Columns

Michelle Harlan is a second-year doctoral student pursuing a PhD in clinical psychology at George Mason University. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in art history from Elon University and a Master of Professional Studies in clinical psychology from the University of Maryland. She worked as a research coordinator at…

As I look back on my two-year journey as a sickle cell disease columnist for Bionews, the parent company of this website, I’m struck by how much I’ve grown and evolved. In fact, I’m extremely proud. It all began in late 2022, when I stumbled upon a job posting…

In the wake of the British government announcing recently that it plans to cut its welfare budget by more than £5 billion ($6.5 billion), I’ve noticed a shocking number of comments in mainstream and social media that seek to shame the disabled population with harmful rhetoric and negative stereotypes. To…

Recently, I’ve been reflecting on how living with sickle cell disease has affected many of my dreams, goals, and lifestyle choices. Despite the changes, I have continued to dream and pursue my aspirations successfully. The impact of sickle cell disease intensified for me during…

A few weeks ago, I was in excruciating pain in the dead of the night. I’m not one to disturb others when I’m in pain unless it’s severe and I need help to manage it. This night was one of those exceptions, and I had to reluctantly wake up my…

The date was Friday, Jan. 31, 2025. It started like any other day. As I settled down to start working, I noticed I had a lot of messages, and more came in as the day went on. Message after message, phone call after phone call alerted me about a supposed…

In a society that’s seemingly obsessed with sex and physical intimacy, you may be surprised to hear that there aren’t many resources available for those with chronic illness and physical limitations. So let’s talk about it. Sickle cell disease is one of many conditions that can affect physical intimacy.

Some of my childhood memories still linger. I vividly remember, for instance, the lonely nights spent in my bed while struggling with a painfully distended abdomen, a discomfort extreme enough to take away many nights of sleep. My bed was in the same room as my parents, yet I was…

Keeping with the theme of February, the month of love, I wanted to offer some practical tips for how to support a partner with sickle cell disease. The reality of living with a chronic illness is that things may not always go well, as the condition can be unpredictable.

Living with sickle cell disease comes with challenges, such as pain crises that can set a patient back days, weeks, or even months. The mental and physical toll can be immense. Because February is often associated with love, I’ve been reflecting on how facing setbacks with sickle cell can…