“My Worst Fear At Any Job Was…”: What It’s Like Working With Psoriasis

a smile on my face, and appeared normal, people didn’t take the severity of my pain seriously.

One of my jobs wanted me to travel and it was hard for them to understand that the soreness and stiffness of my joints affected my ability to move and travel. It was so hard 30 years ago to be young, ambitious and intelligent when arthritis was considered an old person’s disease with very little understanding of the impact it had on your ability to function.

I began working in the banking industry almost 30 years ago. It was a demanding job with long hours and an extremely stressful environment. However, I never let my psoriasis or psoriatic arthritis stop me from doing my job well, but it could make working incredibly difficult. I always had questions in the back of my mind.

What if I can’t work in the corporate world?

What would I do with my life?

What if I have to go on disability?

I remember being on a medication that the only thing I wanted to do was sleep. I was just exhausted all the time. The minute I got home, I would fall asleep and sleep all weekend; just to have enough strength to get through the following week.

When I was 40 years old, a doctor who didn’t think I should be working wanted to put me on full disability. But I didn’t take that opportunity because I knew I had so much more to offer. I am so glad that I didn’t jump at it.

The one thing I have learned after all these years is to talk to your colleagues about your medical conditions from the start so people don’t have to guess what is going on with you. If you have psoriasis, let them know you’re not contagious and be honest about how it impacts your life.

Educate them about your condition; they will respect you more. Become an expert by learning all about your condition and the right way to describe it, and you will feel more informed and confident when explaining it to others.

So yes, I did wear clothing that would cover my psoriasis. If you wish to do this, it’s ok. I no longer want to cover up but it all comes down to how you feel—there’s no right or wrong.

Over the years I have been an active advocate for psoriasis and psoriatic arthritis, speaking up and out about this disease. I am now Executive Director of the nonprofit Psoriasis Network Support: www.psoriasisnetwork.org.