mental health – Tate Basildon

This Summer Reminded Me I’m Not the Person I Used to Be

Some summers slap you with sunshine, and others hit you with the reality of chronic illness, sarcoidosis, and that rebellious heart that never reads the room. This is the story of one overly ambitious chef who pushed too hard, paid for it immediately, and finally had to accept the uncomfortable truth: the “old me” isn’t coming back, but the new me deserves just as much care—ideally before collapsing into a lounge chair like a wilted basil leaf.

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Cursing, Guilt, and Growing Up: How I Survived Childhood Trauma With Humor, Healing, and a Chef’s Heart

Growing up with childhood trauma and overwhelming guilt after witnessing my step-father’s heart attack shaped everything—from how I curse, to how I cook, to how I manage chronic illness today. While emotional suppression can increase stress, inflammation, and heart risk, meditation, humor, cooking, and selective profanity helped me survive. If you’ve ever carried guilt, wrestled with grief, or learned to cope quietly, this story will remind you that you’re not the villain—you’re surviving with heart.

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Tired of Being Tired: Life, Chronic Illness, and the Weight of Keeping Up

Living with sarcoidosis and heart failure means even simple tasks can feel like climbing a mountain. This raw, heartfelt reflection from a private chef and debut novelist explores chronic fatigue, aging, and the exhausting work of keeping up appearances while living with a chronic illness.

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Dear Prudence, Who Hurt You? When Online Advice Goes Off the Rails and Lands in a Pot of Mush

Some days, while easing into the morning and pretending the world makes sense, I stumble across online advice so astonishing it makes sarcoidosis feel like the most logical part of my life. And recently, “Dear Prudence” delivered guidance so unhinged—I had to sit there blinking like a confused owl, wondering who exactly we’ve trusted with our emotional emergencies.

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Why I’m Escaping to Cape Cod: A Chronic Illness-Friendly Beach Vacation I Couldn’t Postpone

Burned out, exhausted, and held together by caffeine and sarcasm, I decided not to wait until September for a beach vacation. Here’s why I booked a chronic illness-friendly escape to Cape Cod—with nothing but my Kindle, portable oxygen, and a deep craving for ocean air and silence.