As a senior in college, I was involved in a traffic accident that eventually left me with neck issues and chronic pain. A couple of years later, I became severely ill with mononucleosis, which I never fully recovered from. Within half a decade, I was diagnosed with Hashimoto’s, a thyroid condition which is hard to treat. […]

Aging used to be revered, not feared. For centuries, several generations lived together, and grandparents were an integral part of a child’s existence. Elderly people’s hard-earned wisdom helped younger people cope with daily life. But sometime in the twentieth century, as travel became cheaper, families began to spread out. Nursing homes popped up to help […]

by Dena Dyer (Photo by Paola Chaaya on Unsplash) When I was pregnant with my oldest son Jordan, every book I read urged mothers to nurse, and many well-meaning ladies at my church asked, “You’re going to breastfeed, right?” When Jordan wouldn’t latch on and my lack of milk prevented pumping, turning to a bottle […]

A friend recently asked me for tips on working with chronic illness, since she knows I deal with Hashimoto’s and Fibromyalgia. Unfortunately, I don’t have easy answers because brain fog, pain, fatigue and other symptoms are REAL and it’s just hard. However, over several years I’ve somewhat found my rhythm. Note: I’m not going to […]

You’re sitting down with coffee, taking a well-deserved afternoon break. While sipping your drink, you scroll through your Instagram feed. And then you feel it … an ache in the pit of your stomach. You peer at a friend’s latest success (house renovation, dream vacation, job promotion) and instead of feeling happy for her, you […]