You Are Not Alone
Living with psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis can be hard. It often helps to hear from other’s experiences so that we know we’re not alone. This section highlights stories from women just like you on living well with psoriatic diseases.
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- Learn how to be comfortable in your own skin. Don’t hide. Be informed.
- Practice being gentle and forgiving with yourself.
- It’s a daily struggle, but holding your head high and focusing on the little improvements you make really helps.
- Don’t be afraid to ask for help and do not let anyone shame you because you have a disease
- Don’t be so hard on yourself.
- Don’t hide yourself. Everyone has issues, yours just happen to be visible on your skin. If people ask questions about your skin, take the opportunity to educate them.
- Remember that you might have psoriasis which is just a part of you but it’s not all of you! It’s hard sometimes to look beyond the skin and pain but just remember you are more than just skin.
- Love yourself. Psoriasis does not define you as a person. If someone doesn’t understand it, explain it. If they don’t accept you, they are not worth it.
- It does get better with treatment and proper diagnosis.
- Find women you can trust and learn to love yourself and your body.
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- Get to [a] skin specialist as soon as possible – and talk to as many people that have psoriasis on what works for them.
- Holistic approach: clinical, lifestyle, social.
- Trust yourself and self-advocate. No one else will help you but yourself.
- Keep trying every day and never give up no matter what.
- Keep pushing for a good dermatologist and/or rheumatologist. Also learn to meditate and control anxiety and stress.
- Never give up on your treatment. Reach for your goal. It’s possible to be symptom free.
- Educate yourself about psoriasis and be prepared to talk to others to educate them.
- Do not be put off by the medical profession in getting the initial diagnosis.
- It is a mistake to bear this burden alone. It is best to share. Be consistent with your treatments. Also, do not belittle your personal experience with this disease. Even a scalp patch can erode a happy day. You don’t have to be covered in psoriasis for it to be a difficult problem.
Laura’s Story – Living with Mild-to-Moderate Psoriasis
Tammy’s Story – Getting Involved
Carly and Heather – Living with Psoriatic Arthritis
Last updated January 28, 2020.
Disclaimer
This Site was designed for educational purposes only and not for the purpose of rendering medical advice. Individual variances in psoriasis cases require the consultation of a physician to make sound medical decisions. The information presented on this website is not intended to replace the counsel of your physician. It is important to see your doctor before altering anything in your treatment plan. The Canadian Psoriasis Network does not endorse any medications, products, equipment or treatments for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis. Any of the information contained within the Canadian Psoriasis Network’s Site is not presented as a substitute for informed medical advice. Visitors to this site should not engage in self-diagnosis nor act on information contained in the Site without seeking specific advice on the particular matters which are of concern to them from qualified health professionals and advisors. Some of the information contained in the Site has been provided from external sources. While efforts have been made to ensure the accuracy, currency, and reliability of the content, the Canadian Psoriasis Network accepts no responsibility in that regard. Please refer to our Terms of Use for further details.
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