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Kate Mitchell

Text reads: 10 ideas for self-care you need this holiday season, plus a free holiday self-care plan (end text). The holiday season is coming right up. It’s a fun time of year, but it can also be a tricky one, which is especially true if you have a chronic illness. That’s why I’ve pulled together 10 ideas for self-care that chronic illness patients need this holiday season, as well as a free downloadable holiday self-care plan workbook.
Text reads: 10 ideas for self-care you need this holiday season, plus a free holiday self-care plan (end text). The holiday season is coming right up. It’s a fun time of year, but it can also be a tricky one, which is especially true if you have a chronic illness. That’s why I’ve pulled together 10 ideas for self-care that chronic illness patients need this holiday season, as well as a free downloadable holiday self-care plan workbook.
in Health, Lifestyle · September 27, 2022

10 Ideas for Self Care You Need This Holiday Season

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10 Ideas for Self Care You Need This Holiday Season

Text reads: 84 of the best gluten-free holiday recipes (end text). If you have foods you can't eat, holiday meals take a bit more planning. I've been gluten-free for 11 years, so in this post I've compiled 84 of the best gluten-free holiday recipes. Specifically, this post contains gluten-free recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, so you have tons of options for planning delicious meals.
Text reads: 84 of the best gluten-free holiday recipes (end text). If you have foods you can't eat, holiday meals take a bit more planning. I've been gluten-free for 11 years, so in this post I've compiled 84 of the best gluten-free holiday recipes. Specifically, this post contains gluten-free recipes for Halloween, Thanksgiving, Hanukkah, and Christmas, so you have tons of options for planning delicious meals.
in Lifestyle · September 20, 2022

84 of the Best Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes

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84 of the Best Gluten-Free Holiday Recipes

Text reads: Buy my ebook for chronic health bloggers, worth $140, but buy for $10! There is also an image of the ebook cover. The ebook is named "Take Your Blog (And Income!) To The Next Level: Resources for Chronic Health Bloggers".
Text reads: 7 arthritis myths busted, do you know the truth? (end text). There are so many arthritis myths! As a millennial with arthritis, I have heard so many of them. This month marks 21 years of living with arthritis, so I figured it was as good a time as any to bust some of these arthritis myths. 
Text reads: 7 arthritis myths busted, do you know the truth? (end text). There are so many arthritis myths! As a millennial with arthritis, I have heard so many of them. This month marks 21 years of living with arthritis, so I figured it was as good a time as any to bust some of these arthritis myths. 
in Health · September 6, 2022

7 Arthritis Myths Busted: Do You Know The Truth?

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7 Arthritis Myths Busted: Do You Know The Truth?

Text reads: Why you need a blog newsletter and what to send your subscribers (end text). One of the most important tools for bloggers is your newsletter. But are you wondering why you need a blog newsletter, how to write a good one, and what to send to your subscribers? Then this post is for you!
Text reads: Why you need a blog newsletter and what to send your subscribers (end text). One of the most important tools for bloggers is your newsletter. But are you wondering why you need a blog newsletter, how to write a good one, and what to send to your subscribers? Then this post is for you!
in Writing & Blogging · August 16, 2022

Why You Need a Blog Newsletter + What To Send Your Newsletter

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Why You Need a Blog Newsletter + What To Send Your Newsletter

Text reads: Do I have a chronic illness? What you should know if you're a new patient (end text). In the age of COVID-19, there are a lot of people who were healthy before their infection and who now have a chronic condition of some kind. Maybe it’s long-COVID, but maybe it’s damage to the heart or lungs. Maybe they now have an autoimmune disease triggered by the virus. Regardless, there are now a lot more people who are asking themselves, “Do I have a chronic illness?” 
Text reads: Do I have a chronic illness? What you should know if you're a new patient (end text). In the age of COVID-19, there are a lot of people who were healthy before their infection and who now have a chronic condition of some kind. Maybe it’s long-COVID, but maybe it’s damage to the heart or lungs. Maybe they now have an autoimmune disease triggered by the virus. Regardless, there are now a lot more people who are asking themselves, “Do I have a chronic illness?” 
in Health · July 26, 2022

Do I Have a Chronic Illness? What You Should Know If You’re a New Patient

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Do I Have a Chronic Illness? What You Should Know If You’re a New Patient

Text reads: 2022 recent reads, April to June (end text). Thanks to the second quarter of the year, I am way ahead of my reading goals for the year! I read so much in this 3-month period.
Text reads: 2022 recent reads, April to June (end text). Thanks to the second quarter of the year, I am way ahead of my reading goals for the year! I read so much in this 3-month period.
in Lifestyle · July 12, 2022

2022 Recent Reads: April-June

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2022 Recent Reads: April-June

Text reads: 20 plus of the best history novels (end text). There are some incredible books in this post, and I’ve left out any books that I don’t think belong in a list of the best history novels. Happy reading!
Text reads: 20 plus of the best history novels (end text). There are some incredible books in this post, and I’ve left out any books that I don’t think belong in a list of the best history novels. Happy reading!
in Lifestyle · June 28, 2022

20+ of the Best History Novels

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20+ of the Best History Novels

Text reads: What Sjögren's Syndrome Is, a beginner's guide (end text). As an arthritis advocate and someone who knows people with Sjögren’s, I knew a lot more than the average person does, but I still wondered what Sjögren’s syndrome is. We’re going to look at the definition, the symptoms, the treatments, and more, including, of course, how “Sjögren’s” is pronounced. 
Text reads: What Sjögren's Syndrome Is, a beginner's guide (end text). As an arthritis advocate and someone who knows people with Sjögren’s, I knew a lot more than the average person does, but I still wondered what Sjögren’s syndrome is. We’re going to look at the definition, the symptoms, the treatments, and more, including, of course, how “Sjögren’s” is pronounced. 
in Health · June 14, 2022

What Sjögren’s Syndrome Is: A Beginner’s Guide

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What Sjögren’s Syndrome Is: A Beginner’s Guide

Text reads: Blog traffic for beginners, keep your traffic up this summer (end text). When it comes to blog traffic for beginners, you might be wondering what’s happening to your blog and how you can keep your traffic up. In this post, I’m sharing why your blog traffic is decreasing and nine things you can do to keep your traffic steady, if not increasing.
Text reads: Blog traffic for beginners, keep your traffic up this summer (end text). When it comes to blog traffic for beginners, you might be wondering what’s happening to your blog and how you can keep your traffic up. In this post, I’m sharing why your blog traffic is decreasing and nine things you can do to keep your traffic steady, if not increasing.
in Writing & Blogging · June 7, 2022

Blog Traffic for Beginners: Keep Your Traffic Up This Summer

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Blog Traffic for Beginners: Keep Your Traffic Up This Summer

Text reads: Tips to make living indepdently living with a chronic illness easier (end text). I know how difficult independently living with a chronic illness can be. Whether you’re looking to be independent or you already are and want tips, this post will help.
Text reads: Tips to make living indepdently living with a chronic illness easier (end text). I know how difficult independently living with a chronic illness can be. Whether you’re looking to be independent or you already are and want tips, this post will help.
in Health, Lifestyle · May 31, 2022

Tips To Make Independently Living with a Chronic Illness Easier

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Tips To Make Independently Living with a Chronic Illness Easier

Text reads: What's chronic pain? What you should know if you love someone with it (end text). You can’t know what it’s like living with chronic pain unless you have it, and understanding what it’s like living with chronic pain dramatically affects how you treat someone who lives with it. I hope this post helps you!
Text reads: What's chronic pain? What you should know if you love someone with it (end text). You can’t know what it’s like living with chronic pain unless you have it, and understanding what it’s like living with chronic pain dramatically affects how you treat someone who lives with it. I hope this post helps you!
in Health · May 17, 2022

What’s Chronic Pain? What You Should Know If You Love Someone with It

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What’s Chronic Pain? What You Should Know If You Love Someone with It

Text reads: How to improve your blogging skills, 8 skills you need (end text). As humans, we want to be good at the things we do, or at the very least we don’t want to be bad at them. That, of course, applies to blogging. In this post, I’m going to talk about how to improve your blogging skills, from writing to photography, from research to SEO, and more.
Text reads: How to improve your blogging skills, 8 skills you need (end text). As humans, we want to be good at the things we do, or at the very least we don’t want to be bad at them. That, of course, applies to blogging. In this post, I’m going to talk about how to improve your blogging skills, from writing to photography, from research to SEO, and more.
in Writing & Blogging · May 10, 2022

How To Improve Your Blogging Skills: 8 Skills You Need

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How To Improve Your Blogging Skills: 8 Skills You Need

Text reads: What is considered a chronic illness? And other chronic illness basics (end text). When it comes to chronic illness, there's a lot to learn. Maybe you have a chronic illness, maybe someone in your life has one. I've talked a lot about specific elements to chronic illness over the years, but I thought I would go into some chronic illness basics today, such as the question, "What is considered a chronic illness?"  
Text reads: What is considered a chronic illness? And other chronic illness basics (end text). When it comes to chronic illness, there's a lot to learn. Maybe you have a chronic illness, maybe someone in your life has one. I've talked a lot about specific elements to chronic illness over the years, but I thought I would go into some chronic illness basics today, such as the question, "What is considered a chronic illness?"  
in Health · May 3, 2022

What Is Considered a Chronic Illness? And Other Chronic Illness Basics

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What Is Considered a Chronic Illness? And Other Chronic Illness Basics

Text reads: 2022 Recent Reads, January-March (end text). In this blog post, blogger and bookworm Kate the (Almost) Great shares and reviews what she read in quarter 1 of 2022.
Text reads: 2022 Recent Reads, January-March (end text). In this blog post, blogger and bookworm Kate the (Almost) Great shares and reviews what she read in quarter 1 of 2022.
in Lifestyle · April 29, 2022

2022 Recent Reads: January-March

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2022 Recent Reads: January-March

Text reads: Authentic mental health blog post ideas; that people actually want to read! (end text). If you’re a blogger, you’re always looking for new blog post ideas. Sometimes you need a little help, such as that from a list of ideas! I’ve posted several ideas over the years, and there are even more in my ebook for health bloggers. But today I thought I would share mental health blog post ideas for those of who blog about mental health and/or mental illness. 
Text reads: Authentic mental health blog post ideas; that people actually want to read! (end text). If you’re a blogger, you’re always looking for new blog post ideas. Sometimes you need a little help, such as that from a list of ideas! I’ve posted several ideas over the years, and there are even more in my ebook for health bloggers. But today I thought I would share mental health blog post ideas for those of who blog about mental health and/or mental illness. 
in Writing & Blogging · April 19, 2022

Authentic Mental Health Blog Post Ideas That People Actually Want

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Authentic Mental Health Blog Post Ideas That People Actually Want

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Kate the (Almost) Great

Chronic health lifestyle blog

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And don’t forget that you’re so strong, even i And don’t forget that you’re so strong, even if you wish you didn’t have to be. 

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Video: A video of Kate typing on her computer before a series of videos of doctor’s offices. Text reads “ How To Win a Medical Appointment”, “ 1. Come prepared with notes of what’s been going on”, “ 2. Take notes in the appointment.”, “ 3. Wear clothes that make the exam easier”, “ 4. If you get emotional, explain why.”, “5. Remember that if they’re unhelpful or rude, that’s a reflection on them and not you. ”

#AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicallyIll #RheumatoudArthritis #SjogrensSyndrome #SjogrensDisease #Fibromyalgia #Endometriosis #Adenomyosis #POTS #Dysautonomia #trending #explore
Week 23 of #2025Weekly ⁣ ⁣ 1️⃣ A normal-is Week 23 of #2025Weekly ⁣
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1️⃣ A normal-ish start to the week ⁣
2️⃣ My nurse after I had a problematic tooth removed. Inflammation is everywhere and out to get you!⁣
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No, but seriously. A tooth that was fine in January had such a bad cavity that it was better to remove it now instead of getting a root canal this year and removing it next year. I almost definitely have periodontal disease, which is often caused by lots of long-term inflammation It was also fused to my jawbone, which is, you guessed it, often caused by inflammation.⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣
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1️⃣ Kate takes a selfie. She's a auburn-haired white woman wearing a green dress, silver Celtic knot necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses. ⁣
2️⃣ Kate takes another selfie with a golden retriever. Her face is swollen and she looks unhappy. She's wearing a blue Patriots t-shirt and round tortoiseshell glasses.⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #AlmostGreatLife #ChronicallyIll #SpoonieLife #RheumatoidArthritis #RheumatoidDisease #Autoimmune #ButYouDontLookSick #AutoimmuneDisease #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabledAndCute
💃🏼 Video: Kate looks around like she’s tr 💃🏼

Video: Kate looks around like she’s trying to find something. Text reads “Trying to find an eff to give when someone tells me “You shouldn’t talk about your health problems so publicly and so much”” 

#ChronicallyIll #InvisibleIllness #TrialReels
Most people who follows me have at least one illne Most people who follows me have at least one illness or love someone who does (either because that's why you followed me or just statistically). ⁣
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But if you're not the patient, you may not know just how stressful managing your illness(es) can be. ⁣
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I've been doing this for a long time, and I've got a system down pretty solidly. But that doesn't mean it isn't stressful. ⁣
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Honestly, my therapy focuses pretty equally on the emotional side of my illnesses (including PTSD) as well as the stress from just managing things. ⁣
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Managing your illnesses includes: ⁣
▪ taking all of your medications⁣
▪ keeping track of all your appointments⁣
▪ preparing for and having your appointments⁣
▪.finding the lifestyle changes that work for you and your body ⁣
▪ understanding, avoiding, and managing your symptom triggers ⁣
▪ and so much more⁣
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How do you handle the stress of managing your illness(es)?⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣
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ID: Kate takes a selfie in an infusion chair. She is a brunette white woman wearing a Boston Red Sox shirt, blue mask, and round tortoiseshell glasses.⁣⁣ A white box reads "The Stress of Managing Illnesses".
POV My Camera Roll _______ Video: a series of POV My Camera Roll 

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Video: a series of videos. They include Kate - a redheaded white woman who wears round tortoiseshell glasses - dogs, coffee, a lake, the Maine woods, doctors offices, and more. 

#AlmostGreatLife #AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicallyIll #NewEnglandLife
Being home in Maine is always idyllic, no mater wh Being home in Maine is always idyllic, no mater what does or doesn't happen. While this past week was hectic between birthdays and my cousin's graduation, it was still really nice to just be there and take some time to rest. ⁣
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As you may or may not have noticed, I've been taking a break from blogging. I'll definitely return at some point - probably later this year - but I just need a break. Between the hecticness of normal life and going through the diagnostic process for some new conditions, I'm at my stress limit. ⁣
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On top of that, my summer is so all over the place that I don't know a single guaranteed date that I'll be in Maine. Normally, I block out my time months in advance, but I had to change those plans so often that I gave up. I have a bunch of appointments in the next few weeks, and I will absolutely have follow-ups after them that aren't scheduled yet. I also anticipate that I will have more appointments for testing, but nothing is guaranteed yet. ⁣
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I love making plans because i love knowing what is happening. But it is more stressful for me (and my family) for me to keep changing them, so I'm doing this thing called "winging it". I have vague ideas of when I'll go up and what I'll do, but I can't make those plans until I have more information. ⁣
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Until then, I'll appreciate every chance I get to be home in the woods, and I will try to not stress so much about putting things on the calendar. ⁣
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⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣⁣I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣
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ID: A lake as seen through a tree. There a dock partially visible.⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #rheumatoidarthritis #arthritis #spoonielife #autoimmune #autoimmunedisease #chronicallyill #dysautonomia #fibro #fibromyalgia #endo #chronicallyill #disability #disabled #invisibleillness #207 #MaineLife #MaineTheWay #Vacationland
🎂 Week 22 of #2025Weekly 🎂 ⁣ ⁣ Birthday 🎂 Week 22 of #2025Weekly 🎂 ⁣
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Birthday week! ⁣
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1️⃣ Finished the work day and went to read on the deck with Harley ⁣
2️⃣ I did a lot of reading outdoors last week, which was lovely.⁣
3️⃣ There is a fox family living near my mom's sheep! Here is an incredible picture she tool of one of them. 📸 @healyheritagefarm ⁣
4️⃣ Birthday cupcakes for my birthday on Thursday ⁣
5️⃣ A beautiful gift from my grandma. Now to see if I can keep it alive! ⁣
6️⃣ Harley holding his blankie between his front paws will never not be adorable ⁣
7️⃣ Friday was my lovely mother’s birthday. She and my dad went on an excursion, where he snapped this picture.⁣
8️⃣ And Saturday was my cousin’s HS graduation party. Last one of our generation!⁣
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I’m Kate, a chronic illness patient and advocate sharing what my life is like with 7+ chronic illnesses. Follow me for more and check out my blog at katethealmostgreat.com⁣⁣⁣⁣
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1️⃣ Kate takes a selfie with Harley the golden retriever. Kate is a redheaded white woman wearing jeans, a green shirt, a silver Celtic knot necklace, and round tortoiseshell glasses. She has a Kindle in a pink case on her lap.⁣
2️⃣ Kate's point of view from sitting on outdoor furniture. On her lap is a closed pink Kindle case and she's holding a color tumbler with a straw in it. ⁣
3️⃣ A fox on grass⁣
4️⃣ 12 chocolate cupcakes with vanilla frosting⁣
5️⃣ Yellow-and-purple orchids on a wood table⁣
6️⃣ Harley laying on a dog bed with a white fleece blanket between his front paws.⁣
7️⃣ A picture of Tricia taking a picture of a beautiful New England house. Tricia is a white woman with silver hair wearing a blue-and-white striped dress. ⁣
8️⃣ A picture of a poster. Top text reads “Welcome To” and the bottom text reads “The Graduation of Natalie May Healy”. In between there’s a photo of Natalie sitting on a rock in front of a pond.⁣
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#AlmostGreatHealth #AlmostGreatLife #SpoonieLife #RheumatoidArthritis #SpoonieLife #InvisibleIllness #DisabledAndCute
Don’t give up hope. (And you’re not giving up Don’t give up hope. (And you’re not giving up hope or a faker if you need a break from trying to get answers)

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Video: a lake with music playing over it. Text reads “Just because one doctor or specialty doesn’t have the answers you need doesn’t mean they aren’t out there.” There is small closed captioning. 

#AlmostGreatHealth #ChronicallyIll #ChronicPain #Spoonie #SpoonieProblems
A letter to my past self 💖 (Disclaimer: I’m o A letter to my past self 💖 (Disclaimer: I’m only speaking about myself, my life, and my experiences. My birthday is tomorrow so do NOT make me deal with comments about toxic positivity) 

Video: a series of videos of Kate, pouring coffee, a lake, pill boxes, and a doctor’s office. Kate speaks in a voiceover with an intercom style and there are captions.
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