Speaking Through the Storm: A Guide to Public Speaking with Chronic Illness

I've always felt a magnetic pull towards public speaking, even when fear wrapped its cold fingers around my throat. The stage called to me like a siren song, yet until I was 17, I remained frozen on the shores of self-doubt. You see, while classrooms and stages felt like home - places where my true self could emerge - the crushing weight of imagined judgments kept me anchored in silence.

Living with Dysautonomia: The Invisible Symphony of Chaos

Imagine your body as an orchestra, with the autonomic nervous system as its conductor. This system orchestrates everything from heart rate and blood pressure to digestion and temperature regulation - all the things we never think about until they stop working properly. That's dysautonomia - when the conductor loses control, and the symphony of our body's automatic functions descends into chaos.

Your Experience is Evidence

Your daily experience with a chronic condition isn't just your reality—it's one of the most valuable datasets in healthcare. For too long, the patient's lived experience has been treated as "anecdotal." We fill out surveys and share our stories, often wondering if they lead to any meaningful change.

Living with Purpose Despite Chronic Illness

Let's talk about something that's been on my mind lately - the crucial need for purpose when you're dealing with chronic illness. And yeah, I know what you're thinking: "Another article about finding meaning while being sick?" But stick with me here, because this isn't your typical inspirational fluff.

The Hidden Crisis: When Healthcare Systems Fail the Human Element

I have failed. I thought I understood healthcare from within, from all sides of it—as a patient first, but also as a clinician, researcher, manager, innovator, and caregiver. But apparently, my caregiving experience was sugarcoated. I had the sheer luck of landing in patient journeys that were far more privileged than others, particularly in certain oncological outpatient wards where I witnessed compassionate case managers, dedicated care coordinators, genuine empathy, and transparency paired with charitable organizations working to humanize the experience for both patients and healthcare professionals.

A World Where Mental Wellness is Our Armor, Not a Luxury

Imagine a world where seeking emotional support and therapy is as ingrained in our self-care routine as a trip to the GP. A world where prioritizing mental health isn't a privilege reserved for the fortunate few, but a fundamental right we all possess.