self-care

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…

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,…

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 —…

After ordering my double-double coffee, I wait patiently in the second line for my order to be called. (If you’ve been to Canada, you know my double-double reference could only mean I’m at Tim Hortons.) Two patrons later, a woman places her order. I expect her to join the…

Some days I feel like I’m made of symptoms. Living with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD) means navigating a body that’s constantly shifting beneath me, unpredictable in ways that defy preparation. Speaking of symptoms: One moment, my spine burns with relentless pain. The next day I’m ravenous, only…

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…

Before I was diagnosed with neuromyelitis optica spectrum disorder (NMOSD), I never gave much thought to routine. I’d sleep when I felt tired, exercise when I had the motivation, and take life as it came. But after NMOSD entered my world, I quickly learned that unpredictability was no longer…

In the morning, I like to wake up a few minutes before my family does. As I sip my tea and watch the sunlight spill through the windows, I usually use that quiet time to mentally prepare for the day ahead. But lately, things have shifted. I’m 43, and this…