#cosplayingwithchronicillness

[erikaalamode]

New Lyme Life blog post!!! How did I get diagnosed?!?! . . A lot of people ask me how I found out I have Lyme disease!! It’s probably the most common Lyme disease question I get, so I thought I’d answer by way of my Lyme Life series!! . . So if you’re curious about my diagnosis and some fun childhood photos of me, check out the link in my bio!! . . #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #cosplay #cosplayingwithchronicillness #cosplayer #moana #moanacosplay #disney #disneycosplay #costumer #costuming #lymelife #hawaii #hula #huladance #oahu #chronicillnessawareness #disneyprincess #disneyprincesscosplay #disneyprincesses #waikiki #hawaiicosplay #princesslife #cosplalife #princessdress (at Hilton Hawaiian Village Waikiki Beach Resort) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzoAQptjLgv/?igshid=k82qhhkq4nje

[erikaalamode]

“FLUFFY SLIPPER ATTACK!!” . . I forgot my exploding slippers at home, but I’ll be sure to get Black Canary next time!! Hell, two slippers, two supers, I’ll throw one at Zatanna too!! . . You guys are just incredible, the support for my Lyme Life series is really amazing. Having Lyme disease can feel really isolating, especially because the Lyme in my brain feeds my anxiety a lot and makes it difficult for me to feel connected to people. Being able to talk about my experiences with Lyme disease, and to receive so much support and kindness, has really meant a lot to me, so thank you!!! . . And if this makes no sense to you, check out my first Harley post, or maybe even the link in my bio to read about my life in cosplay and Lyme disease!! Because chronic illness shouldn’t be something we are afraid to talk about. . . #harleyquinncosplay #dccosplay #dccomicscosplay #new52 #new52harleyquinn #batmancosplay #batmancomics #gothamcitysirens #cosplaylife #cosplayergirl #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #cosplayingwithchronicillness #fanime #cosplayphotoshoot #superherocosplay #antihero #harleenquinzel #bodyimage #weightgain #anxiety #mentalhealthmonday #lymelife #zatannazatara #zatannacosplay #blackcanary #blackcanarycosplay #fanime #fanime2019 (at Gotham City) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzJNAgNDlr7/?igshid=1d1saevy2vyrn

[erikaalamode]

The next installment of The Lyme Life is up on my blog!! This time, we’re talking about how Lyme disease forced me to confront body image issues, particularly in the context of my Harley Quinn cosplay!! Check out the link in my bio!! . . Originally I was going to talk about how I found out I have Lyme disease for chapter 2, but then I got these AMAZING pictures of my Harley from @daddypop_culture from our shoot together at #fanime2019 !! I am CRAZY in love with the pics, I’m just so psyched about them!! . . But Harley is a particularly difficult cosplay for me to wear. Lyme disease can cause weight gain, and in the span of about two years I gained fifty pounds. My Harley shows all of that, and so sometimes I get anxious to reveal so much of my body. . . These photos from Les helped me to realize that it doesn’t actually matter what weight I am or how my body isn’t exactly comic book ready. I can look pretty awesome in my Harley, body included, and that’s something I’m trying to accept. . . #harleyquinncosplay #dccosplay #dccomicscosplay #new52 #new52harleyquinn #batmancosplay #batmancomics #gothamcitysirens #cosplaylife #cosplayergirl #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #chronicillness #cosplayingwithchronicillness #fanime #cosplayphotoshoot #superherocosplay #antihero #harleenquinzel #bodyimage #weightgain #anxiety #mentalhealthmonday #lymelife (at San Jose Convention Center) https://www.instagram.com/p/BzGqzWmDYcH/?igshid=4p6yoqjz0fiv

[erikaalamode]

You guys are amazing!! The response to yesterday’s post about cosplaying with Lyme disease and chronic illness has really been overwhelming. Between the comments and the messages that I’ve gotten just in the last twenty four hours, I’ve just been surrounded by so much support and solidarity and kindness, and I really appreciate all of you. . . Sometimes chronic illness can feel like a very lonely process, and so I’m glad that sharing my story can help those of you with similar health issues feel less alone, and that I might be able to help those of you without chronic illness understand the life and limitations of those of us who do. . . Like I said in my last post, if any one has any questions about life with Lyme disease, or if you ever need a compassionate ear when you’re struggling with your own health issues, I’m always here!! My hope is that transparency and community can make chronic illness more manageable and less taboo, so we don’t have to feel so alone when we’re dealing with everything we go through. . . For those of you wildly confused about this post, feel free to check out yesterday’s Leia pic and maybe even my new blog series The Lyme Life, where I will be addressing my experience with Lyme disease and how that’s shaped the person and the cosplayer that I am today. . . #cosplay #cosplayingwithchronicillness #chronicillness #lymedisease #starwarscosplay #starwars #disneycosplay #princessleia #princessleiacosplay #leiaorgana #cosplaylife #thelymelife #wondercon #spaceprincess #chronicfatigue #chronicpain #princesscosplay #disneyprincesscosplay #chronicallysewn #costumer #sewingaddict #sewinglife #cosplayergirl #costuming #wondercon2018 #disneyprincess #anewhope #theempirestrikesback #returnofthejedi https://www.instagram.com/p/By6C1t2DBOo/?igshid=1v6ovh0tuznfv

[erikaalamode]

Hello!! If you don’t already know, I’m Erika, and I have Lyme disease!! I love cosplay, but sometimes cosplaying with chronic illness can be complicated. So I thought I’d introduce myself to the new followers around here by announcing a new series on my blog, The Lyme Life!! Check out the link in my bio to read about what cosplay means to me as a person with chronic illness. . . I’ve really enjoyed connecting with other cosplayers with chronic illness through my posts about Lyme, and I’ve had interesting conversations with people who are curious about how Lyme disease impacts my life as a cosplayer. . . To that end, I’ve decided to start a new series on my blog, where I talk about having Lyme disease, and what it’s like to cosplay with chronic illness. In this series, we will talk about how I found out I have Lyme disease, how my diagnosis led to my cosplay business that I’m starting, what it’s like to do cons with chronic illness, and all sorts of other things you guys have asked. . . So if you have any questions about cosplaying with chronic illness, feel free to ask, and I’ll do my best to answer! Or if you have chronic illness and would like to share, I’d love to hear how your experiences have impacted your life!! . . Anyways, thanks for joining me on this unexpected journey, because though one does not simply walk into Mordor, I certainly stumbled into cosplay, and adventure is always more fun with friends!! . . #cosplay #cosplayingwithchronicillness #chronicillness #lymedisease #starwarscosplay #starwars #disneycosplay #princessleia #princessleiacosplay #leiaorgana #cosplaylife #thelymelife #wondercon #spaceprincess #chronicfatigue #chronicpain #princesscosplay #disneyprincesscosplay #chronicallysewn #costumer #sewingaddict #sewinglife #cosplayergirl #costuming #wondercon2018 #disneyprincess #anewhope #theempirestrikesback #returnofthejedi https://www.instagram.com/p/By3WpMQj4Pm/?igshid=t63r42zmjzdf

[erikaalamode]

I’m still a day behind in #fallforcostume , thank you @redthreaded for the super fun prompts but wow I do not have the emotional stamina to keep up with this everyday!!! At least not right now, when the Lyme disease decides to kick me in the face for having a fun weekend at @disneyland last week!! . . To that end, I’m combining yesterday’s Future and today’s Space in one post!! I know technically this happens a long time ago in a galaxy far, far away, but it does take place in space!! And I have a couple more Padmé gowns in my future that I am FINALLY getting started on!! . . My life goal to own (and casually wear) every single one of Padmé’s dresses is gonna happen okay?! It just has to!! I’m hoping to have a couple new Padmé dresses ready in time for @starwarscelebration so if you see a crazy person in a Star Wars dress at @wholefoods buying like 8 pomegranates and gluten free flour, don’t call the cops that’s just me!! . . #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplayphoto #photography #photoshoot #wondercon #wondercon2019 #starwars #starwarscosplay #padmeamidala #maytheforcebewithyou #disney #disneycosplay #naboo #attackoftheclones #asiancosplay #poccosplay #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymelife #chronicillness #cosplayingwithchronicillness #tickbornediseases #chronicillnessawareness #costumer https://www.instagram.com/p/B3lAnQ0D4b2/?igshid=1xkchql7ry9nk

[erikaalamode]

“She was very beautiful. Kind but sad... and mostly tired, like super tired” - Princess Leia, probably . . I am just winning at this tick-borne disease bingo!! I had an appointment with the Lyme specialist before the holiday, and turns out I also have something called relapsing fever borrelia!! . . Relapsing fever is exactly what it sounds like, I get waves of low grade fevers, body aches, muscle and nerve inflammation, and nausea. Turns out those things are not general character traits and I am actually not supposed to experience them!! . . Guys I am collecting tick-borne diseases like a pro Pokémon trainer, does gotta catch em all apply in this situation?!? . . #cosplay #cosplayer #cosplayphoto #photography #photoshoot #wondercon #wondercon2019 #starwars #starwarscosplay #padmeamidala #maytheforcebewithyou #disney #disneycosplay #naboo #attackoftheclones #asiancosplay #poccosplay #lymedisease #lymediseaseawareness #lymelife #chronicillness #cosplayingwithchronicillness #tickbornediseases #chronicillnessawareness #costumer (at Wondercon) https://www.instagram.com/p/Bzir4vfDQEh/?igshid=9cl13f1sq04k