Rare Disease

When my daughter was first (mis)diagnosed with a rare disease in 2013, not only was I utterly devastated by the news that she had a progressive disease, but I was also shocked beyond reason by the realization that such a disease even existed in the first place. That moment was reality-altering. In fact, I remember very little from that day, except [...]

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Glenda McCoy

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Rare Disease

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How My Daughter's Rare Disease Opened My Eyes

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WilsonDisease 1h

I'm new here!

Hi everyone! My name is Emma, and I’m the founder of Chronic and Capable. 💛**
I started Chronic and Capable because I know firsthand what it feels like to navigate life with a chronic illness. I live with Wilson disease, a rare genetic condition, and throughout my own journey, I’ve realized how important it is to see the people behind the diagnosis.
We are so much more than our medical charts, medications, appointments, and symptoms. We are students, professionals, artists, athletes, friends, advocates, and people with dreams and ambitions.
That’s why I created Chronic and Capable: a space dedicated to sharing the real stories of people living with chronic illness and disability—the challenges we face, but also the lives we continue to build alongside them.
I’m currently looking for individuals who would be interested in sharing their stories and experiences with Chronic and Capable. You don’t need to be a writer or have a large social media following. I simply want to create a space where honest experiences can be heard and where someone else might find comfort in realizing they’re not alone.
If you’re interested in being featured—or know someone who might be—I'd truly love to connect. 💛
Learn more and share your story at chronicandcapable.netlify.app
Thank you for helping me build a community where we can recognize that living with a chronic illness doesn't take away from everything we are capable of.
#ChronicAndCapable #WilsonDisease #ChronicIllness #RareDisease #patientstories #shareyourstory #ChronicIllnessCommunity

#MightyTogether #Anxiety #Depression #WilsonDisease

Chronic & Capable — In Their Own Words

Eleven people describe their chronic conditions, what gets misunderstood, and what they wish healthcare had gotten right — in their own words.

Be first

www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

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Thomas Ousterhout PhD

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@thomas_of_copenhagen

Conquer Your Mind 5h

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FEELING HOPELESS DOESN’T MEAN YOUR FUTURE IS

When you’re depressed, hopelessness can feel less like an emotion and more like a prediction. You feel like nothing will change, so your mind starts telling you that nothing can change. The feeling is real, but that doesn’t mean the future your mind is imagining is real too.

Your emotions deserve compassion, especially when you’re struggling. But you can acknowledge how you feel without allowing that feeling to decide what happens next. Instead of letting “I feel hopeless” become “my life is hopeless,” remind yourself of something you can do, something you have already survived, or one small way you can take care of yourself today.

You don’t need to suddenly feel hopeful about your entire future. Sometimes you just need to stop letting today’s pain write tomorrow’s story.

What’s one thing you’ve made it through that once felt impossible?

Also, if you're going through a tough time right now, I want you to know that I post daily mental health videos about how to deal with painful thoughts. So if you or anyone you know is struggling and wants help, click on one of the links below or write me if you have any questions you want me to answer:

www.tiktok.com/@thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

#MentalHealth #MentalHealth #Depression #Anxiety #BipolarDisorder #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #Addiction #dissociativedisorders #ObsessiveCompulsiveDisorder #ADHD #Fibromyalgia #EhlersDanlosSyndrome #PTSD #Cancer #RareDisease #Disability #Autism #Diabetes #EatingDisorders #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RheumatoidArthritis #Suicide #MightyTogether

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#52SmallThings #CheckInWithMe #Selfcare #MentalHealth #Disability #ChronicIllness #ChronicPain #RareDisease #Anxiety #Depression #Autism #Parenting #PTSD #BorderlinePersonalityDisorder #BipolarDisorder #Fibromyalgia #Lupus #MultipleSclerosis #Migraine #Spoonie

52 Small Things 2d

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How can you foster your creativity this weekend?

The weekend is approaching yet again. We made it through the week (round of applause to us 👏).

For today’s self-care challenge, let’s brainstorm some ways we can foster our own creativity this weekend. Some ideas: writing, taking a walk, or cleaning up some clutter so you have a more comfortable workspace to be in!

Wishing you all so many creative vibes in the coming couple of days.

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52 Small Things 4d

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Where do you find inspiration?

The beauty of creativity is its versatility in how it can be expressed and shared. Creativity can be seen everywhere (even in nature), leaving so many avenues of inspiration to be found — you just have to know where to look. ✨

Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks finds inspirations in the music she listens to and while scrolling on social media. She loves to see artists and online content creators sharing their art!

What inspires you?

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52 Small Things 5d

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What is your favorite way to express yourself?

Let’s let our creativity shine!

Whether it’s through our personal style, how we speak or sing, how we move our bodies, or what we write about or creative art around — there are so many different ways we can express ourselves.

What is your favorite form of self-expression?

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www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

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Thomas Ousterhout PhD

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@thomas_of_copenhagen

Conquer Your Mind 6d

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Forgiveness

When someone hurts us deeply, it can feel unfair to let go. We may think holding on to the anger somehow holds the other person accountable, or that moving forward means pretending what happened didn’t matter.

But you can acknowledge what someone did, learn from it, set boundaries, and still decide that you don’t want to spend the rest of your life carrying the pain they caused. Forgiveness doesn’t require forgetting, and it certainly doesn’t require allowing someone back into your life. Sometimes it simply means choosing your own peace over continuing to relive the hurt.

Moving forward isn’t something you do for the person who hurt you. It’s something you can choose to do for yourself.

What has helped you let go of something that once had a hold on you?

www.tiktok.com/@thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

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52 Small Things 6d

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TRUE or FALSE: I consider myself a creative person.

Happy Monday, Mighties! 😇

Let’s dive into this week’s theme of creativity! (This is Mighty staffer @sparklywartanks favorite thing in the world BTW. 😁)

Creativity can encompass an endless amount of interests, skills, practices, talents, and habits. Creativity for one person can look quite different from another person and that’s the beauty of it all!

While some might bask in their creative energy, others might not consider it a strength… and that’s OK! There’s no right way when it comes to self-expression.

Would you consider yourself a creative person? Answer "true" or "false" in the comments below.

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www.instagram.com/thomas_of_copenhagen

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Thomas Ousterhout PhD

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@thomas_of_copenhagen

Conquer Your Mind 1w

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STOP WAITING TO FEEL READY

It's easy to believe that one day you'll wake up feeling ready. Ready to make the change, face the thing you've been avoiding, start taking care of yourself, or finally begin working your way out of a difficult period.

But confidence usually doesn't come before we act. We build confidence by doing things before we're completely sure we can. We become stronger by going through moments when we don't feel strong. And we learn by starting before we have all the answers.

I think this is especially important when you're struggling with depression because looking at the entire road ahead can make recovery feel impossible. You don't need to figure out the whole journey today. You don't even need to feel ready for it. Just ask yourself what one small thing you can do today to take better care of yourself.

Sometimes the first step doesn't come after you feel better. Sometimes the first step is part of how you begin to feel better.

What's one small thing you can do for yourself today?

www.tiktok.com/@thomas_of_copenhagen

~ Thanks to all. Thanks for all. ~

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