I have arthrosis and I am bipolar. I experience pain in my body and tiredness, sometimes depression. I feel good when I can paint and my artwork uses mixed tecnic pencils. I enjoy painting.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 30. My psoriasis was on parts of my body that I only saw and I believed that it was not affecting me, but I was wrong. My psoriasis presented as big slates on my body, my knees, my elbows and behind my ears. It was everywhere and was terrible.

Since February 2018, I have been undergoing treatment and no longer experience symptoms. I realise how relieved I feel now that I don’t have symptoms.

I enjoy walking, sailing, knitting, embroidery and swimming.

I was diagnosed with psoriasis at the age of 30. My psoriasis was on parts of my body that I only saw and I believed that it was not affecting me, but I was wrong. My psoriasis presented as big slates on my body, my knees, my elbows and behind my ears. It was everywhere and was terrible.

Since February 2018, I have been undergoing treatment and no longer experience symptoms. I realise how relieved I feel now that I don’t have symptoms.

I enjoy walking, sailing, knitting, embroidery and swimming.

I am 71 and have fibromyalgia. I experience pain and fatigue in all my body and my condition makes me unhappy. My hobbies include arts and crafts.

I was diagnosed with lupus at the age of 12. I get tired quickly and my medicine makes me swollen. I often have headaches and my mind sometimes falters. I’m still learning how to live my new life in a way my body and mind needs.

I am 44 years old, live in Berlin, Germany, and work in film productions. Expressing myself through art is something my autoimmune disease taught me and it is a great way of healing. That’s the reason I took part in Expression Days and I hope a lot of people take part and will understand the feelings of autoimmune patients better, by looking at the artwork.

I suffer from Hashimoto, a chronic lymphocytic thyroiditis and this is an autoimmune disease in which the thyroid gland is gradually destroyed. You can’t see my struggles with this disease from the outside. I look like a normal, healthy middle-aged woman. My piece, YOU CAN’T SEE ME is something my Hashimoto says every day, when people tell me that I look “normal”. The pupil symbolises myself, floating in my own life, detached in a sea full of divine yellow energy. I am well, when Hashimoto lets me.

The pupil is actually a picture of my own pupil – red in the middle, like the strong will I have to live a normal life. I am framed by dark clouds from above which are letting stars rain on me, since on good days I am able to see the value of the disease and the lessons this disease taught me. These lessons are that I need to love myself to feel good and overcome the struggles of feeling weak and depressed, which I feel for no obvious reason. I need to listen to my body and give myself lots of me time to recharge and recover.

At the bottom of the piece, the frame is filled with darkness. This is to show that when I am not careful, I crash into a sea of depression and self-destruction and YOU CAN’T SEE ME, since I am not available. To avoid drowning, I have to find a light in the darkness and a straw to climb up again into the light.

I have been suffering from severe Crohn's since I was 7 years old. Since my ostomy surgery I am still not stable. I also suffer from ankylosing spondylitis, psoriasis and other pathologies.

The symptom I experience the most is the daily fatigue which impacts my social and professional life. I try to take advantage of the small, simple moments in life when I can. The physical and moral pains are difficult and I try to live from day to day to tell the truth. I have undergone many treatments during all these years and their consequences.

I experience the impact of my conditions almost everywhere - the colon, rectum, anus and in my muscles and joints. I have had an ileostomy. I have a large amount of skin damage. I also have had an ovary and all of my thyroid removed. I have undergone several operations including abscesses, fistulas (setons and drains still there), colon resection, ileum, stoma etc.

My piece is a photo/self-portrait that I made. I think that the green symbolises nature and hope. I enjoy photography, travel and dance (when I can).

I have rheumatoid arthritis. The part of me that is affected most is my brain I guess by tiredness and brain fog. Sometimes I just have to take a step back and relax. When I am tired the brain fog is quite severe. I am used to my condition.

My hobbies include wandering around in nature, drawing and reading. My painting uses pink, because it’s a happy, positive colour.

I’m from Poland and have rheumatoid arthritis. I and was diagnosed at 39 and feel pain symptoms most in my knuckles.

I live in Germany as was diagnosed with rheumatoid arthritis when I was 40. I feel my symptoms most in my hands. My hobbies include sport and travelling.

I've lived in Scotland all my life, working for the NHS for the last 26 years. I have twin sons who are 22 years old and my daughter is 18. I have had alopecia areata since I was 11 but it got much worse when I turned 35 becoming alopecia totalis, meaning I have virtually no hair on my head at all, hence the wig. It gets too cold in Scotland for me not to go out without it! Plus, I prefer to see myself with hair.

The art came about because I wanted to portray how alopecia made me, and I'm sure many others, feel for a long time. The condition affects your head and all those negative feelings are labelled and are at the forefront of your head, causing stress. This becomes a catch-22 situation, as in any disease stress does not help alopecia. Acceptance with the help of family and friends then brings about the more positive feelings portrayed on the back of my head, which have always been there but were buried for a long time, especially while navigating through life in general! I am in a much better place now and have accepted the lack of cure and the physical consequences of having alopecia totalis. However, I don't think I will ever totally emotionally accept the loss of my hair as a part of me will always be grieving for how it was.

I have psoriatic arthritis. My symptoms include joint pains, psoriasis spots on my body and head, Lupus rashes, exhaustion and depression. The parts of my body that are most affected are my right hand and head. I was diagnosed at 28 and I am 36 now. I can accept it now, but it is hard, also mentally.

My painting uses blue/violet because it represents my body in pain and the feeling of having bruised joints every day. I hope to create some awareness into the world.

Most people don't understand how a 36-year-old can look 'okay' but have so much pain. They see my Psoriasis on my head but that's all. Being chronically ill or having chronic pain is invisible.

I prefer to work with mixed media like in this piece with gouache and coloured pencils. But I also work with other art techniques like acrylic paint, watercolour, oil paint, graphite etc.

I have psoriatic arthritis. My symptoms include joint pains, psoriasis spots on my body and head, Lupus rashes, exhaustion and depression. The parts of my body that are most affected are my right hand and head. I was diagnosed at 28 and I am 36 now. I can accept it now, but it is hard, also mentally.

My painting uses blue/violet because it represents my body in pain and the feeling of having bruised joints every day. I hope to create some awareness into the world.

Most people don't understand how a 36-year-old can look 'okay' but have so much pain. They see my Psoriasis on my head but that's all. Being chronically ill or having chronic pain is invisible.

I prefer to work with mixed media like in this piece with gouache and coloured pencils. But I also work with other art techniques like acrylic paint, watercolour, oil paint, graphite etc.

I have psoriatic arthritis. My symptoms include joint pains, psoriasis spots on my body and head, Lupus rashes, exhaustion and depression. The parts of my body that are most affected are my right hand and head. I was diagnosed at 28 and I am 36 now. I can accept it now, but it is hard, also mentally.

My painting uses blue/violet because it represents my body in pain and the feeling of having bruised joints every day. I hope to create some awareness into the world.

Most people don't understand how a 36-year-old can look 'okay' but have so much pain. They see my Psoriasis on my head but that's all. Being chronically ill or having chronic pain is invisible.

I prefer to work with mixed media like in this piece with gouache and coloured pencils. But I also work with other art techniques like acrylic paint, watercolour, oil paint, graphite etc.

I have lumbar spine problems, swollen feet and ankles. I also experience giddiness. I am passionate about painting and singing as they help me forget my ailments. My family and my son are a constant source of support!

I am living with multiple sclerosis and I feel tiredness and lack of strength. It is psychologically painful. I enjoy design, particularly with pen markers and I started to do it the first time I learnt of my disease. In my piece I prefer to use orange as the colour of optimism, but all colours are beautiful! I feel relatively well at present.

I am living with multiple sclerosis and I feel tiredness and lack of strength. It is psychologically painful. I enjoy design, particularly with pen markers and I started to do it the first time I learnt of my disease. In my piece I prefer to use orange as the colour of optimism, but all colours are beautiful! I feel relatively well at present.

I'm 54 years old and I'm from Naantali, Finland. I have been happily married for 19 years, and my wife means everything to me. She is my world. I love taking pictures and making YouTube videos. I have had Psoriasis for about 30 years. The itch is terrible, it’s like being tortured 24/7. I also have bipolar disorder, so I have good days and bad days.

My hometown, Naantali, inspires me. I love to read books, listen to music and be with my wife.

Martina works in a small studio called The Magpie Studio and tends to paint mostly with oil paint and gold leaf. She loves the delicacy and preciousness of gold leaf but uses it in a very free way.

There are many contrasts in her work and she will often fuse slow methodical painting with free playful painting. The work therefore can often have a solemn feel to it yet also contain a light free hopeful poetic spirit.

Martina’s work contains almost a secret language of the heart and they have a very powerful emotional impact on the viewer.

My art

There is a wonderful ethereal and dreamlike quality in my expression which is full of magic, intrigue and spirit.

I like to call my work a secret language of the heart and therein lies its purpose and perhaps healing element in some way.

Following a serious road traffic accident in the Czech Republic, I found painting to be a great aid to my own healing. I like to explore with paint, carving and layering it, removing and adding to it playfully until I reach that ‘Eureka’ epiphany moment when the essence of the work reveals itself.

It is a great joy to be able to create like this and “Art heals by giving voice to the soul”.

From an early age, I had red cheeks (the colour of health, doctors said). In my adolescence, my hair thinned (stress, doctors said). My nose was bleeding (cauterization, doctors said). During my first pregnancy, I began to experience tachycardias. After the birth of my first child, my white blood cells were low (accidental, doctors said). My eyes were dry (10/10 vision, doctors said). My mouth was dry (drink water, doctors said). I had pain in my fingers, elbows and shoulders (tiredness, tendonitis, doctors said).

Completely by accident, at 45, someone mentioned that I might have an autoimmune disease. Appointments, examinations, biopsies and the final diagnosis followed: Sjogren's Syndrome (rare, doctors said) and Lupus (typical symptoms, doctors said). I tried hard to find a doctor who I could trust and who would listen, believe me and heal me. Years passed with hardships and disappointments, but I finally found a doctor and I thank him with all my heart.

Now at 61, I have overcome some of the problems due to my autoimmune diseases (ablation for supraventricular tachycardia, cortisone treatment, artificial tears, year-round swimming, etc.). But I still wonder, why after all these years, so many doctors just focus on their specialties, and why it took me so long to find a doctor who would recognise my symptoms, taking into account my suspicions or irrelevant quirks (broken veins, low temperature, snowshoes...).

I now live with my autoimmune diseases and I have got used to them. They've taught me sensitivity, understanding, love and how to help others even just by listening to them. And above all, I have learnt to never to give up. My pain can't be measured, but it's mine. My loved ones need me, want me, and I have to be strong.

From an early age, I had red cheeks (the colour of health, doctors said). In my adolescence, my hair thinned (stress, doctors said). My nose was bleeding (cauterization, doctors said). During my first pregnancy, I began to experience tachycardias. After the birth of my first child, my white blood cells were low (accidental, doctors said). My eyes were dry (10/10 vision, doctors said). My mouth was dry (drink water, doctors said). I had pain in my fingers, elbows and shoulders (tiredness, tendonitis, doctors said).

Completely by accident, at 45, someone mentioned that I might have an autoimmune disease. Appointments, examinations, biopsies and the final diagnosis followed: Sjogren's Syndrome (rare, doctors said) and Lupus (typical symptoms, doctors said). I tried hard to find a doctor who I could trust and who would listen, believe me and heal me. Years passed with hardships and disappointments, but I finally found a doctor and I thank him with all my heart.

Now at 61, I have overcome some of the problems due to my autoimmune diseases (ablation for supraventricular tachycardia, cortisone treatment, artificial tears, year-round swimming, etc.). But I still wonder, why after all these years, so many doctors just focus on their specialties, and why it took me so long to find a doctor who would recognise my symptoms, taking into account my suspicions or irrelevant quirks (broken veins, low temperature, snowshoes...).

I now live with my autoimmune diseases and I have got used to them. They've taught me sensitivity, understanding, love and how to help others even just by listening to them. And above all, I have learnt to never to give up. My pain can't be measured, but it's mine. My loved ones need me, want me, and I have to be strong.

I am living with Hashimoto’s disease and am a Clinical Psychologist and Psychotherapist. Currently, my symptoms have diminished significantly, due to my auto-analysis and psycho-therapeutic work in dealing with trauma.

My piece uses turquoise, a mix of green and blue, to convey earth and water and heart and communication energies.

I am 25 years old and I live in Bucharest, Romania. I work as an editor in chief at a publishing house. I am a PhD student at the Faculty of Sociology and Social Work, where I also got my Bachelor's and Master's degrees. I have brown eyes, curly hair and I like scarves. I love people, good stories and beautiful places.

I took part in Expression Days to show that from any wound or any pain, you can create art. That we are art. Not just a fraction of us. I think that art has the power to heal, to change and to transform lives.

The process of living with an autoimmune disease is difficult. It becomes part of you. My painting is a desperate, helpless scream. Sometimes I scream because I can't change the past, sometimes I scream because it hurts, sometimes I scream because I miss someone, and sometimes I scream because I love. It's not the fact that I have Psoriasis, it's about having to deal with it all my life. It's a part of me now and I know it will get better, and sometimes it will get worse, but it's always there. The only thing I can do is learn to live with it.

It all started on that fatal March 19, 2018. Due to swollen legs and problems with my breathing my brother takes me to the hospital, where doctors can't believe what is happening to me. After a painful struggle for my life, they manage to save me.

The next day I am in cardiac surgery. Because of heart damage and deterioration in my breathing, I am transferred to the intensive care unit. I have a kidney biopsy which reveals a high level of damage and failure of both kidneys. I'm in total shock and don’t believe that this is all happening to me. They detect grade IV Lupus Nephritis.

I feel confused because I have never heard of such a thing. It is revealed that I have inflammation of the heart muscle and renal failure. I even celebrate my 18th birthday in hospital thanks to the wonderful staff.

I am discharged home with regular therapy and frequent check-ups. I have started permanent hemodialysis, twice a week. It's been a year since I go regularly and feel good. I am currently on the kidney transplant list. As for the Lupus, he is "still" for now. Of course, there are some lasting consequences like thick, red stretch marks on my back and worse vision.

I've learned in my life that I need to fight and think positively. I want to live and enjoy life the same as all other people, regardless of my health problems. I am greatly supported by my parents and brother who are always with me. I finished school and now I plan to enrol in college and find a boyfriend who will understand and make me laugh when I'm having a hard time.

I have days when I would rather not live, when I would sleep through all those difficult days, when I would scream and cry inside because I'm not healthy like my other friends. I have asked a thousand times why this is happening to me? And then you realise that everyone has their own cross to deal with and live with.

I want to tell everyone who is sick, never give up. Happiness follows the brave and think positive because the sun always comes after the rain. My life proverb is "Dum spiro spero" which means as I breathe, I hope. I hope for a better, happier tomorrow to come. Here is a picture of my 18th birthday that will remain in my fond memory thanks to the wonderful people I carry in my heart.

I create paintings to share with the world to raise awareness of ulcerative colitis, chronic illness and mental health. I created four pieces, a series I named 'Portrait of a Patient'. Expression Days is a great opportunity to reach an even larger audience. I am delighted to be a part of it.

I was diagnosed with ulcerative colitis in 2006. What followed was 10+ years of pain, anxiety, depression, hospitalisation, medication, surgery and almost death. What also followed was awakening, awareness, gratitude and survival.

As I lay in hospital or at home in bed, I would often open my phone to write down how I was feeling. The words would flow out, sometimes rhyming, sometimes not, but I would always feel better afterwards. I would rarely revisit these notes or try to perfect them once the moment had passed. After another major surgery in 2016 my health improved dramatically and I opened up my collection of notes/words/poems and curated them to best represent my cyclical journey of illness and health, and work on a visual representation.

"Mouths opening and closing,
a quiet deafening hum of nothings and somethings
The unchangeable, the uncontrollable, 
the solid steel certainty of subjective experience compounded 
Ununiformed suggestions bubbling up
filling my ears and throat like tar consuming
No breath, no choice, drown in the glue
It is my skin now
Trapped in a world where everyone knows everything
I remain still questioning, stumbling
Defiantly doubting my false counter conviction
Yearning silence that I might hear
the feather of my own knowledge land
But it is blown by the wind of the many wise mouths.
Never landing.
Never sure.
It lives in turbulent perpetual undulation"
 
#PORTRAITOFAPATIENT - OPPRESSION

Hello to the whole world!

I am a painter by profession and I am 39 years old. I have been married for 10 years and I have two children. I have Sjogren's syndrome. In fact, I have been developing several conditions that suggest the appearance of perhaps more autoimmune diseases, and not just one.

Sjögren's syndrome is a systemic disease. In addition to dry eye and lack of saliva, this disease causes fatigue and weakness, joint pain as well as neurological problems. I was diagnosed during my second pregnancy in 2018, and I got my first symptoms in my first pregnancy in 2012. I have been under regular follow-up by a gastroenterologist for two years now due to the possibility of developing an immunological bowel disease due to stomach problems that I have had since my last pregnancy. I have had bronchial asthma for years.

I listed all this just to say that even though you have so many problems in life, you can live almost normally. You can take care of your children, find and do a job that suits you and rejoice in some small personal successes, because you know how many obstacles you have gone through to achieve them.

The picture I painted shows someone else’s life and at the same time describes mine. It's my friend who gave birth to a baby at about the same time as me. She likes to show the details of her everyday life through photos on social networks, mostly through selfies. Her idea of herself awakens in me the feeling that there is some emptiness in my life.

That is why an additional level of communication is important for me, during which I compare moments from my life with that person's and create a clearer image. It is a moment that we do not want to change or lose in any part of our existence. It’s my moment of happiness.

I have rheumatoid arthritis and was diagnosed at 52.

My arms and legs are most affected. The symptom I experience the most is constant pain (in addition to arthritic pain I have diabetic neuropathy). This can become more intense during certain types of weather (e.g. high air humidity and cold weather). It is not easy to live with those symptoms, but I do my best and try to occupy myself with various activities to prevent thinking about the pain. So far, I have succeeded. I enjoy beekeeping, reading, artistic work and being outdoors.

I accept my condition and do my best not to annoy the other members of my family. In addition, I do my best to improve my condition and reduce consequences.