This is my TSW blog, but it is also much more than that. It is a space for unspoken survival stories from over eleven years of TSW (topical steroid withdrawal), reflections on trauma and healing, and essays on the body as a mirror for the collective.
Healing isn’t linear, and neither is what you’ll find here. The posts are gathered into layers — physical, emotional, mental, and cultural — so you can step into whichever doorway speaks to you.
How the Global War Machine Fuels Child Trafficking and Abuse
An investigative essay on how systems of war and power perpetuate hidden violence against children — and why collective healing must face these truths.
My Battle With Big Pharma
A reflection on writing, medical harm, and finding my voice after years of silence, suppression, and suffering caused by the very systems meant to help us.
How Topical Steroid Withdrawal Is Tied To Emotions
TSW wasn’t only physical. My skin became a mirror for all the suppressed grief, fear, and anger rising to the surface that had been there for decades.
To Those Who Stay When My Body Breaks
A love letter to the ones who stood by me in illness — and what true safety in relationship looks like.
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The Pain Didn't End When the War Did
How war followed me into every chapter of my life – from Sarajevo to the suburbs of Chicago.
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For more information and resources about TSW, please visit www.itsan.org