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,…
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.
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Putting yourself — your whole self — out there is a challenge
I prefer to write columns after everything is said and done. It’s why I didn’t tell you all about my dad’s cancer until I knew he was going to be OK. I write…
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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…
Having SMA Means Watching Your Weight, but for Other Reasons
“I hate to say it,” my dad said, “but you’re getting a little heavy.” A miracle, really, when you consider my base weight of 50 pounds. I was a baby…
Productivity and Survival Are 2 Sides of the Trauma Response Coin
I keep hearing about “making the most of quarantine.” Learn a new skill! Finish that book you’ve been reading for months! Plant a garden! The possibilities are endless. The…
We Can Make Something Good of This Pandemic
I cried, really cried, for the first time last week. My mom is working from home (WFH) and has transformed our basement into a makeshift office.
The Stories I Share Make Me Rare
I’ve been thinking about Rare Disease Day on Feb. 29 for weeks. I’ve been trying to figure out how exactly I’m rare, and in what ways, and…
My Caregivers Are My Second Family
I feel like it’s been forever since I last wrote one of these things. It may be because between the holidays, the start of a new month, year, and decade, and school…
I Am the One I’ve Been Waiting for
Like a decent percentage of the global population, I have part of the “Frozen II” soundtrack stuck in my head. The movie is about the unknown. Self-acceptance. Stepping into your power.
