Chronically Me

The emotional landscape of chronic illness

Chronic Illness
Listening to the Body

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on July 15, 2026

Interoception is important, especially when chronic illness often deepens a mind/body split. Learn more about how to deepen your ability to listen to your body.

Interoception is important, especially when chronic illness often deepens a mind/body split. Learn more about how to deepen your ability to listen to your body.

Chronic Illness
Self-Efficacy in Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on May 15, 2026

Self-efficacy — the belief in one's capacity — is an important component of health and well-being. Learn how to evaluate and shore up your self-efficacy.

Self-efficacy — the belief in one's capacity — is an important component of health and well-being. Learn how to evaluate and shore up your self-efficacy.

Self-Talk
Self-Talk and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on December 15, 2025

Self-talk — your inner monologue — is more important than you might imagine. Learn how to identify and change self-talk that does not serve you.

Self-talk — your inner monologue — is more important than you might imagine. Learn how to identify and change self-talk that does not serve you.

Grief
A Relationship With Grief

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on November 14, 2025

Living with chronic illness means living with grief. While we tend to run away from experiencing grief, what if we moved towards it and developed a relationship with it?

Living with chronic illness means living with grief. While we tend to run away from experiencing grief, what if we moved towards it and developed a relationship with it?

Chronic Illness
Dissociation and Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on September 15, 2025

Dissociation — our brain's attempt to protect us from pain — is problematic when it becomes a longstanding strategy. Learn how to begin to undo it.

Dissociation — our brain's attempt to protect us from pain — is problematic when it becomes a longstanding strategy. Learn how to begin to undo it.

Chronic Illness
Why We Hide Chronic Illness

Katie Willard Virant MSW, JD, LCSW on February 14, 2025

People who live with chronic illness often experience a tension between wanting to hide their illness and being fully known. Learn more about how to work with this conflict.

People who live with chronic illness often experience a tension between wanting to hide their illness and being fully known. Learn more about how to work with this conflict.

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Magazine
September 2026 magazine cover
September 2026
The Power of Enough

We’re all holding onto something we’re sure we can’t give up on, but research shows that letting go can boost our happiness a lot more than we might think.

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Tests
Self Tests
Self Tests

Self Tests are all about you. Are you outgoing or introverted? Are you a narcissist? Does perfectionism hold you back? Find out the answers to these questions and more with Psychology Today.

Self Assessments
Quizzes