I always try to keep a good attitude toward my myasthenia gravis (MG). I often say it’s a bit like having a clingy best friend who follows me around, whether I’m celebrating a win or collapsing in exhaustion. But there are days when MG isn’t just a shadow in…
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.
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Any job comes with pros and cons, and working while living with a chronic disease highlights the cons in bright colors. While I often talk about my digital career, I never thought to share one of the most physically challenging jobs I’ve had with myasthenia gravis (MG): teaching.
Heat and cold are some of the most common triggers for flare-ups in people living with chronic illnesses. For me and my myasthenia gravis (MG), summer has always been the toughest season. Almost all of my breathing difficulties have happened during hot months. Over time, I realized I couldn’t…
Last weekend, I attended a training course on a psychological model that explains how each of us has different personality types depending on the situation we’re in, with one usually being predominant. As I listened, I couldn’t help but link it to my experience with myasthenia gravis (MG). So…
Note: This column was updated July 31, 2025, to clarify that the author fears temporary paralysis caused by severe muscle weakness, as opposed to a permanent paralysis. Yesterday, my brain and body collapsed because I was too tired and exhausted — not due to a myasthenia gravis (MG) flare-up…
Last week, I went outside almost every day, often to go to the office. It’s something I usually try to avoid. I like to keep a routine — one day off after two days of work — to give my body time to recover. But lately, I’ve been pushing myself…
It’s been 10 months since I started writing this column, and I can honestly say that it’s changed my life. My mindset, my emotional health, and even my relationship with myasthenia gravis (MG) have evolved. Writing hasn’t cured my condition, of course, but it’s helped me live…
June was an intense month for me. With the rising heat, my muscles are growing weaker, and with a packed work schedule, my mental health is starting to fall apart, too. Recently, I shared a story about an experience that made me realize one of the few benefits myasthenia…
Algerian people are known for their oversized pride and ego. Asking for help — whether it’s about health or financial struggles — is often seen as shameful in our country, or at least it’s frowned upon. But the truth is, how can anyone survive with neither health nor help? I’ve…
Every parent, partner, and friend wants the best for their loved ones. We hold high expectations for them, wanting to see them become president of the world! But I’ve often felt like I’ve failed to meet those expectations — especially as the oldest daughter, the go-to best friend, and of…
The funniest part about living with a chronic disease like myasthenia gravis is that everyone around you suddenly acts like an expert. They all seem to know a miracle treatment, a secret herb, a magical massage, or a doctor or guru who will surely cure you. I know these…
This spring has been brutal. The allergy season hit me harder than ever, and it felt like my body was being torn apart from the inside. I always wonder if other people with myasthenia gravis (MG) experience the same kind of flare-up triggers as I do. Last week, I…
There’s a French saying I’ve always loved: “croquer la vie à pleines dents,” which literally means “to bite into life with full teeth.” It’s used to describe someone who lives passionately, who devours every moment of joy, adventure, and beauty with intensity. That expression has always defined the way I…
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