Admittedly, I've never been one to handle stress well. When I was younger, I was known to burst into instantaneous crying if something scary and unexpected happened, like being selected for a random screening at the airport (this is so embarrassing, I can't believe I'm admitting it...). I've always been easily overwhelmed, and I've always been a passionate person; which means I tend to feel a lot of things and then get easily overwhelmed. It's both a blessing and a curse. I feel everything, deeply, emotionally; I'm not one to take things lightly.

Being diagnosed with a chronic illness can be summed up in one word: overwhelming. Initially, I was overwhelmed with information, resources, questions, concerns, and fears. Every new blood result and every new symptom felt like terrible additions to my already full plate. I slept during much of the early period, and felt thankful for the escape from my new reality.

I'm in a much better place now, but at times, I still find myself utterly overwhelmed by my conditions. It has gotten easier, and I've learned so much along the way. I rely on therapeutic yoga classes to relieve a lot of my physical stress and tension, naps to re-energize and help my mental health, praying, which helps with spiritual stress, and laughter, to remind me that there's always something positive.

I often get told how surprising my positive attitude is, given the cards life has dealt me. I've always been a positive person, and I laugh as much as I talk. This hasn't changed, despite my setbacks and roadblocks.The biggest reason for this is that I have decided I will not allow my illnesses to change me. They may wreak havoc on my body, but not my not my soul. The stress threatens to break me, but it never will. I am stronger than my illnesses.