Dear Dx
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About
WHO
Blog Manager & Project Director: Ms. Brianna Schiavoni lives with a handful of autoimmune conditions, herself. As a licensed clinical social worker & counselor (LCSW, LISW) - medical advocate & coach - she is very much vested in the power of commUNITY & in the use of shared experience as a means to narrative therapy (self-help), collective healing & medical advancement.
(Who Else)
Italian Liaison: Ms. Francesca Fontanella is an Italian psychologist working in clinical psychology & health promotion in northern Italy. She loves integrating science & art, while co-creating solutions for each individual client's wellbeing. She is particularly interested in working with individuals on chronic pain, somatization, & emotional regulation. She discovered Dear Diagnosis during the summer of 2018 & enjoys using the narrative therapy technique in her office, where clients have responded well. In an effort to encourage submissions from native Italian speakers, Ms. Fontanella has volunteered her services as the project's Italian liaison. Entries written in Italian should be submitted through this website but will be forwarded to her for language-appropriate response.. If interested in transcribing Italian submissions, simply cut & paste the respective posts into Google Translate.
WHAT
In an effort to educate others about living life with medical &/or mental health conditions, while validating the oftentimes lonely experiences of those of us diagnosed with them - here in lays the Dear Diagnosis literary project. This is a space for ANYONE LIVING WITH A DIAGNOSIS, whether it be biologically-based or neurochemical; inherited or acquired; formally diagnosed, un-diagnosable or otherwise - TO SPEAK DIRECTLY TO IT. This literary project is intended to help in bridging the gap between those of us silently suffering a medical &/or mental health condition, those of us under-informed to the nature of it, and those of us working with respective individuals in the medical field.
WHY
Vision Statement: Blog Manager, Project Director
Dear Reader,
In early adolescence, I was diagnosed with type I diabetes – a condition that requires a tremendous amount of attention & care at any given moment. I was the first known diabetic in my family & knew no one – other than 'Stacy from the Babysitter’s Club' – living with the illness at the time. Thirteen months after diagnosis, my best friend snuck-out of the house to go to a late night party & was killed in a car accident on a back country road. I was a sensitive, melodramatic teen before these life-altering events; I might have developed along a dark & dangerous path had I not been enrolled into a summer camp for youth with diabetes. At camp, I discovered two critical things:
Dear Diagnosis: a literary project, was inspired by an assignment I first received while seeking therapeutic support of my own - an exercise in writing a letter to diabetes itself. It was not until I began to exercise this technique (drawn from narrative therapy) that I realized the degree to which my medical condition has shaped not only my life, but also my character, my life-choices & relationships, in turn. And, through the feedback that followed my decision to share this letter in the context of my community, I have come to realize its potential! Through a conversation I host with the illness residing in my body, I manage to provide invaluable insight for family, friends & medical professionals, alike. A single letter seemingly built bridges between my very personal experiences, circles of folks attempting to provide support but feeling inadequate or otherwise conflicted, AND the countless others - whose experiences with illnesses had yet to be articulated.
I believe to have started a conversation that ought not end, for so many of us live with diagnoses – biologically based, neurochemical; inherited, acquired; formally diagnosed, un-diagnosable & otherwise. It is my respective intention to collect letters from any & all interested persons affected by life with a disorder, a disease, a deficit – a diagnosis. Letters from caregivers (parents, spouses, EVEN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS), whose lives have been affected by respective diagnoses - are also encouraged to participate; as I believe in the power of narrative & in the importance of eliciting feedback from the audience. This is precisely why I have launched this literary project; & why I am happy to fund it regardless of financial compensation Through this action I hope for only the following: May we be stronger - together. May we learn to truly see one another - beyond the diagnoses we are labeled with & behind the masks we feel we need to wear. May we learn to use that which seemingly sets us apart, as common thread; and may we learn to stitch quilts of connection, in turn. May this project speak to you, encourage you, inspire you - may you find reasons to write & reasons to share.
In Service & In Sisterhood,
Brianna A. Schiavoni
In early adolescence, I was diagnosed with type I diabetes – a condition that requires a tremendous amount of attention & care at any given moment. I was the first known diabetic in my family & knew no one – other than 'Stacy from the Babysitter’s Club' – living with the illness at the time. Thirteen months after diagnosis, my best friend snuck-out of the house to go to a late night party & was killed in a car accident on a back country road. I was a sensitive, melodramatic teen before these life-altering events; I might have developed along a dark & dangerous path had I not been enrolled into a summer camp for youth with diabetes. At camp, I discovered two critical things:
- A strong sense of validation & community through shared experience; and
- The power of my voice as both a patient & an advocate.
Dear Diagnosis: a literary project, was inspired by an assignment I first received while seeking therapeutic support of my own - an exercise in writing a letter to diabetes itself. It was not until I began to exercise this technique (drawn from narrative therapy) that I realized the degree to which my medical condition has shaped not only my life, but also my character, my life-choices & relationships, in turn. And, through the feedback that followed my decision to share this letter in the context of my community, I have come to realize its potential! Through a conversation I host with the illness residing in my body, I manage to provide invaluable insight for family, friends & medical professionals, alike. A single letter seemingly built bridges between my very personal experiences, circles of folks attempting to provide support but feeling inadequate or otherwise conflicted, AND the countless others - whose experiences with illnesses had yet to be articulated.
I believe to have started a conversation that ought not end, for so many of us live with diagnoses – biologically based, neurochemical; inherited, acquired; formally diagnosed, un-diagnosable & otherwise. It is my respective intention to collect letters from any & all interested persons affected by life with a disorder, a disease, a deficit – a diagnosis. Letters from caregivers (parents, spouses, EVEN MEDICAL PROFESSIONALS), whose lives have been affected by respective diagnoses - are also encouraged to participate; as I believe in the power of narrative & in the importance of eliciting feedback from the audience. This is precisely why I have launched this literary project; & why I am happy to fund it regardless of financial compensation Through this action I hope for only the following: May we be stronger - together. May we learn to truly see one another - beyond the diagnoses we are labeled with & behind the masks we feel we need to wear. May we learn to use that which seemingly sets us apart, as common thread; and may we learn to stitch quilts of connection, in turn. May this project speak to you, encourage you, inspire you - may you find reasons to write & reasons to share.
In Service & In Sisterhood,
Brianna A. Schiavoni
HOW
Write a letter (post-it, drawing, audio, or video recording) of any length TO a disease, disorder, deficit (DIAGNOSIS) that has impacted your life. Include as many (or as few) details regarding the following, as you see fit:
Proof of diagnosis is not required - authenticity is. Authors are welcomed to use their real name or to remain anonymous during the submission process, however, all letters published here will exclude said identifying information unless the desire to be named is otherwise communicated by you. Please note your age & gender identification, in addition to any diagnoses you wish to name upon submission. Handwritten letters, post-its, drawings, &/or audio/video recordings are welcomed & can be uploaded as an attachment during submission. Authors are welcomed to upload a picture of their choosing to accompany their post, but images must to be royalty free. The blog manager will select a photo upon publication if there is none attached. Participants will be gifted an opportunity to participate in a brief therapeutic editing process with Ms. Schiavoni if desired - this process is intended for the benefit of both the author & respective audience.
#TogetherWeAreStronger
- The process of diagnosis;
- Feelings, beliefs, behaviors, judgments - surrounding the diagnosis;
- The impact it has had on your life choices, ambitions, relationships; &
- Any insight as to the resultant interactions with our healthcare system that you have encountered.
Proof of diagnosis is not required - authenticity is. Authors are welcomed to use their real name or to remain anonymous during the submission process, however, all letters published here will exclude said identifying information unless the desire to be named is otherwise communicated by you. Please note your age & gender identification, in addition to any diagnoses you wish to name upon submission. Handwritten letters, post-its, drawings, &/or audio/video recordings are welcomed & can be uploaded as an attachment during submission. Authors are welcomed to upload a picture of their choosing to accompany their post, but images must to be royalty free. The blog manager will select a photo upon publication if there is none attached. Participants will be gifted an opportunity to participate in a brief therapeutic editing process with Ms. Schiavoni if desired - this process is intended for the benefit of both the author & respective audience.
#TogetherWeAreStronger