In 2022, I was 24 years old, what many call the beginning of the “best years” of life. Instead, I found myself trapped in a cycle of severe allergies, misdiagnosis, and medical mismanagement. The years that followed, 24 to 28, were not filled with carefree adventures or career milestones. They were spent in hospital corridors, emergency rooms, and waiting areas where strangers became my comforters and nurses knew me better than my own family.
🧠 The Hidden Toll of Chronic Illness
Living with a chronic condition is not just a physical battle, it’s a psychological and social upheaval. Research shows that chronic diseases often lead to emotional distress, depression, and anxiety due to their unpredictable nature and long-term impact. The initial diagnosis can be life-altering, triggering a cascade of psychological and social consequences.
Social support plays a critical role in buffering the emotional burden. A recent study found that strong social networks can moderate feelings of burdensomeness and improve psychological well-being among those with chronic illness. Yet, for many of us, support is sporadic or absent. I’ve cried myself to sleep more times than I can count, longing for someone to hold my hand or simply ask, “Are you okay?”
🌍 Survival Across Borders
My journey took me across countries, not for leisure, but for survival. Each move was driven by necessity: seeking better healthcare, escaping environmental triggers, or finding a place where I could simply breathe. While others romanticize travel, I know the reality of navigating foreign healthcare systems, languages, and cultures while battling illness. It was only through the generosity of organizations and kind strangers that I managed to keep going.
📚 Healing Through Books and Movement
In the darkest moments, books became my companions. They helped me understand trauma, reframe my thinking, and nurture self-compassion. Here are some that transformed my mindset:
🔍 Understanding Trauma and PTSD
- The Body Keeps the Score by Bessel van der Kolk
- Blind to Betrayal by Jennifer Freyd
💞 Navigating Relationships and Emotions
- How to Be an Adult in Relationships by David Richo
- Emotional Intelligence by Daniel Goleman
🧠 Exploring Neuroplasticity
- The Brain That Changes Itself by Norman Doidge
- The Brain’s Way of Healing by Norman Doidge
🌀 Reframing Your Mindset
- The Upside of Stress by Kelly McGonigal
- The Expectation Effect by David Robson
- The Dopamine Brain by Dr. Anastasia Hronis
- Don’t Believe Everything You Think by Joseph Nguyen
🎨 Creative Expression and Self-Understanding
- Your brain on art: How the arts transform us by Ivy Ross and Susan Magsamen
🌟 Finding Meaning Beyond Illness
- When Breath Becomes Air by Paul Kalanithi
- Man’s Search for Meaning by Viktor Frankl
- The Form of Things by A.C. Grayling
- A Woman Makes a Plan by Maye Musk
💪 From Victimhood to Growth
Healing is not linear. It’s a mosaic of tears, resilience, and small victories. I sing to release tension, dance to reclaim joy, and lift weights to channel frustration. These rituals remind me that I am more than my diagnosis.
Finding meaning in illness is poetic, and now, it’s scientifically supported. Studies show that meaning-making can lead to greater acceptance and psychological well-being. Chronic illness may strip away the life you planned, but it can also reveal a deeper purpose.
🕊️ Final Thoughts
If you’re living with a chronic condition, know this: your pain is valid, your journey is unique, and your resilience is extraordinary. You are not defined by your illness, but by how you rise in spite of it.
References
- Islam, M. R., Qusar, M. M. A. S., & Akif, A. (2024). The impact of chronic diseases on mental health: An overview and recommendations for care programs. Current Psychiatry Reports, 26, 394–404. https://doi.org/10.1007/s11920-024-01510-7
- Akyirem, S., Forbes, A., Wad, J. L., & Due-Christensen, M. (2021). Psychosocial interventions for adults with newly diagnosed chronic disease: A systematic review. Journal of Health Psychology, 27(7), 1753–1782. https://doi.org/10.1177/1359105321995916
- Amin, S. M., Khedr, M. A., Tawfik, A. F., Malek, M. G. N., & El-Ashry, A. M. (2025). The mediating and moderating role of social support on the relationship between psychological well-being and burdensomeness among elderly with chronic illness: Community nursing perspective. BMC Nursing, 24, Article 156. https://doi.org/10.1186/s12912-025-02743-4
- Purc-Stephenson, R. J., & Edwards, R. (2024). Finding meaning in chronic illness and its relationship to psychological well-being: A mixed-methods study. PLOS Mental Health, 1(9), Article e0000121. https://doi.org/10.1371/journal.pmen.0000121
Artist & Academic 