity…

It’s a weird feeling, always waiting for the other shoe to drop, knowing there’s a secret assassin lurking in my body. It causes me anxiety. That’s what life is like with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), which I’ve had for 16 years. Lately, though, I’ve been OK, as I…

The kitchen is humming with energy, my daughter has decked out our living room in a sea of blue and white, and the scent of homemade nachos wafts through the air. It’s October in Canada, and the Toronto Blue Jays are making a run for the World Series, the first…

The moment I slip into a pair of high heels, something shifts. Not only do heels lengthen my legs, but they also boost my confidence, improve my posture, and give me a sense of power. It’s not just about fashion, but also what I associate with high heels: the ability…

Note: This column describes the author’s own experiences with antidepressants. Not everyone will have the same response to treatment. Consult your doctor before starting or stopping a therapy. After realizing recently that I should have been more upset about various life situations, I had to reconsider the benefits and…

A couple of years ago, I took on boxing as a form of exercise. I’d never step into the ring, but I loved working on proper form, building strength, and seeing how much conditioning I could handle. I was proud of the progress I made. Then, as often happens with…

I had waited 16 years to hear one of my favorite bands of all time perform, as their catalog of music was the soundtrack to my youth. That’s how long Oasis, one of the most iconic bands of the 1990s and early 2000s, had been absent from North America —…