Columns

May 7, 2019May 3, 2019

Being Labeled a Fraud Is My Most Pressing Scleroderma Fear

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I have been feeling strangely unsettled as of late. My unease is not due to the current state of the world or a nasty flare-up. It is scarier than ... Read more

April 30, 2019April 26, 2019

Telangiectasia, Tiger Lilies, and Traditions

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I always look forward to events that occur each year, particularly those involving special traditions. This Easter was no exception, and as usual, I made my “hot peace buns.” ... Read more

April 23, 2019April 18, 2019

Self-talking My Way Through My Scleroderma

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

For years, when I was a practicing counselor, I used cognitive behavioral therapy (CBT) as a part of my eclectic approach to to working with clients. One aspect of ... Read more

April 9, 2019April 5, 2019

Times of Stress Demand that I Create Space to Heal

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

These last few weeks have been some of the worst I can remember. Not only have I been trying to process the terror attack in my hometown, but also ... Read more

April 2, 2019March 29, 2019

Surviving Scleroderma Amid Chaos in My Hometown

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

Two weeks ago my world was rocked by the mass terrorist shooting in two of our central city mosques here in Christchurch. In February I wrote a column about finding ... Read more

March 12, 2019March 11, 2019

Exercising with Scleroderma My Way

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

The medical police, aka my cardiologist team, have advised me to do no more than very gentle walks. I am not permitted to do anything more intense because we are ... Read more

February 26, 2019February 22, 2019

Staying One Step Ahead of Scleroderma

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

Sometimes when I’m sitting in my recliner thinking about the meaning of life, I find myself fantasizing about how my funeral will go. In my mind’s eye, it’s going ... Read more

February 19, 2019February 18, 2019

My Trauma-related Scleroderma Puzzle: How Does It Fit Together?

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

Burnout is often used to describe what can happen to those living with constant stress, resulting in complete physical, emotional, and spiritual exhaustion. A person can become chronically anxious, ... Read more

February 12, 2019February 8, 2019

Welcoming Kindness Creates Space for Healing

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

I had to travel to another part of the country last week. The outing was unplanned, but I’m never one to turn down a road trip if the opportunity ... Read more

February 5, 2019February 1, 2019

I’m Bursting the Scleroderma Boredom Bubble

Columns, Scleroderma and the Ordinary Girl

The chronically unwell face plenty of daily challenges, some big and some small. But my latest battle was brought to my attention by binge-watching a TV series. I am ... Read more

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