Have you felt the constant wear of having to change parts of your life to fit with your new normal? Friedreich’s Ataxia can do that. Over time, the mental and physical exhaustion that comes with adapting to a chronic health condition can get to anyone! There is no shame in it, and for better or… Continue reading Managing the Mental Exhaustion of Constantly Adapting to Life With FA
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How to Stay Social and Keep Doing What You Love With FA
How do you stay connected to the people and things you love as you navigate the changes that come with Friedreich’s Ataxia? FA changes how your body moves, how quickly you fatigue, how you navigate public spaces, and sometimes even how you see yourself. Things that once were effortless can get harder, more exhausting, or… Continue reading How to Stay Social and Keep Doing What You Love With FA
Low-effort Meals, Adaptive Cooking, and Eating Well with Limited Energy
Friedreich’s Ataxia leads to changes in strength, balance and energy levels. Things that once felt routine or automatic for mealtimes, like standing at the stove watching something simmer or chopping vegetables, can become difficult! Eating well with FA does not take perfection. There are things that you can do to cook smarter and build out… Continue reading Low-effort Meals, Adaptive Cooking, and Eating Well with Limited Energy
Small Adjustments That Make Daily Life Easier with FA
From the very start, a Friedreich’s Ataxia diagnosis means making changes. As a condition it will affect how you move, talk, your ability to work and go to school. What our members have found is that there are a number of small adjustments you can make that go a long way in helping save energy… Continue reading Small Adjustments That Make Daily Life Easier with FA
Why Resting Can Be a Productive Metabolic Win When You Are Managing Multiple Conditions
If you have a heart condition, or maybe even several health problems at once, it can feel like you are always being told to do more. You need to eat better, get outside and exercise more often, track everything that you do. In the midst of all of this, there is one part of cardiovascular… Continue reading Why Resting Can Be a Productive Metabolic Win When You Are Managing Multiple Conditions
Maximize The “First 10 Minutes” of Spring Sunlight
When spring comes around, getting more sunshine does not just mean warmer days! It gives you a chance to do a complete reset. Longer days and brighter mornings can help your body in a few distinct ways. You can recalibrate your internal clock, support your metabolism, and improve how you feel day to day. If… Continue reading Maximize The “First 10 Minutes” of Spring Sunlight
Cognitive Fog and the Power of Memory Hacks
Living with multiple sclerosis (MS) means learning to deal with symptoms that others people cannot see. One of the most frustrating is cognitive fog, often called cog fog or brain fog. It may not look dramatic from the outside, but it can quietly reshape your entire day. But what exactly is cognitive fog, and why… Continue reading Cognitive Fog and the Power of Memory Hacks
Why Does My “Winter Weight” Feel Harder to Lose in Spring?
When spring comes, many people think of it as a time for a fresh start. The days are longer, the weather is better, and motivation should come naturally! So it can be frustrating when the weight you may have gained over the winter does not come off as easily as you thought. For people with… Continue reading Why Does My “Winter Weight” Feel Harder to Lose in Spring?
When Depression Feels Like a Short Fuse Instead of Sadness
When you think of the symptoms of depression, anger is probably not one of the first few that come to mind. You probably think of sadness, apathy, or sleep disturbances. But anger, that feeling of having a short fuse and lashing out unexpectedly, is a fairly common emotion that people with depression have to manage.… Continue reading When Depression Feels Like a Short Fuse Instead of Sadness
How Others Approached Lifestyle Changes Without Trying to Do Everything at Once
Managing a cardiometabolic condition means changes to almost everything you do. You need to eat better, exercise more, sleep well, and lower your stress. Thinking about all of those changes might increase your stress! It is a lot to consider, and trying to change everything at once can lead to burnout and frustration. What many… Continue reading How Others Approached Lifestyle Changes Without Trying to Do Everything at Once