Patient Contributor

Kirsten Schultz

Kirsten Schultz is a writer from Wisconsin who challenges sexual and gender norms.

Overview

Living With Condition
25 Years
Published
6 Articles
Location
Madison, Wisconsin

Introduction

Through her work as a chronic illness and disability activist, she has a reputation for tearing down barriers while mindfully causing constructive trouble. She recently founded Chronic Sex, which openly discusses how illness and disability affect our relationships with ourselves and others, including — you guessed it — sex! You can learn more about Kirsten and Chronic Sex at chronicsex.org and follow her on Twitter.

 

Brief history with the conditions

 

"My asthma was diagnosed in 1993 when I fell ill with Systemic Juvenile Idiopathic Arthritis (SJIA). It has been mild for most of my life and only becomes a major issue when I'm exposed to certain triggers - especially heavy scents, cigarette smoke, and rapid temperature changes - or if I have an upper respiratory infection. Depression has been a nearly constant battle for me since childhood. I was seven the first time I began to contemplate suicide after struggling to get my SJIA diagnosed. For the bulk of my life, I assumed that death was close by. Because of that, I never really planned out a lot of my life. My husband - who also has depression - and I both struggle with planning, especially now that we're far older than the ages we assumed we'd live to be. Due to a lack of care in childhood, my depression wasn't diagnosed until I was out of college for a few years. 

 

In addition to asthma and depression, I also live with multiple chronic conditions, including: allergies, anterior basement membrane dystrophy, anxiety, chemical sensitivities, chronic pain, fibromyalgia, gluten intolerance, migraines, patellofemoral arthralgia, plaque psoriasis, PTSD, seborrheic keratosis, and systemic juvenile idiopathic arthritis/Still's Disease. I also struggle with a bulging disc at L5 S1, frozen shoulder, pelvic floor issues, and undiagnosed neurological issues."

Published Articles

A Day in the Life of a Caregiver
6 mins
article
Marc Lawrence

A Day in the Life of a Caregiver

7 Ways I Educate My Children About Migraine Attacks
4 mins
article
Sarah Rathsack

7 Ways I Educate My Children About Migraine Attacks

Why I Froze My Embryos After My Cancer Diagnosis
7 mins
article
Anna Crollman

Why I Froze My Embryos After My Cancer Diagnosis

How Pets Can Help Fight Depression
4 mins
article
Jonathan Rottenberg

How Pets Can Help Fight Depression

A Trip to the Psych Ward Reminded Me How Much My Family Valued Me
4 mins
article
René Brooks

A Trip to the Psych Ward Reminded Me How Much My Family Valued Me

The Hidden Costs of Caregiving
6 mins
article
Marc Lawrence

The Hidden Costs of Caregiving

Surviving a Heart Attack and Learning How to Live Again
10 mins
article
Jeff Breece

Surviving a Heart Attack and Learning How to Live Again

What New Caregivers Should Know
3 mins
article
Susanne White

What New Caregivers Should Know

5 Mindful Ways to Practice Self-Care Online
7 mins
article
Alice-May Purkiss

5 Mindful Ways to Practice Self-Care Online

I Have My Asthma to Thank for Making Me Smarter
4 mins
article
John Bottrell

I Have My Asthma to Thank for Making Me Smarter

Opening Up to Your Partner About Asthma and Intimacy
2 mins
article
Michelle Rivas

Opening Up to Your Partner About Asthma and Intimacy

How ADHD Is Different in Adults and Kids — and Why It Matters
3 mins
article
Terry Matlen

How ADHD Is Different in Adults and Kids — and Why It Matters

An Undiagnosed Vision Problem Was Contributing to My Migraines
3 mins
article
Michelle Rivas

An Undiagnosed Vision Problem Was Contributing to My Migraines

 5 Steps to Let Friends in When You’re Struggling with Cancer
4 mins
article
Anna Crollman

5 Steps to Let Friends in When You’re Struggling with Cancer

5 Ways Caregivers Can Help After a Heart Attack
4 mins
article
Kimby Jagnandan

5 Ways Caregivers Can Help After a Heart Attack

9 Tips to Get Active With and Beyond Cancer
5 mins
article
Alice-May Purkiss

9 Tips to Get Active With and Beyond Cancer

Connect with Kirsten Schultz