Abby Tai, 35, of Toronto, was diagnosed with eczema as a young child.
like note this story mentions suicidal ideation.
This is Tais story as told to health writer Kathryn Watson.
Eczema can affect your self esteem.
But when that relationship ended unexpectedly, everything began to change.
I was devastated by the breakup.
The emotional pain I was in started to show up in a very visible way.
My skin erupted in eczema rashes that covered 95% of my body.
The rash on my legs was so red that it resembled a burn.
The itching was so persistent that I could barely sleep.
When I did manage to sleep, I would wake up with blood and skin flakes covering the sheets.
As time passed the pain from the breakup began to subside, but the eczema stuck around.
Other kids were enjoying their youth and living life.
I felt like every day, I was just trying to survive.
The feelings of isolation became so unbearable that I battled suicidal ideation.
There were times that I just couldnt be around other people.
I was in so much pain and struggling with the crushing embarrassment that comes along with eczema.
So instead I just hid.
In the 20 years since that first flare, Ive had ups and downs with my eczema symptoms.
But I dont hide anymore.
Heres what workedand still worksfor me.
I leaned into affirmations.
It sounds simple, but for me it was revolutionary.
Slowly but surely, I started to accept myself.
I shifted my mindset.
My first severe flare didnt subside until I was 18.
It took a lot of inner work over the course of a decade, but it has paid off.
I know now that eczema doesnt define me.
Its who I am as a person that makes me beautiful.
I practice meditation regularly.
I practice prayer andmeditationregularly to improve my self-esteem as well.
I then play the recordings back along with meditative music as I focus on my hopes and dreams.
Its like speaking the truth to myself, and it reminds me to keep going.
I also credit my strong faith for helping with my self-esteem after eczema left me feeling worthless.
I found a community to lean on.
At the time the internet didnt have much to offer, but things have changed a lot.
Figuring out the right treatments took a long timeand a lot of trial and errorand the healing took years.
I now work as a registered holistic nutritionist.
Finally, I highly recommend seeking out the people and places that give you positive energy.
