BeWell Blog

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

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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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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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Mother's Day with Chronic Illness: Honoring Moms Who Are Warriors Too

Mother's Day is near, and as social media fills with pictures of moms managing stylish brunches and family hikes, many of us in the chronic illness community are quietly thinking about how we're going to muster enough energy to just...

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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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Reflecting on International Women's Day: Honoring Women with Chronic Illness

International Women's Day, marked every year on March 8th, offers a time to commemorate gains achieved by women and look back on work still to be done. It's a day to recognize strength in every sense – including the amazing...

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Spring Forward Struggles: How Daylight Savings Time Affects Chronic Illness

So, we've been a couple of days into Daylight Savings Time now. Is everyone organized yet? Or are you me - still waking up confused, glancing at the clock, and wondering why everything is out of whack? That "just one...

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How to Advocate for Yourself in the Medical System – Lessons from the Rare Disease Community

The first time a doctor told me "it's probably just constipation/gas," I nodded and went home, thinking they must be right. A few doctors and many years later, I finally got my Crohn's diagnosis at the age of 17. That...

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Why Rare Disease Awareness Matters: How It Benefits the Whole Chronic Illness Community

I'll never forget the day my doctor finally put a name to what was happening to my body. After years of being told it was "just constipation/gas" or "all in my head," having a diagnosis – even not a rare...

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Life is Short: Use the Markers

Growing up, I had this habit that I now recognize in so many others living with chronic illness - saving the "good stuff" for some perfect future moment that never quite arrives. The Story Behind the Markers I remember the...

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Understanding Medical Gaslighting: What It Is and How to Respond

Written by: Amanda Phillips If you have lived with any type of chronic illness for any amount of time, there is a good chance that at one point or another, you felt your symptoms were not taken seriously by a...

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Trick-or-Treating Made Accessible to Kids with Medical Conditions

Written by: Amanda Phillips Halloween is one of the most magical times of the year when kids get to dress up, eat candy, and have fun in their neighborhoods. For children with medical conditions, however, traditional trick-or-treating can present challenges...

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How to Talk to Your Doctor About Unseen Symptoms

Written by: Amanda Phillips If you're living with a chronic illness, you know that some of the most debilitating symptoms aren't visible to the outside world. Whether it's fatigue, brain fog, or chronic pain, these "unseen" symptoms can take a...

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