Of all the psoriasis patients we’ve interviewed, Erica was hit by this highly stigmatized autoimmune condition the earliest – she developed visible symptoms at the tender age of 9. Now 21, she shares her decade-plus journey from being the girl that people avoided in school to an increasingly confident young woman who has finally started… Continue reading Finding Peace, Confidence and Lifelong Friends: An Interview with Psoriasis Patient Erica
Tag: stigma
Psoriasis and Bullying
Teasing.Physical violence.Staring.Social isolation.Name-calling. Many of our members with psoriasis, a chronic autoimmune condition that can produce red, scaly patches and other skin symptoms, report experiencing various forms of bullying while growing up. One relays the story of a teacher who repeatedly sent her to the nurse’s office, assuming that she had a contagious condition. Another… Continue reading Psoriasis and Bullying
Spotlighted Blogger: Psoriasis Patient Alisha B. of “Being Me in My Own Skin”
Welcome to the latest installment of our “Spotlighted Blogger” series. So far, we’ve interviewed patient bloggers living with gastroparesis, type I diabetes, bipolar I disorder, Parkinson’s disease and ALS, and today we introduce Alisha B., who felt alone in her struggles with psoriasis until “coming out” on her blog, Being Me in My Own Skin. Alisha is currently participating in… Continue reading Spotlighted Blogger: Psoriasis Patient Alisha B. of “Being Me in My Own Skin”
Mental Illness Awareness Week: Stigmas, Stereotypes and Sharing
On Tuesday, we recognized Mental Illness Awareness Week (October 2-8) by sharing some of our mental health members’ vivid descriptions of what depression feels like. Today, we’ve taken a look at what else our members are sharing – or not sharing – about more than a dozen mental health conditions at PatientsLikeMe. On the site,… Continue reading Mental Illness Awareness Week: Stigmas, Stereotypes and Sharing