by Rachel Doboga My mother taught me it's not polite to talk about money, politics, and religion outside close friends and the nuclear family, but as it's ALS Awareness Month I want to make clear the monetary cost of the monster inside me. ALS is often called "the bankruptcy disease," and with good reason. The … Continue reading The Financial Cost of ALS
3 3 3 3 2 This one goes out to all the people who can't cry at home. Whether you are trying to be brave for a loved one or just don't have the space or privacy to cry at home, I hope this gives you some relief. Step 1: Park your car somewhere safe, … Continue reading The Art of Car Crying
3 3 Depression is a sneaky beast. It’s the monster beneath the bed, waiting until you’re vulnerable to grab you by the ankles, drag you into its dark, misty kingdom and leave you to wander alone. I’m just stumbling out of a two month-long bout of depression. I knew I was at risk. In fact, … Continue reading A new approach to preventing and identifying depression
3 4 4 4 2 Trigger Warning! Forward: When just over a month ago I sensed that my mind was changing, I was overcome with a frenzied need to record everything I thought and felt. Even before I understood that I was depressed, I realized I was going somewhere that outsiders could never truly visit. … Continue reading My Depression Diary
3 3 2 If you are anything like me, you do a little research before choosing a doctor. Patients can easily learn about the traditional aspects of their doctor's qualifications, such as the college they attended, years practicing, and awards earned, with a simple Internet search. However, it's quite a bit harder to get a … Continue reading Unabridged: “Is Your Doctor Hurting Your Mental Health? Why You Need an Emotionally Intelligent Doctor and How to Find One”
Ever since Donald Trump won the election, I am a stranger in a strange land. For our next leader, my country chose a man who personifies rape culture. My PTSD from when I was sexually assaulted is already severe because of him. Listening to him for the next four years and knowing he has power … Continue reading Writing Through It
My enunciation is getting rough. The letter "s" is my particular nemesis. I slur and lisp so badly, I have stopped using plural forms, and I avoid contractions. This afternoon, though, my sloppy "s" saved the day. By 4:00, it felt like everything that could go wrong had already happened. A scheduling error left me … Continue reading Wheels
"You do not need to leave your room. Remain sitting at your table and listen. Do not even listen, simply wait, be quiet still and solitary. The world will freely offer itself to you to be unmasked, it has no choice, it will roll in ecstasy at your feet" - Franz Kafka. Those of you … Continue reading Don’t Talk-A-Thon: Part 3
It's scary to show people just how sick I am. I let visits go way too long to avoid cutting people off or kicking them out, then end up exhausted with worse speech than ever the entire next day. I feel so guilty cancelling plans; after I do it enough times, I am sure I've … Continue reading Love and Dirty Dishes
How I Live Now: Life With ALS 