The holiday season can be a mix of joy, anticipation, and — for many in the chronic illness community — a wave of symptoms, flare-ups, and emotional overwhelm. Lauren Michelle, a Care+Wear community member, patient advocate, and chronic illness warrior, knows this intersection deeply. Her reflections on navigating the holidays with grace, preparedness, and self-honoring boundaries resonate with so many who move through the season with invisible challenges.
Her story is a reminder that care begins within ourselves. Continue reading to hear Lauren’s powerful insights, lived experiences, and the lessons she’s carrying into this season.
Giving Myself Time and a Half
I absolutely love the holiday season, but it is also the time of year where I flare a lot with my chronic illnesses. One of the small adjustments I do to make the holidays more manageable is blocking my time. If I am going to bake something (which I make a lot of the desserts during this time of year), I give myself “time and a half” to complete that task. It’s something I learned going to college and having disability resources give me time and a half on all exams and some assignments.
Knowing that my body is not going to be performing at its baseline during the holiday season, any bigger project I take on I make sure I plan accordingly. This way there is less stress and pressure on me to perform any tasks in a crunched timeline.
Slowing down doesn’t mean doing less — it means giving yourself the breathing room your body deserves. For many of us, especially during high-energy seasons, time becomes both a boundary and an act of self-care.
When the Holidays Start With a Hospital Stay
This holiday season started with a week-long hospital admission, as I spiked a fever of 101.1 degrees. I was diagnosed with bacteremia and a DVT due to old PICC line placements in my left brachial vein. I thought that the arm and chest pain I was having with simply musculoskeletal pain from using my arms so much more. The admission was a wakeup call to me doing far too much and ignoring some symptoms that turned out to be extremely serious.
Having so many different issues, it can be easy to write off certain symptoms. The doctors told me had I not come in I probably would have been completely septic and have had a pulmonary embolism (P.E.). I now, more than ever, have learned that just because I think I can do everything, I should not be pushing my body for the sake of the holidays. I almost missed my own wedding because of this.
Many in our community know this feeling — the push to “keep going,” even when our bodies whisper (and then shout) for rest. Lauren’s story is a reminder that seeking help early is an act of strength, not fear.
Preparing With Your Medical Team Before the Holidays
One of the biggest things I learned from last year was to make sure I have a plan with my medical team for when different situations arise. For example, I have a systemic mast cell disease. I often can have anaphylaxis to smells, foods, weather, etc. You cannot control many of these factors during this season, but you can prepare for them with the help of your medical team. Whether this is a prescription for emergency medications, premedicating, or wearing a mask – there are a lot of different precautions that can help to prevent flare ups and emergency room visits.
Having a “holiday care plan” isn’t dramatic — it’s practical. The season brings unpredictability, and creating safety nets with your care team can mean fewer emergencies and more peace.
Learning to Say “No” Without Guilt
I used to have the habit of saying “yes” to almost everything. This was less because of fear of missing out and more because of just testing how much my body can do as I have been rehabbing from abdominal surgery this year. I have learned that I don’t have to push my limits saying yes to everything under the sun when I feel okay but not great. It is so much better to pick and choose what I am feeling up to instead of just seeing if I can do it.
Having a disability, by definition, is limiting in some way, shape, or form. It is okay, even a good thing, to use the power of the word “no”. Your body will thank you later.
Boundaries are not barriers — they are invitations to honor what’s real. So many people with chronic illness carry the weight of performance, and Lauren’s honesty gives permission to rest.
Embracing Change and Taking the New Year Slowly
Remember that the only constant in life is change. Change is what grows us, molds us, and shapes us into becoming more of who we truly are. Embrace the good changes, but do not be defeated by the bad ones. A lot of people create New Year’s resolutions – often to drastically change something about themselves. Know that you can have New Year’s resolutions that take time, that nothing can or will change overnight, and you are not a failure for when plans go awry. This is a fresh start, take advantage of it.
The new year doesn’t need pressure — it needs patience. Whether you’re starting small or simply surviving, you’re still moving forward.
Leave a comment (all fields required)