Off the Clock: Embracing My Abnormal Circadian Rhythms
I’ve always been a night owl. It’s a running joke in our family: My dad and I stay up until 11 p.m. or midnight, while my mom has a strict schedule comprising…
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
With cancer in the family, my SMA has been out of the spotlight
I’ve been putting off this column for months, I guess in the hopes that it’d become easier to write. I didn’t want to go public until I knew for sure that everything was going…
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When Resilience Is the Norm
I have a reputation in my group of friends for not knowing any music. It’s gotten to the point where my friends have started making playlists of music that I missed out…
Taking Accutane for Acne Brings the Stress of Bloodwork
The thing about taking amoxicillin every day for years is that your body builds up an immunity. It works for a while, and then, without warning, it doesn’t,…
Fumbling Through the Dark: Navigating Adulthood with SMA
I was recently asked about resources in the SMA community — what’s available, but also what’s missing and what we would most benefit from. Before I started…
Crossing Items Off My Bucket List: My New Tattoo
I finally got a tattoo. It may not seem like that big of a deal; people get tattoos all the time, sometimes they decide to get inked on…
The Power of a Platform
I’ve been meaning to update my website for years, so I sat down in January with the intent of revisiting my online presence. It just…
Experimenting with SSRIs to Treat SMA-related Depression
I’ve thought about starting an antidepressant medication several times over the years. As a sophomore in college, fresh off the realization that my…
Practicing Sustainability with SMA
I try to be environmentally conscious. I’ve been using my Google Home for years now, and have been switching as much of my home as…
When Vulnerability Is Harder Than Usual
I’ve always been a fan of vulnerability, I think because the concept is intrinsic to who I am as a person. I can’t leave the house without accepting vulnerability. To…
Letting My Body Be a Body
Along with all my other health problems, I’ve been dealing with cystic acne since high school. At the time, I hoped…
A Decision Made
Earlier today, I signed the paperwork that will officialize my change in major. It wasn’t that big of a deal. It involved two minutes of my time, most of…
I’m Right Where I’m Supposed to Be
One of the hardest things about going through a crisis is feeling like you’re five years behind everyone. Facebook is dangerous because people are getting…
