When managing my workload and my MS, neither is optional
I tend to bite off more than I can chew because I think I can do it all. News flash: I can’t! But I’ll do my best to try to do it all, even…
Authentically Human - Desiree Lama
Desiree Lama is a 20-something-year-old PhD student living in Austin, Texas. She was diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis during high school at only 17 years old but began experiencing symptoms at 14. Since a young age, she has found a safe haven in writing because her grandma fostered her love for words and learning. Desiree lives her life through being authentically human in a superficial world. In this column, she will share personal memos of being a disabled, bisexual Mexican woman in an overcritical world. Desiree hopes that this column will encapsulate the captivatingly burdensome feelings of human existence, especially for those with MS.
Featured Post
My MS, my truth: The comparison trap doesn’t define my journey
Comparison is generally considered an innate human tendency, whether we realize it or not. And it’s not necessarily a negative phenomenon, though we often think of it that way. However, comparison does have the…
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Finding extra comfort when a new cat joins my existing feline friend
A couple months ago, my partner and I took a 5-week-old kitten into our home. The decision was somewhat impulsive because we didn’t intend to adopt a kitten. We’d wanted an adult cat, because…
How I handle depth perception and driving with MS
Have you ever been on a flight of stairs and misjudged the height of the steps, causing you to lose your footing? That happens to me more than I’d like to admit. This misjudgment…
Organizing my health: How my pill box became a lifeline
Before 2016, I didn’t need to take any prescription medications, at least not regularly. But during my first episode of optic neuritis and a few years later, after my diagnosis of relapsing-remitting multiple…
Remembering to take a break is key when I travel with MS
Along with creating memories with loved ones and exploring new places, traveling can be exhausting. There’s packing beforehand, scheduling itineraries, and then the actual traveling, whether it’s on the road or in the air.
A letter to myself: Reminders for navigating life with MS
Dear current me, Not that long ago, I wrote a letter to our younger self, newly diagnosed with relapsing-remitting multiple sclerosis (MS). That letter was intended to let her know that…
Summer and MS-related heat intolerance aren’t a good mix
The summer months and the central Texas heat have arrived, and I feel indifferent about them. As someone with multiple sclerosis (MS) who experiences related heat intolerance, I try to avoid spending an…
MS and anxiety: The strange relationship that unsettles my life
Bouts of heightened anxiety come in forceful waves and hit me like a freight train. I live with a baseline level of anxiety, but at times, it worsens for no specific reason. All I…
Community and human connections are vital in life with MS
One of the most essential parts of living with multiple sclerosis (MS) is building support systems. They offer practical help, but better yet, they also consider and foster our emotional survival. MS is…
