HD in Color — Tanita Allen

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) can feel like an uphill battle, but self-care can make a meaningful difference in managing its symptoms. The key to a successful self-care routine lies in personalizing it to fit your unique needs and lifestyle. These seven tips have helped me manage my…

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) means navigating a world of unpredictability — fluctuating symptoms, physical limitations, emotional challenges, and the stigma that often comes with a chronic illness. Setting healthy boundaries has been crucial to managing my energy, maintaining relationships, and living my best life despite the hurdles. Following…

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) is a journey filled with ups and downs, uncertainties, and moments that test our mental, emotional, and physical strength. Over the years, I’ve realized that practicing self-compassion isn’t just beneficial — it’s necessary. When the world feels heavy, or when my symptoms remind…

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) brings unique challenges — physical, emotional, and mental. Navigating its complexities while maintaining a sense of peace and presence in my daily life hasn’t always been easy, but mindfulness has become an essential tool in my toolbox. Following are five ways I practice mindfulness…

Anxiety is a frequent companion for many of us living with Huntington’s disease (HD). Whether it’s the overwhelming stress of managing symptoms, navigating social interactions, or even planning for the future, anxiety can creep in and overshadow our daily lives. Over the years, I’ve developed strategies to manage…

Music has always been more than just sound to me. It’s a lifeline. Living with Huntington’s disease (HD), I’ve faced physical challenges, emotional hurdles, and moments of deep introspection. During the most difficult times, music has been my refuge, helping me manage my mood, find peace, and lift my…

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) presents rare challenges, including managing symptoms that can affect physical, mental, and emotional well-being. One of the often overlooked aspects of maintaining health with HD is cultivating good sleep hygiene. When sleep is interrupted or inadequate, the ripple effects on our bodies and minds…

In 2012, my life took an unexpected turn when I was diagnosed with Huntington’s disease (HD). The road to that diagnosis had been long and filled with confusion, but the moment I received an answer, my future felt uncertain. As part of my treatment plan,…

Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) presents many physical hurdles, but the toll it takes on mental health is often overlooked. Many people, including myself, experience intense bouts of anxiety and depression as part of this journey. Coping with the physical symptoms of HD can be exhausting, and the…

Navigating a new diagnosis of Huntington’s disease (HD) is a profoundly personal journey through a range of emotions, from shock and disbelief to worry. I know this experience all too well. Reflecting on my own path from diagnosis to today, there are so many lessons I wish I could…

This October has been one of the most inspiring and empowering months of my life as a Huntington’s disease (HD) patient advocate. I had the incredible opportunity to participate in three major advocacy events, each one special and impactful. Speaking to future doctors, celebrating with my dream medical team,…

It caught me off guard when a dear friend asked me recently, “How can I help you?” It wasn’t because I hadn’t been asked this before in different contexts, but rather that I realized I’d never truly given the question enough thought. Living with Huntington’s disease (HD) has…