When I was nineteen, I participated in a research study on chronic pain and art.   It was conducted remotely through a university in California. The topic interested me as someone who lives with chronic pain and is passionate about the arts. From there, I sent a brief email to one of the students in the psychology department.  After some emails back and forth on scheduling, I had a short interview. This was one of the first times I shared openly about my CMT with someone that

I needed a break, an escape from various stresses, so I went to the library. I often find myself longing for a change in scenery. In fact in a more recent counseling session, my therapist encouraged me to find a space where I could take a break. I would prefer it being at the beach, but as you know, that's a little more challenging physically. I've come to realize that I can get overwhelmed easly when there is added stress and it increases my pain. And of course that's not go

"The coolness of water brushed against my feet as the sun was hidden beneath the clouds. The ocean was cold on that November day, but that didn't matter. My smile grew bigger as I gently walked along the sand. It was blessing from God." I've been longing to go to the beach for months. I went a few times this year, not walking on the sand, but seeing the ocean from a distance. That is, until one of my friends offered to take me to a beach that had a paved pathway. The goal was

This is part of my story that no one knows, except family and close friends. I wanted to keep it that way. I wasn't sure others would...