Some days I wake up feeling surprisingly good. The pain is quiet, my body feels energized, and for a moment, it feels like myasthenia gravis (MG) is taking a break. You’d think I’d simply enjoy those moments, live them fully, and be grateful. But I never do. Instead, they…
My Bitter & Best Friend: MG — Sarah Bendiff

From the heart of North Africa, Sarah Bendiff shares her journey with myasthenia gravis. Diagnosed in 2019 after 13 years of searching for answers, she had to step away from her physics studies as her body resisted treatments. The digital opportunities that arose during the COVID-19 crisis in Algeria allowed Sarah to rebuild. Through digital marketing and content creation, she found strength and resilience, channeling her creativity to thrive in a remote, connected world.
Some days I feel like a vampire, constantly seeking fresh energy to nourish myself and keep going. From my small experience with other people living with illness, I have learned that each of us has a secret book of survival. The following is mine, to help me confront life with…

I complain a lot about living with an invisible disability, and most of the time, people answer with the same sentence: “I hope you heal one day.” As if healing were a realistic option. This week, my boyfriend asked me a question that shook me much more than those wishes…
Tiredness and exhaustion can often be solved with rest, but constant pain and discomfort steal sleep from my eyes. Doctors keep telling me that myasthenia gravis (MG) doesn’t cause pain, yet my body suggests the opposite. So I keep asking myself: Is MG really painless? I have been…
In many cultures, being a doctor is considered the ultimate sign of success, as is the case here in Algeria. As a child, I looked up to doctors, whom I viewed as heroes, with their white coats and calm voices. These people had the power to save lives. But because…
Sometimes people tell me I should be grateful. I have myasthenia gravis (MG), and when I talk about my chronic illness, some will respond: “But you’re fine; you’re not that sick. There are people who can’t even walk.” My instant feeling in those moments is anger. “How could you…
I cry when it rains, get mad when the wind blows too hard, and dance with joy when spring arrives. I thought for years that these were just part of my emotions and psychology; that maybe I was overly sensitive or simply dramatic. But I’ve realized something deeper lately: Being…
Next week, my boyfriend’s family will come to officially ask for my hand in marriage. Here in Algeria, that’s how engagements start. The groom’s family visits, the parents meet, and the whole thing feels as traditional as it is symbolic. It’s a beautiful ritual, but for me, it comes with…
Depending on the kind of person you are, you might react differently to the idea of being responsible for someone who needs help. Recently, I was watching a YouTube video in which the creator made a point about feeling guilty and “sorry” for people with disabilities. That hit me deeply.
Ever since I was a kid, I’ve had my own version of events. I remember climbing a mountain when it was only a small road, lifting heavy weights when I was only rearranging furniture. My memories were always heavier, longer, more intense than reality. One day, my boyfriend and I…
I know none of the symptoms of myasthenia gravis (MG) directly affect how I look. There’s no sudden body change or visible sign that screams “something is wrong.” But anything that changes your daily routine inevitably shapes the way you eat, the way you dress, the way you move…
I do a lot of psychological and spiritual work on myself, and, because I do this work, I’ve come to believe that I am in tune with my body. Every day, from the moment I wake up to the moment I go to bed, I pay close attention to what…
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