PatientsLikeMe member Jeanette Alston-Watkins (JeanetteA6872) was diagnosed with lupus in 2006, when her kids were 11 and 14. “My kids are my strength and they gave me energy and willpower,” she says in this Q&A about parenting with SLE. Can you share a bit about your diagnosis and how it impacted your children? They were… Continue reading Parents with lupus (or any health condition) ‘don’t have to be perfect’ — take it from this mom
Tag: family communication
Advance Health Care Directives: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Get One
An advance health care directive is a legal document that explains your medical wishes if you’re ever unable to speak for yourself. It can also name someone you trust, such as a loved one or a lawyer, to make health care decisions on your behalf. Contrary to what many believe, advance directives are not only… Continue reading Advance Health Care Directives: What They Are, Why They Matter, and How to Get One
Parenting with bipolar II: Alysia’s story
Meet Alysia, a member of the 2018 PatientsLikeMe Team of Advisors who’s living with bipolar II disorder. Here’s what she had to say about parenting with a mental health condition, learning to adapt and how she “defies the odds.” When I was younger I wrote stories about my alter ego who had kids. I lived almost… Continue reading Parenting with bipolar II: Alysia’s story