Dalton, GA
Infected: August, 2021
Diagnosed: May, 2022
“I made a promise to myself: I wasn’t letting this disease take one more thing from me.”
– Jessica S.
My advice to someone battling Lyme
You are not alone, even if it feels that way. Trust yourself and your body. You know when something isn’t right, even if others dismiss or minimize your symptoms. Keep advocating for yourself and don’t give up searching for answers. Healing may not be linear, but every small step forward matters.
How Lyme has affected my life
Lyme disease turned my life upside down. The hardest part wasn’t just the illness itself, but the medical trauma I experienced along the way. For nearly a year, I went from doctor to doctor, being told my symptoms were stress, anxiety, or “all in my head.” By the time I was finally diagnosed, the damage had already been done, not only physically, but also emotionally. I had lost trust in the medical community and was forced to take figuring out what was wrong with me into my own hands. After persistent research and advocacy for myself, I finally found a Lyme-literate doctor (LLMD) who diagnosed me with Lyme and co-infections. Even though I was initially hesitant to trust her, she was the first doctor to truly listen and provide a path forward. That journey was exhausting, but it also shaped me in ways I never expected.
What I have learned
I’ve learned that healing is not just physical. It’s emotional, mental, and spiritual. I’ve learned that community and connection are important, especially when navigating something as isolating as Lyme disease. At one point, I made a promise to myself: I wasn’t letting this disease take one more thing from me. That moment shifted everything. Instead of letting Lyme define me, I chose to move forward with purpose.
“I’ve learned that healing is not just physical. It’s emotional, mental, and spiritual.”
– Jessica Sired
My journey inspired me to go to graduate school and become a therapist because I wanted to be the therapist I once needed. I needed someone who truly understands how chronic illness affects every part of a person’s life. Now that I’ve graduated, I carry my story with me as a source of empathy, advocacy, and hope for others walking this difficult path.