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…
A six-week psychotherapy program, tailored specifically for people with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) and delivered via telehealth, helped to ease anxiety and depression in adults with these conditions — with benefits lasting up to three months after treatment. These are the findings of a U.S. pilot clinical trial…
It’s been some time since my last neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) attack, and lately, I’ve started to realize just how traumatic the previous year was for me. I recognize that I’m holding in this trauma and still fear another attack, and it’s adversely affecting my life. With more…
In the last year, I’ve gone from battle to battle, surviving one attack after another of neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD). I didn’t have time to figure out how all of this made me feel. Instead, I focused on work, the closest thing I have to normal, and put…
I first encountered neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) 15 years ago. Faced with the unknown after a transverse myelitis attack shut down my ability to walk, I was overwhelmed and scared. That’s when a multiple sclerosis patient gave me the best advice: “Never let them see you…
I have this recurring dream where I’m trapped in a room. I can hear voices on the other side of the door, so I call out, except my voice feels heavy. The words are caught in my mouth, so no one can hear me. I try to get up. I’m…
Europe is under an extreme weather alert. It’s so hot that certain trains between countries are not operational — the tracks are buckling under the extreme heat. This makes me think of climate in general and in particular how green space, plants, and gardening have positively affected my…
The phrase “fake it till you make it” is meant to encourage self-confidence. During many tough moments in my life, like learning to walk again, I’ve relied on this phrase. There are moments when I don’t feel good, but I’ll fake it and say I feel fine. Sometimes saying how…
Caring for our mental health and pursuing wellness require a lifetime commitment and hard work. It’s sometimes easier said than done, but taking a moment to yourself to reflect on the day, or on a feeling or emotion, can do wonders for your mental health, especially when living with chronic…
People say that dogs are man’s best friend. In our family, Roxy, our 3-year-old Australian ridgeback rescue, is my 13-year-old daughter Bella’s best friend. Bella has always loved animals, which thankfully runs in the family. When she was hospitalized in 2017 due to a major neuromyelitis optica attack, she…
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