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

Tips on How to Pay Attention: At School, At Work, At Home
5 mins
article
Terry Matlen

Tips on How to Pay Attention: At School, At Work, At Home

Why I Like to Look (and Feel) Good, Despite Chronic Illness
42 secs
video
Sarah Alexander-Georgeson

Why I Like to Look (and Feel) Good, Despite Chronic Illness

5 Ways Technology Can Help Mental Health
6 mins
article
Sarah Bailey

5 Ways Technology Can Help Mental Health

Escape to the Mountains: Running from Huntington's Disease
5 mins
article
Sarah Foster

Escape to the Mountains: Running from Huntington's Disease

Grief and Healing: Mourning the Old You after Cancer
55 mins 37 secs
podcast

Grief and Healing: Mourning the Old You after Cancer

COPD, Mental Health, COVID-19 and Me
4 mins
article
Steven Hudson

COPD, Mental Health, COVID-19 and Me

A Short Guide to Traveling with Heart Failure
10 mins
article
Rob Obey

A Short Guide to Traveling with Heart Failure

How Heart Failure Prepared Me for Difficult Times
6 mins
article
Rob Obey

How Heart Failure Prepared Me for Difficult Times

How to Talk to Children About Asthma
6 mins
article
Cróna Tansey

How to Talk to Children About Asthma

How Storytelling Helped Me Through My Cancer Diagnosis
4 mins
article
Alice-May Purkiss

How Storytelling Helped Me Through My Cancer Diagnosis

The Fires of Hope: Life after a Heart Attack
5 mins
article
Jeff Breece

The Fires of Hope: Life after a Heart Attack

6  Tips to Get a Better Night’s Sleep with COPD
5 mins
article
Barbara Moore

6 Tips to Get a Better Night’s Sleep with COPD

3 Powerful Self-Care Habits for Caregivers
3 mins
article
Susanne White

3 Powerful Self-Care Habits for Caregivers

Self-Kindness and Anxiety: Fake it ‘til You Make it
4 mins
article
Claire Eastham

Self-Kindness and Anxiety: Fake it ‘til You Make it

Accepting My Fate with Huntington’s Disease After Surviving COVID-19
4 mins
article
Sarah Foster

Accepting My Fate with Huntington’s Disease After Surviving COVID-19

Migraine and Weight Gain: Are They Linked?
5 mins
article
Ciara O'Rourke

Migraine and Weight Gain: Are They Linked?

Connect with Kirsten Schultz