The Chronic Life Online: 15 Instagram Accounts to Follow
By Monica Chi
Living with a chronic illness can feel isolating, but connecting with others who know what it’s like can bring some relief. If you’re looking for some inspiration, or just a little extra validation that it’s totally OK to feel what you’re feeling, the chronic illness community on Instagram is a great place to turn. Here are some of the accounts we think you should be following.
Spoonies to Follow
1. @butyoudontlooksick
Christine Miserandino, the mind behind Spoon Theory, serves as an advocate for those living with lupus and other invisible illnesses. The original #spoonie shares quotes and tidbits of her life with followers.
2. @warrior_yoga
Look no further for inspirational photos of yoga in scenic places. Yoga helped this ‘grammer understand and manage the pain from the autoimmune diseases she lives with, and her account serves to inspire and show others the beauty of yoga.
3. @zoeywrightfitness
The founder of #chronicallymotivated offers fitspo with a twist. Zoey is not afraid to show off her muscles — or her ileostomy bag. Despite living with inflammatory bowel disease, she has transformed her physique through diet and exercise, winning a bodybuilding competition in 2015.
4. @sodiumgirl
Jessica Goldman Foung, the author of Low-So Good, was diagnosed with lupus in 2004. which attacked her kidneys, leaving her in renal failure. She bounced back with the help of a low-sodium diet and now shares her recipes on her blog, Sodium Girl. Her Instagram account features drool-worthy food porn that proves you can lead a flavorful life, sans salt.
5. @autoimmunepaleo
Mickey Trescott and Angie Alt are bloggers who found each other through their autoimmune diseases. Their blog and Instagram account provide support to those with autoimmune diseases and helps others lead a healthy and active life with their conditions through paleo-friendly recipes. With so many tasty-looking food photos, their page is definitely a treat for both your eyes and your stomach!
6. @thefodmapfriendlyvegan
Sharon, who blogs as The FODMAP Friendly Vegan, creates and shares colorful plant-based recipes. All the recipes are low in FODMAPs, which have been linked to flare ups in some people with IBS and IBD. Whether you’re interested in trying out a low FODMAP diet or not, get ready to be inspired to whip up some tasty vegan food!
7. @chronically_fabulous
Founder of the Etsy shop Chronically Fabulous, Kat Crawford brings awareness to chronic illness through fashionable means. In addition to her merchandise, she shares honest photos about her life, advocating for the fact that you can still be fabulous while living with chronic illness.
8. @chronicbabe
Jenni Prokopy is a motivational speaker, author and founder of Chronicbabe.com, an online community aimed to help younger women with chronic conditions. Her Instagram account features fun photos of her hobbies and daily inspiration to help you face the many frustrations of living with an invisible illness.
9. @hurtblogger
Britt Johnson wants to change what you think is possible when living with chronic illnesses. She’s bringing awareness to life with arthritis and spondylitis, which can make exercise difficult and are perceived to be conditions that primarily affect the elderly. See her engage in an active lifestyle of climbing, running and swimming, while being open and honest about the challenges along the way.
10. @itsjustabaddaynotlife
Life with a chronic condition means that there are good days and bad days. Julie Cerrone is a holistic health coach and yoga instructor who wants others to know that the bad days should not define your life. Her Instagram account features modified yoga poses and positive vibes.
11. @natashalipman
Take a glimpse into the life of Natasha Lipman, a blogger focused on chronic illness, food and health. Though she started out writing about the dietary and lifestyle changes she was engaging in, she turned to more serious discussions about living with chronic conditions, as blogging about her health helped her manage the uncertainty of her illnesses and different diagnoses. Her accounts highlights the work she’s doing for the chronic illness community and the delicious food she eats. Follow along to see what she’s up to.
12. @sufferingthesilence
Suffering the Silence, founded by Allie Cashel and Erica Lupinacci, is an organization focused on providing a space for those with chronic illnesses and disabilities to share their stories.Their campaign to end the stigma of chronic illness through photos features individuals with the name of their invisible illness written on their arm, and their mouths covered with one hand to represent their silent struggle. Each post highlights an individual who has an inspiring story and is providing a voice for the chronically ill, so others know that they are not alone.
13. @laraeparker
Buzzfeed Editor Lara Parker was diagnosed with endometriosis and related conditions after years of struggling to understand what was going on with her body. She has written about her experiences on both Buzzfeed and her personal blog as a means of coping and building awareness. Her work has helped start conversations and bring awareness to what life is like living with endometriosis. Lara’s sense of humor, in spite of living with severe endometriosis pain, shines clear through in her posts.
14. @lymewithjoy
Hannah is a teenage girl who faces constant pain and struggle due to chronic Lyme disease. She blogs about her daily life with her illness, actively fighting the controversy and misperceptions over Lyme disease, and uses Instagram to connect with and help others who share her experience.
15. @crohnswarrior
At first glance, 18-year-old Kirsten’s account looks a lot like the average teenager’s. And that’s the point! In her selfies and mirror shots, Kirsten, who has Crohn’s disease, fearlessly displays her GJ tube. Working to normalize chronic and invisible illness all before your second year of college? Nice work!
Article originally published July 22, 2016 on Chronicality.com
