Friday, February 10, 2017

Facing Forward: Brittney

Facing Forward is a series that shares the lives of people living with arthritis and other invisible chronic illnesses. The goal of the series is to see how we are similar and how we are different - and to remind us to keep moving forward because we aren't alone!

Name: Brittney
Location: Pennsylvania
Diagnoses: Cerebral Palsy, Arthritis, Chronic Pain, Anxiety
Age at Diagnosis: Birth, 16, 18, 21

How are you currently treating your condition?
Medical marijuana without a doubt has been a life saver and game change - and is the primary way I wish to treat myself. Lately I'm all about discovering natural things to treat myself and caring for my mental health, because I think that how healthy you are mentally really affects your body. Just getting support from the online community has been super helpful to me as well.
 
What are the biggest challenges you have faced since your diagnosis?
Honestly, you lose a lot of people from your life when you get diagnosed, and then as you progress and the ebb and flow of your new life sinks in to everybody that's very hard. But I really struggle with the unpredictability of having an illness. That's the hardest part for me. 

What are your favorite tips and tricks for managing everyday tasks?
It depends what tasks and what you're able to do, honestly. I have tons of tips and tricks. My biggest piece of advice is to get a planner and make it fun - it will help you manage your spoons.

How do you manage to keep facing forward every day?
The support of the online community - really just knowing whatever I go through I can share and find someone who has been there.

If you could go back to diagnosis day and tell your past self one thing, what would it be?
I would just tell myself your world isn't ending. In a lot of ways it's opening up and just beginning.

Do you have a blog you would like to share?
My Life As Brittney

Would you like to be featured on Facing Forward? If so, please send an email to mariah@fromthispointforward.com.  

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