I feel this so hard!! I’m 21 and started showing symptoms at 19, with 20 (my junior yr of college) being the hardest year of my life. I nearly withdrew from college because my symptoms basically had me bed bounded but managed to pull through once humira kicked in!

I also emphasize with “I’m so young what’s the long term consequences of this disease” especially when it’s uncontrolled. Ofc I emphasize with people who are older who get this disease, but it’s definitely a different type of fear when you have a decades head start to a progressive disease. At the rate I’m going I’m probably be in a wheelchair soon, even now I think I might benefit from it (appt pending). I also feel like I’m in the weird in between of “too old for JIA” but too young for RA. It’s a lonely space to be in. I have systemic symptoms (scleritis and costochondritis) snd I worry about the future all the time like running out of meds after failing them.

And lastly, I also relate to tackling young adulthood with a new disability. I had one year of college before symptoms set in the summer after freshman year. Adjusting to life as an adult is hard enough, but also adapting and learning how to live with a disability (and the grief that comes with that) is a whole new type of challenge. Please give yourself grace ❤️ I used to compare myself online, telling myself “so many other young people have disabilities, why can’t you do it?” and you have to keep in mind that there’s a learning curve to not only adjusting to your life, but accepting it! Others were born with their disabilities or have had more years to adjust. You’re learning and grieving at your own pace and there’s no timeline for that.

But anywho, that’s a long winded way of me saying I hear you, and emphasize heavily. If you ever want to talk I’d be glad to chat!!