My One Year Anniversary

It’s time for an anniversary celebration! I’ve completed one year of writing for AtopicDermatitis.net and moderating on our Facebook page. I had previously thought I was fairly knowledgeable and up-to-date about atopic dermatitis, but I’ve since been surprised by how much more I have learned in this one year. And how much more there is still to learn.

Why did I start writing?

I had been doing the same on our sister site, MacularDegeneration.net when this opportunity presented itself. I took this on as a way to continue to challenge myself, to have another solid reason to keep researching, and studying. To try and keep my brain active into old age, or should I say older age.

What has writing about eczema done for me?

Writing for AtopicDermatitis.net became a way to share some of the things I’ve discovered, whether from my own experiences, from research, as well as from reading about our community members’ experiences. It has also kept me on my toes trying to keep up with the comments and questions posed by those members. When I read some of your stories, how you’ve overcome, been stronger than your skin issues, I know all of us are capable.

So many of you have shared wonderful solutions that have worked, some ideas worth trying, and just as importantly, what hasn’t worked.

Many of us hide our skin

I’ve also discovered many of us hide out at home and perhaps miss out on important occasions or happenings because to go out and expose our vulnerabilities to anyone, even those we will probably never see again, is too painful to think about, let alone do.

Opening up about insecurities

Opening up about my own insecurities made me think more about why I was still a little insecure about my skin; about myself, when I had a flare-up. Shouldn’t I be over it by this age? Actually, I really don’t let it stop me from doing what I want to do. Most of the time. But it does definitely make the decision about what to wear for me. There have been times though, when I go somewhere, that I leave early as heat exacerbates my eczema. Especially now when masks are necessary.

I’ve also found that it’s almost like journaling, a way to help keep me in charge of my own feelings. To organize my thoughts, and worries, and then help in my ongoing healing. Writing it down and presenting it for the whole world to see, somehow makes it easier to contemplate. Makes it seem almost normal, something we can actually do. Or at least think about doing it in a calm, rational manner.

Helping others while helping myself

For the first time, I’m writing about ME. Me in capital letters. I’m drawing attention to my faults, to the skin I’ve been trying to hide all my life. There were times I wondered if I actually wanted to share so much of my life with atopic dermatitis, the still open vulnerabilities. But I had decided from the start this would be a no holds barred experience. One where I could learn, and perhaps by sharing my story, my experiences, help others in similar circumstances. Looking back is a journey in itself. It made me realize how far I’ve come, but more importantly how far I still have to go.