Welcome to AIPooja!
My name is Pooja, and I am trying to keep my head above water while balancing disease, wellness, and graduate school. Continually learning and growing, with no end in sight. I hope you find something you can relate to here!
Category Archives: mental health
Unlocking & Reliving Trauma
Warning: this post has graphic descriptions and imagery of surgical procedures and wounds. Eight years ago, I had one of the most traumatic experiences of my life and my health journey. One of the surgeries I desperately needed at the … Continue reading
Posted in Anecdotes, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, mental health
Tagged autoimmune disease, autoimmune experiences, depression, emotional healing, emotional wounds, healing, health, health trauma, hidradenitis, hidradenitis experience, hidradenitis suppurativa, infection, mental health, posttraumatic stress disorder, scars, seek therapy, surgery, surgical procedures, surgical wound, therapist, therapy, trauma, traumatic, traumatic experience, wound vac
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Dear Hidradenitis Suppurativa
Dear Hidradenitis Suppurativa, You snatched away my privacy; but you taught me humility. For a time, you took away my ability to walk; but you taught me to cherish the movements of my body. You took away my ability to … Continue reading
Posted in Anecdotes, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, mental health
Tagged autoimmune, autoimmune disease, autoimmune warrior, chronicillness, dear hidradenitis, dear hidradenitis suppurativa, hidradenitis, hidradenitis strength, hidradenitis suppurativa, hidradenitis suppurativa awareness week, hidradenitis suppurativa scars, hidradenitis suppurative awareness, hidradenitis suppurative surgery, letter, letter to hidradenitis, letter to my disease, letter to myself, mental health, mental health awareness, my disease, my story, pain, personal story, reality, story, thank, thank you, thankful, warrior
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67 inches
5 feet, 7 inches. My height is 5 feet, 5 inches. The total length of surgical scars on my body is now greater than my height. That means, if I were to stack my scars on top of each other, … Continue reading
Posted in Anecdotes, Healthy, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, mental health
Tagged arm tattoos, autoimmune disease, autoimmune disease scars, autoimmune disease surgery, autoimmune warrior, body acceptance, chronic illness, chronic illness scars, chronic illness surgery, cognitive reframing, hidradenitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, hidradenitis suppurativa scars, hidradenitis suppurative awareness, hidradenitis suppurative surgery, mental health, scars, scars from surgery, surgical scars, tattoo, tattoos, warrior, warrior tattoo
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Dear Mom, You Don’t Have to Hide the Pills Anymore
A year ago this month, my psychiatric provider asked me whether I was experiencing thoughts of suicide, and I said yes. In the months prior, I had been diagnosed with PTSD for the trauma I had experienced regarding health and … Continue reading
Posted in AIP, Anecdotes, Autoimmune Protocol, Healthy, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, mental health, Paleo, Uncategorized
Tagged AIP, anxiety, autoimmuneprotocol, chronic illness, depression, education, family, friends, health, hidradenitis, hidradenitis suppurativa, life, mental health, mental health education, mental illness, people, posttraumatic stress disorder, ptsd, suicidal, suicidal feelings, suicidal ideation, suicidal thoughts, suicide awareness, suicide prevention, support, trauma, truth
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Fighting for Your Life Physically vs. Fighting Mentally/Emotionally
It just so happens that fighting for your life physically and fighting for your life mentally and emotionally are completely different. Continue reading
Posted in Healthy, Hidradenitis Suppurativa, mental health, Uncategorized
Tagged depression, family, friends, health, life, mental health, pain, share, suicidal ideation, truth
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