BeWell Blog

Women in a wheel chair painting a colorful mural on a wall.

Beyond Visibility: Reframing Wellness Through the Prism of Disability Pride

Disability Pride Month is in July, and visibility is vital, but I just can't stop thinking about something more. What if we're not just asking to be included in wellness conversations—what if we're actually pioneering them? After decades of navigating...

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women laying on couch in the air condition

The Health Benefits of Air Conditioning for Chronic Illness: Stay Cool, Stay Safe

Why Cooling Matters for Chronic Illness Living with a chronic illness means constantly navigating a world that often doesn’t accommodate your needs—especially during the summer months. When the temperatures rise, so do the challenges. For many of us dealing with...

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Summer Holidays & Chronic Illness: Pacing Yourself at Gatherings

Summer Holidays & Chronic Illness: Pacing Yourself at Gatherings

The smell of grills firing up, the sound of coolers being stocked with ice, and suddenly everyone's planning their three-day weekend. Memorial Day is right around the bend, bringing with it the unofficial start of summer and its backyard barbecues...

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Why May Matters: Lupus, Arthritis, Mental Health, Fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos & IBD Awareness

Why May Matters: Lupus, Arthritis, Mental Health, Fibromyalgia, Ehlers-Danlos & IBD Awareness

The flowers are blooming, the allergies are starting, and now all of a sudden my social media timeline is filled with colored ribbons and hashtags. May isn't just about spring blooms and Mother's Day brunches - it's when most chronic...

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Chronic Illness and Earth Month: Eco-Friendly Habits That Don't Burn Spoons

Chronic Illness and Earth Month: Eco-Friendly Habits That Don't Burn Spoons

So it's Earth Month again, and my social media is flooded with people showing off their perfect zero-waste lifestyles, homemade cleaning products, and backyard compost bins. Meanwhile, I'm staring at the mountain of pill bottles, blister packs, and medical waste...

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Redefining Easter Holidays with Chronic Disease: Celebration Without the Energy Drain

Redefining Easter Holidays with Chronic Disease: Celebration Without the Energy Drain

The pastel bunnies intrude, supermarkets are filled to the brim with egg-dying kits, and social media feeds are saturated with pristine family Easter schedules. And we, with chronic illness, quietly tallying the energy cost of every tradition and attempting to...

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When Sunshine Feels Like a Flare: Managing Heat Sensitivity with Chronic Illness

When Sunshine Feels Like a Flare: Managing Heat Sensitivity with Chronic Illness

Ugh, summer. That magical time when everyone posts beach pics and patio brunches while I'm over here with my cooling towel wondering why my body thinks 78 degrees is a personal attack. Don't get me wrong - I love seeing...

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IBS in Public: 10 Real-Life Hacks for Managing Symptoms on the Go

IBS in Public: 10 Real-Life Hacks for Managing Symptoms on the Go

There's having IBS at home - and having IBS out and about. Two very different problems. At home, you know where the bathroom is. You've got your heating pad, your comfort foods, and no one questioning why you've been in...

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Seizing the Outdoors: Enjoying Warmer Weather Without Doing Too Much

Seizing the Outdoors: Enjoying Warmer Weather Without Doing Too Much

The sun's finally showing up more often, and I don't know if it's just me, but I get that feeling to be outside. There's something special about those first truly warm days that awakens something in us - a craving...

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It's Heating Up Outside, and Still Freezing Inside: The Importance of Adaptive Clothing Throughout the Year

It's Heating Up Outside, and Still Freezing Inside: The Importance of Adaptive Clothing Throughout the Year

Finally, spring. Everyone is casting off coats, soaking up rays, and storing away winter apparel. Everyone but us people with chronic illness, that is. We are smarter. We are aware that no matter what the weather app says, we still...

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Why Are My Allergies Worse? How Autoimmune Diseases Affect Allergic Reactions

Why Are My Allergies Worse? How Autoimmune Diseases Affect Allergic Reactions

Oh, spring. Sunshine, flowers, and... tissues. Lots of tissues. For us folks dealing with autoimmune issues, the beginning of allergy season tends to bring a specific kind of woe. That singular bout of sneezing has become a seven-day orchestra of...

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Spring Cleaning as a Spoonie

Spring Cleaning as a Spoonie

The birds are chirping, flowers are starting to bloom, and everyone's talking about spring cleaning. My social media news feed is flooded with before-and-after photos of tidy closets and sparkling kitchens. Meanwhile, I'm looking at my cluttered bedroom, calculating math...

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