The Invisible Weight: Mental Health and Chronic Illness
Ranging from National Suicide Prevention Month in September, to National Stress Month in April, to BIPOC Mental Health Month in July, mental health is a
Making it Work During the Week: Meal Prep with Chronic Illness
Finding, shopping, and making food you like can be hard. Like, really hard. Add in a chronic illness that not only leaves you feeling exhausted, but greatly impacts your
Destigmatizing Mental Health Through Creative Mediums
On April 2, 2026, Young Patients’ AREA hosted “Destigmatizing Mental Health Through Creative Mediums,” an event for young people living with autoimmune conditions to explore
Science is Hope
Hope has always been a slippery idea for me. I was diagnosed with juvenile rheumatoid arthritis (JRA) in 1985 in St. Paul, MN. I was
My Patient Partner Journey, Part 2: ACR 2025
Presenting at American College of Rheumatology Convergence 2025 was both humbling and empowering for me as someone who lives with juvenile onset rheumatoid arthritis. Being
My Patient Partner Journey, Part 1: Bridging the gap between research, healthcare, and patients
Being a patient partner in research means bringing lived experience into scientific spaces where decisions about care, treatment, and discovery are made. It’s about more
Sex, (Prescribed) Drugs, and Rock ‘n’ Roll: Approaching sexual and reproductive health with an autoimmune disease
On November 13th, Young Patients’ AREA hosted our second event of the year: Sex, (Prescribed) Drugs, and Rock n’ Roll: Approaching sexual and reproductive health
Giving Lupus a Purpose
When I was 15 years old, most days followed the same schedule: wake up, go to school, a couple hours of soccer practice, a few
Climate Change Hits Hard—Even on Your Cycle
At first glance, climate change and equitable access to menstrual products may seem unrelated. Climate change is a global crisis driven by greenhouse gas emissions
Birth Control is Not One-Size-Fits-All: My Experience with the Rod
When I first heard the horror story of how a close family member of mine had had 13 miscarriages due to scar tissue in the
Why My Story Matters: How Patient Voices Drive Research Forward
When I was first diagnosed with Crohn’s disease at twelve years old, I had no idea my life was about to split into two parallel
Finding My Voice: Building a Partnership with my New Rheumatologist
My name is Kelsey, I’m 23 years old, and I live with spondyloarthropathy/enthesitis-related arthritis. Recently, I transitioned from my pediatric rheumatologist to an adult rheumatologist.
A Dialogue with Roommates: Navigating the Start of College with an Autoimmune Condition
“Is that an acne medication?” she asks. My eyes fall to the crusty cap, the deformed tube, and the label striped across the thick of
Shared Decision-Making Event Recap
On August 6th, Young Patients’ AREA hosted our first event of the year, Choose Your Own Adventure: Making Health Choices 101. This webinar, led by
Myth Busters about Psoriasis and Psoriatic Arthritis!
There can be many misconceptions about chronic illnesses. Chaylee, a Young Patients’ AREA Council member with psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, has broken down the myths
Learning and Teaching with an Autoimmune Condition
Hi! I’m Kaye Anderson. I’m 24 years old, and I’m in my first year as a 10-11 grade teacher at a rural high school. I
The Sky’s (Almost) the Limit: Traveling with Crohn’s Disease
If you know me, you know I love to travel. At the same time, you probably also know I’ve been living with Crohn’s Disease for
Rewriting My Chronic Illness Story: From Diagnosis to Doctorate (And Beyond!)
I was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis at 19 years old. I was a former athlete who stopped after high school when a “mysterious injury” in
Autoinflammatory Awareness Month!
Before having my son Josiah, I had minimal knowledge about autoinflammatory diseases and how they work. Growing up, I knew I had Juvenile arthritis and
How Autoimmune Conditions Affect Dental Health
When I was first diagnosed with psoriatic arthritis, I put all of my focus on my disease. I sought information about my condition nonstop, tried
Being LGBTQ+ in the Doctor’s Office
“I’m Sophia, and I have been chronically ill since I was 13 years old. My gender and sexuality have impacted my perspective on many things, including my experiences with chronic illness and interacting with the healthcare system. In my experience, I feel that my coming to terms with my gender and sexual identity was heavily impacted by chronic illness and how this affects my view of my body.”
Pancy’s Lupus Story
“Having lupus at 11 years old was exhausting for my mental health. At 24, there are ways to look at it differently; I see it as an opportunity to possibly help others through education and my own experiences.”
Coping with Needle Phobia
Once a week, I stand in front of the mirror, holding an autoinjector inches away from my stomach, frozen. All I have to do is push the needle into my skin and let the device administer the medication for me. I look into the mirror and say to myself, “It will only take a few seconds. It will all be over soon. It won’t even hurt that bad. Come on, you can do it. 1, 2, 3…”
Eco-Friendly Sneezes and Green Wheezes: Navigating Health in a Changing Climate
For myself, I see that my Crohn’s makes me more susceptible to temperature and lifestyle changes. Still, by being aware of my limits, I know that I am capable of so much more — like traveling all around the world! The world is going to change and we will make a difference, but how will you take care of yourself during this time?
World Hearing Day: My Experience with Profound Hearing Loss
At first, I thought I imagined it. I scurried out the door, thinking all was fine, but when I sat down for class, I knew all was in fact, not fine. I couldn’t hear a thing my professor was saying. I was in the front, and he was standing on my left side, so it was pretty obvious to me that I truly could not hear anything from my left ear.
