Normal-adjacent: Welcome Back, PCAs
I hoped that things would “get back to normal” — whatever that means — by mid-summer. Reader, I was disappointed. But I’m used to disappointment. After all, I spent the better part of two…
The Wolf Finally Frees Itself
— Brianna Albers
Brianna Albers (she/her) is a crip-cyborg storyteller living in Minneapolis-St. Paul. She was diagnosed with spinal muscular atrophy type 2 in 1996 and lives with co-occurring physical and mental health conditions. By day she works as an advocate, bridging disability and mental health awareness to empower people to live their best lives; by night, she dabbles in imagination, and is currently writing “An Angel in the Garden,” an adult space fantasy with #OwnVoices disability representation. Find her online at briannahopealbers.com and on social media @briehalbers.
Featured Post
Adding a nasal irrigator to my list of rare disease gadgets
It was another appointment in an appointment-packed January. My hopes weren’t particularly high, but no one will ever accuse me of being a less-than-perfect patient, so I braved the cold bite of the new…
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I’m Choosing to Love the Adventure I’ve Been Given
My family has a saying: “It’s always an adventure with us.” It originated with Katelyn, an honorary member of the Albers household and my first personal care assistant (PCA). “It’s always an adventure…
I’m Tired of Resisting
One of my favorite writers, Leo Babauta, is known for his work on mindfulness and simplicity. His blog, “Zen Habits,” is one of few newsletters that I…
Welcome to the Launch of SMA My Way
I am officially a baby influencer. I spent the morning tweaking my social media pages. I’ve been doing that a lot lately, ever since I graduated with a master’s degree and found myself with…
This Summer, I’m Reading the Work of Disabled People of Color
Reader, it’s already June. How is that possible? On one hand, it feels like no time has passed. Part of me is convinced that the green, sun-dappled world outside my…
Disability Advocacy Must Include the Black Perspective
I love the disability community. I love our resilience, our creativity, and our willingness to adapt and change. We have visions of an inclusive world that celebrates diversity and supports marginalized people…
Adapting to Cat Motherhood, SMA-style
“I know I’m on my period,” I told my dad, “because I’m crying at the mere possibility of Rey not knowing that I love her.” Rey,…
Unraveling the False Threads of My Unlovability
Let me set the scene. I’ve finished my morning routine of meditating and emptying my inbox. I scroll through Twitter for a few minutes, knowing…
How Do We Maintain Post-traumatic Growth?
Post-traumatic growth (PTG) occurs in the wake of adversity, initially through grief work — recognizing that our lives have fundamentally changed as a result of trauma — and eventually…
Can the Coronavirus Pandemic Encourage Values-based Living?
Last week, I wrote that to properly address anxiety about the coronavirus, we must sit with our grief and accept it. But grief work is one…
Managing Coronavirus Anxiety Begins with Grief
One of my readers asked me to write about coronavirus anxiety. I’ve spent the past week coming up with solution-focused approaches to the pandemic because that’s how…
I Hate to Admit It, but I Struggle with Codependency
You can tell I got my master’s degree in mental health counseling because there are certain things I cannot tolerate. For example, baffling definitions of codependency…
