You Are Not Alone

You are not alone and please don’t forget that. I know that’s easier said than done, but I promise it’s true. I promise that there are other people out there that have felt what you are feeling. There is someone out there that has dealt with an asinine doctor that thinks you just need to lose weight and everything will just be cured. There is someone that knows how difficult it is to get out of bed or even just sit up in bed. There is someone that knows the embarrassment of a flare opening in public.

The feeling of dread when you get that first whiff or smell from an opened flare. That feeling of dismay when you’re just trying to shower and you feel the start of an oncoming flare. There is someone that knows not just about the physical pain you feel, but about the mental pain that the physical pain can bring on and vice versa. Times might feel so tough right now and you might be in an extreme amount of pain, but I promise it will get better.

You are stronger than you can ever even realize

You live with something that most people can’t even dream of. You are so strong and this disease just makes you stronger, despite what you might be thinking or feeling. This disease will try and make you feel weak and like you are different and that you can’t do certain things, but you can! You are so strong! You have to live with such pain and difficulty on a daily basis and guess what! You continue to make it through each day! You deserve the same as everyone else and never let this disease or anyone else make you think anything different!

You might be in pain and I truly am so sorry that you are. This disease is uncontrollable and I really am so sorry you have to go through it. But please remember that it’s not your fault and you are not any less of a person because of it. You might have eaten a trigger or let your anxiety get the better of your emotions, and that’s okay. You are trying your best. Like I said, you have an uncontrollable disease and this isn’t your fault. While I’m not justifying continuous eating of triggers, it can be extremely difficult to avoid them and I completely understand. Tomorrow is another day, and just try and do better. It’s okay to mess up and make mistakes - remember that. So many times I've indulged in my triggers because I just wanted to feel normal and like everyone else around me. I get it, honestly, I do.

We are in this together

You are not alone and please don’t forget that. I might sound like a broken record but I swear it’s true. If you ever are feeling alone and upset, please come find the Hidradenitis Community and don’t sit and stew in these feelings. Search through the #Hidradenitis hashtag on Instagram and Facebook. Join Facebook groups about Hidradenitis. Continue browsing HSDisease.com or r/hidradenitis on Reddit. DM other Warriors and get those feelings and thoughts out. It can make everything a lot worse keeping things bottled inside and going through difficulties feeling like it’s everything and the world against you.

I promise that we are all in this together. We all have the common goal of overcoming Hidradenitis and making it so aware and known that hopefully one day there’s a full-on actual specific cure. You are not alone and please don’t forget that. You are so strong and please don’t forget that. You are more than this disease and please don’t forget that.