Jessica Hanson

Learning how to advocate for yourself can be challenging. It's certainly a learning process, and it is often difficult to stick up for oneself in social situations. Here are a...

I’m often asked, “How did you come to terms with how your rare disease changed your life?” or “How did you mourn the loss of the old you, and how...

Advocacy burnout is real. Some days, I'm just so tired of talking about my autoimmune conditions, navigating popular platforms, and battling uneducated comments. Sometimes, a deep fatigue sets in, and...

I have 3 autoimmune conditions: celiac disease, Graves’ disease, and thyroid eye disease. One of these is categorized as a rare disease, and one is statistically under-diagnosed. Can you guess...

Finding the right doctor can be challenging for anyone, but it seems especially challenging for those of us in the rare disease community who are looking for specialists to help...

I'm not a fan of New Year's resolutions. I'm sure many of us have seen or done this before – we make big goals that are not necessarily attainable, and...

It can be so hard for people outside of the rare disease community to truly understand what we go through – ongoing symptoms, fatigue, never-ending appointments with specialists, continuously adjusting...

Social situations can be very difficult to navigate with a rare disease or chronic illness. From navigating logistics to friends just not quite getting it, it can certainly feel exhausting...

As someone who has been to many, many doctors for multiple chronic illnesses and a rare disease, there are so many things I wish for in the American healthcare system...

Summer is here! Time to travel to new places, experience local cuisine, and have some fun in the sun! Okay, easier said than done for individuals with chronic illnesses. With...

It's hard to know exactly what someone else is going through, especially if the other person has a rare disease that most people have never heard of. I think it's...

Medical emergencies are certainly no fun, especially when a rare disease is thrown into the mix. However, being prepared for a potential emergency can make a nightmare of a situation...

"Oh, you have XYZ disease? Have you tried yoga?" Wow, if I had a nickel for every time someone tossed this cookie-cutter suggestion my way. I'll take another nickel, please...

As a person continuously navigating life with multiple chronic illnesses, self-care is an interesting concept for me. How I wish that a day at the spa could wash away my...

Navigating gatherings with loved ones can be tricky enough on its own. Throw in a rare disease – and maybe a few extra chronic conditions – and I find myself...

When I was first diagnosed with a rare disease, I struggled to find a sense of community. Like many others, I had never heard of my disease before, let alone...

I’m no stranger to autoimmune conditions. Let's take a look: I am among the roughly 1% of the population that has celiac disease, an autoimmune condition related to the consumption...

I’m a fan of therapy, but to be honest, I personally haven’t always found it to be helpful in the past. Perhaps I just hadn’t found the right therapist for...