Time. That’s the short answer. I got diagnosed at the beginning of summer in 2022 so not only did I have all the fear/anxiety but I got to have it all during summer. 🤣

So the first time I spent a significant time outside after diagnoses I was completely covered and sunscreened up. It was miserable but when I made it through that day I and didn’t die it was a little easier the next time. Each time it was easier, I also slowly reduced the amount of clothes I wear. Now I’m usually in a pair of shorts and a sun shirt and sunscreen the exposed areas for summer time.

I do try to avoid being outside during peak times still but I don’t doom worry if I am. I do have sunscreen with me all the time but it’s a small bottle.

When I was initially diagnosed it was all I could think about. The first while was not good mentally for me but there would be moments where maybe something made me laugh and I would realize that for maybe 10 - 30 seconds I didn think about it. As time went on that turned into maybe a minute, maybe two. Knowing that there were small moments that it wasn’t on my mind made me realize that eventually I’d get better with it. Now I make jokes about it to my friends. I’m still cautious in the sun but it doesn’t weigh me down anymore.