When we’re dealing with chronic illnesses and disabilities, we face days where our pain is high and our ability to cope is low. We have different ways to deal with life when this happens, but one of the best ways to do so is to connect with some other amazingly chronically ill people.

Here are some of my favorites in no specific order:

1. Mariah
Mariah is one of my favorite people ever. She is an amazing advocate working tirelessly to educate, raise awareness, and help mothers (and those trying to conceive or thinking about it) with chronic illnesses.

She writes at RheumatoidArthritis.Net and works with Joint Decisions in addition to helping out here at Chronic Sex.

2. Kenzie
What can I say about Kenzie?

She works so hard to thrive despite multiple illnesses. She is raw and vulnerable in a way that very few can be. She has the cutest sense of style, a passion for mental health, and the most giving and loving heart I have ever seen. She’s also pretty much the bestest friend ever.

She works with Joint Decisions as well.

3. Rheumatoid Arthritis Guy
Through RA Guy’s writing on his site, Creaky Joints, Joint Decisions, and his foundation, he both raises awareness and gives hope to others living with types of arthritis. He brings in a much-needed male voice to the patient advocacy community.

One of the reasons RA Guy is so admirable, though, is that he knows when to step back and do more self-care stuff. It’s amazing how someone can do so much and still be so focused on their own needs.

4. Leslie
Leslie works hard at her day job helping patients in the healthcare community and does it after-hours, too! She was one of the first bloggers with RA that I found. At the time, she was an amazing inspiration to me as she was in graduate school while dealing with her health issues – and I was incredibly concerned about even finishing college.

She writes for RheumatoidArthritis.Net, Health Central, Creaky Joints, and works with Joint Decisions.

5. Britt
While Britt (Hurt Blogger) has been a patient advocate and activist for years, she recently began working for the Arthritis National Research Foundation.

She also writes for Creaky Joints, Health Central, and works with Joint Decisions.

7. Jessica
Jessica works tirelessly to raise awareness of both physical and mental health issues. One of my favorite things about her is that Jessica focuses also on how to look good while ill, something that can definitely help to boost our self-worth. She’s also a great proponent of self-care.

You can find her at her site and Huffington Post.

8. Kristin

Kristin is not only a social media expert but an amazing health activist. She focuses heavily on patient engagement/experience and how to incorporate digital technologies in ways that improve the former.

She’s also basically my twin.

You can find her at her site and Tumblr.

9. Natalie
Natalie lives with a rare neurological disorder called Moebius Syndrome as well as additional illnesses. She writes about life, her amazingly adorable service dog Cassius, calling out ableism, and loving Hamilton.

Make sure to check out her site and her Facebook page.

10. Dawn
Dawn is the creator of the one-and-only Spoonie Chat. She’s also an amazing activist who focuses not only on chronic illness and disability rights but also on racism, socioeconomic disparities, and political issues.

Make sure to check out Spoonie Chat’s Facebook, Dawn’s Twitter, and Tumblr.

Who are some of your favorite chronically amazing peeps?