My novel Cursed illustrates what being a teen with chronic pain was like for me, especially in the beginning. I hope the book helps people with similar experiences feel seen and helps people who haven't experienced chronic pain to understand what it's like.
At 21, I began identifying as disabled. That’s my preferred term but preferences vary among people in my community. I’m a firm believer in folks being able to chose their own terms and identify as they see fit.
I invite visitors to my site to educate themselves about disability, living with chronic pain, and about arthritis specifically.
Below are some links I’ve found particularly helpful:
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Christine Miserandino / The Spoon Theory
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Stella Young, “I Am Not Your Inspiration, Thank You Very Much,” TED Talk (April 2014)
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Hypoalgesic effect of swearing
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Cheryl Crow's Arthritis Life Podcast
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Here's Why Kindness Toward Disabled People is More Complicated Than You Think
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Finding Alternatives to Ableist Language
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