Living Fully with an Invisible Weight: How Two Decades with Autoimmune Disease Shaped My Life, Career, and Coaching Mission

When I was diagnosed with an autoimmune disease at 18, I didn’t understand what it would mean for my life. No one hands you a manual when your body turns on itself. There’s no checklist for navigating flare-ups, identity crises, or the mental whiplash of going from high-achieving student athlete to someone who couldn’t get out of bed.

But if I’ve learned anything over the last almost 20 years, it’s this: a diagnosis may change your path, but it doesn’t change you. You are still whole. Still worthy. Still capable of a life that lights you up.

Living with autoimmune disease isn’t linear. It’s not predictable. It’s a masterclass in managing uncertainty, learning to pivot, and getting radically honest about what you need—mentally, emotionally, physically. For me, that journey unfolded across two careers, three states, and more flares than I can count.

I began my professional life in the fashion industry, working in one of the most fast-paced, high-pressure environments out there. I loved the creativity, the pace, the buzz. But my body? Not so much. The late nights, constant travel, and lack of flexibility triggered flares that forced me to choose: my health or my hustle.

That was one of the first big pivots.

I transitioned into tech, where I could build a stable, successful career with more boundaries and balance. Still, even with a more supportive structure, the emotional toll of living with a chronic illness never left. I felt like I had to prove I was just as capable—despite my limitations.

Here’s what people don’t talk about enough: the mental and emotional impact of autoimmune disease. The grief of letting go of the life you thought you’d have. The isolation of feeling misunderstood. The shame of canceling plans again. The guilt of resting when others keep going.

And yet, I also gained clarity. Autoimmunity stripped away the illusion that I could do it all by pushing harder. It taught me the power of rest, boundaries, and presence. It revealed that resilience isn’t about avoiding struggle, it’s about learning to lead yourself through it with compassion.

The biggest shift came when I realized I wasn’t the only one feeling this way. I started opening up about my experiences, first quietly, then publicly. Women began reaching out. They shared their own invisible battles—how they felt broken, alone, stuck between wanting more and being afraid their bodies couldn’t handle it.

That’s when Empowered Roads was born.

Today, I coach ambitious, driven women living with autoimmune disease & chronic health concerns. Women like me. Women who want more from life but need a different map to get there. Through my signature coaching framework, we focus on sustainable mindset tools, nervous system-safe strategies, and personalized roadmaps that honor their energy while helping them hit their goals.

We start with truth: You are not your diagnosis. Your goals are still valid. You don’t have to do this alone.

Healing and ambition can coexist. Thriving with autoimmune disease isn’t about pretending it doesn’t affect you, it’s about learning to move forward with your body, not against it.

If you’re navigating chronic illness, I want you to know this: You’re still you. A diagnosis doesn’t take away your brilliance. It may change your pace or your path, but it doesn’t steal your potential.

Your full life is still possible. And you don’t have to build it alone.

Photo Credit: Crystal Rojas