The Burden I Carry Is Not Light: An Expression of the Emotional Weight of Hidradenitis SuppurativaThe burden I carry as a hidradenitis suppurativa patient (HS) is not light, it is dark. It's as if Dante's Inferno and the book of Revelations had a baby, and... By Jasmine IVANNA Espy2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Art Recipe: Acrylic PourArt is a great way to distract yourself from the pain. It also is a great way to document your Hidradenitis Suppurativa journey. Your style of art might change whether... By Selina Ferragamo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Top 10 Favorite SubstitutesHidradenitis suppurativa can be caused by many different things. Some people might flare from stress, anxiety, depression, or a hormonal imbalance, while others might flare from certain foods or beverages... By Selina Ferragamo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Swimming Time BluesI’ve got a couple of things that make me really want to jump in a pool. One of my co-morbidities to hidradenitis suppurativa is ankylosing spondylitis, and because it affects... By Chelsea Freund3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Therapy and Chronic IllnessYou either hate or love therapy. Some days, it’s both. I have been in therapy off and on for 9 years, and recently, I found that therapy can be a... By Isela Nataly2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Working A Warehouse Job With HS (Part 2)In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! Deciding to talk to my supervisor about my HS symptoms terrified me to no end. Don’t get me... By Shatece Haynes3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Working A Warehouse Job With HS (Part 1)I remember the first time my supervisor asked me why I always walked funny. It wasn’t in a disrespectful way or anything, but I definitely remember feeling a little self-conscious... By Shatece Haynes2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Hidradenitis Suppurativa Can Be Caused By More Than Just DietI’m frustrated. I’m angry. I’m thoroughly annoyed. I don’t know how many times this needs to be said, but let me shout it out loud for the people in the... By Selina Ferragamo2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments8 comments
Is Laughter The Best Medicine Or Is It Just An Old Cliché?One of my most favorite morning regimes is to head out for a run in the park. As I inhale the crisp warm air and watch the freshly cut green... By Mandira Harinath3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Tools for Mental Health Treatment (Part 2)In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! I previously shared how taking breaks and swimming are two strategies I use to treat my mental health... By Kathryn Shusta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Pain Is Not Normal: HS and Mental Health (Part 2)In case you missed it, check out Part 1 of this series! The following weeks felt very different. I noticed that I was more present in class because I wasn’t... By Shatece Haynes2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Medication Dead End: What Do I Do Now?I’m standing in the checkout and I’m loaded up with the usual: self-adhesive gauze pads, additional gauze pads, foam tape, 3 bottles of peroxide, one bottle of rubbing alcohol. Is... By Chelsea Freund4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Tools for Mental Health TreatmentRecently I wrote about seeking therapy for my mental health and hidradenitis suppurativa by finding a therapist who has a clinical specialty in chronic diseases. Therapy is one of the... By Kathryn Shusta2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
Getting To Know HS: A Beginner’s Guide Helping Someone With HS (Part 5)In the final video of this series, I discuss the importance of support and patience when it comes to walking along side HS Warriors. I describe how the support of... By Chaz Frazier1 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
How HS Helped Me Take Control Of My Mental HealthDepression and anxiety are like the sisters I never asked for. They linger around and ask me how I'm doing just to drag me into their lair of despair and... By Jasmine IVANNA Espy2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
HS and STIs: Dealing with StigmaContent warning: This article includes mentions sexual assault. When I was around 13 years old, I was the victim of an attempted sexual assault. Ironically enough, my HS symptoms began... By Isela Nataly2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Chronic Disease and Mental HealthChronic diseases can be challenging to manage and can take a toll on our mental health. Hidradenitis suppurativa is well documented to have an effect on quality of life and... By Kathryn Shusta3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
You Have A Chronic Illness? In This Economy?Having hidradenitis suppurativa is never a walk in the park. A lot of the time, I probably wouldn’t even be able to walk in the park because of having a... By Selina Ferragamo3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Healing Through Breath and MeditationA lot has been written and said about the benefits of meditation. It could help relieve stress, reduce anxiety, improve concentration, foster kindness, and boost immunity to name a few... By Mandira Harinath3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
If I Avoid It, It Will Go Away, Right?Despite all of the articles I've written, the videos I've recorded, and the campaigns I've been a part of to bring awareness to hidradenitis suppurativa (HS), I still have a... By Jasmine IVANNA Espy2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments