Not All Holidays are Created Equal

For many people, holidays are a point of struggle. Memories, sometimes even flashbacks of hospital visits, can linger, blocking good holiday cheer. We sometimes fear that we may land in the hospital again for yet another holiday. This tends to be the case for many people dealing with flares around the holiday and it's not easy to manage while in the spotlight socializing at holiday get-togethers. In fact, the stress of even getting there can be a big trigger.

Just getting dressed to go to a party can be stressful and emotional.

When you're pulling up your dress pants or putting on your Sunday or Christmas/Holiday best, things might take an ugly turn. You may realize that you're clothes have suddenly become parachutes that show off your worst assets. Then there are a few of us who put on our favorite dresses and realize that due to the steroids we've been on long-term, "snug" is a word that no longer applies. It can be detrimental to your self-esteem and mental health and it can completely take you by surprise.

Preparing food can be difficult, but sitting down to eat while others feast on things you cannot touch can be even more painful. It can be hard sometimes to control your urge to grab "just a small bite" knowing that you will most likely severely pay for it later. And sometimes, there comes a point where we just want to live in the moment and we will take that bite with the chance.

Small talk can be difficult for those living with any type of chronic illness, too.

Especially for those whose lives are consumed by the illness. When it comes to small talk, you might think "no one wants to hear about how sick I actually am or how my last hospital visit went." So many times, we remain quiet, uncomfortable and count down the hours and minutes until we can go home, hop in our PJ's, pull out our flare foods and binge on some Netflix.

Don't be offended.

We go, despite all of these concerns, anxieties and fears... because we love you. And we need your support. So please, don't be offended.