Contemplating A Great Psoriasis Question

I am like anyone else these days. I like to scroll through social media. Mostly it's to keep up with family since we are spread out over multiple states. However, there are times like today that I find something that inspires me.

Who was I before psoriasis?

I have a friend who posted a really interesting question along with her response to it. Her response prompted me to assess all areas of my life and allowed me to contemplate the question in regard to my own life. What's the question she posed? Who was I before chronic illness?

Usually, a lot of people with psoriasis respond to that question in a grieving manner. I am not one of those people. No offense. I get why they respond that way. Psoriasis is a difficult disease to live with. Personally, I find it more helpful to stay positive in a world that is full of negatives.

Life before psoriasis

Before my diagnosis of psoriasis, I was like everyone else my age. I had been through one marriage that ended badly. I have two children from that marriage that are my pride and joy. Married a second time. A full-time job was my daily grind. I could walk, run, swim and do just about anything else I wanted to do.

I was strong and most definitely stubborn. Just ask anyone that knows me. Whatever I set my mind to do, I did it. Before psoriasis, I could count on one hand the number of times I had seen a doctor. Don't get me wrong. There were still struggles day-to-day but that's true with any adults or parents that have children at home. All in all, it was a normal life.

Staying positive post psoriasis diagnosis

Psoriasis symptoms began to show on my left leg when I was 33. Let me give you just a bit of break-down on that. I was going through my second divorce and my two sons were living with their father. My Uncle passed away and I was helping my grandparents settle his estate since he had no wife or children. It was a high-stress point in my life.

Please don't take this as me being negative. It is just simply the truth about the stress which caused psoriasis to come to the surface. In my situation, psoriasis is hereditary. It comes from my father's side of the family.

There are children that are born with psoriasis from the beginning of life. Think about that for a minute. If you are in the same situation as an adult, let's think about what it would mean having it your entire life. I hope that thought brings a little bit of better thinking on your part.

Asking the question again

Who am I living with a chronic illness? I am still the same stubborn me I have always been. Yes, I know this about myself. Still the same mother as before. The only difference now is that I am a grandmother. I have a grandson and a granddaughter.

I have met so many wonderful people who live with psoriasis. Traveling to different locations to tell my story of living with the condition has allowed me to see other states that I might have never traveled to. Each time meeting new people who are now a part of my life. None of this would be possible without having psoriasis.

Not being defined by psoriasis

Without psoriasis, I would not be writing for this great company that provides this website and community that you are reading this article from. Who am I? I am a person that has psoriasis. Psoriasis does not have me.

I keep pushing forward. My life is not defined by psoriasis. Who are you living with a chronic illness? Do you see the underlying word in that sentence? That word is living.

You have psoriasis but hopefully are living your life to the fullest. I know I am.