“I struggled through acne, stomach aches, anxiety, chest palpitations, and sweaty palms. My body was keeping score.”
‘In my 30s I asked, ‘Is being ‘playfully’ drowned in a pool considered abuse?’ It was a groundbreaking moment.’: Woman shares journey healing from ‘cycle of generational trauma’
‘Every day was a bloodbath. ‘It’s normal for teen girls.’ Little did I know, a storm was brewing on my insides.’: Endometriosis warrior shares 5-year journey to diagnosis
“By the time I was 14, I dreaded my period every month. I couldn’t leave the house in fear I’d leak through my clothes. The pain had me bedridden for days.”
‘You’re HUGE!’ I looked pregnant for MONTHS.’: Mom details postpartum life, ‘We hold ourselves to RIDICULOUS standards’
“I was induced and my baby was assisted out with episiotomy and forceps. I exclusively bottle fed from 8 weeks and felt like a failure for MONTHS.”
‘The pregnancy test read positive. I was in shock. ‘Do we still call the adoption agency?’: Mom shares ‘messy and beautiful’ journey through infertility and adoption
“Within hours, we received a case about an expecting mom. ‘She picked you!’ I cried the same tears of joy as when I found out we were pregnant.”
‘Why are you seeking a diagnosis?’ They didn’t believe me. I was an imposter living a neurotypical, picture-perfect life.’: Woman diagnoses herself with autism after decades of ‘masking’
“When I was out during the day, I was being who people needed me to be, then I would come home and put my dukes up. I felt like an imposter in the life I had built.”
‘You’re a LIAR. Suck it up!’ I was in the fetal position on the floor, SCREAMING.’: Chronic illness warrior talks health, support system, ‘Keep fighting and listen to your body’
“They saw me lying on the floor and rolled their eyes. They never asked if I was okay. I spent most of my time at work in the bathroom screaming and crying, not knowing what was going on.”
‘She casually started talking about ‘OUR SON.’ Then I realized I was 2 weeks late.’: Couple surprised by miracle baby after open adoption, ‘It was meant to be!’
“I felt queasy. ‘What’s wrong?’ I’d never seen a positive, EVER. Something felt different this time. After only 30 seconds, the results were in. Our lives changed forever.”
‘There’s NO WAY insurance will cover this. Order a self-test kit off Amazon.’ I BEGGED the doctor to refer me.’: Endometriosis warrior details chronic illness journey, ‘I know my body best’
“I left her office crying, but this time tears of joy. Someone FINALLY believed me. Someone finally was going to help me figure it all out. Someone was going to help me feel better.”
‘You have 2 cervixes and 2 uteruses.’ People couldn’t be ‘bothered’ with my bad days. ‘You’re either in, or out.’: Woman learns to advocate for herself after Endometriosis, Ehlers Danlos Syndrome diagnoses
“Living everyday in an unknown, unpredictable state affects you more than people realize.”
‘My partner announced, ‘I’m trans. This is something I have to do, even if it means losing you and everything in the process.’ It felt like the rug had been pulled out from under me.’: LGBT couple share beautifully complex love story
“He had a lightbulb moment. ‘I cannot continue to inhabit this female body.’ I would be a lesbian woman part of a heterosexual couple. I had no idea what this meant for us.”
