Invisible Illness

Life Interrupted: Living With an Invisible Illness

Millions of women who look perfectly healthy on the outside are grappling w...
Millions of women who look perfectly healthy on the outside are grappling with chronic conditions that make normal life anything but. They have what’s been dubbed an invisible illness, because their struggles go unseen. Here are their stories.
Chronic Pain

How One Couple Works Together to Conquer Chronic Back Pain

Dealing with chronic pain puts an undeniable strain on the strongest of rel...
Dealing with chronic pain puts an undeniable strain on the strongest of relationships. Jan and her husband, Bill, who have known each other since college, have lived through five years of Jan's debilitating back pain, which developed after she learned a new golf swing. Jan's journey for pain relief (she has spent thousands of dollars for treatments including acupuncture, core strengthening sessions, physical therapy, Rolfing, and chiropractic care) has been incredibly hard on this athletic couple and their family. Here, Jan and Bill open up about how divisive and isolating pain can be and what they do to bridge that divide and stay strong together. Their quotes are taken from an interview with Jan and an interview with Bill. They have been edited and combined to show two sides of one painful story.
Eczema

My Struggle With Eczema Cost My Parents $35,000

One woman opens up about her lifelong struggle with eczema, which she devel...
One woman opens up about her lifelong struggle with eczema, which she developed at birth—and both she and her parents have been juggling the costs ever since.

Coping: Tips From Women Who Know