I am: Identity and chronic illness
I am not migraine. I do not want to be defined by migraine. And yet, sometimes it feels like all that I am.
identity
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Redefinition is a Nightmare, Yet the Essence Remains
“This is not what they signed up for, not at all. . . . Redefinition is a nightmare — we think we’ve arrived, in our nice Pottery Barn boxes, and that this or that is true. Then something happens that totally sucks, and we are…
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“Migraineur,” an Offensive Term?
Migraineur: a person who has migraine (according to Merriam-Webster) I use the term “migraineur” regularly to refer to people who have migraine. I’ve deliberately chosen “migraineur” over “migraine sufferer” in my writing because the latter makes us sound like victims, which I refuse to identify…
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Identity & Strengths Finder 2.0
After writing about the loss of identity that I experienced with chronic illness, I wanted to give some suggestions for rediscovering one’s sense of self. Most of the recommendations are time-intensive and arduous — like finding a good therapist, practicing mindfulness, and learning about Buddhist…
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Identity Loss, a Chronic Migraine Symptom
“Because of my illness, my faults are in plain view. It’s simply too hard to hide that I’m selfish with my time, can be terribly insecure about the most bizarre things, and have great intentions with little follow-through.” This excerpt from Friends, Family & Illness,…