A high school Spanish teacher introduced me to the practice of meditation. A few times a semester, he would begin or end his class with it. During these sessions, he would suggest that my classmates and I sit in a relaxed position, head on our desks or back straight, with…
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I’ve been seeing a lot of articles on the importance of self-care. Self-care involves looking after your mental, physical, and emotional health. Self-care is not a new concept, but it seems to be increasingly popular, maybe because people are becoming more aware of the mind-body connection. As a…
September is CMT Awareness Month, and my social media feeds have been flooded with inspirational quotes and infographics related to Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). It’s rare that one of these posts gives me information I hadn’t heard before, but one infographic caught me…
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There’s More to Me Than CMT
September is Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) Awareness Month, a great time to bring attention to this little-known disease. I have CMT1A and wear ankle-foot orthoses (AFOs). Many of my family members suffer from the disease, as well. However, there’s more to us than our disease. To educate others about CMT, I…
“Maybe there will be others at the conference who will commiserate with me,” my sister said as we sat among our bags at gate B6 in Detroit’s Metro Airport. Despite being prechecked by the Transportation Security Administration hours earlier at John Glenn International in Columbus, Ohio, my sister…
Apparently, magnesium is the latest miracle substance. It can supposedly help with many different ailments, from muscle pain to anxiety and sleeplessness. This makes me wonder whether it can help with the symptoms of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). Magnesium plays an important role in how our bodies work. Among other…
September is CMT Awareness Month in the United States — a dedicated time to share and educate others about Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT). CMT is one of the most commonly inherited neurological disorders, affecting approximately 1 in 2,500 people in the U.S., according to the National Institute of Neurological Disorders…
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Is It Me or My CMT?
My memories of physicians first explaining the details of Charcot-Marie-Tooth (CMT) to me are hazy at best. I remember something about nerves, and of messages having difficulty going from my brain to my extremities. I remember not feeling weak. But I also remember that the folks poking me and…
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My Version of ‘Chongxi’ and CMT
“Chongxi.” It’s a Chinese term referring to the superstitious custom of trying to erase a misfortune by overriding it with a joyous event or feeling. I stumbled upon this phrase a few weeks ago when my parents and I were listening to an episode…
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Back-to-school Tips and Tricks
I love fall and the start of the new school year. It’s when I return to teaching and readjust to a routine of work, school, and activities. But summer’s end can be overwhelming, and even more so with a disability. I have Charcot-Marie-Tooth disease and am finding some aspects…