Blog

I must admit, the word 'emotional' is not normally a word that is usually associated with me. Much like my father, I carry on my day with a stoic, expressionless face; which reflects calm and calculated thought, reflecting my practical and often clinical approach to life.

Living with a chronic condition like Ankylosing Spondylitis (AS) makes you very familiar with the ups and downs of a disease that can leave you debilitated, with the dreaded 'flare' descending on you when you least expect it.

One of the hardest things to deal with in life is grief. Losing a loved one or family member can cause more pain than any physical injury ever will. Grief doesn’t just strike us when a bereavement occurs, grief can also strike with tragedy, but more pertinently, grief also visits us when being diagnosed with a chronic illness.

One of the ways in which you can stay positive, despite your daily struggle is to look for the positives in a situation, and not focus on the negatives.

For someone suffering with a chronic illness this is only made worse by the restrictions in which it inflicts. Living with Ankylosing Spondylitis has taught me a lot about time management.