Tamara Haag
Diagnosed with RA in 2000 at the age of 22, Tamara has been balancing the demands of family, work, and school with disease management for over a decade. When she can carve out the time, she enjoys reading, yoga, amateur photography and writing.
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Denial is a powerful coping mechanism. Sometimes the depth of a tragedy is too much to bear, and denial allows …
As Thanksgiving approaches, I am reflecting on all I am grateful for, as pertains to my life in general and …
Last night I had a nightmare. In my dream, I felt a strange sensation in my right wrist, and looked …
Water has long been my friend. I grew up a block away from the neighborhood pool, and I loved spending …
I can’t claim I’ve always embraced self-love, especially where my body is concerned. I was in first grade when my …
Never a morning person, living with rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD] shifted the start of the day from non-preferred to a …
While the roles of women in our society are continually evolving and changing, the June Cleaver dresses, aprons, and pearls …
The 10-point pain scale commonly used in medicine can be frustrating for those of us living with painful, chronic conditions. …
Exhaustion can hit anyone. I imagine that any person in a busy phase of life can feel worn out. However, …
It’s hard to feel attractive when contending with a disease like rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. This chronic condition can be …
In recent months I’ve been meditating, and this practice has helped me shift my brain’s focus from the pain in …
We’re all familiar with that common and oh-so-subjective medical tool, the pain rating scale. “On a scale of 1 to …
Each time I encounter another person I face a choice: should I pretend to be the person I think I’m …
There are many things to hate about rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease [RA/RD]. There’s the pain, immobility, and crippling fatigue. There’s the …
It’s funny how powerful our mental blocks can be. I’ve long heard about the powerful benefits of meditation. For instance, …
On a cold morning, leaving the refuge of my soft bed and heated mattress pad is all the harder. Having …
The unpredictable nature of rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) is an incredibly frustrating aspect of living with this disease. While I’d …
Many Americans have shared how hard it is to say “no.” In our always-on-the-go society, filled with stores open twenty-four …
With relief, I finally make it to the end of my workday. All day long I have tried to focus …
Diseases such as rheumatoid arthritis/rheumatoid disease (RA/RD) are called “invisible disabilities” because most people who have them do not have …
