Working A Real Job After DiagnosisFor most of my rare disease journey I was a sick and unemployed college dropout with minimal work history. The first three years of my diagnosis I applied for disability... By Avery Allmond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Anxiety With NMOSometimes, it’s like my brain is in a revolving door. The thoughts spin fast, sometimes slow or not at all. My brain’s exhaustion is from my thoughts constantly dancing pirouettes... By Avery Allmond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
What Does Self-Advocacy Mean?You constantly hear the phrase that you need to advocate for yourself with doctors and in appointments you hear how you need to stand up for yourself. And, if you... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Going Out With FriendsAt just 19, I was diagnosed with NMO, which as I’m sure many of us know are the prime party years. These are the years where you go to college... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Public Speaking Gave Me PurposePublic speaking is one of the most feared things in the human race. We are so fearful of the judgment of other people that speaking to large groups of people... By Avery Allmond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
Social Media Gave Me a VoiceBeing diagnosed at 19, I didn’t have much of a voice. Let’s be honest–I was still coming into adulthood, figuring out who I was, and my place in this world... By Avery Allmond4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
MourningI scroll through this website every day, seeing pain in different types and forms. People will talk about life before their NMO took over. Something that we don't talk enough... By Avery Allmond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Beauty of Stretch MarksFor my whole life, I have been an athlete. I have always been active and tried my best to stay in shape. I also never really paid attention to a... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Mental Health and Journey with NMOFrom the beginning of my NMO diagnosis until now, I’ve recorded every major portion of my rare disease health journey - from the doctors telling me I have an NMOSD... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments3 comments
The Voice Saying, "It’s Not Real"Being diagnosed with NMO, I’m sure we've all felt and heard from our peers that what was happening to us wasn’t real. For lack of a better phrase, everyone thinks... By Avery Allmond2 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
My Rare Disease Nonprofit - How I Started the Couch Pennies FoundationI watched the YouTube makeup artist Tallia through her entire journey from the minute she posted her first video to the very last. I watched her whole story unfold right... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
Bipolar 2, Exposure Therapy and NMOSomething never felt quite right when I was diagnosed with NMO at 19. This was before I was diagnosed with bipolar 2 disorder. Part of the NMO diagnosis process meant... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
My Art TheoryPrior to being diagnosed with NMO, I didn’t have many artistic hobbies. Meaning when I tried to do anything in art class - like paint, draw, pottery, or anything else... By Avery Allmond4 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Dream: Couch Pennies, My NMO NonprofitAt the age of 13, I was a young and healthy teenager. At the time, YouTube was still very new. Like many kids my age did at that time, we... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments1 comments
The Black Rare Disease ExperienceI read an article the other day, and it told a detailed story about being Black and having a rare disease. That’s something you can’t find a lot of information... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments2 comments
The Rare Disease effectHaving a rare disease is not something that everyone can understand. Oftentimes, the majority of people who don't understand how life changes after having a rare diagnosis diagnosis, back away...Reactions 0 reactions Comments5 repliesFriends & FamilyRelationships & FriendshipsMental Health
You Must Understand, Pain is Pain!I wish I could describe the chronic pain from my NMO that I feel every day. I also wish I could explain the pain that the community feels on a... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments0 comments
FeaturedThe Eyeball Headache Hi NMOSD fam!! Let’s talk about the eyeball headache! That intense pain in the back of your eye that’s so deep and painful. The kind of pain that no amount...Reactions 0 reactions Comments10 repliesPain
My Steroid StoryLet’s talk steroids and NMO. When I was diagnosed in 2017, I was at a hospital with doctors that didn’t know much about NMO, let alone MOG. When I originally... By Avery Allmond3 min readBookmark for laterReactions 0 reactions Comments6 comments
What helps on bad days?I know I struggle with boredom when I don’t feel well. What are some things you do to help boredom?...Reactions 0 reactions Comments6 repliesCoping