What Life Feels Like With Psoriasis

Try to dissect life with psoriasis? I never gave it a thought. There are so many emotions that range from anxiety, panic, stress, and sadness all because of this invisible visible condition. I've been in continuous go mode with the sole focus of getting rid of it, I didn't even stop to think about how this condition would be affecting me.

If we addressed the emotional burden that psoriasis comes with, perhaps physical recovery won't seem so daunting and hopeless.

The emotional toll of psoriasis

Until I attended a conference and everyone was just like me, I was blind to the emotional toll of the disease. I connected with others living with psoriasis and they share their own miseries and mental dilemmas. This was an awakening for me.

When I realized that there is an emotional aspect to this suffering. I also realized we needed to deal with it. Positive well-being appeared to be a major contributor to physical health. This observation helped me identify and manage the emotional problems that when it came to life with psoriasis.

The impact on career goals

When my psoriasis symptoms became more intense, I lost my job. I started worrying about my future, especially because I had psoriasis. I had severe symptoms and I had to manage them - this was not possible along with managing a full-time job. This event put a question mark on various aspects of my life. These things included my career, stability, future, and goals. It felt like somebody had crushed my entire career and efforts.

It's also when I realized the impact stress can have on psoriasis symptoms. According to the National Psoriasis Foundation, stress is a common trigger for psoriasis flare-ups. To make matters worse, dealing with a psoriasis flare-up can heighten your stress, creating a vicious cycle.

Fighting loneliness

Another major emotional challenge I went through was fighting loneliness. In some of the darkest moments of my life managing psoriatic disease, I felt as if I was a rotten egg that everyone avoided. When people would talk to me, albeit nicely, I could see the disgust and pity in their eyes as they looked at my skin. Their words did not sync with their looks. It impacted me to my core.

When I was able to connect with other people living with psoriasis, it helped. It was so good to see people who were like me, who understood my struggle and did not have disgust in their eyes for me. I felt comfortable and less lonely.

The power of connection

After finding acceptance within this psoriasis community, I found myself at a turning point. I was ready to recognize my emotions and take my career in another direction. I began helping people with psoriasis and raise awareness by sharing my journey. It gives me immense pleasure to see that people do not have to go through the same struggles of the disease as I did due to a lack of awareness.

I work every day across many platforms so that none of my psoriasis warriors have to face loneliness in their painful journey. I have been a patient advocate for over a decade and wouldn’t change a thing. Hear me, you are not alone in this journey.